Which awards can I apply for?

Want to find out which awards you can apply for? Click choose your country to view the relevant awards to your specific country.

Choose Your Country

Southern Cross University

Military Road
Lismore
New South Wales 2480
Web address: www.scu.edu.au
ADS contact phone: +61 (2) 6620 3876
ADS contact fax: +61 (2) 6620 3227

Relevant campuses: Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Tweed Gold Coast.

Community and surrounds
The three campuses of Southern Cross University are located in northern New South Wales.

The main campus is at Lismore, a regional city of 45,000 people, situated in the lush coastal hinterland of northern New South Wales. Typical of Australia’s smaller regional cities, Lismore is a friendly, welcoming community, which offers Australian hospitality. Lismore is in a district renowned for its natural beauty, with national parks and World Heritage-listed rainforests. Nearby are some of Australia’s best beaches. Lismore services the surrounding rural and farming industries. Lismore is 70 minutes' drive from the Gold Coast and just over two hours' drive from Brisbane. Lismore is a modern town with all the facilities and infrastructure of larger cities but less crime, pollution, traffic and expense. It has excellent hospitals, schools, public transport, shopping malls, cinemas and entertainment venues.

Coffs Harbour is a coastal city in northern New South Wales with a population of 60,000. It is about a four-hour journey from Brisbane by car. It is close to both the mountains and the coast, providing a range of environments from rainforest to coastal heath, waterways and beaches. Coffs Harbour is a popular tourist area, which also has a friendly local community.

The Gold Coast/Tweed Heads region is one of the most famous locations in Australia and a popular tourist destination. The cities have a combined population of 400,000 and are surrounded by national parks and more than 34 kilometres of beaches. There is a multicultural community, many shopping centres, restaurants and nightlife, along with a wide range of exciting recreational activities. It is a one-hour drive to Brisbane.

Climate
Average temperatures vary between 17 and 35 degrees Celsius in the summer, and between 10 and 23 degrees in the winter months. It is a sub-tropical environment.

Cost of living and accommodation
On-campus accommodation is available at the Lismore and Coffs Harbour campuses. At the Lismore campus, there are three self catering residential colleges for between $84 and $94 a week (including electricity). The on-campus accommodation at Coffs Harbour campus is $94 a week. In addition students pay a compulsory charge of $503 which includes a refundable security deposit of $250.

In Lismore and Coffs Harbour, the cost of a single room off campus in share accommodation is approximately $70 a week plus food, water and electricity. The cost of homestay is usually between $150 and $160 per week, including meals. Lismore and Coffs Harbour have a cheaper cost of living compared with Australia’s major capital cities.

While there is no university accommodation available at the Tweed Gold Coast campus, there is ample affordable rental accommodation. The university will arrange temporary accommodation on arrival and ensure that students are offered suitable accommodation.

Campus descriptions
Lismore hosts the university's main campus - a 60-hectare complex of modern facilities three kilometres from the Lismore central business district. Around 5,000 students, including 300 international students, are based at the Lismore campus. This campus is home to an English language centre, offering ELICOS programs, and the International Office responsible for international student admissions and specialist support. In addition to the teaching and learning facilities at the Lismore campus, students can avail themselves of the medical, dental and counselling services, careers advice, chaplaincy, student clubs and associations, banking and sporting facilities, live music venues and eateries located there.

The Coffs Harbour campus is located on the mid north coast of New South Wales, three kilometres from the Coffs Harbour central business district. It is a modern facility located in an educational precinct shared with other education providers. Coffs Harbour is a beachside city of 65,000 people with close proximity to a stunning diversity of environments, from rainforest to coastal heath, farmland and pristine beaches. English language programs and a select range of degree programs are available at the Coffs Harbour campus, which is also affiliated with the National Marine Science Centre. International Office, medical and counselling services, careers advice, student association, sporting facilities and eateries are available at the Coffs Harbour campus.

Around 850 university students, including 40 international students, plus 65 long-term ELICOS students are based at the Coffs Harbour campus.

The Tweed Gold Coast campus focuses primarily on postgraduate business programs with undergraduate programs in business and social science areas also available. The campus is located 10 minutes from Coolangatta Airport, a gateway to all capital cities in Australia.

