Southern Cross University (SCU) has been getting a lot of positive recognition in recent years. Compared to other Australian universities, it’s a relatively small and new institution. However, it has long been a pioneer in online education and its online courses have started to get rave reviews – attracting students from around the world looking for high quality distance learning.
For those who have been thinking of taking up an online course, an SCU online course might seem like an attractive option. But just why is it so much better than other online universities? In this review, we’ll take a deeper look into the university and its online courses to help determine whether it’s worth applying to.
What ratings and rankings does SCU get?
Southern Cross University tends to rank fairly well among other universities in the world. It may not be as prestigious as the likes of Oxford and Harvard, but it does consistently manage to achieve a respectable position near the top of most lists.
- Out of over 1500 universities, it was ranked 576 by The QS World University Rankings in 2025.
- The CWUR meanwhile ranked SCU 1371st out of 20,966 institutions around the globe.
- SCU also made it into Times Higher Education’s Top 100 young universities globally.
As for how students feel about SCU, reviews tend to be mixed, but online students tend to have a mostly positive experience. Many online reviews praise the responsiveness and helpfulness of professors, as well as the flexibility provided by the six-week terms and two-week breaks.
What online courses does SCU provide?
Being able to choose from a variety of different courses is important. SCU currently allows students to study a plethora of different subjects online in English (27 of them at the time of writing this review).
Online postgraduate courses are available in the current areas:
- Business
- Education
- Engineering
- Healthcare
- Law
- Project Management
You will find several different courses within these areas. For example, the university’s healthcare faculty includes separate Mental Health and Leadership courses.
When it comes to undergraduate degrees, there are also a large number of courses to choose from that are either partially or entirely online-based. You can explore some of these on the university’s site.
Oceanography and Marine Science are two of the university’s more unique specialisms. If this is a subject that interests you, a Bachelor of Science (Marine Systems) could be worth looking into – this is possible to study online with Southern Cross University through Open Universities Australia.
Some subjects are not possible to study at SCU. If your desired subject is not covered, then you will need to look into another university.
How affordable is an SCU online course?
Online courses can typically save you a lot of money compared to traditional on-campus courses, because you don’t have to cover costs like accommodation or commuting. This makes them a popular option for students on a tight budget or those looking to reduce their debt.
Of course, you still have to pay tuition fees, which are often the biggest expense of higher education. At SCU, these fees vary greatly depending on the program you choose. Compared to other Australian universities, SCU does offer competitive tuition rates, making it a good choice for students wanting to reduce their overall tuition bill. Foreign students also do not pay any more than local students.
By researching individual courses, you can get an idea of the fees you will be paying. The university does offer financial support services, including help identifying grants and sponsorships. Small interest-free loans are also available for some students facing financial hardship, however online students may not be eligible for this.
What are some unique benefits of studying at SCU?
Studying an online course with Southern Cross University does have some unique benefits.
Firstly, the level of student support you will get at SCU may be far greater than at other universities. A lot of time and money has been invested into the university’s support team allowing students to receive customized academic mentorship as well as mental health support and career counselling. This can greatly help SCU online students to feel more valued.
SCU’s six week term and two week break model also allows for intensive studying with long breaks. Online students have more flexibility than residential students as they don’t have to attend lectures or seminars at specific times (although virtual classes are provided). SCU also doesn’t rely as heavily on exams as some other institutions, instead preferring coursework and other projects that can be much more easily completed at one’s own pace.
What are the downsides of an SCU online course?
Online courses do require a certain level of self-discipline to complete. Not everyone can motivate themselves to maintain a consistent study schedule. The lack of social interaction can also be a motivational issue for some students, although SCU does try to encourage more virtual interaction than some other universities.
There are also some subjects that you cannot study online at SCU. Its range of online courses is quite expansive (larger than many other universities), but there are some subjects like humanities and arts that aren’t an option. If you’re looking to study these subjects online, you may have to look into another university.
So, is an SCU online course a good option?
Overall SCU does deserve the high ratings and rankings it has been given. Its range of online courses is impressive and you do have a lot of flexibility when studying them. As a student, you can feel reassured by the strong support network that is provided. Courses are also relatively affordable, making them suitable to those on a tight budget.
Of course, an online course at SCU is not for everyone. First and foremost, you need to be certain that studying online is the right decision for you – some people do not like the self-motivation required or the lack of social interaction. You should also check the available courses to make sure that your course is covered and can be studied online.