Earn an Australian degree locally
SWINBURNE University of Technology is one of Australia’s top “young” universities based in Melbourne, with an international branch campus in Kuching, Sarawak.
In 2017, it ranked in the Top 100 under 50 years old by QS World University Rankings and 61 in Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings.
The university started as a technical college over a hundred years ago in 1908 and celebrated its 25th anniversary as a university last year.
The Kuching city-campus was launched in 2000 and sits on 16.5 acres (6.7ha) land with modern teaching and learning facilities, surrounded by public and commercial amenities.
The Kuching campus is among the selected universities in Malaysia awarded self-accrediting status by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency and is rated five-stars for the fourth consecutive time by the Ministry of Higher Education’s Setara ranking.
Upon completing SPM, school leavers can choose any path for their higher education.
A foundation course is a preuniversity preparatory course that offers a quicker, supportive pathway to pursuing undergraduate studies in their preferred discipline.
If a student wants to pursue a degree in accounting and finance, a one-year foundation course is faster compared to other preuniversity courses that require up to two years to complete.
Swinburne’s foundation courses lead to a host of degree programmes in business, engineering, science, design, and computing.
The four foundation courses offered by Swinburne’s specialised school of foundation are in business, engineering and science, IT and multimedia, and design.
By using real-world scenarios, Swinburne’s foundation courses equip students with essential academic, communication, critical and analytical-thinking skills – necessary to succeed in tertiary studies.
Its core units encourage creativity and innovation, while its stream-specific units develop further understanding of the majors available.
Foundation students will receive a well-rounded education from a team of experienced, supportive academics and well-equipped engineering, science and computing classrooms and laboratories — all ensuring they are prepared to face the academic rigours of undergraduate study.
Swinburne’s foundation studies in business can lead to majors in accounting, finance, accounting and finance (double major), human resource management, international business, management, management and digital media (double major), or marketing, while the foundation in information technology and multimedia prepares students for further studies in information and communication technology (majoring in software technology or network technology), or computer science (majoring in software development, cybersecurity or Internet of Things).
Students who opt to study foundation in engineering and science will be equipped with knowledge and skills for further studies in biotechnology, and various engineering fields such as civil, civil and business (double major), chemical, electrical and electronic, mechanical, robotics and mechatronics, or robotics and mechatronics and computer science (double major).
Those keen to pursue their undergraduate studies in multimedia design can choose the Foundation Studies in Design.
The next foundation intakes are in April, September and October with an all-in course fee starting from RM16,344 for Malaysian students and RM23,598 for international students.
Upon successful completion of the foundation course, students may continue into the degree course of their preferred disciplines at Swinburne’s campuses in Kuching or Melbourne.
Swinburne students graduate with degrees that receive worldwide recognition.
Both campuses deliver identical programmes and teaching materials, with testamurs awarded by the Australian campus.
Swinburne’s Sarawak campus has students from over 40 countries and has a range of on-campus residential options for students to choose from.
The university has advanced facilities which include campus-wide, high-speed Internet access, a 24/7 library, world-class engineering, research and science labs as well as tutorial rooms and computer labs equipped with cutting-edge equipment.
Students who meet the financial aid and scholarships selection criteria may apply for assistance or scholarships offered by state and government-linked agencies such as PTPTN, MARA, Yayasan Sarawak, or private and charitable bodies.