Generally it is expected that campus lighting design will follow best practice and give due recognition to design principles that have already been adopted in other parts of the campus. While the University of the Sunshine Coast is large enough to tolerate a variety of fixture selections, in practice restricting the numbers of different lights will assist with maintenance and the replacement of parts.

The campus lighting should provide dignified and safe paths of travel at night, and reduce the spill of artificial light to the maximum degree possible. Where these objectives conflict, the 2012 Campus Master Plan does not presume to direct the designer in how such conflict may best be resolved, since the legitimate expectations of the users and the University at any point in time will give greater or lesser weight to either objective.