The Undergraduate Qualifying Program (UQP) prepares international students for undergraduate study in the arts, business, tourism and hospitality, accounting, information technology or engineering. It assists students to develop the skills necessary for success at the undergraduate level.

The course combines English language and academic skills development with academic, content-based studies. It is designed for international students whose academic qualifications and/or English proficiency levels are slightly below Southern Cross University’s entry requirements for undergraduate degrees.

Students who successfully complete the Undergraduate Qualifying Program will meet the academic and English language requirements for the following undergraduate degrees: Diploma of Business, Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Business in Tourism and Hospitality Management, Bachelor of Information Technology, Bachelor of Digital Business, Diploma of Science, Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Digital Media and Communications.

Students who successfully complete the UQP will be granted two units of credit towards these courses.

Nursing and allied health stream

Students may choose to study a specialised pathway for entry into nursing, occupational therapy and podiatry undergraduate degrees.

Graduates of the UQP in this stream who have an SCU College English Language Test score comparable to Academic IELTS 7.0, with no band less than 7.0, qualify for direct entry into the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy and the Bachelor of Podiatry at Southern Cross University. No advanced standing is included in this pathway.

Graduates of the UQP in this stream who then achieve an official Academic IELTS 7.0, with no band less than 7.0 (or OET/PTE/TOEFL equivalent score), qualify for direct entry into the Bachelor of Nursing at Southern Cross University. No advanced standing is included in this pathway.

Please note: the nursing and allied health stream is only available in session 3 at Lismore campus.

An education qualification recognised as equivalent to having successfully completed Australian Year 11; and, be a minimum of 18 years old at the start of the program.