UniSC Sunshine Coast

University of the Sunshine Coast

Why choose University of the Sunshine Coast?

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Website
www.usc.edu.au
Founded
1996

Scholarships

UniSC International Scholarships

In 2024, UniSC offers some exciting scholarships to its commencing international students.

There is no separate scholarship application for the following scholarships - Your offer will automatically include the scholarship you are eligible for.

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

Indigenous services at UniSC is a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and offer support via study pathways, mentoring and study assistance, professional networks and conferences, study abroad opportunities, participation at UniGames, community engagement, and programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students. You can read more about this on our website.
UniSC is focused on the inclusion of sexually and gender diverse identities, including but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+).

As one of 65 Australian academic organisations – and the only university in Queensland – that demonstrated support for Australian Marriage Equality campaign in 2017, we remain committed to equality for sexually and gender diverse identities. Read more by visiting the link.
AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder, mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, you are strongly encouraged to connect with AccessAbility Services as early as possible. Visit the link for more information.

Impact 🌎

As a university with a strong commitment to achieving sustainability in terms of teaching, research and how we operate, we’re thrilled to be the top ranked Queensland university in the 2023 THE Impact Rankings. The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings are the only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and measure the social and economic impact of an institution. Read more about our rankings on our website.
Understanding our world, and how we interact with it, allows us to create a better and more sustainable future. From forest to ocean floor, UniSC research is making new discoveries and providing solutions for environmental and ecological challenges worldwide. UniSC is ranked among the world's best for our commitment to sustainable development.

Reviews

Default avatar
Anthony
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Had a great time, would highly recommend

I enjoyed my study abroad expierence very much over here and would highly recommend it. I joined the UniSC rugby league team and that was super fun, it was a great way to be social and find a sense of community. I think if you want to get to full expierence try to join a club or a team of some sort. That seems to be the best way to meet people for me at least. The social sport events that happen at the gym are fun as well and a good way to meet people. They do basketball on Tuesdays at 2:30. The town Sippy Downs is a nice quiet town that’s about a 15 minute drive to the beach. Chancellors tavern is great.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would go for more hikes and try to take a trip to a different part of the country or to New Zealand at least once.
Pros
  • People are extremely friendly and Open
  • Night life is a good especially at ocean street
  • The weather is fantastic
Cons
  • In the 3 classes I took, each one only had 3 assignments each that would go in a grade so if you mess up on one assignment it could be bad for your mark.
  • The Village is the student accommodation I lived at and the building manager lady could be very rude at times. She is known around the village facility to be like that. So if you are doing a student accommodation. Try and go with Unicentral or Varsity
  • The university gym is only open 8am-noon on weekends
Default avatar
Shelby
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Shelby Meek's Study Abroad at UniSC

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What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice would be to never miss an opportunity, jump and take it. My parents were very hesitant about me going to Australia because it is so far away. I was also very scared when choosing this program. However, I knew this opportunity to go to Australia while only 20 and in college was an opportunity that I could not miss. Yes, it is scary and nerve-racking. However, think about the stories you will have when going home. Also, when I took CMN240 and heard my professor mention publication, I knew I wanted to jump at the opportunity. I want to be a journalist or a reporter in the future, so doing this will help me get experience, and also get the opportunity to share my voice about something important. Don’t shy away from opportunities. Jump and take them. Trust me, I was happy I did, and I will do it all over again.
Default avatar
Natasha
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Study at USC

Studying in Australia has been amazing. I loved the outdoor culture and the laid back attitude. There is so many fun things to do from swimming, surfing, drinking great coffee, to meeting new people. USC has a great way of providing hands on learning and doesn't require you to do random courses that have nothing to do with your major. If it's a required class, you will use it. This helped me appreciate my education and not feel as if there were things I would never use in my future practice. Highly recommend!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Dealing with visas is always very daunting. Get a lawyer if it helps you destress with the paperwork.
Pros
  • Great education
  • Beautiful weather
  • Caring tutors
Cons
  • Working and study load
  • Homesickness
  • Unexpected heath costs
Default avatar
Justine
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

University of the Sunshine Coast Review

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Pros
  • Close to the beach
  • Wonderful people
  • The wildlife
Cons
  • Class structure
  • Pricey
Default avatar
Margrethe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing

I am loving it here at USC! I started off with a Diploma and now I'm onto a bachelor's. Everything about the campus is amazing. The teachers really care about the students, they are so supportive and knowledgeable. The campus is beautiful and open, full of wild life too. That also have a really good international team to assist the international students.

There's plenty of study spaces and learning resources. So easy to make friends and so many people who share interests. Living on the coast is the greatest! Close to the ocean but still not far away from the greatest hikes I've been on.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I'm getting used to it now but the kangaroos are everywhere on campus :)

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Malin Gregor

Malin graduated from her High-School back in Norway in 2014 and after 2 years of working, she decided to move across the globe and ended up on the Sunshine Coast in Australia. From there, Malin pursued her passion as an athlete and started studying a Bachelor in Criminology and Justice.
Malin Gregor

Why did you choose this program?

