Overview

Location

• Byron Bay: Byron Bay, Australia's most easterly point, is Australia's leading 'backpacker' destination and justifiably famous worldwide. It offers a cosmopolitan lifestyle set among some of Australia's best bathing and surfing beaches with whale watching, scuba diving, and hang-gliding being just some of its attractions. Byron Bay also plays host to several of Australia’s best-loved music festivals, the ‘Blues and Roots Festival’ held in April and ‘Splendor in the Grass’ held in July.
  
• Nimbin: Nimbin was born out of the famous 1973 'Aquarius Festival' and is a center of Australia's environmental awareness movement.
  
• Gold Coast: The Gold Coast is one of Australia's premier tourist spots with a number of popular theme parks, including Seaworld, Movieworld, Dreamworld, and Wet 'n Wild.
  
• Beaches: The coastline in the region is one of Australia's best, offering long stretches of idyllic beaches for swimming, surfing, fishing, or just lying around. These wonderful beaches are only 30 minutes away.
  
• Rainforest: The region has six national park areas that are world heritage listed, where students can enjoy bushwalking, beautiful rainforest walks, and mountain climbing.

Academic Highlights

Study abroad students have access to most of the subjects of study offered by the University. Many subjects include field trips as an integral part of the subject, providing students with additional opportunities to experience other aspects of Australia.

Learning at Southern Cross University may take place in traditional lecture theatres or in virtual classrooms, using state-of–the-art web-based audio technology.  Learning may also involve field trips and workshops. Depending on the course of study, the virtual environment or e-classroom enables lecturers to actively engage with students in different locations and students to talk to each other using ‘interactive learning materials’

 

Outdoor Education

All study abroad students should consider enrolling in the unit 'Outdoor Education'. This subject is unique in Australia and is based on the concept of experiential learning. It introduces students to a variety of outdoor education activities making the best possible use of a number of spectacular national parks and wilderness areas that surround the University. There are two or three "base camps" in the unit, one in a rugged granite belt national park called "Girraween and Bald Rock", one in the wilderness rainforest of Nightcap and Border Ranges National Parks, and an optional expedition.
 

University Services

Housing

As a GlobaLinks Learning Abroad student you are guaranteed pre-arranged accommodation to fit your lifestyle. There are a variety of housing options available which you will apply for after acceptance. Read below for more specific options offered at this university:

All study abroad students have access to on-campus and off-campus accommodation, which provide single bedroom accommodation in a 2-6-bedroom apartment or house situated close to the university. All accommodation is self-catering with shared cooking facilities. The great advantages of sharing with Australian and other international students is the opportunity to make life-long friendships.

Orientation

In addition to the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Bridging Cultures Program which is included in your program fees, all students are offered a full orientation program in the week before classes commence. This program includes airport reception, accommodation placement, academic advice and enrollment, familiarization with the campus and surroundings and a number of excursions. The program has an emphasis on experiencing the best of the region with visits to Byron Bay and the Gold Coast.

Special Programs/Excursions

SCU provides all GlobaLinks Learning Abroad students with a complimentary trip to one of the following locations (varies by semester):

Each semester a special one-week 4WD camping excursion is held for study abroad students. While the trip varies it has recently been held between Ayers Rock (Uluru) and Alice Springs in Central Australia in an area justifiably famous worldwide. You would have the opportunity to experience places of spiritual significance to the local indigenous people such as Ayers Rock (Uluru), The Olga's, Kings Canyon (Watarka), and Palm Valley.

Another popular trip is the guided tour of Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island. For those students who wish to learn how to surf or dive while they are in Australia, the surf safari or underwater dive adventure held in the Byron Bay area are ideal.

Community Involvement

Extracurricular Activities

The University recognizes that study abroad students want to experience as much of the lifestyle, culture, and environment of Australia as possible during their time at the University. To facilitate this, a number of excursions and activities are arranged throughout each semester to the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, local national parks, and other well known areas.

The Office of Sport & Cultural Activities (OSCA) is located at the Lismore campus and takes a proactive role in ensuring a student’s life at SCU is a positive one by creating opportunities for students to participate in on-campus recreational programs adding to the SCU campus community experience.

Community Involvement

While abroad, we recommend getting involved in your local community. It's an awesome way to meet locals, experience the true Australian culture, and create long lasting memories. From volunteering to festival-going, we challenge you to make the most of your international experience... See a sample of community involvement opportunities available in Lismore or discover your own upon arrival!

You'll get a taste of how enriching community involvement can be during your first few days in Australia on the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Bridging Cultures Program. The program includes one day of pre-arranged volunteering with the local community. You'll interact directly with locals while giving back to and sharing your own culture with the community that first welcomes you to Australia. Plus, you can continue your volunteer efforts later in the semester by signing up for the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Conservation Volunteer Weekend.

