Central Ocean University | Adelaide, South Australia
Think with depth. Lead with imagination.
Central Ocean University is a high-calibre, interdisciplinary university where ocean science, the creative arts and advanced computing meet to shape the next generation of public thinkers, founders and researchers.
Open House | 12 July 2026
From the studio to the waterfront lab.
Learn in design ateliers, AI laboratories, performance spaces and marine field stations across metropolitan Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Arts & culture
Creative practice with civic impact
Computing & AI
Technical depth for real-world systems
Adelaide Harbour Campus • North Terrace Creative Studios • Encounter Bay Research Station • Industry placements from year one • Global exchange in 42 partner cities
Explore COU
More ways into the university.
Move beyond the homepage and explore how COU supports applications, international study, public research and a year-round calendar of events.
Apply to Central Ocean University
Entry pathways, key dates, scholarships and direct support for every applicant type.
Go to admissionsPlan your move to Adelaide
Applications, visas, housing and student support for global learners joining COU.
Explore international studyMeet our institutes and labs
Discover centre-based work in ocean futures, AI, public culture, health and design.
See centres and institutesFollow what’s happening at COU
Read campus stories, research news, lectures, showcases, open events and forums.
Visit the newsroom
A university with range
Set your direction.
Inspired by the intellectual breadth of major Australian universities and shaped by South Australia’s coast, Central Ocean University is built for students who want depth in a discipline and confidence across sectors.
College of Arts and Public Culture
Performance, visual art, curatorial studies, writing, communication and cultural leadership taught through public-facing studios and festival partnerships.
See the arts facultySchool of Computing and Intelligent Systems
Software engineering, human-centred AI, cybersecurity, data science and digital product design with close ties to Australian industry and start-up ecosystems.
Explore computingOcean Futures Institute
A signature interdisciplinary hub connecting marine science, design, policy and coastal resilience to tackle real environmental challenges.
Discover research themes
Degrees you may like
Search a future that feels like you.
Build a course combination across arts, technology, business, design, science and social impact. Flexible majors and cross-school electives are built into every undergraduate pathway.
Make what matters
Education, research and industry collaboration in one ecosystem.
We combine a premium academic experience with public purpose, connecting every student to live projects, placements, exhibitions, performances, labs or fieldwork.
Research and innovation
Shape the southern horizon.
Our researchers work where disciplines intersect: ocean modelling meets policy, machine learning meets ethics, and creative practice meets social change.
Ocean futures and coastal resilience
Marine ecosystems, digital twins of harbours, decarbonised shipping and adaptive coastlines.
View themeHuman-centred AI and trustworthy computing
Applied machine intelligence, cyber defence, explainable systems and public-interest technology.
See our labsCreative cities, memory and civic imagination
Research-led performance, digital storytelling, design justice and public cultural policy.
Read impact stories
Our community
A campus culture built around belonging.
Central Ocean University brings together the energy of Adelaide’s creative precincts, the focus of a research university, and the openness of a coastal city.
Explore student lifeLive and learn well
Residences, wellbeing services, mentoring, academic advising and 24/7 digital support.
Create beyond the classroom
Exhibitions, studios, makerspaces, hack nights, ensembles, societies and student publishing.
Study in South Australia
Minutes from galleries, innovation districts, beaches and the harbour economy of Port Adelaide.
Apply with confidence
Your path to COU in three clear steps.
Choose a degree and check entry pathways
Explore academic prerequisites, portfolio requirements and scholarship deadlines.
Submit your application
Domestic, postgraduate and international applicants each have a guided admissions route.
Plan your arrival
Accept your offer, book accommodation, connect with advisors and join orientation week.