Southern Cross University
A young regional university on the NSW North Coast and Gold Coast that teaches every course in six-week terms.
- Students
- 21,639
- Tuition
- A$27,000
- 2027
- Founded
- 1994
- QS World Ranking
- #634
- 2027 edition
About SCU
Southern Cross University was established on 1 January 1994 from the northern campuses of the University of New England, with campuses in Lismore and Coffs Harbour; a Gold Coast campus opened at its current Coolangatta site, next to Gold Coast Airport, in 2010. In 2025 it taught 21,639 students, many of them the first in their families to attend university, and it counts more than 75,000 alumni.
Teaching is organised into four faculties (Business, Law and Arts; Education; Health; Science and Engineering), plus SCU College for pathway programs and Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples. Since 2023 every course has run in the Southern Cross Model: six terms of six weeks a year, with most full-time students taking two units per term in four terms. SCU says student success rates rose 16.8% between 2019 and 2025 under the model.
The university is strongest in allied health (nursing, midwifery, osteopathy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology), environmental and marine science, and regional-focused research such as regenerative agriculture and reef restoration. It suits students who want small classes in a coastal regional setting, a focused one-or-two-subject rhythm, and flexible start dates across the year.
Why students choose SCU
Every course runs in the Southern Cross Model: six-week terms in which you usually study just two units at a time.
Marine science students can study at the National Marine Science Centre on the Coffs Harbour coast.
For 2027, international students pay a single first-year tuition fee of A$27,000 across a wide range of bachelor's degrees under SCU's Access27 initiative.
Year 12 students can secure a place before exams through the Early Offer program, based on a school recommendation and predicted ATAR.
Admissions
Term 1 2027 (teaching starts 8 March 2027); intakes also in later 2027 terms
Selectivity
SCU does not publish an acceptance rate. 2027 course pages list an ATAR guide, e.g. Bachelor of Business Administration 60; Science and Osteopathic Studies 65; Nursing, Engineering (Honours), Psychological Science and Information Technology 70; Laws and Midwifery 80; Physiotherapy and Veterinary Medicine (Honours) 85.
Typical entry requirements
| ATAR (2027 course guide) | Business Administration 60; Science 65; Osteopathic Studies 65; Nursing 70; Engineering (Honours) 70; Psychological Science 70; Information Technology 70; Laws 80; Midwifery 80; Physiotherapy 85; Veterinary Medicine (Honours) 85 |
|---|---|
| Year 12 Early Offer | School recommendation plus a predicted ATAR; offers made before final results |
| International secondary qualifications | Assessed as equivalent to Australian Year 12 against each course's requirements; pathway programs through SCU College are available if you fall short |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 60 Most bachelor's degrees require IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5 (TOEFL iBT 60 with at least 17 in writing and speaking and 11 in reading and listening). Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Osteopathic Studies require IELTS 7.0; Speech Pathology requires 8.0. English language programs are available through SCU College. |
Deadlines
- Early Offer (Year 12, 2027 entry) Non-binding Passed30 September 2026
Applications opened 13 April 2026; offers released from 9 November 2026.
- International, Term 1 2027 (offshore applicants) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 monthsFriday 1 January 2027
New application cut-off; GSR documents by 15 January and acceptance and payment by 22 January 2027. Teaching starts 8 March 2027.
- International, Term 1 2027 (onshore applicants) Non-binding In ~5 monthsWednesday 10 March 2027
Application, GSR documents, acceptance and payment all by 10 March 2027 (midday for payment).
- International, Term 3 2027 (offshore applicants) Non-binding In ~7 monthsFriday 30 April 2027
Mid-year intake; teaching starts 5 July 2027.
International cut-off dates are from SCU's Key International Application Dates page (checked 29 September 2026); SCU also runs Summer, Term 4 and Term 5 intakes, but not every course starts in every term. Domestic applicants applying via UAC or QTAC should follow those centres' 2027 dates.
How to apply
Year 12 students can apply directly through the Early Offer program or through UAC (NSW) or QTAC (Queensland); other domestic applicants can apply directly from the course page. International students apply online directly (or through an agent), submit Genuine Student Requirement (GSR) documents, then accept and pay a deposit before the term's cut-off.
What admissions looks for
- An ATAR or selection rank at or above the course guide, or a school recommendation and predicted ATAR for Early Offer.
- English proficiency at the level set for the course, from IELTS 6.0 for most degrees to 7.0 for health degrees and 8.0 for Speech Pathology.
- For international applicants, documents showing you meet the Genuine Student Requirement.
- For health and clinical courses, the ability to meet inherent requirements and placement conditions.
Tips for applying to SCU
- 1 If you are in Year 12 in 2026, the Early Offer program closes on 30 September 2026 and gives priority consideration for scholarships.
- 2 International applicants living outside Australia should apply by 1 January 2027 for Term 1; onshore applicants can apply until 10 March 2027.
- 3 Check your English requirement early: health degrees such as Nursing and Physiotherapy need IELTS 7.0, and Speech Pathology needs 8.0.
- 4 Use the flexible calendar: many courses start in March, June/July and October, so you do not have to wait a full year if you miss Term 1.
