Flinders University

Thinking about studying at Flinders University Australia? We can help. Flinders is a public university based in Adelaide with its main campus at Bedford Park, about 12 km south of the CBD, set on a hill with sea and city views and a 24/7 student hub. It offers roughly 300+ degrees across business, health, engineering, IT, humanities and more, backed by strong graduate employment outcomes and employer satisfaction. 

You’ll find a wide range of Flinders University courses, scholarships for local and international students, early-entry pathways, and solid world rankings. This guide gives you the “is this for me?” overview; PickMyUni can help you compare options or even switch into Flinders from another uni if you want a change.

Why Flinders University Australia stands out

Flinders University was founded in 1966 and is part of the Innovative Research Universities group in Australia. It teaches more than 24,000 students across multiple campuses and online, with a strong mix of undergrad, postgrad and research degrees.

A few fast facts based on recent data and government surveys:

• Top ~400 globally in major rankings such as QS, THE and ARWU.

• Strong student experience – undergraduates rate their overall education at around 79%.

• Very good employment outcomes, especially for postgraduates.

At PickMyUni we see a lot of students choose Flinders University for three main reasons: Adelaide’s relaxed lifestyle, good value compared with bigger cities, and degrees that are closely tied to industry and work experience.

 If this high-level view feels promising, scroll to the reviews and compare tools on PickMyUni to see how Flinders stacks up against other Australian universities you’re considering.

Flinders University campuses

The main Flinders University campus is at Bedford Park, set on bushland with views across Adelaide and the coast. Students get:

• A large Student Hub with 24/7 study spaces and centralised services.

• A sport and fitness centre with one of the most scenic gym views in Adelaide

• Ovals, courts and plenty of clubs and societies.

Flinders University Australia also has:

• Tonsley campus – high-tech hub for engineering and tech-related learning, including the New Venture Institute.

• City campus at Victoria Square – right in the CBD for certain business, law and postgrad offerings.

Courses offered by Flinders University

According to StudyAdelaide and other sources, Flinders University courses include 300+ undergrad, postgrad and research degrees across key areas such as:

• Health, nursing and medicine

• Business, commerce and management

• Engineering and technology (including software and civil)

• Computer science and IT

• Education and teaching

• Psychology and social work

• Humanities, social sciences and creative arts

External data also shows more than 270 programs listed across fields like business, engineering, health sciences, law, nursing and medicine, which matches what students see through agents and course guides.

From our experience at PickMyUni, students often shortlist Flinders for:

• Nursing and health (strong reputation and clinical placements)

• IT and data (good mix of theory and practical skills)

• Engineering and project-based learning at Tonsley

• Business and MBAs with multiple specialisations

Flinders University Careers (job outcomes and industry links)

If you care about careers (and you should), Flinders has strong numbers. Government QILT data for 2023 shows:

• 76.6% full-time employment for undergraduates

• 90.3% full-time employment for postgraduates

• Employer satisfaction rating of 78%

Earlier national reports highlighted Flinders as #1 in Australia for postgraduate employment, with around 97% of postgrads in full-time work in one cohort.

Flinders University careers support includes:

• Work-integrated learning and placements built into many courses

• Careers and employability staff on campus

• Strong links to health services, government agencies and companies in defence, engineering, IT and more

At PickMyUni we regularly hear from students using these practical elements as the deciding factor over a slightly higher-ranked but less hands-on option.

Flinders University early entry & pathways

Flinders offers several admission routes so your entire future doesn’t hang on one ATAR result. For Australian Year 12 students, key options include:

• Standard Year 12 entry using your ATAR – competitive and sometimes guaranteed entry, with no expiry on your ATAR until you’ve completed substantial higher-ed study.

• Year 12 Grades Entry, which can use your best three Year 12 grades for an offer into eligible courses.

• uniTEST combined with Year 12 results, giving a second way to show your academic potential.

• A school recommendation program that lets schools recommend capable students for certain courses.

There are also pathway programs through Flinders University Academy (English, Foundation, Diploma and Pre-Masters) that can step you into a degree if you don’t quite meet direct entry criteria.

Flinders University ranking

Flinders University ranking results show it sitting solidly in the global top 400 and steadily improving over time

Major global rankings (latest available):

Flinders University address & location

The main Flinders University address is:

Sturt Rd, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042

From there you’re about 20 minutes to the CBD and close to the southern beaches by public transport. The campus is served by:

• The Flinders train line (direct to the city)

• Multiple bus routes

• Easy access to nearby shopping and medical facilities, including Flinders Medical Centre

This setup works well for students who want a leafy campus feel without giving up city access.

Flinders University scholarships & financial support

Flinders University scholarships cover a broad mix of students and situations. According to university scholarship pages, you’ll find:

• Equity and access scholarships for students with financial need or other challenges

• Academic merit awards for high-achieving school leavers and current students

• Scholarships for international students at undergrad, postgrad and research level

• Higher Degree by Research (PhD/Masters by research) scholarships based on academic merit and research potential, often very competitive

The student site also notes that many scholarships are targeted to first-year students, while others support later years and research.

Flinders University acceptance rate

Here’s the honest view. Flinders University Australia does not publish an official all-of-uni acceptance rate. Sites that track overseas admissions often estimate it in the low-to-mid 60% range, with some listing figures up to the low 70s and describing Flinders as “moderately selective” for international students These numbers are based on external modelling and should be seen as guides, not official university data.

In practice, your chances depend on:

• The specific course (medicine vs, say, arts or IT)

• Your academic background and English results

• How you apply (direct, agent, or via a packaged pathway)

At PickMyUni we usually tell students to focus less on the headline Flinders University acceptance rate and more on:

• Meeting (or beating) the published entry requirements for that course

• Choosing the strongest admission pathway for their profile

• Applying early enough for their preferred intake

Wrapping up: is the Flinders Drama Centre your next stage?

Flinders University Drama Centre pulls together focused actor and director training, small cohorts, serious studio time and real productions on a campus that already buzzes with arts, media and screen students. If you’re serious about performing for stage or screen – and want staff who know the local and national industry – this is one of the key spots in Australia to train.