Enhance Your Experience

While studying at SCU, you can maximize your study abroad experience by enrolling in the Global Identity course (EdPA 3103 Connecting Your International Experience to Your Future). The course will help you articulate the value of your experience to future employers, demonstrate your intercultural development and skills, and understand intercultural interactions.

This one-credit, online course is offered by the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities exclusively for students studying with GlobaLinks Learning Abroad. LEARN MORE>

Global Citizens Development Modules

The Global Citizen Development modules are online learning components designed to help you explore your study abroad destination and experience at a whole new level. These modules are not mandatory, however we strongly encourage your participation as they will introduce you to the opportunities and challenges you may encounter when participating in a study abroad program, as well as expose you to cultural insights and knowledge about your host country to help make your program abroad even more successful and fulfilling. Through the 3 modules, you will refine your skills in cross-cultural observation, adaptation, and communication. 

Course Catalog

To determine if the classes you need are available at this university, select Courses/Subjects to view the specific course options.

Tips: For advice on navigating the university’s course catalog, use the Selecting Courses link. You may also view the suggested grade and credit transfer information through the Grade Conversion.

If you have any questions about course availability, please contact studyabroad@globalinksabroad.org.  

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Fees

Fee Includes

Program Fees: As a GlobaLinks Learning Abroad study abroad participant, you will be required to enroll as a full-time student; typically this is 3-4 classes, which is equivalent to 12-16 U.S. semester credit hours. Your program fees are in U.S. dollars and include the host university semester tuition for 4 subjects, university administrative fees, overseas health insurance, the Basic ISIC card, our renowned Bridging Cultures Program on-site orientation and the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Personalized Support and Service.

With GlobaLinks Learning Abroad you will receive Personalized Support and Service through our four point philosophy to manage your program:

1.) Personal Program Selection & Planning: Personal service & advising, academic planning and credit transfer assistance, program location, housing advice, financial assistance.

2.) Pre and Post Orientation and Preparation: Our MyLearn on-line enrollment information and process, comprehensive program information and departure webinar, immigration visa support and advice, airline ticket and group flight assistance, global citizen development modules.

3.) Cultural Integration: On-site Bridging Cultures Program, on-site resident director services and advising, academic support, guaranteed housing and placement, volunteer and community involvement opportunities.

4.) Reflection and Application of the Experience: Beyond Study Abroad Program, The EnCompass Alumni Program, program evaluation opportunity, resume building and review, alumni handbook and transcript services. 

Housing Fees: The Housing Fees are approximates and are in addition to the Program Fees. GlobaLinks Learning Abroad offers you “Housing to Fit Your Lifestyle” and you are guaranteed a placement in a wide variety of quality housing options to accommodate your academic, personal and budgetary needs during your experience abroad. The housing fees listed indicate an approximate cost for the options available on that program which may represent apartments/flats, houses and/or dormitories/residential halls, living within the local community or on-campus with locals and other international students. Private single rooms are standard (although double rooms are available) and are fully furnished, including comfort amenities with access to internet and telephone. Students who choose to arrange their own accommodation upon arrival will be charged the Program Fee only, as they will be responsible for making payment directly to the housing provider once accommodation has been arranged.

Additional Subject & Gym Membership Fees: Additional charges may apply for science, media, fine arts, or journalism subjects at some universities and students who undertake subjects where the university requires additional fees will be billed directly by the home university upon final enrolment. Gym and student union memberships are optional to students. If you wish to join, you may do so on arrival by contacting the international office at your host university.

Fee Advice

Facts

Dates

Entry Requirements

Programs in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji Coordinator

Name: Jan Amann Title: Coordinator, Outreach and Student Services Department: Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji Semester/Year Abroad Team BIO: Jan Amann manages study abroad admission and participant pre-trip services for students attending the University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, Southern Cross University, La Trobe University, Monash University, Swinburne University of Technology and University of Melbourne. Jan earned her B.A. in English and Philosophy from the University of Scranton in 2006. After studying abroad at the University of Otago in New Zealand, Jan was inspired to work for her school’s study abroad office and pursue an exciting career in International Education. Following graduation, Jan moved to New Zealand for one year where she had the opportunity to travel and work for the government. She has also worked with youth for many years, and led a group of students on an Experiment in International Living trip abroad in 2010. Jan completed her M.A. in International Education at New York University, where she studied abroad (again!) in Hong Kong, China, and worked with international students. Jan’s additional travels have brought her to Australia, Italy, Canada, Belgium, France, England and the Caribbean. Jan looks forward to helping AustraLearn students plan their semesters abroad! Advice From The Coordinator: Outdoor Education is Southern Cross University’s most popular subject. It introduces students to a variety of outdoor education activities making the best possible use of a number of spectacular national parks and wilderness areas that surround the university.