The University of South Australia (commonly known as UniSA) was formed in 1991 when the State Government unified South Australia's Colleges of Advanced Education with the University of South Australia Act 1991.

UniSA quickly established itself as a leader in information technology and engineering with the redevelopment of The Levels campus and its joint foundation of the Australian Technology Network (ATN) with Curtin University of Technology, RMIT University, University of Technology Sydney and Queensland University of Technology.

UniSA has two campuses in the Adelaide CBD (known as City East and City West). It also has campues in the suburbs of Adelaide at Mawson Lakes (the new name for The Levels), Magill and Underdale as well as the country campus at Whyalla.