Bold and progressive, Southern Cross University is one of the world’s Top 50 Generation Y Universities. It is also ranked among the world’s Top 150 Young Universities by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Our contemporary campuses, with purpose-built world-class facilities, are located on the east coast of Australia—at the Gold Coast in Queensland, and in Lismore and Coffs Harbour in New South Wales—unique regions renowned for their unparalleled natural beauty and ecological diversity, providing living laboratories for learning and creative hubs for artistic endeavour.

Branch campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are operated in collaboration with EduCo on behalf of Southern Cross University. The University also operates The Hotel School Sydney and Melbourne in partnership with Mulpha Australia.

Our growing world-class status is further demonstrated by our outstanding research reputation. The Excellence in Research for Australia report has ranked Southern Cross as ‘at world standard or above’ in 24 diverse research fields of global and national significance.

Campuses

Gold Coast campus

The Gold Coast campus offers a personalised learning experience in a vibrant location, next to the Gold Coast Airport and minutes to North Kirra Beach.

Business and tourism degrees take full advantage of this thriving city, where a multitude of leisure and service industries offer work and placement opportunities.

A range of allied health degrees in state-of-the-art health science laboratories are offered at the Gold Coast campus. Courses include biomedical science, occupational therapy, speech pathology, pedorthics and podiatry, osteopathic studies, midwifery, nursing, and sport and exercise science. The Southern Cross University Health Clinic provides services to the public as well as placement opportunities for students.

Courses in law and justice, from paralegal studies to the Bachelor of Laws, information technology, arts, education, social science and social welfare are also available. The popular enabling course, Preparing for Success, as well as associate degrees, are available through SCU College.

Lismore campus

Lismore campus, in a rainforest setting, is home to environment, science and engineering degrees. Music, visual arts, media and creative writing courses are also taught by practising musicians, artists and writers in high-quality facilities, drawing inspiration from a region renowned for its vibrant arts scene. The campus is home to Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples. Indigenous knowledge, education, health, law and justice, business and tourism and SCU College programs are also offered at the Lismore campus.

Coffs Harbour campus

Education, health courses (including psychology and sport and exercise science), business and tourism courses are offered at the Coffs Harbour campus, which is shared with North Coast TAFE and a senior college. Coffs Harbour is also home to the University’s National Marine Science Centre—adjacent to the Solitary Islands Marine Park—one of Australia’s leading facilities for marine science teaching and research.

Three session year

SCU operates a three session academic year. In 2020:

Session 1, 2020: 2 March–12 June 2020
Session 2, 2020: 6 July–16 October 2019
Session 3, 2021: 2 November–19 February 2021

Find SCU’s latest calendar.

Courses requiring special entry procedures/tertiary prerequisites

All Southern Cross University undergraduate education courses require applicants to complete a non-academic requirements statement as part of their application.

The Bachelor of Art and Design and the Bachelor of Contemporary Music may have additional or alternative selection criteria (interview/portfolio/audition). Students wishing to study the Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management (at The Hotel School Sydney or The Hotel School Melbourne) are selected on individual merit and attend an interview.

Online study

Southern Cross University offers many courses online through direct application to the University. Visit the SCU website for more information.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants

Indigenous Australian applicants who believe they may not meet the usual admission requirements are invited to a testing and assessment program for consideration for admission to their preferred course. For information, email Indigenous Australian Student Services (IASS) or phone 1800 626 481.

Recognition of prior learning

Southern Cross University recognises qualifications from TAFE institutes and other educational providers in formal agreements that grant credit toward a number of courses. Visit the SCU website for more information.

Facilities

Discipline-specific facilities vary at each campus. General student facilities also vary at each campus but may include cafés, newsagents and/or bookshops, gymnasium and sporting facilities, swimming pool, and banking facilities. Visit the SCU website for details.

Student accommodation

All the University’s campuses provide a list of off-campus accommodation available in their area. Visit the SCU website for more information.

Find information about accommodation in colleges at both Lismore and Coffs Harbour campuses, visit SCU Village.

Student support services

Academic support is available to all students. To extend the academic support students receive, the Studiosity after-hours online tutor service is available. The UniMentor program connects new students with an experienced student mentor studying in the same discipline. The University has a free counselling service for all students. The chaplaincy services are multi-faith in nature. Students with a disability have access to a range of support services to assist them in their studies. For a full list of student support services, visit the SCU website.

For more information about SCU admissions criteria, visit the SCU website.