Institution Profile

About the institution

Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) is the first offshore campus and largest international campus of Curtin University, Western Australia (Curtin Perth), an Australian university ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide in the highly regarded Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2020. It is also the first foreign university campus to be established in East Malaysia in 1999.

Like its Australian parent, Curtin Malaysia has a very global focus with close to 4000 students from over 50 countries. Highly-qualified teaching staff from some 15 countries further strengthen its international outlook.

In addition, students are offered flexibility in completing their degrees, in which they can study part of their degrees at Curtin’s main campus in Perth or at its other branch campuses in Singapore, Mauritius and Dubai.

The major difference between pursuing a Curtin degree in Perth or in Miri is one of cost. Completing a Curtin degree at Curtin Malaysia is currently around a third the cost of completing exactly the same degree in Australia - an option that is certainly worth considering.

Academic Strength

Since its establishment in 1999, Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science has experienced exponential growth in its enrolment of courses under its Bachelor of Engineering programme. While its flagship chemical, civil and construction, mechanical and electrical and electronic engineering courses continue to attract greater numbers of students, newer niche courses in petroleum engineering and environmental engineering are also seeing a growing demand. Recently, Curtin Malaysia has introduced

Meanwhile, its Faculty of Business joined the world’s elite business institutions following approval of accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) of its parent Curtin Business School (CBS) at Curtin University last year. It is the first university in East Malaysia and one of only 14 in ASEAN that is AACSB accredited.

Having AACSB accreditation adds value to the Curtin qualifications that students earn at the Faculty and opens doors for more international collaboration.

Programme Outline

Foundation

• Foundation in Commerce
• Foundation in Engineering and Science
• Foundation in Arts (Media)

Undergraduate

• Bachelor of Business Administration
• Bachelor of Commerce
  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Accounting and Entrepreneurship
  • Accounting and Finance
  • Banking and Finance
  • Finance and Management
  • Finance and Marketing
  • Management and Marketing
  • Management and Human Resources Management
  • Marketing and Public Relations
  • Public Relations and Management
  • Tourism, Hospitality and Marketing
• Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.)
  • Chemical
  • Civil and Construction
  • Electrical and Electronic
  • Environmental
  • Mechanical
  • Petroleum
• Bachelor of Science
  • Applied Geology
  • Psychological Science
  • Health, Safety and Environment
• Bachelor of Computing
  • Cyber Security
  • Software Engineering
• Bachelor of Applied Science
  • Construction Management
  • Bachelor of Technology
• Bachelor of Technology
  • Computer Systems and Networking

Postgraduate

• Master of Policy Sciences
• Project Management
  • Graduate Certificate in Project Management
  • Graduate Diploma in Project Management
  • Master of Science (Project Management)
• Public Health
  • Graduate Certificate in Public Health
  • Graduate Diploma in Public Health
  • Master Public Health
• Master of Commerce (Marketing)
• Master of Science (Sustainable Aquaculture)
• Master of International Business
• Master of Petroleum Engineering
• Master of Philosophy (Engineering)
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Geology
  • Petroleum Engineering
• Master of Philosophy (Business)
  • Accounting
  • Economics and Finance
  • Management
• Master of Philosophy (Humanities)
  • Media, Culture & Creative Arts
• Doctor of Philosophy
  • Engineering & Science
  • Business
  • Humanities

Academic Resources and Facilities

Since its establishment in 1999, Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science has experienced exponential growth in enrolments for courses under its Bachelor of Engineering programme. While its flagship chemical, civil and construction, computer systems, electrical power, electronic and communication, mechanical and mechatronic engineering courses continue to attract greater numbers of students, newer niche courses in petroleum engineering and environmental engineering are also seeing growing demand.

Meanwhile, its Faculty of Business joined the world’s elite business institutions following approval of accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) of its parent Curtin Business School (CBS) at Curtin University last year. It is the first university in East Malaysia and one of only 14 in ASEAN that is AACSB accredited.

Having AACSB accreditation adds value to the Curtin qualifications that students earn at the Faculty and opens doors for more international collaboration.

The Student Experience

Curtin Malaysia continues to create new learning spaces equipped with the latest technological advances in teaching and learning such as distributed learning technology to support active student learning. These new facilities complement an already extensive list of campus facilities, including a modern library, state-of-the-art laboratories, computer labs and learning spaces, food and retail outlets, health centre, secure student housing and a range of sports and recreational facilities.

Aiming to produce graduates of the highest calibre, Curtin Malaysia encourages student learning and development beyond the classroom by providing students a variety of leadership roles through various student clubs and student development programmes. In addition, its partnerships and strong links with government, industry and community further enrich the learning experience of students and ensure their skills and expertise are aligned with the changing demands of today’s world.

