Welcome to Open Days at Southern Cross University

The series of Open Days - Gold Coast on August 13, Lismore on August 20, and Coffs Harbour and our National Marine Science Centre both on August 27 – will showcase the study options, unique campus features and the possibilities of where a Southern Cross University degree can take you.

Use the online Open Day planner to create your own schedule and tailor sessions and activities to match your interests. 

With more than 200 information sessions, tours and activities across four campuses over three days, Open Day is a fantastic way to find out how you can fast track your future.

Bring your family and friends and uncover the degrees Southern Cross University has available across music, creative arts, environmental and marine science, forestry, engineering, humanities and social sciences, Indigenous knowledge, nursing, midwifery, allied health, psychological science, exercise science, education, business, IT, tourism, law and justice.

Discover our new degrees on offer from 2018: coastal systems engineering, laws/creative writing, psychology and laws, and digital business.

Plus ‘Ask a student’ panels and presentations from Alumni and Vice Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker will give you a real insight into what it’s like to study with us.

Each campus features Indigenous activities like Bundjalung language workshops, traditional basket weaving workshops, smoking ceremony, yarning circles and Connective Art with Elders.

Take time out between sessions to enjoy entertainment by university bands, photo booth, petting zoo, jumping castle and zorb roller balls. Plenty of food options are available, too.

The University’s campuses are located in some of the best spots along Australia’s east coast. Many degrees are also available online so you can study from anywhere across the country or around the world.

Gold Coast campus - August 13

The University’s newest and fastest-growing campus, the Gold Coast has 360-degree views of the ocean and hinterland, overlooks North Kirra beach, and is right next door to the Gold Coast Airport.

Visitors can take a tour of the iconic Gold Coast buildings, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and allied health labs.

Session highlights:
• Big data: Friend or foe?
• There's an airport outside my window!
• Tourism opportunities and challenges in Papua New Guinea

Lismore campus – August 20

Want to learn in a lush rainforest setting and in between classes spot koalas, water dragons and rainbow lorikeets? The Lismore campus offers world class learning opportunities alongside diverse cultural, social and sporting activities. It’s also the home of the SCU Unibar and the SCU Gym & Pool.

Degrees in forestry, engineering, art and design, contemporary music, and environmental science are unique to Lismore.

Session highlights:
• Sex on the reef
• Making a music video
• Sharks in my swimming pool
• Launch of Coastlines 6, the students’ creative writing anthology

Coffs Harbour campus – August 27

The Coffs Harbour campus sits on the edge of the Solitary Islands Marine Park, NSW’s first declared marine park.

Tour the newly-refurbished library and learning space, explore workshops, lectures and facilities, get a health check-up from our health students and find your perfect ‘career match’.

Session highlights:
• The Stroop Effect: one of the best known phenomena in cognitive psychology. Can your brain be trained?
• Innovative health technology: Test yourself with exercise-based video games
• Nursing simulation lab
• Technology education display: featuring robotics, textiles and food

National Marine Science Centre – August 27

Interested in a marine science? The National Marine Science Centre (NMSC), located just north of Coffs Harbour at Charlesworth Bay in the Solitary Islands Marine Park, is your classroom. The diverse marine life around the islands is a unique blend of tropical, sub-tropical and temperature species as the south flowing and north flowing currents meet.

The NMSC is also home to the Solitary Islands Aquarium, a popular destination for tourists and locals to discover the region’s marine life.

Session highlights:
• Flotsam and jetsam: postgraduate lecture
• Life on the edge: touch tank display
• Research vessel ‘Circe’
• Not so fantastic plastic; marine debris and its effects on marine organisms

A shuttle bus will run between the Coffs Harbour campus and NMSC throughout the day.

Southern Cross University Vice President (Operations) Allan Morris, who is leader of the Open Day events, said the University was excited to open its doors to the community.

“For Lismore and Coffs Harbour campuses, this is the first time in 13 years we’ve hosted an event of this scale for everyone to come and learn about what happens at Southern Cross University.

“Each Open Day event gives future students a unique, personalised experience to suit their interests and discover what their future potential is by studying with us.

“And there’ll be surprises on the day, too.”

Plan your Open Day now. Visit openday.scu.edu.au