Southern Cross University - Sydney

The campus is a few minutes' walk from Sydney Harbour and Circular Quay, with easy access to public transport; perfect for those who choose to walk, cycle, ride a bus or train, or relax on board a ferry from surrounding shores.

The SCU Sydney campus is located in the heart of Sydney's central business district, offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses for international students. Conveniently positioned for city living, commuting to and from the beaches, shopping malls, and enjoying the lifestyle attractions Sydney has to offer.

New South Wales and Sydney has over 100,000 international students providing a rich diversity and vibrancy to the community. The Sydney City council has several programs in place to support international students from a comprehensive international student resource guide to student leadership programs providing leadership training, mentoring, skills development and even work experience. The council's support plus SCU's stunning location makes SCU Sydney an ideal place for international students seeking to experience living in one of the world's most beautiful and liveable cities.

Southern Cross University’s Sydney branch campus offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in business, administration and accounting. SCU’s new Sydney location at 5-7 Young Street, is a beautiful heritage-listed building, classified by the National Trust and the State Heritage Register, and one of the few remaining historic mid-19th century structures in Sydney. The former Hinchcliff Woolstore now serves as a reminder of the bustling Circular Quay trading port, which was then the centre of wool trading in NSW. While the building’s exterior has been preserved, the interior has been renovated to accommodate the growing needs of the SCU Sydney community and has become a haven for students looking for a quiet and comfortable spot to study. The stunning Sydney Harbour Bridge also serves as a backdrop to this iconic building which is just a few minutes’ walk from Circular Quay and the Sydney Opera House. 

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 - Sydney

• I.T. and Technical support
• Library
• Student Representation and Student Associations
• AFL - Lismore Swans
• Badminton
• Netball - SCU Netty Rats
• Rugby Club - SCU Gold Rats
• SCUL Riders (Surfing)
• SCU Swimming Club
• SCU Cheer Team
• SCU Mountain Bike Club (SCUMB)
• SCU Soccer Club
• SCU Waterpolo Club
• Aboriginal Student Kinship
• Animal Law Club
• Bouldering Club
• International Social Student Club (ISS)
• No More Noodles
• OPUS
• SCU Accessibility & Social Inclusion Group (SCU ASIG)
• SCU Chess Club
• SCU Enviro Club
• SCU Fire Club
• SCU Mixed Up Reels Film Club
• SCU Women's Group
• SCU Words
• QSCU (LGBTIQ)

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.