Southern Cross University climbs in new Student Experience Survey results

Published: 21 September 2026

Southern Cross University's investment in personalised learning and student support has driven major gains in the 2025 Student Experience Survey (SES).

The University saw meaningful year-on-year improvements across all cohorts, ranking third nationally among international postgraduate coursework students, fourth among international undergraduates, climbing 29 places to seventh nationally for postgraduate overall educational experience, and moving up 13 places for undergraduates.

Conducted by the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT), the Student Experience Survey provides a national benchmark of the higher education student experience. More than 324,000 students from 153 higher education institutions participated in the 2025 survey.

Southern Cross University ranked among the top 10 universities nationally for postgraduate overall educational experience, student support, teaching quality, and skills development.

Student support was a standout result. Southern Cross University also ranked in the national top 10 for this measure among undergraduate students, up three percentage points to 76.7 per cent positive.

Student smiling at camera in front of window with ocean in background

While undergraduate ratings of overall educational experience remained stable nationally, Southern Cross University performed above the average of all Australian universities and continued its upward trajectory across key indicators.

Innovative teaching model and student support drive positive results

Southern Cross University Vice President (Students) and Registrar, Brendon Nelson, said the results reflected the University's sustained focus on student success.

"These results reflect a university-wide commitment to putting students at the centre of everything we do," Mr Nelson said.

"We've reimagined the learning experience through the Southern Cross Model, invested in enhanced digital learning through Blackboard Ultra, strengthened student support services, and continued to focus on personalised learning through small class sizes and meaningful connections with teaching staff.

Explore the Southern Cross Model

The Southern Cross Model is a bold rethink of higher education. It's a new way of teaching

and learning. So, usually students come and over 12 to 14 weeks, they sit in lectures,

they take notes, and they get ready for exams. Over four subjects. In the Southern Cross Model,

students only study two subjects at a time, and instead of being in lectures where they

listen passively or take notes, perhaps, we get them to engage in their learning.

So my experience with the Southern Cross Model, compared to the semester model has been just

a lot more focused, just being able to manage the workload and my learning more effectively.

I think what is innovative is that students are learning in six-week terms and there's very few,

uh, institutions and universities that do that in Australia, uh, and around the world.

In terms of the rollout of the Southern Cross Model, we were thinking about it for a number of

years. We knew that we needed to do something, uh, fairly revolutionary, as we like to say,

fairly radical. So in 2021, we conducted a pilot of the Southern Cross Model, and then from there,

over the next couple of years, we rolled out another 930 subjects or units into the Southern

Cross Model in a phased approach. As we sit here at, at the sort of midpoint of 2025,

we can see that our success or pass rate is 90%. Our grade point averages are going up. Our absent

fail rates are going down. And students are more satisfied in the Southern Cross Model.

The Southern Cross model has improved outcomes for underrepresented student groups,

including those from First Nations, low socioeconomic,

and first in family communities. We're seeing more students achieve,

more students go through their studies, so that's better for our community because why are we here?

We're really here to help people in our community achieve their educational and personal dreams.

"Combined with practical, real-world learning opportunities, these initiatives are helping students feel more supported, more engaged and more confident in their studies.

"Students want an education that is relevant, flexible and connected to their future careers. These results show we're delivering on that expectation."

Student experience built on support and real-world learning

For Master of Osteopathic Medicine student, Gabrielle Caulfield, the combination of strong support and hands-on learning has been central to her university experience.

"When I came to Southern Cross University, I wasn't sure university was for me. But I had so much support that now I'm studying a Masters degree, achieving distinctions and genuinely enjoying my studies," Gabrielle said.

"I've had a really positive experience. The support from staff, practical learning opportunities and the chance to apply what I've learned in real-world settings have made a huge difference for me."

Master of Nursing graduate from China, Min Zhang, also praised the support services available.

"The support at Southern Cross University is very good and very comprehensive. I had a really good experience," she said.

National recognition for the Southern Cross Model

The survey results follow Southern Cross University receiving the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES) Award for Innovation and Excellence in Impact on Higher Education Policy and Practice in 2026, recognising the transformative impact of the Southern Cross Model for regional and remote students, First Nations students, students with disability, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds and those who are the first in their family to attend university.

Since the introduction of the Southern Cross Model, overall student success rates have increased by more than 15 percentage points, reaching 92 per cent. Commencing student attrition has fallen by more than 10 percentage points, to 19 per cent.

View the 2025 Student Experience Survey results.