Southern Cross University - Coffs Harbour

The Coffs Harbour campus offers a friendly learning environment and contemporary teaching facilities including a purpose-built nursing laboratory, complete with simulated wards. Student accommodation in a peaceful setting is located just minutes away from the academic precinct.

Coffs Harbour Campus offers a welcoming place to express yourself and find the perfect path for your career. Our campus is designed to make your studies easier and enjoyable, with student support services and a popular lounge and reflection area.

History of the Southern Cross University

Southern Cross University was established on 1 January 1994, following the decentralisation of the network of the University of New England, Australia as a university with several campuses, which had been established in 1989. The University of New Englandcontinues to exist as a single campus in Armidale, New South Wales, as it had been established in 1954.

The old college in Lismore, New South Wales, was the Lismore Teachers College, founded in 1971. This institution was expanded and renamed the Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education in 1973. Following the publication of the Australian Government's White Paper on Higher Education in 1988, with its emphasis on the development of larger institutions, the Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education was sent into an association with the old University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, and it formally became a network member of the newly constituted University of New England, under legislation that was enacted in 1989.

During 1992, in response to a proposal from the Board of Governors of the University of New England, the State and Commonwealth Ministers responsible for Higher Education established an Advisory Group to consider the implications of the Board of Governors' proposal that the network-style University of New England, Australia, be abolished, and that at least one new university be established.

The Advisory Group recommended that a new university be established in the North Coast Region of New South Wales as an academically-integrated institution incorporating the two University of New England network centres at Northern Rivers and Coffs Harbour, with the prospect of establishing additional North Coast centres as required. The Advisory Group also proposed that the new university develop under the sponsorship/supervision of a major metropolitan university for its first three years, while operating under its own name and with its own Council, and awarding its own degrees.

The Commonwealth and State Government Ministers jointly appointed an Implementation Advisory Panel to advise on the strategies necessary to give effect to the proposed new structures and announced that the successor institutions to the University of New England network would be established in time for the 1994-95 academic year. The University of New England, remains where it had originally been, in Armidale, New South Wales, as a single campus.

On 29 June 1993, the Commonwealth Department for Employment, Education, and Training and the New South Wales Department of Education and Training announced the outcome of the joint Commonwealth/State review of the continued offering of higher education in northern New South Wales. The announcement included the decision that a new university would be established on the North Coast of New South Wales, which would consist of campuses at Lismore (formerly the University of New England, Australia-Northern Rivers) and at Coffs Harbour (formerly the University of New England-Coffs Harbour Centre). It was later announced that the new college would be called the Southern Cross University. Legislation was passed by both houses of the Government of New South Wales Parliament in October 1993.

In 2010, Southern Cross University opened a new campus in the Southern Gold Coast area of Queensland, at Coolangatta just 400 metres from North Kirra Beach, and adjacent to the Gold Coast Airport. Views of the Pacific Ocean can be seen from many vantage points in the campus' buildings. A dedication ceremony was attended by then Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard MP. The Foundation Building was opened in 2010 and a second 10-story building opened in February 2013. The campus includes a student services hub, designed to provide a one-stop shop for student support and enquiries. The library offers stunning views of the ocean and Gold Coast hinterland. Other facilities include innovative learning spaces, health science laboratories, lecture theatres with live video broadcasting, computer labs and student lounges.It is projected that all programs currently offered at the Tweed Heads campuses will be transferred to the new Gold Coast campus progressively over 2013.

Accreditation

Institutional Accreditation or Recognition: Department of Education and Training, Australia

Southern Cross University rankings

• Southern Cross University is ranked in the top 500 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-16. The rankings, now in their 12th year, draw on data from 1126 institutions world-wide and are based on teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.
• Southern Cross University is also among Times Higher Education  150 world's best young universities for 2016. The rankings are based on the same performance indicators as the THE World University Rankings - teaching, research, citations, international outlook and industry income.
• For the third consecutive year, SCU has also been ranked number one in Australia for international student support by the International Student Barometer 2015 survey, and ranked number two in Australia for overall learning experience.

Services of the Southern Cross University - Coffs Harbour

The Coffs Harbour campus provides a friendly learning environment and contemporary teaching facilities. These include purpose-built nursing laboratories (clinical and simulation); anatomy, physiology and chemistry lab; midwifery birth suite; and psychology labs. There are specialised teaching spaces for education students. The gathering space in the heart of the campus is the ideal place for student activities or to relax with friends. The recreation hall and fitness centre provide a venue for a variety of sporting activities. The campus is situated on the southern side of the city, minutes from international standard sporting facilities and the airport. It is part of an education precinct, with the University co-located with North Coast TAFE (a technical and further education facility) and a senior high school

National Marine Science Centre

The National Marine Science Centre is located adjacent to the Solitary Islands Marine Park which enables students, academic and professional researchers to excel in the study of marine science and management.

Coffs Harbour Technology Park

The Coffs Harbour Technology Park aims to provide an environment which captures the business synergies resulting from the collocation of Information and Communication (ICT) based industry, technology business incubation facilities and higher education and vocational training institutions.

Travel to Coffs Harbour campus

For information on how to travel to Coffs Harbour campus and what parking is available please go to the Travel to SCU page.

Coffs Harbour tourism information

The Coffs Coast Tourism website offers information on accommodation, things to do, events and more.

Why choose us?

Southern Cross University is a vibrant, contemporary Australian university with campuses at the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour, with branch campuses in Sydney and Melbourne. The University operates The Hotel School Sydney and The Hotel School Melbourne in partnership with Mulpha Australia.

• Southern Cross Universitywas ranked #401-500 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-2016
• Southern Cross University is a research intensive university and was evaluated at 'well above world standard' in nine key areas in the Australian Research Council's 2015 Excellence in Research Australia Report .
• SCU International ranked number one in Australia, for the third year running, for international student support in the International Student Barometer (ISB) survey 2015 .
• Industry-relevant degrees with a strong practical component that enables students to generate and apply knowledge.

Southern Cross University is in a unique part of Australia where students can access some of the best surfing beaches and marine environments in the country. World Heritage rainforest areas and national parks are also regional attractions - perfect for bushwalking and camping experiences.