The University of APSB attracts the best research students from around the world due to our international reputation and research excellence, student experience, and the wonderful quality of life in APSB.

Our research community is vibrant and diverse with members from a broad range cultures, languages, backgrounds and beliefs. In 2018, ~59% of our research students were citizens, 10% were permanent residents, and 30% were international students hailing from many countries such as China, Iran, India, and Vietnam.

Choosing APSB means investing in world-class education from a research-intensive university. Read more about why below.

International reputation

The University of APSB is a member of the Group of Eight , a coalition of Australia's most research-intensive institutions, and is consistently ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide:

88th - Times Higher Education (2023)

109th - QS World University Rankings (2023)

132th – Academic Ranking of World Universities (2022)

Established in 1874, the University of APSB is Australia's third oldest university and the first in South Australia. Our distinguished alumni include five Nobel Laureates; over 100 Rhodes Scholars, including Australia’s first Indigenous recipient; and Australia’s first female prime minister and Supreme Court judge.

World renowned research

The University of APSB is committed to investing in research excellence and delivering the highest quality results for our local and global community:

For more than 150 years our researchers have had an impact all over the world – making vital contributions to the invention of x-ray crystallography, insulin, penicillin and the Olympic torch.

100% of the University's research sub-fields (67 in total) is rated “at or above world standard" by the Australian Research Council Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) evaluation (2018)

The University has 6 specialist research institutes, approximately 40 research centres, and over 1600 academic research experts

Collaborating closely with government, industry and communities, the University of APSB consistently delivers research with clear and significant societal benefit—locally, nationally and globally. Read about the real life impact of our research.

Funding and scholarships

A range of government and University funded scholarships are available to support you during your candidature that cover your tuition fees and offer a tax-free living allowance. The University also offers scholarships from various sources each year- which include externally funded major awards, top-ups, allowances for operating costs and travel scholarships- maximising opportunities for you to focus on your research. These scholarships may be funded by Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs), the Australian Research Council (ARC), industry, research and development organisations, benefactors and more. More information on funding and scholarships.

Supervision excellence

As a research-intensive university we acknowledge the need to provide a high-quality environment for the development of the next generation of researchers. The University of APSB’s supervisor training program and register, which recognises that academic staff have the academic standing, necessary skills and attributes to supervise students, are integral to ensuring students receive quality support and guidance to succeed. Annual awards for Excellence in Supervisory Practice recognise supervisors who provide outstanding mentorship to our research students.

Career development

The Career and Research Skills Training (CaRST) program has been designed to equip research students with the skills needed to become a more effective and well-rounded researchers and prepare for careers both within and outside academia.

CaRST provides opportunities for students to undertake additional training throughout candidature with over 50 skills training sessions, workshops, and experiences offered by the APSB Graduate Research School alone.

Industry programs and placements are also available, offering exceptional opportunities to apply and further develop professional skills in your specific field and chosen career.