Southern Cross University Fees: Scholarships and Cost of Living 2026
Southern Cross University (SCU) is an Australian public university. The university offers UG and PG courses in fields such as Business, Information Technology, Engineering, Nursing, Social Work, and Health Sciences. Most postgraduate programs are 2 years in duration, while undergraduate programs generally range from 3 to 4 years at Southern Cross University.
For international students in 2026, the standard annual tuition fee for most SCU programs (UG and PG) is AUD 26,000 (₹17.82 Lakhs). Estimated living expenses range between AUD 270–780/week (₹18,509–53,469/week), depending on accommodation type and campus location. Regional campuses such as Lismore and Coffs Harbour generally have lower living costs compared to metropolitan locations.
SCU provides several automatically assessed scholarships for international students, including tuition support worth up to AUD 8,000 (₹5.48 Lakhs) per year and fixed tuition fee schemes under Access26 and Access27.
Check out the guide for Indian students to study in Australia
Southern Cross University Popular Courses, Fees, and Duration 2026
Southern Cross University offers a wide range of courses to its students in various disciplines. The popular courses include MBS, MIT, BIT, and BEng. The duration for most postgraduate courses is 2 years, whereas it is 3-4 years for most Undergraduate courses.
Annual tuition fee for PG and UG courses is AUD 26,000 (₹17.82 Lakhs). Most courses are taught at the Regional campus of the university, like the Gold Coast campus.
| Course | Duration | Location | Intake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | 2 years | Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | March, June, October |
| Master of Information Technology (MIT) | 2 years | Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | March, June, October |
| Master of Business- Global Hotel Leadership | 2 years | Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | March, June, October |
| Master of Social Work | 2 years | Gold Coast | March, October |
| Master of Science (Osteopathic Medicine) | 1.5 years | Gold Coast, Lismore | March |
| Bachelor of Nursing | 3 years | Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Lismore | January, March, June |
| Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) | 3 years | Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Papua New Guinea – IBSU Port Moresby | March, June, October |
| Bachelor of Science- Speech Pathology | 4 years | Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast | March |
| Bachelor of Engineering Systems | 4 years | Gold Coast | March, June |
| Bachelor of Science- Marine Science and Management Specialisation | 3 years | Lismore, National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour | March |
Read about the admission process at Southern Cross University
How to Pay Fees at Southern Cross University?
International students need to pay an initial deposit fee after receiving their offer letter. After submitting the fee, the students will get a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which is required for the Visa Processing. Follow the steps below to pay the fees at Southern Cross University:
- Go to the SCU Payment Portal
- Select “Pay an International Student Enrolment Deposit”.
- The students will need their Student ID (SID) and details from their Letter of Offer.
The recommended portal for international fee payments is Convera. SCU offers ICICI Bank as a convenient payment method for Indian students through their Payment Portal, which is powered by Convera.
This allows the students to pay their tuition deposit fees in Indian Rupees (INR) from their ICICI account. It makes the process easier than regular international wire transfers.
Note:
- Always keep the receipt/email confirmation of payment.
- Payments may take 2–4 business days to reflect (especially bank transfers).
Know more about the Australian student visa requirements for Indian students
Southern Cross University Cost of Living 2026
Southern Cross University has campuses regionally and in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne as well. Thus, the cost of living also varies with the campuses. Cost of living in the regional campuses is lower than that of the metropolitan campuses.
The university portal has provided the estimated data for the cost of living at Southern Cross University.
- Weekly cost of living: AUD 270- 780 (₹18,509–53,469)/week
- Yearly cost of living: AUD 14,040-30,680 (₹9.62–21.03 Lakhs)/year
The cost of living figures include the cost of accommodation, Food, Transport, etc. The lifestyle of a student also greatly influences the overall cost of living figures.
| Expenses (Per week) | Private Rental | SCU Village (Lismore, Coffs Harbour) | Homestay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation |
AUD 150–350 (₹10,283–23,993) |
AUD 190–220 (₹13,025–15,081) |
AUD 240–325 (₹16,452–22,279) |
| Food |
AUD 140–280 (₹9,597–19,194) |
AUD 140–280 (₹9,597–19,194) |
Included |
| Public Transport |
AUD 30–70 (₹2,057–4,799) |
AUD 30 (₹2,057) |
|
| Electricity |
AUD 15 (₹1,028) |
Included | |
| Water |
AUD 5 (₹343) |
||
| Mobile/Internet |
AUD 30–60 (₹2,057–4,113) |
AUD 30–60 (₹2,057–4,113) |
AUD 30–60 (₹2,057–4,113) |
| Estimated Weekly Total |
AUD 370–780/week (₹25,364–53,469/week) |
AUD 390–590/week (₹26,735–40,445/week) |
AUD 270–385/week (₹18,509–26,392/week) |
Read about the cost of living for Indian students in Australia
Southern Cross University Scholarships 2026
All scholarships available for international students are automatically assessed. It is mentioned on the offer letter if the student is selected for any of the scholarships.
