Short term programs and internships

View of vietnam hills

Southern Cross Global offers short term overseas programs for currently enrolled students. Short term programs are between 2- 6 weeks in length. The relevant Faculty manages student selection and approval.

Man on scooter indonesia street

New Colombo Plan - Short Term Programs

Expand your view of the world and learn how we can make an impact on our region through a short-term study program. These programs are all supported by the New Colombo Plan, an initiative of the Australian Government to lift the knowledge of the Indo-Pacific region by supporting Australian undergraduate students to undertake a short-term study program in the region.

Programs are approximately two weeks in duration and numbers are limited. For more information please contact the academic supervisor listed below or exchange@scu.edu.au.

Programs available in 2025

Vietnam Social Work Clinical Placement

The program will enable students to undertake a 500-hour placement in community agencies in Vietnam supported by social work-qualified faculty from Ha Noi University of Education (HNUE). Students will be linked to an established placement program that has supported social work students from around the world. 

  • Course: Bachelor of Social Work
  • Program dates: 1 September - 3 December 2025 (12 weeks)
  • Program cost funding: $10,500 AUD 
  • Number of students funded: 6 students
Enquire now

India Nursing Clinical Placement

This NCP Project on building Healthy Communities through Partnerships offers Southern Cross University students a transformative four to five-week immersion in Indian community-based primary care. Through hands-on experience, students will develop the skills to build and sustain meaningful partnerships in global health services by developing students’ abilities to create and maintain partnerships.

  • Course: Bachelor of Nursing
  • Program dates: Late November - Mid December 2025 (4-5 weeks)
  • Program cost funding: $5000 AUD
  • Number of students funded: 16 students
Enquire now

Indonesia Marine Natural Resources Fieldwork

During this 4-week program students will connect with staff and students from the University of Pattimura in Ambon and University of Muhammadiyah Sorong. Staff of each institution will work together to actively engage student-to-student relationship building in structured Bahasa Indonesia language learning, field sampling, data collection and collation, sample analyses, and remediation activities including mangrove planting and marine litter assessment and clean up.

  • Course: Bachelor of Science
  • Program dates: 27 October - 23 November 2025 (4 weeks)
  • Program cost funding: $4,000 AUD 
  • Number of students funded: 15 students
Enquire now

Solomon Islands Exercise, Sport, and Community Health Placement

Southern Cross University will take a group of sport and exercise science students to the Solomon Islands for a four-week immersive experience at the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) which will count towards Work-Integrated Learning in Exercise Science.

  • Course: Bachelor of Sport & Exercise Science
  • Program dates: February 2026 (4 weeks)
  • Program cost funding: $4000 AUD
  • Number of students funded: 10 students
Enquire now

Cambodia Teaching Practicum

This project will support 12 Southern Cross University pre-service teachers to travel to Cambodia for 4 Weeks observing classes, visiting significant cultural sites in Siam Reap and Phnom Penh.  

  • Course: Bachelor of Education
  • Program dates: 4 November - 1 December 2025 (4 weeks)
  • Program cost funding: $4000 AUD
  • Number of students funded: 12 students
Enquire now

Health and Physical Education

This program will provide 13 Health and Physical Education (HPE) pre-service teachers a cultural immersion experience of living and teaching in Fiji over 4 weeks. Students will be immersed in the school environment, increasing their understanding of the Fijian culture, and learning of the language.

  • Course: Bachelor of Education
  • Program dates: Mid October - Mid November 2025 (4 weeks)
  • Program cost funding: $4000 AUD
  • Number of students funded: 13 students
Enquire now

Internships

If you are interested in the opportunity to undertake an overseas internship as part of your studies, please feel free to initiate a discussion with the placement team in your faculty.

Faculty of Education: The Professional Experience team 

Faculty of Health: The Work Integrated Learning team  or email healthplacements@scu.edu.au 

Faculty of Business, Law and Arts: The Professional Experience Coordinator can be reached at wil@scu.edu.au

Faculty of Science and Engineering: Professional Experience 

Once you receive final approval for your international placement, please email exchange@scu.edu.au so we can provide you with the relevant pre-departure information and requirements.  

In February 2023, the New Colombo Plan mobility program, funded by the Australian Government, provided an incredible opportunity for 13 SCU students and 2 academics from the Faculty of Education. This program not only fostered stronger connections between SCU and our Indo-Pacific partner but also deepened students' appreciation of Vietnam's history through language training, cultural immersion, and active engagement with the local community. Students also had the privilege of experiencing diverse teaching and learning methods in local schools, early childhood centres, and universities.