Where To Apply

Lismore/Gold Coast/Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia · public

Southern Cross University

UPCOMING
Official website ↗

Southern Cross University does not publish a single closing date. For its next intake (Semester 1), we recommend applying around October 2026, roughly three to four months ahead.

At a glance

International tuition
A$28,000/yr
First-year budget
A$56,000 to A$64,000
English (minimum)
IELTS 6.0 · PTE 50
Application fee
None
Intakes
Semester 1 · Semester 2
Regional (migration)
Yes
Selectivity
Competitive
Degree levels
Undergraduate

Good for

  • Regional migration points (491 and 190 pathways)
  • Lower tuition, from A$28,000/yr
  • More than one intake a year
  • No application fee
  • Accepts IELTS 6.0 or PTE 50

Derived from the data on this page. Individual courses set their own fees, entry scores, and intakes, so check the ones you are applying to.

Overview

Southern Cross runs one of Australia's only undergraduate programs built around a block-teaching model, where students study one subject intensively at a time instead of several in parallel.

Who is this university for?

Southern Cross suits students who prefer to focus on one subject at a time rather than spreading attention across four. Its block model and multiple annual intakes give flexibility, and its regional NSW campuses carry skilled-migration points and low living costs. It is strong in health, environmental science, and business, and works well for students who want structure and a smaller-campus feel.

Admissions

Selectivity
Competitive
English (institutional minimum)
IELTS 6 · PTE 50
Degree levels
Undergraduate

Verified scu.edu.au ↗

Australian universities do not publish official acceptance rates. Selectivity here is our editorial band, not a percentage. Mainstream public university. Entry is real but attainable from a recognised bachelor's or Year 12 equivalent, while named professional courses such as nursing, teaching and psychology set higher course-specific bars. Individual competitive courses stay harder to enter than the institution-wide band suggests. How we assign it.

Tuition & first-year budget

International tuition
A$28,000/year
Application fee
None
Living cost estimate
A$24,000/year

Verified scu.edu.au ↗

Estimated first-year budget

A$56,000 to A$64,000

Tuition plus about A$24,000 living costs, the application fee, and roughly A$4,000 in one-off setup costs (visa, health cover, flights, initial deposits). Tuition varies widely by course, so check your specific program.

The living-cost figure is an estimate for Lismore/Gold Coast/Coffs Harbour, anchored to the Australian Government’s AUD 29,710 minimum for a single student visa applicant (2026) and adjusted for the city. Your actual costs depend most on rent and lifestyle.

Academics

Associate Degree of Business (Exit award)

Undergraduate · Business

Associate Degree of Engineering

Undergraduate · Engineering

Associate Degree of Global Hotel Management

Undergraduate · Business

Associate Degree of International Hotel and Tourism Management

Undergraduate · Business

Associate Degree of Law (Paralegal Studies)

Undergraduate · Law

Bachelor of Biomedical Science

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Business

Undergraduate · Business

Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management

Undergraduate · Business

Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology

Undergraduate · Nursing & Health Sciences

Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies)

Undergraduate · Nursing & Health Sciences

Page 1 of 8

Comparing options across universities? Browse programs by subject.

How to apply

  1. Choose your course and campus (Lismore, Gold Coast, or Coffs Harbour) or the online option.
  2. Note that Southern Cross uses a block model: you study one subject intensively over six weeks rather than juggling several at once. Make sure that structure suits how you learn.
  3. Check the entry and English requirements for your program.
  4. Prepare your transcripts, English results, and passport.
  5. Apply directly to Southern Cross or through an authorised agent. There are multiple start dates through the year.
  6. Accept your offer and pay the deposit to receive a Confirmation of Enrolment.
  7. Apply for your Student visa and health cover.

Requirements and steps can vary by course. Always confirm the process for your specific program on the university’s official website before applying.

Application deadlines

Southern Cross University runs fixed intakes rather than one hard deadline. The dates below are the recommended times to have your international application in, about three to four months before each intake. Postgraduate and competitive courses close earlier; later applications are often still accepted while places and visa time remain. Confirm the exact date for your course on the university’s site.

