One Visit, Thousands of Opportunities: How StudyAdelaide is Showcasing the City to the World
Introducing one person to Adelaide can open the door to tens of thousands of international students thanks to South Australia's leading education recruiter, StudyAdelaide.
Inviting education agents to explore the city on familiarisations, better known as famils, allows StudyAdelaide to promote the CBD as a leader in education, employability and culture.
Supported by a strategic partnership with the Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA), StudyAdelaide’s famils allow agents to learn more about the lifestyle and graduate opportunities available to international students in Adelaide.
StudyAdelaide will receive a total of $357,000 over three years to assist with its operations until the end of the 2027/28 financial year through AEDA's Strategic Partnerships Program (SPP).
“AEDA’s invaluable support of visiting international education agents ensured that we could showcase Adelaide,” StudyAdelaide Chief Executive Jane Johnston says.
“When the agents return to their home countries, they are well informed with real experience and warm memories of all the reasons Adelaide is a wonderful place to study, work, and live.”
Ms Johnston says attracting international students plays an instrumental role in driving the city’s economy.
“International students are vital to our economy, workforce and community and nowhere is this more evident than in our CBD, where they add significantly to the city’s vibrancy,” Ms Johnston says.
“Many international students work while studying, which is essential to sectors such as health, hospitality and tourism.
“When they graduate, they become a valuable talent pool for the skills we need now and into the future.”
The last round of AEDA’s Strategic Partnerships Program enabled Study Adelaide to able to host six familiarisations for 280 agents from more than 20 key and emerging markets.
Funding awarded in the 2025/26 iteration of the program, StudyAdelaide will target a further 20 agents and include new experiential activities like The Amazing Adelaide Race, while maintaining a strong focus on City of Adelaide industry engagement.
StudyAdelaide famil participants at the Adelaide Central Market. Source: Study Adelaide
Creating an Experience Like No Other with Support From AEDA
Approximately 90 per cent of familiarisation participants are first-time visitors to Adelaide, Ms Johnston says.
Through the program, visiting agents are given opportunities to explore Adelaide’s natural beauty, vibrant arts scene, retail sector, in addition to the educational offerings from schools, universities, vocational education and English language colleges.
The agents are also exposed to the state’s growth sectors and potential career paths for students, which are a strong drawcard to the city.
Familiarisation participant Selina Wu, from Thailand, says her trip to Adelaide surpassed her expectations.
She says she tells students about the benefits of studying in Adelaide.
“Before visiting Adelaide, I had no idea what the city (was) like and thought that it (was) a very boring and rural city—I was not sure if it (was) a good idea to recommend students to study in Adelaide,” Ms Wu says.
“However, after visiting, I am very comfortable to say that Adelaide is a city worth coming to and studying in.
“The city is vibrant with tons of activities students can take part in. The institutions have a mix of international and local students with good connections with industry experts.
“You will fall in love with this city.”
StudyAdelaide famil participants. Source: Study Adelaide
International Students are the Beating Heart of Adelaide
According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, international education is South Australia's largest export, injecting $3.2 billion into the economy in 2023/24.
Adelaide is currently home to over 59,000 international students, many of whom live, work and study in the city. In fact, City of Adelaide data shows that students make up twenty-three per cent of the city’s population (2022).
The top markets for enrolments are India, China, Vietnam, Nepal, the Philippines, Colombia, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka.
Familiarisation participant Shani Fernando, from Sri Lanka, says his experience in Adelaide made him feel confident in recommending Adelaide as an exciting place to study.
“Our tour left us convinced of its potential to offer students a fulfilling and enriching educational experience,” Mr Fernando says.
“We are excited to share our positive impressions with students, knowing that Adelaide has much to offer in terms of academic excellence and overall quality of life.”
StudyAdelaide Students taking part in community activities. Source: StudyAdelaide
Activating the City Through Collaboration
In addition to their strategic partnership, AEDA and StudyAdelaide join forces on community development, working together to support students in deepening their connections with Adelaide.
From trade fairs and conferences to engaging directly with students and the community, AEDA and StudyAdelaide work closely to deliver a fulfilling experience for students and help them carve their place within the city.
One such initiative that created strong engagement was the introduction of a StudyAdelaide float in the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant.
First appearing in 2024, the ‘Counting Down to Christmas’ float is set to return in 2025, allowing international students to participate in the festivities and experience Adelaide’s welcoming community.
Find out more about AEDA’s Strategic Partnerships Program.