Southern Cross University (SCU) is offering scholarships to high-achieving international students seeking top-quality engineering and science degrees.
The Outstanding Academic Excellence Scholarship, worth $60,000 ($15,000 per annum for the life of the degree), is open to both offshore and onshore international students, planning to embark on undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in engineering, forestry, and environmental and marine sciences.
The courses will commence on Session 2 2020 and Session 1 2021 at SCU’s Lismore and Coffs Harbour campuses.
“We invite international students currently residing in Australia to come and join our talent pool in some of the most amazing and enviable places in the country to live and study. If you are a high achiever, we are ready to invest in you and make you part of our community,” said Professor Tyrone Carlin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of SCU.
“You are a name, not a number, here at Southern Cross, one of Australia’s most vibrant regional universities with small class sizes, access to world-class facilities, the best student support and unique natural environments for field trips within easy reach of the campus,” he said.
The University’s Lismore campus is located in a subtropical rainforest setting, and a 45-minute drive away to Byron Bay, the Cape Byron Marine Park and World Heritage national parks. The Coffs Harbour campus is near the Solitary Islands Marine Park, several beaches and the hinterland.
‘Path to having an impact’
Undergraduate student Tomoki Mishina from Japan is among the program’s scholars who is excelling academically. He co-authored his first scientific paper on how Indonesian islanders can grow aquarium fish using sustainable practices, a research project he recently assisted on.
“When I was applying for university, thinking about my life, I thought I could be a fish farmer,” said Mishina, who is a Bachelor of Marine Science and Management sophomore at SCU’s National Marine Science Centre at Coffs Harbour.
“But then I could not have impact, so research is a path to having an impact. The marine existence is already on the verge of collapse, so we need to take care,” he said.
Professor Symon Dworjayn, who oversaw the research, was impressed with Mishina’s work ethic.
“Tomoki is delightful, so dedicated and hardworking. He is someone who is going to make things happen. He will change the world,” he said.
Postgraduate student Charmaine Miciano from the Philippines also expressed high praise on the quality of education she was getting.
“The University’s course units are exciting, with lessons about new developments in forestry and the scope is not only Australia but forestry in other countries, too,” said Miciano, who is taking up Master of Forest Science and Management at the Lismore campus.
“The lecturers and unit assessors are approachable. I have felt the University’s overwhelming support for international students, with the academic skills team and open access to scientific journals through the library”.