New to SCU

You can sit back and relax! There is nothing you are required to do for now.

The details for Orientation week for Summer Term are still being finalised. 

Important dates:

Your Online Orientation week dates are: 7 - 9 January 2026.

If you are studying Nursing, you will be required to attend on campus Orientation on Monday 12 January 2026.

Your unit enrolments are open now!

What you can do now:

Start your FYI Module

Join our New to SCU Facebook group

The Plan Your Orientation page will be updated with more information closer to the date (we'll also email you important updates too!)

You can sit back and relax! There is nothing you are required to do for now.

The details for Orientation week for Term 1 are still being finalised. 

Important dates:

Your Orientation week dates are: 2 - 6 March 2026

Your unit enrolments are open now.

What you can do now:

Start your FYI Module

Join our New to SCU Facebook group

The Plan Your Orientation page will be updated with more information closer to the date (we'll also email you important updates too!)

You can sit back and relax! There is nothing you are required to do for now.

The details for Orientation week for Term 2 are still being finalised. 

Important dates:

Your Orientation week dates are: 27 April - 1 May 2026

Your unit enrolments are open now.

What you can do now:

Start your FYI Module

Join our New to SCU Facebook group

The Plan Your Orientation page will be updated with more information closer to the date (we'll also email you important updates too!)

You can sit back and relax! There is nothing you are required to do for now.

The details for Orientation week for Term 3 are still being finalised. 

Important dates:

Your Orientation week dates are: 29 June - 3 July 2026

Your unit enrolments are open now.

What you can do now:

Start your FYI Module

Join our New to SCU Facebook group

The Plan Your Orientation page will be updated with more information closer to the date (we'll also email you important updates too!)

You can sit back and relax! There is nothing you are required to do for now.

The details for Orientation week for Term 4 are still being finalised. 

Important dates:

Your Orientation week dates are: 24 - 28 August 2026

Your unit enrolments are open now.

What you can do now:

Start your FYI Module

Join our New to SCU Facebook group

The Plan Your Orientation page will be updated with more information closer to the date (we'll also email you important updates too!)

You can sit back and relax! There is nothing you are required to do for now.

The details for Orientation week for Term 5 are still being finalised. 

Important dates:

Your Orientation week dates are: 19 - 23 October 2026.

Your unit enrolments are open now.

What you can do now:

Start your FYI Module

Join our New to SCU Facebook group

Enrol in your units (the FYI Module can help you with this)

The Plan Your Orientation page will be updated with more information closer to the date (we'll also email you important updates too!)

These are just some of the essential things you need to know and do before you start your studies at SCU. They can help make the transition to study much easier. 

Depending on when you start, some of these options might not be available to you just yet, but that's okay! Just do the steps you can while you wait for your Orientation. You'll also find more information about many of these steps in the New to SCU Module. 

Have you completed the following?

• Know where to find your student ID number - your 8 digit student ID number is your login for many University systems and can be found on your initial offer letter from us. 
• Accept your offer - before you can do anything else, you'll need to accept your offer! Some offers will have conditions as part of them too, so you'll need to make sure you satisfy these before you can do the next step.
• Have a Tax File Number (TFN) - You'll need a TFN if you're not paying your fees upfront. 
• Have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) - All students, including International students, require a USI. If you don't provide us with one, you can be placed on a sanction which will limit your ability to view your grades or even graduate. You can create a free USI here. 
• Arrange your fees - after you accept your offer and fulfil your conditions, you'll need to arrange your fees. 
• Select and enrol in your units - your units are the specific subjects you'll by studying;
• Understand the Southern Cross Model - this is the structure that your studies will follow, so it's great to be aware of how your year will look.
• Order your ID card.
• If you're studying on campus (Coffs Harbour, Northern Rivers or Gold Coast), order your parking permit.
• You can also view your campus map.
• Consider accommodation options - if you're looking to live on campus at Coffs Harbour or Lismore, you may need to apply ahead of time.

When you first start at university, there can be some terms which may be unfamiliar, or may have a different meaning to what they normally would outside of university. Some universities will use the same words but they will have different meanings. 

The Glossary of Terms is a great place to start.