The University of Adelaide will introduce a suite of Allied Health degrees to its educational line-up in 2021, enabling students to pursue studies in Physiotherapy, Speech Pathology, or Occupational Therapy at one of Australia’s leading health and medical universities.

The move into Allied Health teaching and learning complements the University’s unrivalled culture of health excellence in South Australia.

The University of Adelaide is globally recognised with world top 50 rankings for Dentistry and Nursing, top 100 for Medicine, and top 150 in Psychology and Public Health (QS World University Rankings by Subject, and Academic Ranking of World Universities by Subject).

“Almost every aspect of health and wellbeing is taught and researched at the highest levels here at the University of Adelaide.

The addition of three new Allied Health specialisations is exciting news for students, for our staff, and for the community,” says Professor Benjamin Kile, Executive Dean of the University’s Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.

Professor Kile says the University of Adelaide’s long history of outstanding education and research, and collaboration with more than 1800 clinical titleholders, will benefit the new programs in Physiotherapy, Speech Pathology, and Occupational Therapy.

“Our new students in 2021 stand to gain from the University’s nationally and internationally recognised track record in health and medical education, and will acquire real-world skills and experience as part of their studies.

They’ll share interdisciplinary learning with their allied health peers, preparing them for a collaborativ approach to health care,” he says.

The University of Adelaide’s inaugural Professor and Director of Allied Health, Professor Rachel Gibson, says: “Year after year, the University of Adelaide has received numerous enquiries from students wondering when they could study Allied Health programs at our University. That wait will be over in 2021.

“The addition of Allied Health takes the University of Adelaide’s leadership in health and medical education in South Australia to the next level. Thanks to skills gained by our students in physiotherapy, speech pathology and occupational therapy, we will ensure a brighter, healthier future for the community.”

More than 100 students in total are expected to enrol across the three Allied Health programs in the first year, with as many as 700 students studying in these fields by 2025.