University of the Sunshine Coast

Name

University of the Sunshine Coast

Legal name

University of the Sunshine Coast

Website

https://usc.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) is a Queensland public university founded in 1996 operating five regional campuses plus online study, serving domestic undergraduate, postgraduate, international, and pathway students with applied research across marine biology, brain health, cybersecurity, and environmental sustainability.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Pathway & Foundation Providers (EDAIAJAB), International Branch Campus & Offshore Program Partnerships (EDAIABAI), Online International & Cross-Border Universities (Global/Transnational Providers) (EDAHALAL)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• University degree programs
• Academic research services
• Online learning platforms
• Vocational pathway programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sippy Downs

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Domestic and international student tuition across undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs. Fee structures vary by program and study level, with international students typically paying higher rates.
2. Research Grants and Contracts: External funding from organizations such as CSIRO's Regional University Industry Collaboration program, government agencies, and industry partners for specific research projects.
3. Donations and Philanthropy: Giving to UniSC programs supporting students and research initiatives through alumni and community donations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) is a Queensland public university that delivers undergraduate, postgraduate, and research degree programs across five regional campuses (Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Caboolture, Fraser Coast, Gympie) and via online study. It also conducts specialized research through dedicated institutes (Thompson Institute for brain health, Forest Research Institute) and operates pathway programs such as Headstart and Tertiary Preparation Pathway.

Product overview

UniSC (University of the Sunshine Coast) is a Queensland public university offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs across multiple study areas and locations. The university operates as a single unified institution providing undergraduate degrees, postgraduate programs, PhD and Masters by research, pathway programs (including Headstart for secondary students), and online study options. Key research and service units include the Thompson Institute (mental health and neuroscience), Forest Research Institute, Clinical Trials unit, and Research Bank. The university recently announced a new fully local medical program for the Sunshine Coast (targeting 2030), a marine turtle rescue and research centre (Milbi Centre), and maintains five physical campuses plus online learning infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs Bachelor degree programs across diverse study areas including Arts, Business, Engineering, Health Sciences, Law, Psychology, Science, Sport, Technology, and more, for school-leavers and mature-age students.
• Postgraduate Programs Advanced degree programs including graduate certificates, diplomas, masters degrees, and doctoral research opportunities for graduates seeking specialization or career advancement.
• PhD and Masters by Research Higher degree by research programs for students seeking doctoral qualifications or research-focused masters degrees.
• Headstart Program Secondary school student engagement program allowing students to begin university study while still in high school.
• Tertiary Preparation Pathway Bridging and preparation programs designed to help students transition into university study.
• Online Study Digital learning platform enabling remote access to university programs and courses.
• Thompson Institute Specialized research institute focused on mental health and neuroscience, conducting clinical trials and brain health research.
• Forest Research Institute Research institute dedicated to forest ecosystems, environmental sustainability, and conservation studies.
• UniSC Clinical Trials Clinical research facility conducting health and medical trials for community benefit.
• Research Bank Platform connecting researchers with industry partners and facilitating research collaboration and commercialization.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of tagged reef manta rays stayed within 6 miles of tagging site during monsoon seasons
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FirstWave Cloud TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniSC's Cyber Security Lab is partnering with FirstWave Cloud Technology on a CSIRO Regional University Industry Collaboration project. The project secured $264,982 in co-funded support from CSIRO to develop production-ready machine learning models on FirstWave's NMIS and Open-AudIT platforms for AI-powered network intelligence and compliance software.
• CSIROcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSIRO's Regional University Industry Collaboration program provides funding to support the partnership between UniSC Cyber Security Lab and FirstWave Cloud Technology for developing AI compliance software.
• Griffith UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership on Redlands Coast koala population study commissioned by Redlands City Council. UniSC collaborated with Griffith University on the research project.
• MitsubishiminorOthersStudent internship opportunity for James McMurray as part of Australian Government New Colombo Plan Scholarship enabling study in Japan.
• Kirin HoldingsminorOthersStudent internship opportunity for James McMurray as part of Australian Government New Colombo Plan Scholarship enabling study in Japan.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Federation University Australia: Regional Australian public university with multi-campus operations and applied/vocational focus. Comparable scale and regional multi-campus model with pathway and TAFE-style programs.
• Griffith University: Queensland public research university with a multi-campus, multi-disciplinary portfolio including health, science, business, and environment. Directly comparable as a regional/metro Queensland public university with similar research-institute structure (e.g., co-research on Redlands Coast koalas).
• James Cook University: Queensland-based public university with strong regional footprint and marine/environmental research. Comparable to UniSC on regional Queensland positioning, pathway programs, and tropical/marine research emphasis.
• Central Queensland University: Regional Australian public university and member of the Regional Universities Network alongside UniSC. Directly comparable multi-campus regional model, pathway programs, and online study focus.
• University of New England: Regional Australian public university and fellow Regional Universities Network member. Comparable regional positioning, distance/online education emphasis, and pathway programs targeting non-traditional students.
• Southern Cross University: Regional Australian public university with multi-campus model and strong environmental/marine research profile. Comparable in scale, regional orientation, and research-institute structure to UniSC.
• Charles Sturt University: Regional Australian public university with broad multi-campus network and significant online enrollment. Comparable regional positioning, scale, pathway programs, and online-study emphasis.
• University of Tasmania: Public regional Australian university with marine/environmental research strengths and multi-campus delivery. Comparable on regional scale, marine research emphasis, and pathway programs.

Broad incumbents

• Queensland University of Technology: Major Brisbane-based public university with overlapping discipline coverage (business, health, science, engineering). Comparable curriculum breadth and Queensland market overlap, but with substantially larger scale and metro positioning.
• The University of Queensland: Queensland's flagship Group of Eight research university with broad discipline coverage. Comparable Queensland-based public university education, but materially larger scale and global research brand.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/usceduau
• Facebookfacebook.com/UniSunshineCoast
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-the-sunshine-coast

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of the Sunshine Coast