Why SCU - Southern Cross University

Transform your future

At Southern Cross University, we believe in your possibilities, your potential, and we offer a vibrant teaching, learning, research and cultural environment to help you achieve your goals.

Relevance and resonance underpin everything we do. Our degree and research courses arise from today, but have their sights firmly on the future. We strive to create change that has a positive impact, from local to global.

Kaliya Alldridge Contemporary Music student and Rolling Stone Scholarship recipient

“The state-of-the-art facilities at Southern Cross Uni and culture surrounding the Northern Rivers is unparalleled. I knew that I would be creating alongside industry experienced teachers and other creative individuals to inspire me and become the best artist I can be. ”

Supporting you at Southern Cross University

Scholarships

Our range of scholarships support a variety of students and can really make a difference.

Discover a wide range of scholarships

Study resources

Get all the help you need with quick access to study resources and academic support.

Visit the learning zone

Student life

Join a club, spots team or take part in national competitions. Whatever your interest, we have something for you.

Discover student life and support

Research students

Become part of our vibrant and widely recognised research community.

Visit the Graduate School

A student at Southern Cross University Gold Coast campus

A better way to learn

The Southern Cross Model is what sets Southern Cross University apart from the rest.

This new academic model allows students to focus on just one or two subjects at once, over a six-week teaching term, before moving on. This enables deeper learning as well as more control over when you study allowing you to create the ideal life balance.

It’s the future of study, with flexibility built-in.

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As a multi-campus university, the regions we call home have unique characteristics as study locations.

Gold Coast campus

Three students walking together chatting outside a colourful building

Coffs Harbour campus

Lismore campus

Coomera Creative campus

Girl smiling in recording booth at Coomera campus

Online study

Metro locations

Hotel School

Female student portrait inside hotel lobby

National Marine Science Centre

Marine Science Student Olly Pitt with small turtle

Research, rankings and reputation

Southern Cross University has achieved world-class results in research, rankings, student satisfaction and overall reputation. Our success in these endeavours, combined with our fantastic locations, staff and support systems, is what makes us the perfect place to study.

5-star Student Support *
5-star Graduate Salary ^
5-star Overall Experience ^

Top 200 Young Universities †
Top 400 Life Sciences and Psychology †
Top 250 Physical Sciences †

World Standard or Above in 23 Key Research Areas. **

Top 4% of universities worldwide in Forestry and Agriculture. ∆

* The Good Universities Guide 2022 – Undergraduate and Postgraduate
^ The Good Universities Guide 2022 – Postgraduate
† Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021
** Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) 2018
∆ Top 350 universities (global) in Agriculture and Forestry (QS Rankings 2021)

Equity and Diversity

Diversity makes us bold, aware, compassionate and better. It pushes us to challenge the status quo. Southern Cross University is committed to being an inclusive and culturally safe work and study environment that values, supports, embraces and benefits from the diversity of its people and communities.

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Pathways for every student

Going straight from school to a degree is one way to start uni, but it’s not the only way. If your child doesn’t achieve the required ATAR to get into their course, the University may recommend they complete a pathway program first.

Southern Cross University has two excellent pathway programs suitable for school leavers. Both are fee-free and develop the skills that students will need at university to be successful. Undertaking a Diploma through SCU College is also an excellent way to commence university.

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My name is Kane Sadjek. I am the co-founder and CEO of HomeGuardian AI and we're an artificial intelligence company. We were able to create an artificial intelligence driven behavioural analysis device. What we effectively do is analyse human behaviour and alert when there's abnormal and notable behaviour that occurs.

My name is Riley, I'm the technology support officer at HomeGuardian. The first time I met Kane, I hopped off my motorbike and walked inside to the office. I pretty much knocked on the door and the first thing I said was "can you guys give me experience in the industry".

He had a folded-up resume with no technical experience written on it at all. He said "you know I'm just started studying at university I'm willing to work for free to get some experience". We put him on and a week later we had to start paying him because he was doing better than half the employees that had 10 years experience on him. That's the kind of person that I wanted on my team.

I actually lived in a small town called Kyogle. I wanted a break from the rural life to sort of get involved with technology. So I started studying software development at Southern Cross University. I was going to start at Lismore campus but I decided to take a jump towards Gold Coast. That was an awesome change for me and it provided a lot of information and useful tools to get started in a job like this.

Southern Cross University is not only really strong in the technical aspects but at the same time they have a really strong nursing and medical arm as well. So you get somebody who has that multi-discipline exposure in how quickly things change in today's day and age you can't be too structured you have to be able to roll with the punches and that's what we get out of Southern Cross University graduates.

Southern Cross University by far creates the best graduates that are ready to hit the ground running on day one and That's Excellent.

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Why study at Southern Cross University

Transform your future