Costs & financial aid
2027 · figures in AUD
Under Access26 and Access27, SCU has moved to a single annual tuition fee for many courses for new and continuing international students, with a smaller set of international scholarships remaining for academic excellence and study at its regional NSW campuses (applications close one month before each study session). Domestic students can defer Commonwealth supported fees through HECS-HELP, and SCU advertises access to more than 350 scholarships.
- A$27,000 (unified fee under Access27)
- International first-year tuition, 2027
- More than 350 available
- Scholarships
Academics
Academic calendar: Southern Cross Model: six six-week terms a year, most full-time students study two units in each of four terms
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Honours)
A five-year program at Lismore with an ATAR guide of 85; the 2027 course page lists domestic fees and a March start.
Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies)
Taught on the Gold Coast, part of SCU's long-standing allied health and natural medicine focus; ATAR guide 65.
Bachelor of Science (marine science study at the NMSC)
Offered at Lismore, online and at the National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour; ATAR guide 65.
Bachelor of Nursing
Taught at Coffs Harbour, the Gold Coast and Lismore, with March and mid-year intakes; ATAR guide 70.
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Four years at the Gold Coast, Lismore or online; ATAR guide 70, and the Good Universities Guide ranked SCU engineering first nationally for overall experience in 2022.
Bachelor of Laws
Gold Coast or online with March, July and October starts; ATAR guide 80.
Research
- The National Marine Science Centre at Charlesworth Bay, Coffs Harbour, opened in 2002 and supports SCU's marine research; ShanghaiRanking's 2025 subject rankings place SCU in the top 150 for Oceanography.
- SCU earned A$33.2 million in research income in 2025, with a field-weighted citation impact of 1.99 and 76% of papers in Q1 journals.
- Research centres include Southern Cross Plant Science and Southern Cross Geoscience (launched 2010) and the Centre for Organics Research (2017) at Lismore.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Business, Law and Arts
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Health
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- SCU College
- Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples
SCU reports that 93% of its domestic undergraduates were employed (overall employment rate, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025) and that its graduates' median full-time salary is above the national average. Its 2025 annual report records a 91.7% student success rate.
Student life
SCU's three campuses feel very different. The main Lismore campus (about 3,000 students) sits in 75 hectares of sub-tropical grounds and rainforest walks in the Northern Rivers, and in 1998 opened the first naturopathy clinic at an Australian university. Coffs Harbour (more than 1,200 students) shares its site with TAFE and focuses on health, education and marine science, with the National Marine Science Centre nearby. The Gold Coast campus at Coolangatta is 400 metres from North Kirra Beach and next to Gold Coast Airport. Six-week terms mean assessments come quickly, and many students combine study with work or online units.
- The Southern Cross Model gives you two units at a time over six weeks, with a two-week break between terms.
- The Early Offer program lets Year 12 students secure a place before their exams.
- Global experience and exchange programs, including New Colombo Plan scholarships won by SCU students.
- SCU received its largest philanthropic donation, A$10 million from the Blackmore Foundation, in 2018.
Housing. The Lismore campus offers on-campus accommodation; for the Gold Coast, SCU points students to both on- and off-campus options.
Location
SCU's main campuses are in Lismore, a Northern Rivers city of about 40,000 people, 40 minutes from Byron Bay; Coffs Harbour, a coastal city on the Mid North Coast; and on the southern Gold Coast beside the airport. The region offers beaches, rainforest and a slower pace than the state capitals. After major floods in 2022, SCU's Lismore campus hosted organisations and schools relocating from damaged lower-lying areas.
Nearest airport: Gold Coast Airport (OOL), next to the Gold Coast campus; Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BNK) for Lismore; Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS)
Notable alumni
- AL Ashok LavasaFormer Election Commissioner of India; MBA
- PW Poto WilliamsNew Zealand MP and cabinet minister; MBA
- BN Ben NewtonParalympic gold medallist in wheelchair rugby; Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), 2010
- JH Jacqueline HeyChair of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank from 2019 until May 2024 and a former Ericsson executive; graduate degree
- DM Daniel McDanielFormer Major General in the Australian Army; Bachelor of Management
- AN Andrew NikolicFormer Liberal MP and senior Army officer; Bachelor of Social Science
- LR Linda ReynoldsFormer Australian Minister for Defence; graduate certificate in training and development
Frequently asked questions
What ATAR do you need for Southern Cross University?
2027 course guides range from 60 (Business Administration) and 65 (Science) to 70 (Nursing, Engineering, Psychological Science), 80 (Laws, Midwifery) and 85 (Physiotherapy, Veterinary Medicine).
How much does Southern Cross University cost for international students?
For 2027, the indicative first-year international fee is A$27,000 for a wide range of bachelor's degrees, under SCU's unified Access27 fee.
What is the Southern Cross Model?
SCU's teaching calendar: six terms of six weeks a year, with most full-time students taking two units per term in four terms. All courses have used it since 2023.
When do international applications close for Term 1 2027?
Applicants outside Australia should apply by 1 January 2027, and onshore applicants by 10 March 2027. Teaching starts on 8 March 2027.
What IELTS score does Southern Cross University require?
IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5 for most bachelor's degrees, 7.0 for health degrees such as Nursing and Physiotherapy, and 8.0 for Speech Pathology.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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