When it comes to Queensland universities, most people’s first thought would be UQ, QUT, Griffith, Bond or Sunshine Coast. Yet, nestled inQueensland’s Gold Coast, Southern Cross University (SCU), a school many people are still relatively unfamiliar with despite havingmultiple solid migration-pathway programmes — a genuine““dark horse” institution. Some may know it from my earlier article onaffordable early childhood educationwith strongmigration prospects — specifically the GD + master’s early childhood option.
Today we take a deep dive into what other migration-friendly programmes SCU has to offer — let’s open the door to affordable regional courses with solid migration outcomes.
Honestly,
SCU ticks pretty much every box for most people who come to us for advice:
Affordable tuition fees + generous scholarships
Regional area + solid migration-pathway programmes
October intake available + strong employment prospects
Let’s cut to the chase — consistently praised, flexible entry, solid migration outcomes, available at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. The standout programme:
PS: This article focuses on SCU’sSocial Work programme, but at the end of the article you’ll also findother medium-to-long-term migration-friendly programmessummarised in a table — feel free to message us directly. And the big bonus is that they are launchingan accredited Master of Nursing programme in July 2023!
Social Work
Programme Details
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Social Work
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Duration: 3 years
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Units: 24
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Intakes: March and July each year
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Campus: Gold Coast
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Regional campus (migration points applicable); post-study work visa of up to 3 years available upon graduation
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Tuition fees: $26,800 per year
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English requirement: IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); English language course pathway available; minimum entry from IELTS 5.0.
Postgraduate: Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying)
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Duration: 2 years
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Units: 16
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Intakes: March and October each year
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Bridging course intakes: July and October each year
(No relevant background? Don’t worry — cases are assessed individually. Message us for details!)
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Campus: Gold Coast
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Regional campus (migration points applicable); post-study work visa of up to 3 years available upon graduation
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Tuition fees: $26,800 per year
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English requirement: IELTS 7.0 (no band below 7); English language course pathway available; minimum entry from IELTS 5.5
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Graduates of Australian, UK or Canadian undergraduate degrees are exempt from English language requirements
Interested in applying? Contact us directly!
SCU
Programme Highlights
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Flexible Entry Requirements
Students with an undergraduate background in psychology, law, education, politics, medicine, environmental studies or other humanities and social sciences can typically gain direct entry into the master’s programme.Those without a relevant undergraduate background can enter the master’s programme via a 4-month bridging course, with intakes in July and October.
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Two Intakes Per Year
Most Australian universities currently only offer a February intake for this programme. So that students don’t have to wait, SCU has opened a direct-entry October intake for the master’s,making it the only university in Australia to offer a Social Work master’s with an October intake. Places are limited — apply early!
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Ranked 4th in Australia for Social Work
As at 11 April 2019, data published by the Australian Government’s Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) ranked SCU fourth in Australia for Social Work — well above the national average.
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Authoritative Professional Accreditation — AASW Recognised
An AASW-accredited qualification is the baseline requirement for practising social work in Australia. Both SCU’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work hold AASW accreditation — a mark of quality and credibility.
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1,000 Hours of Placement
The SCU master’s programme includes 1,000 hours of credited work placement. Students complete 57 days (400 hours) during Year 1 and 86 days (600 hours) during Year 2 — totalling 1,000 hours across the two years. Placements are carried out at AASW-approved organisations, covering social analysis, research and practice. The standard skills assessment for social workers typically requires 980 hours of work experience — and SCU’s master’s 1,000-hour credited placement
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Regional Work Visa + State Nomination + Points
SCU’s Gold Coast campus was reclassified as a regional area in November 2019, unlocking: 5 points towards your EOI score for regional study; a renewable Subclass 485 post-study work visa; and eligibility for the Subclass 491 state-nominated migration pathway. All are available!
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Flexible English Requirements
IELTS 7.0 (no band below 7) is required, with an English language course pathway available;minimum entry from IELTS 5.5. English language exemption for overseas degree holders: if you have completed an undergraduate degree in Australia or another English-speaking country, SCU may waive the IELTS 7.0 requirement and offer direct entry into the master’s programme.
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Generous Scholarships
Every student applying to study at the Gold Coast campus has the opportunity to apply for the SCU International Regional Scholarship, worth up to $5,000 AUD per year.
Social Work
Migration Pathways — Multiple Options, Priority Treatment
Due to space constraints, migration pathways for Social Work have been covered in detail in a separate article on Social Worker skills assessments. For state-specific enquiries, feel free to message us:
Social Work
Employment Prospects
According to official Job Outlook data, demand for social workers in Australia is growing steadily and is expected to continue rising over the coming years. The Department of Home Affairs has also listed Social Worker as a migration occupation to address domestic skills shortages. As an in-demand profession, the average annual salary for social workers in Australia reaches $60,000–$70,000 AUD, with excellent employment prospects.
New Financial Year — Positive Outlook for All State Nomination Programmes
State Nomination Information Group
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SCU’s Other Strong Migration-Pathway Dark Horse Programmes — Overview:
Great opportunities — don’t miss out!
For more details, feel free to message us.
In summary,Southern Cross University (SCU)is a public university with flexible entry requirements, affordable tuition and the benefits of a regional campus —it truly comes highly recommended, especially for those on a budget who are looking to migrate. What’s more, their 2-year Master of Nursing is expected to receive AHPRA accreditation in July 2023!
We’ll share the latest updates with you as soon as they become available!And there are still places available for SCU’s Social Work October intake!This is the key highlight of this article!And finally — the Gold Coast campus is absolutely beautiful!
Just before we wrapped up, two Queensland clients received Subclass 190 invitations — one in IT and one in early childhood education!
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Tasmanian Policy Overhaul Expected — Long-Term Residents May Qualify for Subclass 190!
Graduate Ready to Work — TAFE Programmes That Deliver
New Financial Year Quota Increase — Latest Projection Table for Subclass 143 Migration
Migration Information & Q&A Group
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Step 2: Once added, please
If you have a job, you have a chance to apply!Click “Original Link”for your Subclass 482 employer-sponsored visa!
