Southern Cross University: Rankings, Courses & Admissions

Education at Southern Cross University

The high-quality study experience at Southern Cross University, Australia, is backed by the support of dedicated faculty, their world-class status is reinforced by their outstanding research reputation. According to Edurank, the Southern Cross University acceptance rate is 67%. The academic structure at the university is built upon four faculties:

• Faculty of Business, Law and Arts 
• Faculty of Science, and Engineering
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Health

Additionally, there is a range of inclusive pathway programs through SCU College and the university nurtures relationships with Indigenous communities through the Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples. The Excellence in Research for Australia report has ranked Southern Cross University ‘at world standard or above’ across 24 diverse research fields of global and national significance.

USP of Southern Cross University

Some of the unique features which distinguish Southern Cross University, Australia from the others are as follows:

• Recognizing the importance of internationalization, the university formed SCU International to promote overseas study opportunities for international students.
• Received 5-star rating for skill development, overall experience, and learning resources in Humanities and Social Sciences, according to a report of Good Universities Guide, 2022.
• The Lismore campus is occupied by 75 acres of land, rainforest walkways, and sub-tropical grounds including landscaped gardens that are home to a variety of wildlife.
• The heart of the Lismore campus of Southern Cross University is their Learning Centre, a next-level library complex.
• The university received a rating of ‘world standard’ or above in 23 research fields and ‘well above world standard’ in 14 research fields.

QS World University Rankings and Other Rankings

The Southern Cross University ranking ranges between 751-800, as QS World University Rankings. As per the Times Higher Education ranking, the university was ranked 601-800th on the World University Rankings 2022 and 164th on Young University Rankings 2022. The US News and World Report placed them on #988 in Best Global Universities and #41 in Best Global Universities in Australia/New Zealand. 

Top Offered Courses at Southern Cross University

Some of the top offered courses at the Southern Cross University are as follows:

• Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management
• Bachelor of Community Welfare
• Bachelor of Business and Enterprise
• Bachelor of Nursing - Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse Pathway
• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
• Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology
• Master of Osteopathic Medicine
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Professional Accounting
• Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying)
• Associate Degree of International Tourism Management
• Graduate Certificate in Regenerative Agriculture

Listed below are the Southern Cross University fees in different subject areas.

Required Exams at Southern Cross University

Students seeking admission to the university need to undergo an English proficiency test through IELTS, TOEFL or PTE. The Southern Cross University requirements for IELTS under different levels of degree are as follows:

• Undergraduate degrees: A score equal to or above 6.0 bands with no band less than 5.5
• Undergraduate diplomas and certificates: A score equal to or above 5.5 bands with 5.5 in Writing and no other band less than 5.0
• Postgraduate programs: A score equal to or above 6.5 bands with no band less than 6.0

Here are some of the corresponding requirements for TOEFL and PTE.

Admission Requirements for Southern Cross University

The Southern Cross University requirements for admission are the minimum academic standard students must meet to apply for a certain course. 

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

Students are assessed on the basis of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) for the Australian Year 12 qualification under which students need to score the required entrance score which differs for various subjects. 

When assessing applications against the relevant Academic Standards, the University will use accepted educational resources, including Australian Education International - NOOSR, UK NARIC, University Admissions Centre Assessment of Qualifications Manual, and the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre Schedule to establish the Australian equivalence of an applicant’s overseas qualifications.  

Postgraduate Admission Requirements

Should possess a qualification equivalent to an Australian Bachelor's degree in addition to the specific requirements as per the course structure. If students do not have a degree equivalent to an Australian Bachelor's degree, relevant work experience might be taken into consideration. 

Available Scholarships for Southern Cross University

Students getting admission at the Southern Cross University, Australia are eligible to get scholarships from their first year of study. The institution offers a range of scholarships for international students which are designed to provide financial support, promote cultural diversity and academic excellence.

Scholarships currently range in value from $150 to $32 000 and the basis for selection varies widely.

Here are some scholarships available at the university:

• Commonwealth Indigenous Scholarship: This scholarship supports Indigenous students enrolling in the university in their first undergraduate degree. 
• Destination Australia Scholarship: This scholarship is designed to help students take degree in regional Australia. The value of the scholarship is $15,000 per year.
• Academic Performance Scholarship: This scholarship offers $5,000 to an international student who has passed all first-year units, in either an undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
• ANZ Indigenous Student Scholarship: This scholarship supports an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student enrolling in any three-year full-time degree at the Lismore, Coffs Harbour, or Gold Coast campuses. The value of the scholarship is $5,000.

Placements at Southern Cross University

The Careers and Employability Department at SCU organizes workshops to help students connect with industry experts, reviews their resumes, and prepares them for interviews. The CareerSuccess section of their website features openings by various organizations for students of different fields of study. Some of the top employers at SCU are as follows:

• Coles
• Shell
• Westpac Group
• IMC Trading
• Commonwealth Bank
• PwC Australia
• Deloitte Australia
• Optiver Asia Pacific

Top Australian Universities

University Name	Acceptance Rate	Ranking	University Type
University of Notre Dame	15.10%	1201	Private
James Cook University	79%	424	Public
Torrens University	39%	3425	Private
Charles Sturt University	87.40%	1000	Public
Queensland University of Technology	40%	222	Public
Swinburne University of Technology	66%	296	Public
Charles Darwin University	59%	750	Public
University of Southern Queensland	69%	700	Public
Bond University	30%-40%	481	Private
Southern Cross University	67%	750	Public
Central Queensland University	30%	700	Public
University of the Sunshine Coast	66%	1200	Public
Australian Catholic University	67%	1000	Public
University of New England	90%	1000	Public
University of Western Australia	38%	90	Public
ATMC Federation University	97.20%	1265	Private
Kaplan Business School	NA	NA	Private
Melbourne Polytechnic	NA	NA	Public
Excelsia College	NA		Private
Macleay College	45%	14802	Private
Australian National institute of Management and Commerce	35%	34	Private
UTS College	19.00%	137	Private
Russo Business School	66.40%	351-400	Private
International College of Management	100%	343	Private
Australian College of Applied Professions	NA	NA	Private
Melbourne Institute of Technology	NA	190	Public