- Vice Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Scholarship: Up to $8,000 (₹5.48 Lakhs) per year for both UG and PG students. The students should have an exceptional academic performance (must exceed standard entry requirements). Campuses eligible: Gold Coast, Lismore, Coffs Harbour (some online options).
- Vice Chancellor’s International Diversification Scholarship: Up to $8,000 (₹5.48 Lakhs) per year for both UG and PG programs. Promotes diversity; available for specific countries (contact SCU’s Regional Manager for the list). Campuses eligible: Mainly Gold Coast, Lismore, and Coffs Harbour.
- Southern Cross Global Regional Scholarship Value: Up to $8,000 (₹5.48 Lakhs) per year for students at regional campuses. Supports students studying at regional campuses. Campuses eligible: Lismore, Coffs Harbour, or the National Marine Science Centre.
- Access 26 and 27 are the two scholarships that award a fixed amount every year to international students. For 2026, the award amount is $26,000 (₹17.82 Lakhs), and $27,000 (₹18.51 Lakhs) for 2027.
| Scholarship | Value | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Access26 | Fixed $26,000 (₹17.82 Lakhs) annual tuition fee (most courses) |
Major affordability initiative replacing many older scholarships. Applies to almost all new international students. |
| Access27 | Fixed $27,000 (₹18.51 Lakhs) annual tuition fee | Available for 2027 intakes. |
| Vice Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Scholarship | Up to $8,000 (₹5.48 Lakhs) per year (for duration of program) |
Merit-based for high academic performers. Automatically assessed. Requires exceeding standard entry requirements (e.g., strong percentage in 12th or Bachelor’s). |
| Southern Cross Global Regional Scholarship |
For students studying at regional campuses (Lismore, Coffs Harbour, National Marine Science Centre). |
|
| Vice Chancellor’s International Diversification Scholarship |
Promotes country diversity. Indian students are eligible. |
Read more about the scholarships available for Indian students to study in Australia
Southern Cross University offers a comparatively standardised tuition fee structure across many programs, with annual tuition fees being AUD 26,000 (₹17.82 Lakhs). The university provides study options across both regional and metropolitan campuses, allowing students to compare factors such as accommodation costs, transport expenses, and campus preferences before selecting a location.
The estimated cost of living at SCU varies significantly depending on the type of accommodation chosen, ranging from approximately AUD 14,040–30,680/year (₹9.62–21.03 Lakhs/year). Students studying at regional campuses may benefit from relatively lower accommodation and lifestyle expenses compared to larger Australian cities.
FAQs
Ques. What is the annual tuition fee at Southern Cross University for international students?
Ans. Most undergraduate and postgraduate programs at SCU have an annual tuition fee of AUD 26,000 (₹17.82 Lakhs) for international students in 2026.
Ques. Which SCU campus is cheaper for international students to live in?
Ans. Regional campuses such as Lismore and Coffs Harbour generally have lower living costs compared to metropolitan locations like Sydney or Melbourne.
Ques. Can international students work part-time while studying at SCU?
Ans. Yes. International students on a student visa can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods and unlimited hours during official semester breaks.
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| 8MIU1T | 7N6V25 | /mfICu | vvWrCI |
|---|---|---|---|
B.N 3 years | USD 18,460 /Yr AUD 26,000 /Yr | IELTS:- 7.0 | |
M.B.A 2 years | USD 18,460 /Yr AUD 26,000 /Yr | IELTS:- 6.5 | |
M.I.T 2 years | Application Deadline For 2027 Intake (15th Dec 2026) | USD 18,460 /Yr AUD 26,000 /Yr | IELTS:- 6.5 |
B.S Speech Pathology 4 years | USD 18,460 /Yr AUD 26,000 /Yr | IELTS:- 8.0 |
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