Recognition and Accreditation

1. In 2015, four final-year chemical engineering students won the 2015 APAC-EMEA (Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa) Honeywell UniSim Design Challenge award. Curtin Malaysia students also excelled in the 2014 challenge, topping the Asia-Pacific region, a first for a Malaysian team and group entry.
2. In 2015, petroleum engineering students Lim Kean Chuan, Teh Ean Nee and Lee Yong Ler won the 2015 Scomi Mud Innovation Challenge, beating teams from the UK, Philippines, Cambodia and Indonesia.
3. In 2016, Eleanor Wong Shi Ee, a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) graduate was among 11 Malaysian graduates who were conferred the prestigious Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) ‘Excellence Award for Best Accounting Graduate 2015’.
4. In 2016, Basil Andy Lease, an Electronic and Communication Engineering (ECE) graduate of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) was recently awarded a Best Final Year Project Award by the Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology (CPMT) Malaysia Chapter.
5. In 2016, For the third year in a row, the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) has conferred its international award upon its student chapter at Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak)
6. In 2016, Reimara Valk, a senior lecturer in human resource management at Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) was presented the Motofusa Murayama Best Research Paper Award at the recent 33rd Pan-Pacific Conference held in Miri.
7. In 2017, Chai Su Ling, a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) graduate of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia), was among 10 graduates from universities in Malaysia conferred the prestigious Malaysia Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) Excellence Award for Best Accounting Graduate 2016 recently.
8. In 2017, PhD student Lee Mok Siang of Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) did his varsity proud by winning a Young Researcher Award at the recent International Conference on Innovative Research in Science, Technology and Management (ICIRSTM 2017) held at National University Singapore (NUS).
9. In 2017, Associate Professor Pauline Ho, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Business at Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia), recently received a 2017 Golden Globe Tigers Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education
10. In 2017, The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Student Branch of Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) bested over 20 other Malaysian IEEE student branches to win the IEEE Outstanding Student Branch Award 2016 at the recent annual general meeting (AGM) of the IEEE Malaysia Section held in Shah Alam recently.

Engineering courses are accredited by relevant professional bodies such as the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) Malaysia, Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), Engineers Australia (EA), Institution of Chemical Engineers UK, Australian Computer Society (ACS), Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Society of Exploration Geophysicists (USA), European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and Geological Society of Australia.

Meanwhile, Curtin’s Faculty of Business is proud to be counted among the world’s elite business institutions through its accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB accreditation is the global standard in quality for academic and professional excellence and only the top five per cent of business schools in the world are accredited. Curtin Malaysia is the first university in East Malaysia to attain AACSB accreditation. Only three Malaysian universities are currently AACSB accredited and two other foreign branch campuses are also part of AACSB accredited institutions. In the 10 ASEAN states, only 14 universities are AACSB accredited.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

• Curtin Malaysia (CM) Scholarships (Degree)
• Dean’s Scholarships
• Western Australia Government Scholarships (WA Premier’s Scholarships)
• Daiken and STA Scholarships
• The Tunku Abdul Rahman Scholarships
• Sabah Government Scholarships (Degree)
• Tunas Potensi (PENERAJU Scholarships)
• Yayasan Sarawak Tun Taib Scholarships
• Yayasan Sarawak Bursary Scheme
• Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council (MREPC) Scholarship Awards
• Pro Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships
• Yayasan Sarawak Loan
• Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) Loan
• Social Security Organisation • Full-time enrolled Sarawakian students (SOCSO) Education Loan
• EPF Withdrawal Scheme For Education

Courses Offered

Click on a programme name for full details.

Contact Details

Location Map

Key Personnel

Professor Jim Mienczakowski Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive , Curtin University Malaysia An Australian national, Professor Jim Mienczakowski joined Curtin Sarawak in July 2013. In his prior position, he served as Executive Director of Higher Education and Vice Chancellor of Emirates College for the Advancement of Education, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Professor Mienczakowski has a Bachelor of Education degree from University of London’s Institute of Education, a Master of Arts from King's College, London, and a PhD from Griffith University, Queensland, Australia. He also has a Dip CSSD from London University’s Central School where he studied in the early 1970s. He is an experienced academic administrator, having held senior positions in universities in Australia, including Foundation Dean of Education and Creative Arts, and later, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and Research) at Central Queensland University, and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Industry and Community) at Victoria University. With a strong background in education, having taught in Australia, the UK and the West Indies, his teaching and research interests reflect a broad and interdisciplinary approach to research. Having published extensively in the areas of qualitative research theory and methodologies, social sciences, ethnography, health education, schooling and performance, his published works also include a number of ethnographically informed theatrical plays. Professor Mienczakowski is on the editorial and advisory boards of a number of journals including Sage’s Qualitative Research. Professor Mienczakowski leads a team of over 300 staff members (with a current enrolment of about 3,500 students from over 40 countries) in order to take the highly-acclaimed Curtin Sarawak campus to the next level. His focus will be to capitalise on the significant and excellent work already achieved in Curtin Sarawak by his predecessors and to further internationalise both Curtin Sarawak’s identity and its student intakes. Curtin Sarawak’s strong emphasis on providing student focussed learning and supporting students throughout their programmes and early careers are elements of university life he is keen to develop further. Growth of Curtin Sarawak’s national and international research capacities and achievements will also play a big part in his plans for the Miri campus but so too will enhancing the total student experience, providing students with richly interactive and personalised learning experiences, effective new teaching and engagement approaches and equipping them with leadership skills for the future. In addition, through high-impact research in areas of strategic importance, Curtin Sarawak seeks to deliver outcomes of significant value to the local and regional communities. “Being recognised and respected as leading in research and education is very much part of Curtin’s global mission. Curtin Sarawak must also contribute to that recognition and to the rich and diverse fabric of Malaysia’s rapidly developing higher education environment,” he said.

