Southern Cross University (SCU) is a multi-campus uni in Northern NSW and the Gold Coast that’s known for career-focused degrees, strong regional connections, and flexible study options (including online). If you’re comparing unis in Australia, SCU is worth a close look for Health, Education, Business, Law, IT, Engineering and environmental/marine-focused study areas. PickMyUni students usually shortlist SCU for its campus locations, course choice, scholarships, and pathways like Early Offer for Year 12s. If you’re planning to switch Unis or change courses, PickMyUni can also help you map credit/subjects so you don’t repeat units unnecessarily.
Southern Cross University (SCU) at a glance
Item | What students usually want to know |
Campuses | SCU’s main east coast campuses include Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour (plus specialist locations like the National Marine Science Centre). |
Students (PickMyUni listing) | 17,000+ total students, 3,000+ international students |
Acceptance rate (PickMyUni estimate) | ~67% (note: see the acceptance-rate section below for how to read this in Australia) |
Rankings | Listed in QS and Times Higher Education tables, plus subject rankings |
Early entry | “Early Offer” for eligible Australian Year 12 students |
Scholarships | Domestic + international scholarships listed via SCU’s scholarship pages |
Why students pick Southern Cross University
PickMyUni students typically shortlist Southern Cross University Australia for a mix of:
Study locations that feel liveable (Gold Coast airport-side, Northern Rivers, Coffs Coast), with plenty of students choosing SCU for lifestyle + part-time work balance.
Career support that starts early, not “final-year only”, via SCU Careers & Employability tools like CareerSuccess.
Flexible study options, including dedicated online study pathways through SCU Online.
Southern Cross University campuses
SCU describes three main east coast campuses—Gold Coast, Lismore, and Coffs Harbour—with Coffs also linked to the National Marine Science Centre.
Southern Cross University campus addresses
Campus / location | Street address | Phone / email (main contact) |
Military Road, East Lismore NSW 2480 | 1800 72 4357, enquiry@scu.edu.au | |
Hogbin Drive, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 | 1800 72 4357, enquiry@scu.edu.au | |
Southern Cross Drive, Bilinga QLD 4225 (access via Gold Coast Airport) | 1800 72 4357, enquiry@scu.edu.au | |
Bay Drive (Charlesworth Bay), Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 | +61 2 6659 8100, nmsc@scu.edu.au |
Southern Cross University courses
SCU’s own reporting and course listings show a wide spread of study areas including health, education, science, engineering, business, law, information technology, agriculture, veterinary science, and hospitality management.
High-demand course areas
Study area | Common student goals | Study mode options to check |
Health + Allied Health | Clinical careers, community health, progression into postgrad | On-campus + blended; check placement requirements per course |
Education | Teaching pathways and practical classroom experience | Usually structured placements; confirm campus availability |
Business + Management | Business roles, entrepreneurship, professional accreditation | On-campus + online options exist in parts |
IT + Data | Tech roles, systems, analytics | Varies by course; compare delivery modes |
Engineering + Project Mgmt | Technical roles + leadership pathways | Project-based learning; also online options via SCU Online |
Marine/Environmental Science | Field + lab work, research pathways | Coffs + specialist facilities matter |
Southern Cross University early entry
SCU’s Early Offer pathway is aimed at eligible Australian Year 12 students to secure a place before final results are released. SCU also notes international students aren’t eligible for Early Offer and should apply through other pathways.
What PickMyUni suggests:
Early Offer is free to apply and uses school recommendation / predicted ATAR as part of the process.
Dates can change each year, so point students to the official SCU Early Offer page for the current cycle.
Southern Cross University Ranking
SCU summarises several ranking results publicly, including QS and Times Higher Education references.
Ranking body | Latest reference shown by SCU | What it means for students |
QS World University Rankings | QS ranked SCU #=638 (2026) | Useful for global comparison lists |
Times Higher Education (Young) | Top 100 Young Universities (2024) | Highlights performance among newer unis |
Times Higher Education (World) | SCU notes top 500 globally (2026) | General global positioning |
Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects | Subject bands like Oceanography (Top 150), Nursing (Top 300), Hospitality & Tourism (Top 200) | Handy if your course area appears here |
Southern Cross University Scholarships
SCU lists both domestic and international scholarship options, and the international scholarships page notes eligibility is assessed by admissions at the time of application, with outcomes communicated in the offer letter.
Scholarships Overview
Scholarship type | Who it suits | Typical “how it’s awarded” (keep this general) |
International student scholarships | New international students (varies by course/campus) | SCU notes assessment at application time and advised in the offer letter |
Domestic scholarships + prizes | Australian students across many categories | Mix of merit, equity, community, regional, discipline-specific |
External / partner scholarships | Students eligible via external organisations | Linked from SCU scholarship listings |
Southern Cross University Careers
SCU’s Careers & Employability team positions support as starting “from the start of your studies,” with tools like CareerSuccess (resources, job alerts, interview practice, modules) and appointment bookings.
What students actually use
CareerSuccess: resumes, job alerts, video interview practice, self-paced modules
Appointments + workshops (bookings linked from Careers pages)
Southern Cross University Acceptance Rate
PickMyUni currently lists SCU’s acceptance rate at ~67% on this university profile.
PickMyUni’s take: in Australia, “acceptance rate” often doesn’t work the same way as in the US because entry is usually course-based (ATAR, prerequisites, portfolios, interviews, English requirements, quotas). So treat the % as a rough indicator, then check:
your specific course entry requirements
whether the course has limited places (health/clinical programs often do)
your pathway options (including diplomas/prep programs where available)
SCU Student support and getting to campus
SCU’s Help & Contact page lists campus contact details and student support contacts, including a 24/7 mental health support service (phone/text), plus counselling and inclusion contacts.
For commuting and campus access, SCU also publishes transport, parking, and campus map/tour links for Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour.
Next steps
Compare Southern Cross University with similar unis using the PickMyUni compare feature on this profile.
Want a second opinion on switching courses/unis? Use PickMyUni’s Transfer Assistance / Request Free Consultation option and tell us your current course + target course so we can suggest credit-friendly paths.
If you’ve studied at SCU, write a review on PickMyUni—those student notes help future applicants more than glossy brochures.