About the university
Southern Cross University (SCU) has been a university since 1994. Its main campuses are on the Gold Coast (at Coolangatta, a few hundred metres from the beach), in Lismore and in Coffs Harbour in northern New South Wales, and it also teaches international students at metro campuses in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. It has more than 20,000 students.
SCU teaches in six-week terms under its Southern Cross Model, so you study fewer units at once. It is known for health, nursing, education, environmental and marine science, and hotel management through The Hotel School, which runs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
For Indian students the big draw is a simple, low fee. Under SCU's Access27 model almost every course in the 2027 International Guide costs A$27,000 a year, including the Master of Information Technology, the MBA (Business Analytics and AI) and the Master of Engineering (Civil). The Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry) is A$37,000. Many courses offer March, June and October starts.
Lismore and Coffs Harbour are regional towns with lower living costs, while the Gold Coast is a large beach city near Brisbane. Studying at a regional campus can affect post-study work rights; see our Australia guide for details.
- Founded
- 1994
- Type
- Public university
- Total students
- More than 20,000 (SCU 2027 International Guide)
- Campuses
- Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour, plus metro campuses in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney
- Intakes
- Several a year; most international courses start in March, June or October (some in January or August)
- Teaching model
- Southern Cross Model: six-week terms, studying fewer units at a time
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
=634 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
Master of Information Technology (Cybersecurity, AI)
- Fee / year
- A$27,000
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- March; June; October (Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0), PTE 58 or TOEFL iBT 79
- Postgraduate
Master of Business Administration (Business Analytics and AI)
- Fee / year
- A$27,000
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- March; June; October (Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0), PTE 58 or TOEFL iBT 79
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- A$27,000
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- March; October (Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne or Perth)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0), PTE 58 or TOEFL iBT 79
- Postgraduate
Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry)
- Fee / year
- A$37,000
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- January; August (Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour or Lismore)
- English
- Check the course page; nursing courses ask for higher scores
- Postgraduate
Master of Construction Practice
- Fee / year
- A$27,000
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- March; October (Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0), PTE 58 or TOEFL iBT 79
- Postgraduate
Master of Business in Global Hotel Leadership
- Fee / year
- A$27,000
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- March; June; October (Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0), PTE 58 or TOEFL iBT 79
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- A$27,000
- Duration
- 1 year
- Intakes
- March; June; October (Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0), PTE 58 or TOEFL iBT 79
- Postgraduate
Master of Teaching (Early Childhood)
- Fee / year
- A$27,000
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- March; June; October (Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney)
- English
- Check the course page; teaching courses may ask for higher scores
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (AUD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Information Technology (Cybersecurity, AI) | 2 years | A$27,000 | ≈ ₹17.6 lakh |
| Master of Business Administration (Business Analytics and AI) | 2 years | A$27,000 | ≈ ₹17.6 lakh |
| Master of Engineering (Civil) | 2 years | A$27,000 | ≈ ₹17.6 lakh |
| Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry) | 2 years | A$37,000 | ≈ ₹24.1 lakh |
| Master of Construction Practice | 2 years | A$27,000 | ≈ ₹17.6 lakh |
| Master of Business in Global Hotel Leadership | 2 years | A$27,000 | ≈ ₹17.6 lakh |
| Graduate Diploma of Business | 1 year | A$27,000 | ≈ ₹17.6 lakh |
| Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) | 2 years | A$27,000 | ≈ ₹17.6 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Southern Cross University with similar universities in Australia.
Scholarships
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- SCU publishes an academic score table by country on its website; check it for the Class 12 result needed from your board.
- Diplomas (1 year, A$27,000) and SCU College programmes give a pathway if you do not meet direct entry.
- Nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy and social work need IELTS 7.0 with no band below 7.0.
Postgraduate
- Most master's courses ask for a recognised bachelor's degree; Graduate Certificates (6 months, A$13,500) and Graduate Diplomas can be a pathway.
- Most postgraduate courses ask for IELTS 6.5 overall.
