[5] The move to establish a campus in Australia was announced in Pittsburgh in 2005 by South Australian Premier Mike Rann, following negotiations with Carnegie Mellon President Jared Cohon.

The campus had students, faculty and staff from more than 29 countries throughout the Asia-Pacific, United States, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

Carnegie Mellon University Australia also offered students the opportunity to undertake Global Programs, whereby they undertook their studies at both the campus in Pittsburgh and Adelaide.

[11] In August 2011, the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) launched their Asia-Pacific operations at Carnegie Mellon University – Australia's campus in Adelaide.

Through this location, the SEI were to offer their advanced courses and certifications to the Australian market, and collaborate with local companies and organisations on software development and cybersecurity.