UniSA was officially established in 1991 and has quickly grown to become the fifth largest university in Australia and a recognised leader in research and research education for the 21st century. It continues to affirm its status as a modern and progressive university through its ability to recognise and adopt future innovations in education, training and research.

UniSA has a diverse and international university culture of over 30,000 students, including 3,000 international students studying in South Australia and more than 6,000 studying UniSA degrees in their home countries.

UniSA's unique approach to teaching and learning is student-centred, focused on the outcomes of higher education, and delivered through very flexible program arrangements.

The University has people studying programs in Adelaide, across Australia, and overseas throughout South East Asia, in China and Eastern Asia, and in North America and Europe.

People who choose to study off campus receive packages of learning resources, access the University's online environment on the Internet, and in the case of most students studying overseas, have access to local partner institutions and intensive teaching from UniSA academics who make regular visits.

The University's programs are designed in consultation with industry and the professions and graduates become significant contributors to their chosen professions: people who are instrumental in reshaping the nature of contemporary Australian and regional society.

UniSA is also part of the Australia Technology Network (ATN), a powerful coalition of five leading Australian universities which, together, teach more than 137,000 students (20 per cent of the Australian university population) including around 26,000 international students.