IntakeApply by
Semester 1 · Graduatearound October 2026Recommended

Southern Cross University assesses international applications on a rolling basis rather than to one fixed deadline. The date shown is a recommended time to apply for the February or March 2027 intake, roughly three to four months before it starts. Applications are usually still accepted after it while places remain and there is time for a student visa. Southern Cross recommends your international application is in at least two to three months before you start. SCU runs multiple terms a year; applicants from the African continent and some other countries must apply through an education agent.

Semester 1 · Undergraduatearound November 2026Recommended

Southern Cross University assesses international applications on a rolling basis rather than to one fixed deadline. The date shown is a recommended time to apply for the February or March 2027 intake, roughly three to four months before it starts. Applications are usually still accepted after it while places remain and there is time for a student visa. Southern Cross recommends your international application is in at least two to three months before you start. SCU runs multiple terms a year; applicants from the African continent and some other countries must apply through an education agent.

Semester 2 · Graduatearound April 2027Recommended

Southern Cross University assesses international applications on a rolling basis rather than to one fixed deadline. The date shown is a recommended time to apply for the July 2027 intake, roughly three to four months before it starts. Applications are usually still accepted after it while places remain and there is time for a student visa. Southern Cross recommends your international application is in at least two to three months before you start. SCU runs multiple terms a year; applicants from the African continent and some other countries must apply through an education agent.

Semester 2 · Undergraduatearound April 2027Recommended

Southern Cross University assesses international applications on a rolling basis rather than to one fixed deadline. The date shown is a recommended time to apply for the July 2027 intake, roughly three to four months before it starts. Applications are usually still accepted after it while places remain and there is time for a student visa. Southern Cross recommends your international application is in at least two to three months before you start. SCU runs multiple terms a year; applicants from the African continent and some other countries must apply through an education agent.

Verified scu.edu.au ↗

Southern Cross University deadlines, in detail →

Southern Cross University: common questions

Does Southern Cross University charge an application fee for international students?

No. Southern Cross University does not charge international students an application fee when you apply directly or through an authorised agent. Third-party application platforms may add their own service fee.

What English test score do I need to get into Southern Cross University?

The institutional minimum for undergraduate entry at Southern Cross University is IELTS 6 overall, or PTE Academic 50. This is a floor, not a guarantee: nursing programs usually need IELTS 7.0, teaching 7.5, and medicine, law, and business often 7.0. Postgraduate coursework is typically 6.5. Always check the score for your specific course.

How much does it cost to study at Southern Cross University for a year?

As an international student, budget roughly A$56,000 to A$64,000 for your first year. That is tuition from about A$28,000, around A$24,000 in living costs for Lismore/Gold Coast/Coffs Harbour, plus roughly A$4,000 in one-off setup costs. Tuition varies widely by course.

Is Southern Cross University a Group of Eight university?

No. Southern Cross University is not a member of the Group of Eight (Australia's eight research-intensive universities: ANU, Melbourne, Sydney, UNSW, Queensland, Monash, Western Australia, and Adelaide). Many fields are taught just as well outside the Go8 for lower fees.

When can I start studying at Southern Cross University?

Southern Cross University has two main intakes a year: Semester 1, starting in February or March, and Semester 2, starting in July. The recommended time to apply is about three to four months before the intake, and postgraduate and competitive courses close earlier.

Is Southern Cross University in a regional area for skilled migration?

Yes. Lismore/Gold Coast/Coffs Harbour is a designated regional area for skilled migration, so studying at Southern Cross University earns 5 extra points on the skilled points test and opens the Skilled Work Regional (491) visa. Living costs are also usually below Sydney and Melbourne.

How do I apply to Southern Cross University as an international student?

Choose your course and confirm it is open to international students for your intake, check the entry requirements and English score, then apply online through the university's admissions portal or through an authorised agent in your country. After an offer you accept, pay the deposit, receive a Confirmation of Enrolment, and use it to apply for a Student visa (subclass 500).

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Written by Roman Lama

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