Living on the Sunshine Coast

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Living on the Sunshine Coast

A map showing the Sunshine Coast location in Queensland, Australia.

USC is the perfect study and living environment, offering high-quality education and an enjoyable lifestyle.

The Sunshine Coast is one of Australia’s most popular destinations, with beautiful beaches, a lush hinterland and national parks.

You'll enjoy our pleasant, subtropical climate, which is comfortable all year round.

Sunshine Coast facts

Population: more than 330,000

Location: 90 kilometres north of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane

Features: warm weather all year round, relaxed lifestyle, natural beautyAn aerial image showing part of the Sunshine Coast including Mooloolaba and Point Cartwright, located just a few minutes drive from the University campus.

Temperatures: 17°C–28°C in summer (December–February), 7°C–22°C in winter (June–August)

Attractions:

  • surfing beaches, national parks and sporting facilities
  • restaurants, nightclubs and art galleries
  • World Heritage-listed Fraser Island
  • Underwater World
  • Australia Zoo
For further information

Our location

USC’s modern campus at Sippy Downs is located in the heart of the Sunshine Coast region, and students have easy access to all it has to offer:

  • 15 minutes drive to the Pacific Ocean
  • 90 kilometres north of Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane
  • Brisbane International Airport is only 1 hour from USC
  • Just over one hour to Sydney and two hours to Melbourne by air

At USC, you’re only 15-20 minutes drive from the beautiful beaches, restaurants, clubs and nightlife of Mooloolaba or Alexandra Headland.

A bicycle track also links USC with Mooloolaba Beach, a 30-minute ride away.

USC's modern bus interchange connects with trains to Brisbane and services the whole of the Sunshine Coast.

You’ll have easy access to vibrant coastal communities, shopping centres and other local attractions.

For directions on how to get to USC's campus download the Sippy Downs road map (PDF 78KB) *

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Sunshine Coast events

Sunshine Coast events attract visitors from around Australia and the world.

  • Woodford Folk Festival (27 December - 1 January)
  • Noosa Festival of Surfing (March)
  • Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival (March)
  • Dingo Creek Jazz & Blues Festival (April)
  • Great Noosa Camp Out (Easter)
  • Australian Body Art Carnivale Eumundi (May)
  • Indigenous Dreaming Festival (June)
  • Gympie Country Music Muster (August)
  • Noosa Jazz Festival (September)
  • Coolum Kite Festival (September)
  • Caloundra Music Festival (October)
  • Australian PGA Golf Championship Coolum (December)

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Working on the Sunshine Coast

USC's Career Connection can help international students:

  • prepare for future careers
  • find part-time or casual work while studying
  • gain hands-on work experience

Career Connection's Career Hub displays:

  • online job information for students and graduates
  • part-time and casual positions
  • graduate and full-time jobs
  • links to job search websites
  • articles and information about career events

Once you have received your student ID number register for Career Hub.

For more infromation about career and employment opportunites contact Career Connection

* For PDF documents you must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded from the Adobe Download page.

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  • ABN 28 441 859 157 |
  • CRICOS Provider No 01595D |
  • Updated: 15 May 2012