Academic Diploma and Associate Degree Progression

At Southern Cross University, one year diploma or two-year associate degrees with the SCU College or Faculty lead to professional careers in accounting; business; information technology; tourism and hospitality; health; science; engineering; law and arts.

Southern Cross Diploma/Associate Degree paths provide:

• the opportunity to learn in a well-supported environment;
• immediate employment options;
• a guaranteed place of study in a discipline related Southern Cross University Bachelor Degree where minimum English language requirements are met;
• maximum credit for prior learning; and
• the option to achieve multiple nationally recognised qualifications in a reduced time frame, boosting your income potential.

Choose your electives carefully

There are a number of core units within the Diplomas and Associate Degrees, which provide the foundation skills to support successful university studies.

When selecting a stream or specialisation available in your Diploma or Associate Degree, please choose the elective units of study carefully. You should plan to study the units that are most appropriate for your immediate professional goals.

If you plan to progress into higher-level study, with maximum credit after completing your Diploma or Associate Degree at Southern Cross University, you should become familiar with the units of study in the higher degree and choose units of study that are common to both courses wherever possible.

Selection of elective units within an Associate Degree should occur with reference to the Course Progressions detailed online in the relevant Course Structure — (see Southern Cross Courses) and with assistance from your Course Coordinator.

For instance, if you are an international student studying the Diploma of Science the electives you would select within the Diploma to be able to progress, with maximum credit into the Bachelor of Science majoring in Human Biology, will differ considerably from the electives you would select to progress into the Bachelor of Science majoring in Engineering.

If you are a domestic student studying the Associate Degree of Science the electives you would select within the Associate Degree to be able to progress, with maximum credit into the Bachelor of Science may differ from the electives you would select to progress into the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Civil Engineering.

The maximum credit for prior learning requires careful selection of units within the diploma or associate degree course structure.

Still have questions? Contact us.

What do Diploma/Associate Degree students and graduates say?

Current students and graduates appreciate the skills and knowledge they learn and the employment advantage they have gained from completing a Diploma/Associate Degree pathway.