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Southern Cross Scholars Program
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The Southern Cross Scholars program offers Year 11 & 12 students the opportunity to study a university subject while still in high school.
This free 6-week program (9 March – 17 April 2026) gives you advanced academic skills to help you blitz your final years in high school and offers you the choice of a subject of interest. You also get the chance to experience university life at one of our campuses or online.
Successful completion of the program puts you in the running for a generous scholarship that can make your uni goals that much sweeter.
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“I feel a lot more prepared for university after doing the program. It was a very safe learning environment to learn and grow in [and] it really gave me insight into what university is and how it functions.”
Annabel, Southern Cross Scholars participant, 2024
Benefits of the program
Prepare for university
Experience university while you’re still at school - you’ll be ahead of the game and prepared for your first year at uni.
Direct pathway to uni
Southern Cross Scholars is your direct pathway into a Southern Cross degree. No need to apply via Early Offer or UAC/QTAC.
Credit towards a degree
The subjects (called units) offered in the free Scholars program can count towards a degree – a head start and a discount on your university degree.
Scholarship opportunity
When you successfully complete the Scholars program, you’ll be eligible for one of 35 generous undergraduate scholarships worth up to $20,000.
Set yourself apart
Being a Southern Cross Scholar sets you apart – it demonstrates self-motivation, capability and looks great on your CV or university application.
Enhance school performance
Gain new academic skills and an understanding of university-level skills that can help you smash it in Year 12.
Invitation to VIP programs
Network and get inspired at study-enhancing VIP programs as part of your Scholar experience.
Contribute to QCE
The Southern Cross Scholars unit can contribute two credit points towards the Queensland Certificate of Education.
Eligibility criteria
These requirements relate to domestic students (i.e., Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens, holders of a permanent residency visa, or holders of a permanent humanitarian visa) enrolled in a registered state school, independent school, or school of distance education.
Students must meet the following requirements:
- Speak English as their first language or satisfy SCU’s English Language Requirements
- Be enrolled in Year 11 & 12 at any Australian high school, including the School of Distance Education.
- Be achieving a minimum B grade average.
- Be capable of undertaking university-level study on top of their school workload.
- Have written permission from their parent/carer to undertake the Scholar’s study.
- Have the approval of their school to participate in the Scholars program.
Important dates
- 1 August 2025 applications open
- 13 February 2026 applications close
- Documents for applications are due by latest 20 February 2026. However, your application will be assessed when all documents are received, and an offer will be issued. This means you can secure your place in the 2026 Southern Cross Scholars program as early as August 2025.
- Unit enrolment opens in November 2025. Once you’ve accepted your offer, you can enrol in your Scholars unit from November 2025. Unit enrolment closes 11 March 2026. This is the last date that you can enrol in the Scholars unit. We strongly recommend that you enrol in your chosen unit as soon as you can.
- Teaching starts 9 March 2026 and ends 17 April 2026
- Census date is 23 March 2026. This is the last date you can withdraw from the Scholars unit you are enrolled in.
Units of study
|
Unit |
Campus/Online |
Term |
Unit Aim |
Outcomes |
|
Introduction to Science for Health Professions |
Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Lismore, Online |
Available Term 1 - 2026 |
This unit focuses on the underlying concepts of science essential for success in health studies. |
Understanding of foundational scientific concepts that are essential for successful tertiary study in health.
|
|
Language and Learning in Your Discipline |
Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Lismore, Online |
Available Term 1 - 2026 |
This unit introduces students to learning skills for university study, communication skills, and reading and writing conventions within university discipline focused study. |
Learning skills for university study.
|
|
Nature of Science |
Online |
Available Term 1 - 2026 |
This unit introduces students to the nature of science through four core scientific disciplines: chemistry, physics, biology and geology. |
Understanding of key concepts across four scientific disciplines.
|
|
A Culture of Enquiry |
Gold Coast, Online |
Available Term 1 - 2026 |
This unit develops students’ understanding of the university culture of scholarship whilst developing their critical thinking and information literacy skills. |
Critical thinking and its application. Improve judgement making processes. This unit is linked to the following courses:
|
Frequently asked questions
The Scholars Program is fee-free. You will not have to pay for your unit.
There are no textbook requirements, as all resources are provided to you online.
We do recommend signing-up for one of the Student Associations to get the most out of your university experience, though this is not compulsory.
No. If you choose to study the Scholars program online, you will not be required to come on campus for any activities.
You will be invited to attend Orientation (around one week prior to commencement of Scholars), but you will have the option of participating in this online or on campus.
The number of assessments will depend on each unit, which can change from year to year.
We recommend that you visit the webpage for your chosen unit (linked below) and explore the Teaching and Assessment section to gain a clear understanding of the assessment expectations.
COMM1004: A Culture of Enquiry
As a Southern Cross Scholars student, you will have access to a wide range of Student Support resources, including study and academic support, wellbeing services, careers and employment, and Indigenous student support. Support will also be provided by the College Connect strategy.
Please see the Services and Support webpage for more information.
You can apply even if you are unsure if your current grades meet the requirement. It may be good to discuss your current grades and your intention to apply with your school, as they can help you make a decision.
You will be required to lodge an application through SCU directly via this webpage.
The initial application form is straightforward and should take at most 15 minutes to complete.
From there, we will send declaration forms that you will need to get signed by your parents/carer and a letter of recommendation from your school.
You will attend:
- One 2hr tutorial per week (either online or on-campus depending on your enrolment preference)
- One 1hr online workshop per week
There is one interactive module you will work through each week in preparation for your tutorials.
There are 6 weeks in total, and you need to dedicate 10 – 20 hours each week, depending on the unit and the assessments.
- Classes = 3 hours. You will attend 3 hours of classes each week (One 2hr tutorial & one 1hr workshop)
- Interactive modules = 5 – 10 hours (estimate). There is one interactive module you will work through each week in preparation for your tutorial.
- Assessments = 5 – 10 hours (estimate). There are typically 3 assessments: for example, one online quiz and two written assessments. Students typically spend more time working on assessments the week the assessment is due. It would be good to plan your weeks, so that you allow sufficient time each week to work on assessments (in addition to working through the interactive module and attending classes).
The Southern Cross Scholars unit can contribute two credit points towards the Queensland Certificate of Education. However, the unit does not contribute to the calculation of the ATAR.
Unfortunately, the Southern Cross Scholars unit cannot contribute towards the NSW Higher School Certificate. The unit also does not contribute to the calculation of the ATAR.
- Students who successfully complete the Scholars program will receive a link to an online application form, where they can then apply for a Southern Cross University course*. Southern Cross Scholars is a direct pathway into your preferred course at SCU. No need to apply via Southern Cross Early Offer or UAC/QTAC.
- Scholars students who are eligible for one of the 35 merit-based undergraduate scholarships will automatically receive a scholarship worth $20 000, $10 000, or $5 000.
- To commence your studies, you must accept your course offer (& scholarship offer if relevant).
- You can defer your course offer (with scholarship) for up to one year. E.g. if you are in Year 12 in 2026, you can defer to start studying in 2028.
* Please note the following courses are not part of the Southern Cross Scholars program: Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Counselling, Bachelor of Midwifery, Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine.