Courses offered

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History

According to the study of Sarawak Foundation in 1998, there is a need of human resources for the state of Sarawak. As the response to such study, Sarawak State Government invited a foreign, technologically focused university to be set up in Sarawak. Therefore, the Swinburne University of Technology of Melbourne, Australia was identified by the State Government as a viable partner in assisting the state's educational needs. Following a long-term strategy by Swinburne Australia to "globalize its operations and provide all Swinburne students worldwide with international living, working and learning opportunities", and the approval of the then Minister of Education of Malaysia, Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak (who currently is Prime Minister) in 1999, the Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology was set up within a State Office Complex building at Jalan Simpang Tiga, Kuching, Sarawak.

The first batch of 130 students was enrolled in August 2000.The campus was officiated by Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister of Sarawak, on 13 June 2001. Following a press conference in Kuching by Datuk Adenan Satem, then Minister for Natural Resources and the Environment, who is also Chair of the Council of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology was officially granted status as a university branch campus on 10 June 2004, effectively becoming Swinburne's sixth and latest campus, joining five other campuses in Melbourne, Australia.

The university was since then known as Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus and was, at the time, the fifth branch campus university in the country. Student population was at 700.

Work on a RM110 million (approx AUD$46 million) campus expansion started in late 2005, aiming to boost student capacity to 5,000 and further expand its facilities. This project was wholly funded by the Sarawak Government. Construction on the extended campus was completed in August 2008.By then, Swinburne Sarawak had grown to having more than 3,000 full-time students from over 30 countries. The new extended campus was officially declared open by Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, on 23 August 2008 which is the fourth and current Chief Minister of Sarawak. He is also the state Financial Minister and Resource Planning and Environment Minister.

Campus

Research excellence

Swinburne Sarawak has engaged in research into the development of software for the healthcare industry, software for the verification and authentication of digital biomedical media as well as research in biotechnology. These projects were funded by the public and private sector.

Student Facilities

Swinburne Sarawak has excellent student facilities, including a library that accommodates over 700, a 10,244 sq ft-lecture theatre equipped with the latest audio-visual technology and sound-proofed walls and wireless network coverage across the campus. For recreation, the campus has a gym, badminton, basketball, tennis and squash courts.

New Addition

16.5 acre site consist of eight buildings that are custom-designed which currently provide:

• 34 for engineering lab
• 10 for research lab
• 24 for computers lab
• 15 for science lab
• 37 tutorial rooms

Location

The campus is located in Kuching, the capital city of the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

Accomodation

On-campus accommodation

Two fully furnished on-campus hostels,separated into male and female blocks, accommodate more that 400 students. First-year students are given priority for on-campus accommodation. After one year of residence, students are required to vacate the hostels although request to stay on may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Security is provide 24 hours a day and university staff look into the needs of each hostel block. To reserve a room, a booking fee is required. Payment of rental is to be made in full for each term.
Standard facilities are:

• Bed
• Fan or air conditioning*
• Study table
• Chair and Wardrobe
• Wi-Fi access
• Reading/visitor areas
• kitchen
• dining rooms
• laundry and drying areas

Monthly On-Campus Hostel Rental

• Single:
  With fan                  = RM530
  With air-conditioning = RM790

• Twin-Sharing
  With fan                 = RM320
  With air-conditioning= RM480

Off-Campus Accommodation

Off-campus accommodation is available in The Tabuan Plaza apartments which are located within a reasonable distance from the campus.
The apartment units are equipped with security access terminal for the safety of its tenant. Each room is furnished with:

• single bed
• Study table and chair
• Wardrobe
• Fan and curtains
• Students share a common area
• kitchen and two bathrooms

The apartmentcomes with a dining set and refrigerator. Rental is between RM270.00 and RM450.00 per month and includes utilities.

Additional info

1. Full-fledged university
   Swinburne Sarawak is the only international branch university campus of Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
2. Australian curriculum
   Our curriculum is sourced directly from our home campus in Melbourne. This means the programs we offer are identical. Swinburne has been in existence for more than a hundred years and is well known in Australia for its practical career-oriented programs and close links to industry.
3. Australian qualification
   On completion of your degree studies, your parchment will be awarded by Swinburne Australia.
4. Professionally accredited programs
   Many of our programs have been accredited and recognised by professional bodies such as CPA Australia, ACCA, Institution of Engineers Australia, Board of Engineers Malaysia and the Australian Computer Society (ACS).
5. Experienced academics
   Our academics are highly qualified and experienced. Comprising Malaysians and international staff, many of our academics hold PhDs and Masters and bring with them many years of experience from industry.
6. Student exchange program
   Undergraduate students may apply to take part in an exchange program, for a term or two, to our Australian campuses or partner universities around the world at Malaysian cost.
7. Inter-campus transfer
   Although you can complete your studies entirely at the Sarawak Campus, you may transfer to our Melbourne campuses to complete them subject to meeting the appropriate criteria.
8. Scholarships and loans
   The University awards scholarships to students, both Malaysians and international, who do well in their studies. A number of private organisations also offer scholarships to eligible Malaysian students through the University.
   Swinburne Sarawak assists Malaysian students with study loan application. These include those offered by PTPTN, Yayasan Sarawak, Sarawak Higher Education Fund, Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation and bank loans.
9. Australian education at Malaysian cost
   You will find that it is affordable to pursue tertiary education at Swinburne Sarawak as the fees are only a fraction of the cost of studying in Australia.
10. Ideal study destination
    Kuching is well known for its relaxed atmosphere and friendly people. Its good infrastructure in education, communication, banking and transportation make it an ideal destination for living and pursuing higher education.

Fees

Statistics

Scholarships

• Swinburne Sarawak Community Bursary
• Yayasan Biasiswa Sarawak Tunku Abdul Rahman
• Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak- Tabung Amanah Bakun Scholarship
• Swinburne Sarawak-The Star Education
• Swinburne Sarawak Academic Excellence (Foundation Entrance)
• Swinburne Sarawak Academic Excellence (Degree Entrance)
• Swinburne Sarawak Pathway Scholarship
• Swinburne Sarawak PVC Academic Excellent Award
• Swinburne Sarawak - Sports & Leadership Scholarship
• Swinburne Sarawak Alumni Bursary