New era, new pathway: How one of the largest-ever mergers in higher education led Kaplan to transform their pathway to Adelaide University
This special feature is sponsored by Kaplan International College Adelaide (KIC Adelaide).
In January 2026, Australia’s newest major university will open its doors to offer an education that is innovative and transformative. The new Adelaide University combines the strengths of the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide, with more than 180 years of collective experience and achievement. This will be one of the largest-ever mergers of two universities in the English-speaking world.
A change of this magnitude within Australian higher education means that the pathways into the new university are naturally changing as well. Backed by 87 years of global education expertise, Kaplan is leading the way with a rebrand of its pathway programme into Adelaide University.
The new Adelaide University
A member of Australia’s leading research-intensive and prestigious Group of Eight universities, Adelaide University is ranked in the global top 100 (debuting in the 2026 QS World University Rankings at #82). It will have a student body of roughly 70,000 students – large enough to place it among the five largest universities in Australia with a strong international student population.
“Our graduates will be equipped to address the multigenerational needs of our state and nation, and the critical challenges of our rapidly changing world. Adelaide University will launch bright futures," say co-Vice Chancellors Professors Peter Høj AC and David Lloyd. “We also aim to be in the top five nationally for student experience, providing a holistic and connected student journey that empowers our learners to transform themselves, their communities and the world – to be the best they can be by unlocking their potential and discovering their purpose.”
New pathways for a new university
As a new future-focused university, the formation of Adelaide University created the perfect opportunity for Kaplan to lean into its 87 years of expertise in international education to evolve the college. The result: reimagined pathways that reflect Adelaide University’s ambitions and meet student needs of today. In August 2025, The University of Adelaide College is becoming Kaplan International College Adelaide (KIC Adelaide). Under its new KIC Adelaide banner, the college will continue as a trusted pathway into Adelaide University, with a clear focus on preparing students for success at university and beyond.
"Our new Kaplan International College Adelaide brand is built on a 23-year relationship with the University of Adelaide," says Kaplan's Executive Director University Partnerships for Australia and New Zealand Janee Heffernan. "We see our rebrand as a step forward in that long partnership, and one that reflects our continuing, close alignment with the mission and goals of the new Adelaide University while also taking this as an opportunity to truly reimagine what it means to be a pathways student in 2026 and how we best meet those changing needs."
Historically at the University of Adelaide, the largest cohorts of international pathway students have come through Kaplan. And now KIC Adelaide will continue to offer those same well-articulated programmes with clear progression pathways to Adelaide University as a prestigious Group of Eight university, including the popular Foundation Studies, Degree Transfer, Pre-Master's, and English language programmes. As always, the progression from the pathway to degree studies at Adelaide University will be seamless, and pathway students at Kaplan International College Adelaide will continue to have access to university facilities from the first day of their studies onward.
What this means for students
Pathway students can expect smaller class sizes, more personal attention and support, individualised advising, and specialised preparation for progression to degree studies. That is exactly what Kaplan has always prided itself on in its programmes and services at The University of Adelaide College, and that is the foundation on which KIC Adelaide will continue to develop. "South Australia is known for its strong support for international students and clear pathways to post-study opportunities," adds Ms Heffernan. "It is the ideal launchpad for your future, at university and after."
"Adelaide is one of the most livable cities in the world," says Degree Transfer Program student Scott Tan. "And South Australia is one of the more affordable places to live and work in the country." He adds that the college helped him to improve his English in order to prepare for university studies, but that the college also provides "extra tutorial sessions for all of the Degree Transfer students" along with additional academic advising and transition support.
It is easy to think about services that are well linked to the university campus and that provide thorough preparation for academic study. But the pathway experience is quite a bit more personal than that, and it provides not only a foundation for academic success but for the personal networks and relationships that students can take with them into the future. Benson Kimani joined the Foundation Studies at the college before going on to complete an engineering degree at the university. "From the first day of orientation, we had plenty of activities and made new friends," he says. "Most of whom I still interact with today and they're still the friends I keep. My favourite part of studying at the college was just walking in through the door in the morning – smiles everywhere, banter – it was a really warm, welcoming environment to study in. And the friends that you meet make life way easier. There are people [at the college] to guide you but most of all the environment is friendly and lovely to be in."
Foundation Studies student Evelyn Loh reflects on how the support she found in her pathway programme opened the door to success at university. "The college helped to build that foundation of discipline and work ethic for me," she says. "We were always encouraged to be independent, to go one step beyond, and to just expand and branch out. I think that having gone through college and then to university definitely made the transition way more comfortable."
Support extends to agents
"We pride ourselves on the support we provide not only to our students, but to our partners as well," says Ms Heffernan. "The college has a dedicated Agent Experience Team that provides ongoing training and support for agents and counsellors. And we are known not only for our strong partnership with Adelaide University but for our fast response to counsellors queries and speedy processing of admissions files."
Indeed, many of the advantages that the Kaplan pathway to Adelaide University offers to students extends to agents as well, from the co-branded admissions offer from both KIC Adelaide and Adelaide University to the additional tools and supports for counsellors and recruitment incentives for agencies.
To learn more or to connect with recruitment specialists at KIC Adelaide today, please contact Thomas (Tom) Dunlop, General Manager for Global Student Recruitment at Kaplan International Pathways Australia & New Zealand on thomas.dunlop@kaplan.com. And for more on the programmes and services at the college, please visit us online today.