Student Testimonials

Farah Nazsardar, Pakistan B.Com in Accounting & Finance - 1st year Peshawar-born Farah Nazsardar, who first heard of Curtin Sarawak through the internet, and friends says she has visited Miri twice before. However she was pleasantly surprised to see what a nice place Curtin Sarawak Campus is. Farah likes the style of lecturing in Curtin where the lecturers have better communication with the students. “The one-on-one tutorial is very effective. The lecturers are very helpful. They know everyone personally and we are like their friends.”

Hasnat Noorchowdhury,Bangladesh Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering), 2007 - current It’s been two years since I first arrived at Miri Airport and a Curtin Sarawak staff member brought me to my campus accommodation. Since then, I have been very pleased with how things have gone for me here. I have found the academics here to be outstandingly professional and organized, and along with a very healthy learning environment on the campus, have made my coursework enjoyable. The numerous extracurricular activities provided by at the university and the various student clubs have also helped me enjoy campus life here. Joining Curtin Sarawak has not only enhanced my academic standards but has also helped me realize my creative talents and improve my leadership, organization and communication skills.

Iqbal Dato Haji Selamat, Brunei Darussalam Mass Communications, 3 years International students would find themselves at home at Curtin Sarawak. It is fun to study at Curtin. There are a lot of activities which students could get involved in. Various clubs have been set up in the university mainly to help students to socialise with each other and in addition, improve one’s social skills. I am an active member of Curtin Volunteers! and Students Council. Over time, such activities helps to build one’s self-confidence. Interaction among students gives a more homely feel and eliminates homesickness as there is a bond being shared by the students regardless of their nationality. The small lecturer-student ratio allows more interaction and one-to-one discussions between student and lecturer. Lectures go uninterrupted as the attention span is more focused.

Phikisani Moyo, Zimbabwe Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting & Finance), July 2007 - December 2010 The love, care, respect and support we got from all the staff, management, lecturers and the Miri residents were unprecedented.It motivated me and my family and brought a huge relief to my parents. At least now they know that their sacrifices did not go down the drain. My parents have been more proud of me than they have been before and just recently my father confessed to me that he came close to tears of gratitude at the way we were treated, the awards I received and the speech I made and the whole stay in Malaysia. The conduct of the African students was as if they had seen their own parents and this left an impact on my parents because they have always talked good about the student life at Curtin as the standards of good behaviour.

Riaz Osman Ismail, Kenya Mechanical Engineering, 4 Years Coming to Malaysia meant a great shift in events for me and perhaps has played a key role in shaping me into who I am now. Often I have heard of Malaysia as a country with lucrative tourist destinations, it is only when I came here that I got to see it up close. A welcoming feeling was immediate. I suppose the best hospitality I have ever come across in all my travels has to be attributed to Malaysia. My decision to study in an international university here was governed mainly by the cost involved. While my friends who left to study in Europe struggled to make ends meet working part time, I am delighted to say that this has been less of an issue here. Studying in a country with ethnic diversity in such great harmony has exposed me to new cultures and a rich learning experience. This is perhaps the most important factor that has helped other internationals like me to easily adjust to the new environment. My study life here has been met by the often jovial and stressful times as experienced by students studying away from home, but it is the exceptional nature of the environment and the people that have held me together. At this point, I eagerly anticipate unravelling more from a country with a spirit of “Malaysia Boleh!”

Shawn Adler, Australia B.Com in Accounting & Property, 2nd year Shawn was from Curtin Bentley Campus in Perth/>, Australia/>/> before deciding on coming to Curtin Sarawak Campus. “I had little knowledge of Sarawak/> but I was attracted to come here. My biggest surprise was the remoteness of the place and the “night life” of cosmopolitan Miri. It’s a definitely good cultural experience.” Shawn was also amazed at the exceptionally high standard of teaching in the campus here, which he describes as comparable, if not better than in Bentley. “For the simple reason that the number of students per class is small, the teaching is therefore, very personalized, making it easier for me to interact with the lecturers,” said Shawn.

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