The compact, purpose-built, waterfront campus was opened in 2002 and incorporates the latest educational delivery technology, including high-level Internet connectivity, interactive video conferencing and desktop video technology linking the university's campuses.

Teaching and tutorial spaces are designed to ensure state-of-the-art course delivery with face-to-face teaching supported by advanced technology communications. Facilities include Harvard-style lecture theatre and seminar rooms, a learning resource centre and five computer laboratories. There is swipe-card access to the campus from 6:00am till midnight, every day of the week.

There are currently around 350 students on campus, 20 per cent of these from countries other than Australia.

In common with all Southern Cross University students, those at the Tweed Gold Coast campus have 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week access to online journal articles, books and other electronic publications. If they need a hard copy of a book, they can search other campuses' shelves online as well as those of affiliated universities and place an order for the publication, which will be delivered to their home or campus within a few days, at no charge. The campus library has notebook computers with wireless access to the Internet and the university network for students to use in the library, as well as scanners, CD burners, video and DVD players, photocopiers, printers and PC workstations.

A range of housing options is available close to the campus, beaches, river, schools and shopping. Free membership is provided to the adjacent Tweed Heads Bowls Club, which provides catering and other service facilities, and the campus is in easy reach of shops and the central business district. General services, including medical and dental services, and sporting facilities, are available off campus in the local community.

International student population
In 2003, there were about 400 international students on campus at Southern Cross University. Of these, 45 students were from China, 25 from Thailand, 25 from Papua New Guinea and Pacific islands, 25 from India, 100 from North America, 20 from North Europe, 25 from Indonesia, and 70 from other countries.

Family and community services
There are a number of hospitals and medical centres in the cities, as well as schools and childcare centres. If children are accompanying a student, the university will assist to place them in a school. Coffs Harbour, Lismore and the Gold Coast have a range of government, private and religious primary and secondary schools.

Medical services are available on campus in Lismore and Coffs Harbour and nearby to the campus at Tweed Gold Coast. A full range of general practice services is available including medical tests, pathology and emergency treatment. A free dental service is available on the Lismore campus.

Employment in the Coffs Harbour and Lismore regions is seasonal and includes the tourism industry and agriculture. Tweed Gold Coast has a range of employment opportunities, particularly within tourism.

Childcare facilities
The university's on-campus childcare centre on the Lismore campus provides care for children from between six weeks of age and school age. Opening hours are 8:00am to 6:00pm from Monday to Friday. The centre caters for up to 39 children per day, and prospective parents are therefore advised to apply well in advance. Costs vary and are determined following individual assessment. Contact the university for more information. Several private facilities close to campus also cater for the children of university staff and students.

Facilities for special needs
Support to students with disabilities (including chronic illness) is provided by the university’s Disability Liaison Officer. Students are encouraged to contact the university in advance to discuss their special needs.

Foods for different cultures
Students will find their dietary needs catered for. Ingredients can be purchased for home cooking including meats and seafood, vegetables, fruit, dairy products as well as beans, lentils, noodles, tofu, rices and a wide range of spices. Halal food is available at the Tweed Gold Coast. Availability of kosher food is limited.

Religious facilities
A university Chaplain is available to assist with personal goal setting, confidential counselling and support. A prayer room is available for Muslim students. In Lismore and Coffs Harbour, most Christian denominations are represented and there are also local groups representing Buddhist, Islamic, Sikh, Hindu and Jewish faiths. There are more extensive Islamic religious facilities on the Gold Coast.

Public transport
From the airport: Lismore and Coffs Harbour are serviced daily by air, rail and road transport from the capital cities of Sydney and Brisbane. There are regular daily flights from Sydney to Lismore/Ballina and Coffs Harbour.

There is an international airport at Tweed Gold Coast, at Coolangatta. There are direct flights to this airport from some overseas destinations, as well as regular daily flights from all of Australia’s capital cities.

Arriving students will be met by a representative from the university.

Getting around: All campuses are within close proximity to the city centres. Buses connect all campuses with the cities and surrounding areas.

There is a local coach service throughout Lismore and to the surrounding areas of Byron Bay, Ballina and Brisbane. Taxis are available and cost approximately $8 between the centre of Lismore and the campus. There are local bus services in Coffs Harbour. The Gold Coast/Tweed Heads area has a more extensive public transport system and connects to Brisbane by coach and train.