Civil engineering student Scott Onus. Southern Cross University continues to offer the best Engineering courses in Australia, according to the Good Universities Guide's latest results.
Engineering at Southern Cross ranked number one nationally in four of six key categories and number two and three respectively for the others, all of which it received a five-star rating for. Just last week, Southern Cross announced an expansion of its Engineering offering at the Gold Coast campus, building on the success of the Lismore campus.
New Chair of Engineering Professor Charles Lemckert said Southern Cross rated top in Australia for Teaching Quality, Student Support, Skills Development and Learning Resources, giving a top two result for Overall Educational Experience and number three for Learner Engagement.
"We have such brilliant students and they are guided by deeply passionate academics and highly engaged industry partners," Professor Lemckert said.
The Good Universities Guide draws results from its national Student Experience Survey and looks at key areas of university learning and outcomes. The top ranking a University can receive is five stars.
Southern Cross overall was rated five-stars for Student Support, for postgraduate Teaching Quality and postgraduate Overall Student Experience.
Graduates also rank Southern Cross not only five-stars but the best in the country for its Computing, Education, and Agriculture degrees. Humanities, Education, Law, Science and Social Work all received five stars for Overall Educational Experience.
Nursing and Health Services, the areas of Southern Cross's largest growth, received five stars for graduates moving into full-time employment.
Executive Dean of Health, Professor Julie Jomeen said the demand for health courses, from speech pathology through to midwifery, continued to grow.
"I am thrilled Southern Cross is supporting Australia's future health workforce. It is very satisfying to see so many of our graduates go straight into the careers they have studied for, with employment levels as high as 90% for nursing graduates," she said.
Engineering & Technology highlights:
Learning Resources |
Undergraduate |
#1 nationally |
Skills Development |
Undergraduate |
#1 nationally |
Teaching Quality |
Undergraduate |
#1 nationally |
Student Support |
Undergraduate |
#1 nationally |
Overall Educational Experience |
Undergraduate |
#2 nationally |
Learner Engagement |
Undergraduate |
#3 nationally Best in NSW |
Overall Educational Experience |
Postgraduate |
#1 nationally |
Skills Development |
Postgraduate |
#1 nationally |
Teaching Quality |
Postgraduate |
#1 nationally |
Full Time Employment |
Postgraduate |
#3 nationally Best in NSW |
Student Support |
Postgraduate |
#5 nationally Best in NSW |
Learning Resources |
Postgraduate |
#6 nationally |
Southern Cross 5-star ratings:
- Overall – Student Support (UG, PG); Overall Student Experience (PG); Teaching Quality (PG)
- Agriculture & Environmental Studies – Skills Development (UG); Teaching Quality (UG); Student Support (UG)
- Business & Management – Full Time Employment (UG); Student Support (UG)
- Communications – Full Time Employment (UG); Median Graduate Income ($51,700) (UG); Student Support (UG)
- Computing & Information Systems – Median Graduate Income ($64,500) (UG); Skills Development (UG); Student Support (UG, PG); Teaching Quality (UG, PG); Overall Educational Experience (PG); Full Time Employment (PG)
- Education – Overall Educational Experience (UG, PG); Student Support (UG, PG); Learning Resources (PG); Skills Development (PG); Teaching Quality (PG)
- Engineering & Technology – Overall Educational Experience (UG, PG); Learner Engagement (UG); Learning Resources (UG, PG); Skills Development (UG, PG); Student Support (UG, PG); Teaching Quality (UG, PG); Full Time Employment (PG)
- Health Services & Support – Full Time Employment (UG, PG); Student Support (PG)
- Humanities, Culture & Social Sciences – Full Time Employment (UG); Learning Resources (UG); Overall Educational Experience (UG); Skills Development (UG)
- Law & Paralegal Studies - Learning Resources (UG); Overall Educational Experience (UG); Student Support (UG); Teaching Quality (UG); Full Time Employment (PG)
- Nursing – Full Time Employment (UG); Student Support (PG); Teaching Quality (PG); Overall Educational Experience (PG)
- Psychology – Student Support (UG)
- Rehabilitation – Skills Development (UG)
- Science & Mathematics - Overall Educational Experience (UG); Student Support (UG); Teaching Quality (UG)
- Social Work – Overall Education Experience (UG)
- Tourism, Hospitality, Sport & Leisure – Median Graduate Income ($48,800) (UG);
*UG = undergraduate *PG = postgraduate
The student experience
Civil engineering student Scott Onus is full of praise for the learning environment at Southern Cross University and the job-ready skills he acquired.
"Southern Cross have some great facilities, they've got really good support. As a mature-age student, it has been a really good experience," said Scott.
"The lecturers are very helpful. They also challenge you to do the appropriate research, which has been beneficial for the industry I've gone into."
Scott also reflected on the professional benefits gained from the Coffs Harbour City Council Engineering Scholarship.
"I was able to work at the council with a team of engineers on roads, water pipes and concrete footpaths and bridges. That was a great experience to step into the industry," said Scott who is set to graduate soon.
"After that, I got a job with a structural firm and that's where I'm working now. I've been there for more than 12 months.
"A lot of my University friends have got employment. A lot of them are working on the highways at local councils and Transport NSW, even local engineering firms and steel manufacturers."
View the 2023 Good Universities Guide results.