My plan was originally only to go for 6 months and see how I liked living on the other side of the world, and also so far away from home. I quickly realised after 2 months of living on the Sunshine Coast that I did not want to go back home, and started exploring any options for a full-degree program. The reason for choosing USC was seeing how close to nature the campus was, as it is located on the coast of Queensland. I loved that there were kangaroos on campus, lots of activities to do such as visiting the Australia Zoo, Glasshouse Mountains and Noosa National Park. I've always had a passion for crime and find it very interesting and exciting, so choosing this degree was a no-brainer for me.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

I received assistance through Kilroy Education in Norway, and they were the ones that put me in contact with USC and assisted me with the application process. USC was however very helpful when I wanted to apply for my Criminology degree and made the credit transfer process easy. I also had a couple of courses from my Study Abroad semester that I could use towards my Criminology degree, making my 3-year degree only 2,5 years with the credit transfer. That way I sawed money and time, which was great and made it an easy choice for me to stay longer.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would definitely recommend students coming to study on the Sunshine Coast to stay for at least 1 year! 6 months will go by so quickly you won't even know what happened. There is so much to see and explore here, and you'll really get a grip on the academic side of things once you stay a bit longer at USC and get more into the way of study. I found it easier to study in Australia in comparison to Norway, so that was just a big bonus for me.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

In this program you will study 4 courses each semester, and you have 6 semesters to complete (24 courses in total). Each week you will normally have 1-2 hour lectures per subject, and 1-2 hour tutorials per subject. All in all, you'll have a lot of time to study during the week and you won't be in class all the time. Sometimes, depending on the semester and class structure, I had classes Monday-Wednesday, and long-weekends from Thursday to Sunday!

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear were a couple of things: not enjoying myself, not knowing anyone (I travelled alone which I highly recommend now!), and finding the studies way too hard for my liking. Luckily, I enjoyed myself so much I am currently still in Australia 5 years later, I got to meet so many people and make life-long friends mostly because I did travel alone which made me seek these friendships more rather than leaning on a friend from home, and I loved the studies! I would do it all over again.

For future students wanting to travel to / study on the Sunshine Coast, there are a couple of things I would have loved to know before I got here:

  • Live in student accommodation your first semester: you'll meet so many people and maybe move out with some of them eventually.
  • Get a bank card with Commbank: You'll need it so you don't have to constantly pay fees for using your card
  • Get an Australian ID (drivers license): They use these everywhere for ID and they'll probably struggle to ready your overseas drivers license, and sometimes not accept it...
  • Get a phone sim card with Optus or Telstra
  • Visit mountains, explore Maleny and Noosa, and travel!

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Georgia H

Job Title
International Officer
Georgia has been employed in several roles related to research, tourism and now international education. Georgia currently works with the University of Sunshine Coast International Office, facilitating and welcoming overseas students to Queensland and liaising with industry stakeholders, partner universities and education agents. Georgia is passionate about helping students achieve their study abroad dreams!
Georgia H

Interview

What is your favorite travel memory?

It is difficult to describe only one favourite travel memory, however one of my fondest travel memories would be visiting K'gari Island (Fraser Island) which is a world heritage listed sand island located in South East Queensland, Australia - just a short adventure from my workplace, UniSC Sunshine Coast. K'gari is the worlds largest sand island and offers an array of exciting things to see and do. A few highlights include: Swimming in the pristine waters of Lake McKenzie, whale watching, hiking sand dunes in the Great Walks, floating down Eli Creek and seeing the unique Australian flora and fauna (for example, dingoes, echidnas, owls, wallabies, humpback whales, dolphins, sea eagles and more). Whether you like adventure, relaxing, history or nature - there is something for everyone at K'gari!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Since working for the UniSC International Office there has been significant personal and professional growth. The experience has enhanced my cross-cultural skills, expanded my understanding of global relations and allowed me to collaborate with stakeholders to provide high quality study abroad opportunities for people all around the world. Aside from the professional part of my work, I have also created many friendships with colleagues that I am grateful for and cherish. Working in International Education is an ever evolving and rewarding career that I enjoy!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

There are too many great stories from returned students to pick just one, however a highlight would have to include one of our students who studied at UniSC and returned home to the United States of America (USA). During their studies here at UniSC Australia, they used their study breaks and holiday time to travel all around our country visiting the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, Sydney, Tasmania and Brisbane. Throughout their semester of studies they also picked up many new hobbies and joined various student clubs and social sporting teams, making friends from Australia as well as other countries. However upon return, they completed their studies and landed their dream job at an international marketing agency where they were able to be creative, use their theoretical and practical skills and contribute to developments and designs. This is a prime example of a 'feel good story'!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

UniSC offers a great experience with an opportunity to visit Malaysia and Borneo to map flora and fauna of an endangered, biodiverse environment. Being able to visit Ulu Temburong National Park in Brunei and the Gunung Mulu National park in Sarawak, Malaysia would be an exciting adventure to participate in!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

UniSC promotes an authentic Australian study experience, International Students represent 72 different countries and I am very proud that we are ranked Number 1 in Queensland for overall educational experience*. Having placed in the Top 2% globally for overall impact^ it is evident that our commitment to out students, staff and the community are genuine and front of mind.

*2022 Student Experience Survey Data.
^Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Having a positive customer focussed approach, fostering a culture of innovation and leading staff effectively are important factors that influence a successful company. While there are many factors that influence business, people are always the forefront, so ensuring people are happy, healthy and motivated is a must!