Curtin University

About Curtin University

Curtin is a large, public research university based in Perth, Western Australia (main campus in Bentley). It was established in its current form in 1986 (with earlier antecedents) and is named after former Australian Prime Minister John Curtin. Curtin positions itself as industry-connected and research-led, with a strong emphasis on employability and applied learning. It also runs international branch campuses and partnerships to deliver Curtin courses overseas.

 

Why choose Curtin?

  • Graduate employability: Curtin often promotes high graduate employment outcomes compared with other WA public universities — good if your priority is work after study.

  • Industry and applied focus: Many courses emphasise practical, industry-relevant skills and industry placements.

  • Strong research in selected areas: High research quality in several fields (mining, engineering, health sciences, etc.).

  • Global campuses & pathways: Study at the Perth campus or choose one of Curtin’s international campuses (Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai, Mauritius, Colombo) or pathway options. This gives flexibility and access to different regions.

 

University rankings

  • QS World University Rankings: Curtin has recently climbed in QS — Curtin reported a notable rise in the 2025 QS release. (Official Curtin media release summarises the 2025 QS improvement.)

  • Times Higher Education (THE): Curtin sits in the 251–300 band in THE World University Rankings 2026 (by the published 2025 data). THE also shows strong subject rankings (engineering, mining, some health/education subjects).

  • Subject strengths: Curtin is particularly well known internationally for mining and mineral engineering (top-ranked by subject) and has strong placements in several engineering, health and earth sciences subjects.

Quick note: rankings change yearly and are methodology-dependent — use them to identify strengths (subjects and employability), not as the sole decision factor.

 

Campus locations

Curtin operates multiple campuses and learning locations:

  • Curtin Perth (Bentley) — main and largest campus (onshore Australia).

  • Other Western Australia sites: Murray Street (CBD), St Georges Terrace, Kalgoorlie, Midland.

  • International campuses/locations: Curtin Malaysia, Curtin Singapore, Curtin Dubai, Curtin Mauritius, and Curtin Colombo (Sri Lanka).

 

Types of courses / study levels

Curtin offers the full range of higher-education study levels:

  • Undergraduate (Bachelor degrees, honours, diplomas and pathway programs).

  • Postgraduate coursework (Graduate certificates, Graduate diplomas, Masters by coursework).

  • Higher Degree by Research (MPhil, PhD) and research training.

  • Professional development and short courses; online only and micro-credential offerings.

 

Mode of learning (onsite / online / blended)

Curtin delivers courses by multiple modes:

  • On-campus (face-to-face) at Bentley and other locations.

  • Fully online courses and units (some whole degrees available online).

  • Blended/hybrid delivery — many courses combine in-person lectures, online resources and practical placement components. Intake schedules vary by course (semester 1 — Feb; semester 2 — Jul; some special study periods). Always check the specific course page for the delivery mode and intake options.

 

Number of programs offered (overview)

  • Curtin runs hundreds of programs across undergraduate, postgraduate and research levels. Public sources list 150+ undergraduate programmes and many additional postgraduate and research programs — so expect several hundred distinct award programs and specialisations overall. (Exact counts change as new courses and specialisations are added.) If you need an exact current count for a specific faculty/subject, I can pull that course list for you.

 

Highlights & student services (what international students often care about)

  • Support for international students: dedicated international student support teams, orientation programs, English language and academic skills services.

  • Pathways: Curtin College offers diploma/pathway programs to help students progress into Curtin bachelor degrees. 

  • Research centres & industry links: notable for mining (Western Australian School of Mines/WASM), resources, engineering, health and nursing.

  • Large student community: 50–65k+ students on Curtin’s books (recent headcount shows ~61k+ students in recent years). This means lots of clubs, societies and on-campus activities.

Scholarship

  • Global Scholars Program (Curtin Perth)

    • What: Aiming to attract high-performing international students.

    • Value: A$15,000 scholarship credited towards tuition fees (for students accepted into the Global Scholars Program).

    • Who: International students who meet the program’s selection criteria (details and terms on Curtin’s Global Scholars page).

    • Where to confirm/apply: Curtin Global Scholars Program page.

  • Curtin Global Merit Scholarship / Curtin Global Merit suite

    • What: Merit-based tuition reduction (historically ~20% tuition or specific first-year reductions under some Global Curtin schemes). Curtin maintains a number of “Global” merit scholarships (Global Merit, AY12, Alumni & Family, Diplomatic categories etc.).

    • Value: Often a percentage reduction off tuition (e.g., 20% for the duration or 25% of first-year tuition under some 2025 Global Curtin offerings) — exact rates and eligibility can change by intake and program.

    • Who: International, full-fee paying, non-sponsored students meeting the academic/English requirements for the specified course. Some scholarships are restricted to particular award types (e.g., exclusions like medicine degrees) or require a minimum course credit length.

    • Where to confirm/apply: Individual scholarship detail pages on Curtin’s scholarship portal; use “Find a scholarship” to filter by international student type and campus.

  • John Curtin Scholarship Program (leadership & high-achiever pathway)

    • What: A program investing in future leaders; typically offers high levels of financial support and leadership development activities across undergraduate years.

    • Who: High-achieving future undergraduate students who meet selection criteria.

    • Where to confirm/apply: John Curtin Scholarship Program page on Curtin’s scholarship portal.

  • Postgraduate Merit Scholarships (Curtin Perth)

    • What: Scholarships aimed at high-achieving students commencing postgraduate coursework. May be faculty-specific (Business & Law, Health Sciences, Science & Engineering, etc.).