- Apply for the March, June or October start that suits you; the Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry) starts in January or August.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- Degree certificate and transcripts (for postgraduate)
- English test result from the last two years
- Statement of purpose and CV where the course asks for them
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Most postgraduate degrees: 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0 for some). Most bachelor's degrees: 6.0 (no band below 5.5). Diplomas: 5.5 (no band below 5.0). Nursing and some health degrees: 7.0 in every band. |
| PTE Academic | 50 for IELTS 6.0 courses; 58 for IELTS 6.5 courses; 65 for IELTS 7.0 courses (sub-score minimums apply) |
| TOEFL iBT | 60 for IELTS 6.0 courses; 79 for IELTS 6.5 courses; 94 for IELTS 7.0 courses (section minimums apply) |
| SCU College English | English for Academic Purposes (EAP) levels give direct entry to many courses; EAP costs A$460 a week for 15 weeks or less. |
Accommodation and living costs
Lismore and Coffs Harbour have on-campus UniLodge apartments; on the Gold Coast and at metro campuses most students rent privately or choose a homestay. Prices below are from SCU's 2027 International Guide (February 2025 figures).
| Item | In AUD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus room (UniLodge Lismore or Coffs Harbour)From A$230; utilities and internet included | A$230per week | ≈ ₹14,950 |
| Room in a private rental | A$170–300per week | ≈ ₹11,050 – ₹19,500 |
| HomestayExcludes the placement fee | A$300–345per week | ≈ ₹19,500 – ₹22,425 |
| Food | A$130–180per week | ≈ ₹8,450 – ₹11,700 |
Campus and location
SCU has three main campuses (Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour) and four metro campuses (Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney) where many business, IT and hotel courses are taught.
- Gold Coast campus at Coolangatta, about 400 metres from North Kirra Beach.
- Lismore campus is set in rainforest and has a koala hospital.
- Marine science is taught partly at the National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour.
- The Hotel School runs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
- Six-week terms under the Southern Cross Model.
Careers and graduate outcomes
SCU reports strong graduate employment in national Graduate Outcomes Survey results. Graduates can apply for Australia's Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485); see our Australia guide for the rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate full-time employment | 93% | Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023, quoted by SCU |
| Unit success rate | 91% (2025) | SCU 2027 International Guide |
Studying in Australia
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Australia. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Australia
Photo: Bob Tan, CC BY 4.0 PublicThe University of Melbourne (official website, opens in a new tab)
Melbourne, AustraliaOften chosen for Life Sciences, Law, Business & Management
Photo: Rob Deutscher from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0 PublicMonash University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Melbourne, AustraliaOften chosen for Medicine & Health Sciences, Engineering, Data Science & AI
Photo: J Bar, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicUNSW Sydney (official website, opens in a new tab)
Sydney, AustraliaOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Finance & Accounting
Photo: Donaldytong, Public domain PublicDeakin University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Melbourne and Geelong, AustraliaOften chosen for Nursing & Allied Health, Computer Science & IT, Business & Management
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. KittySaturn~commonswiki assumed (based o…, Public domain PublicThe University of Sydney (official website, opens in a new tab)
Sydney, AustraliaOften chosen for Business & Management, Engineering, Medicine & Health Sciences
Photo: BobTanGo, CC BY 4.0 PublicThe University of Queensland (official website, opens in a new tab)
Brisbane, AustraliaOften chosen for Life Sciences, Engineering, Business & Management
FAQs
How much does a master's cost at Southern Cross University?
SCU's 2027 International Guide lists A$27,000 a year for most master's degrees, including IT, the MBA (Business Analytics and AI) and Engineering (Civil). The Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry) is A$37,000 a year.
Which intakes can I choose?
Most courses for international students start in March, June or October. Some health courses start in January or August.
Can I study in Sydney or Melbourne?
Yes. Business, IT, engineering and hotel management courses are offered at SCU's metro campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth as well as on the Gold Coast.
What IELTS score do I need?
Usually 6.5 for postgraduate and 6.0 (no band below 5.5) for undergraduate. Nursing and some health degrees need 7.0 in every band.
Are scholarships available?
SCU has a scholarship search for international students on its website. Its Access27 model sets one annual fee for most courses in 2027, so check the latest offers when you apply.
Sources
- Southern Cross University: 2027 International Guide (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Southern Cross University: international students (opens in a new tab)
- Southern Cross University: English language requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Southern Cross University: international student scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- Southern Cross University: Access27 (opens in a new tab)
- Southern Cross University: about (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.scu.edu.au (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details