OpenFieldSouthern Cross University (SCU), situated across the Northern Rivers of New South Wales (Lismore, Coffs Harbour) and the Gold Coast in Queensland, is a progressive Australian public university. Ranked in the top tier of Australian research institutions for oceanography, plant genetics, and geochemistry, SCU houses the National Marine Science Centre (NMSC) and pioneered the innovative six-week SCU Term Model.
Review checked academic pathways and funding options below:
Three-and-a-half year doctoral scholarship at the National Marine Science Centre (NMSC) measuring nitrous oxide and methane fluxes from subtropical estuaries and coral reef bleaching resilience.
Two-year postgraduate degree delivered through the SCU Term Model, studying subtropical forest silviculture, bushfire ecology, timber plantation genetics, and carbon farming.
Merit-based scholarship designed to reward high-achieving international applicants enrolling in undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs at SCU Gold Coast, Lismore, or Coffs Harbour.
Applied research post at Southern Cross Plant Science sequencing tea tree, hemp, and macadamia genomes, identifying biosynthetic gene clusters for novel pharmaceutical and agricultural compounds.
Four-month practical marine science internship deploying coral larval reseeding robots and larval nurseries to rehabilitate degraded reef patches along the Great Barrier Reef.
Two-year postdoctoral position at Gnibi College examining Bundjalung cultural revitalisation, Indigenous land care practices, and cultural curriculum frameworks in regional Australian universities.
Two-year master's program taught in focused 6-week terms, mastering machine learning algorithms, deep learning for satellite Earth observation, and big data management for environmental monitoring.
International postgraduate tuition at Southern Cross University ranges between AUD $27,000 and $33,000 per year. Fully funded doctoral candidates receive Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) or SCU Postgraduate Research Scholarships providing a tax-free annual stipend of AUD $33,500, full tuition offset waivers, and overseas student health cover (OSHC).
Distinguished researchers and laboratory heads at Southern Cross University:
Professor of Biogeochemistry & Director of Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry · Coastal Biogeochemistry, Carbon Cycling, Ocean Acidification, Estuarine Sediments
Professor of Marine Ecology & Director of Marine Ecology Research Centre · Coral Spawning, Larval Reseeding, Great Barrier Reef, Reef Restoration
Professor of Crop Genomics & Director of Southern Cross Plant Science · Crop Genomics, Brassica Genetics, Epigenomics, Plant Breeding
Facts reflect official Southern Cross University documentation reviewed 2026-10-15. Degree admissions, scholarship awards, and employment positions are subject to formal university review. OpenField does not charge students application fees.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Editorial standards · Report an issue