    • Who: New postgraduate students who meet criteria for merit (academic performance) and course entry requirements.

    • Where to confirm/apply: Curtin scholarship listings and the specific scholarship details page.

  • Diplomatic / Special Category Scholarships

    • What: Curtin sometimes maintains scholarships for students holding specific visa types (e.g., diplomatic visas) or certain special categories. These often give a percentage off first-year tuition.

    • Who: Students who meet the special category (e.g., diplomatic visa holders).

    • Where to confirm: Individual scholarship detail pages.

  • Curtin Malaysia — Curtin Malaysia Merit & International Student Merit Scholarships

    • What & Value: Curtin Malaysia runs its own merit scholarships for new international students (multiple levels such as Curtin Malaysia Merit, International Student Merit, Dean scholarships). Values and percentage tuition reductions vary by scheme and intake. The Malaysia campus also publishes a scholarships guide / PDF with eligibility and value details.

    • Who: International students holding a Curtin Malaysia Letter-of-Offer for eligible programs; criteria may require not holding other scholarships/grants.

    • Where to confirm: Curtin Malaysia scholarships pages and scholarship guide PDF.

  • Curtin Dubai scholarships

    • What: Curtin Dubai campus runs campus-specific academic excellence / financial aid scholarships for international students studying at the Dubai campus (scholarship types, amounts and application processes differ from Perth).

    • Where to confirm: Curtin Dubai scholarships and financial aid page.

  • Other targeted & equity scholarships (current students)

    • What: Curtin provides equity and hardship scholarships for current students already enrolled who face financial hardship, and other targeted awards (e.g., research scholarships, faculty bursaries). Eligibility and application windows are separate from incoming international merit awards.

    • Where to check: Curtin’s Scholarships & Financial Aid listings for current students.

 

Typical eligibility requirements

While each scholarship page lists its own terms, these are the common requirements you’ll see across Curtin international scholarships:

  • Offer of Admission: You usually must hold a Curtin Letter-of-Offer (unconditional or conditional depending on scholarship).

  • International, full-fee paying: Many international scholarships require you to be a full-fee paying international student (i.e., not sponsored).

  • Academic merit: Minimum academic grades or comparable scores (high school year 12 equivalence, bachelor’s degree GPA for postgrad, etc.). Specific cutoffs vary by scholarship and year. Note: Curtin raised some merit cutoffs for 2025 Global scholarships — check the scholarship detail for exact cutoffs.

  • English language: Meet Curtin’s English language entry requirements for your course (some scholarships require you to have already met English or specify conditional offers).

  • Course & campus restrictions: Some scholarships exclude specific degrees (e.g., MBBS) or require courses of a minimum credit load/duration.

  • No other scholarship conflicts: Certain scholarships require applicants to not already hold another Curtin or external scholarship.

  • Visa-specific categories: For special scholarships (e.g., diplomatic), you must hold the relevant visa type.

 

Deadlines & timing (practical tips)

  • Deadlines vary by scholarship and intake (semester/trimester). Some merit scholarships are assessed at offer stage (i.e., prior to enrolment) while equity/hardship scholarships have separate application rounds for current students. Always check the scholarship detail page for “Key dates” or application closing dates.

  • Apply early and ensure your offer and transcripts are ready: many scholarships use your original offer application/academic record to decide. If a scholarship is automatic (award at offer), delayed documents can affect eligibility.

  • If in doubt, contact Curtin Scholarships team (contact details appear on scholarship pages) — get confirmation of whether you need to apply separately.

 

Campus-specific notes

Curtin Perth (Australian campus)

  • The largest grouping of global merit and targeted scholarships is listed via Curtin’s central scholarship portal and Global Scholars program. Global Curtin suite updates (e.g., merit cutoffs and first-year percentages) can change year to year — verify 2025/2026 details on the scholarship pages.

Curtin Malaysia

  • Curtin Malaysia publishes its own scholarship guide/pdf covering Curtin Malaysia Merit, International Student Merit and other campus scholarships (eligibility often requires a Curtin Malaysia Letter-of-Offer and not holding other grants). See the Curtin Malaysia scholarship page and the Malaysia scholarship PDF for full details.

Curtin Dubai

  • Curtin Dubai offers campus-specific academic and financial aid scholarships for the Dubai campus. Types and amounts differ from Perth; check the Curtin Dubai scholarships/financial aid page for local details.

 

Practical checklist — documents & actions to prepare now

  • Obtain a clear scanned copy of your passport and all academic transcripts (certified copies if requested).

  • Get English test results (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE) ready if your course requires them.

  • Prepare a short CV and personal statement focused on academic achievements and leadership (useful for leadership/merit scholarships).

  • Keep evidence for special categories (e.g., diplomatic visa) if applying for those scholarships.

  • Save screenshots / PDFs of the scholarship pages that apply to you (for reference during application).

  • Set calendar reminders for application deadlines and for lodging documents required to convert any conditional offer to unconditional.

 

Tips to maximise your chances

  • Apply to eligible scholarships early — many merit scholarships are awarded at offer stage.

  • Highlight academic distinctions clearly (GPA, awards, rank in class) on any application form or statement.

  • If a scholarship requires leadership or community activity, give specific examples with measurable outcomes.

  • Keep your application concise and evidence-led — statements of no more than 500–800 words that directly answer selection criteria are usually most effective.

  • For Curtin Malaysia / Dubai applicants, use the campus PDF/guides: they sometimes list exact percentage reductions and grade cutoffs.

Programs

Perth, Australia