A standalone Indigenous college is to close in Adelaide by the end of the year as the University of South Australia moves its programs into its mainstream campuses.

The David Unaipon College for Indigenous Education and Research has operated since 1996 at the UniSA city campus.

It said programs would be moved into its mainstream campuses across South Australia rather than being separated.

UniSA vice-chancellor David Lloyd said a review was done by a team which included Indigenous scholar Marcia Langton before the decision was taken.

"They made a recommendation that the university needs to seriously and significantly change the way it delivers Indigenous opportunity and education, and that does include the closure of the Unaipon school," he said.

Professor Lloyd said UniSA wanted to become the nation's Indigenous university of choice.

"To do that we have to provide opportunities that stem beyond a standalone structure which delivers Indigenous education," he said.

The university said it would advertise this week to fill a new role of Indigenous pro vice-chancellor.

"That person's job is actually to put in place a really detailed strategy for us around supports, around Indigenous recruitment and retention of our students," Professor Lloyd said.

"I do have a worry that people will think the Unaipon College disestablishment means that UniSA is walking away from Indigenous education, that's simply not the case.

"What we're doing is laying down ... a new model for Indigenous participation, pathways and opportunities."

A portrait of David Unaipon by Lyell Dolan (1995). ( NMA )

The college is named after David Unaipon, a Ngarrindjeri man from South Australia's Raukkan Mission.

He left the mission school when he was 15 and went on to become the first Indigenous published author, as well as an inventor and a pastor.

Professor Lloyd said the Unaipon family had been notified of the closure and the university would mark David Unaipon's legacy in other ways.

"I fundamentally hope that what we're doing in this will pave the way for a next generation of successful Indigenous graduates," he said.