Curtin University, Malaysia

About Curtin University Malaysia

Curtin University Malaysia opened in 1999 in Miri, Sarawak, making it the first foreign university campus established in East Malaysia. It is a branch of Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia, which was founded in 1966 as the Western Australian Institute of Technology before becoming a full university in 1986. The Malaysian campus was set up through an agreement between Curtin University and the Sarawak state government at a time when East Malaysia had limited access to degree-level education from internationally ranked institutions.

The parent university ranks #174 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. By the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), Curtin University sits in the top 1% of all universities globally, a benchmark that covers research output, academic citations, and the number of Nobel Prize and Fields Medal recipients among its staff and alumni. The Malaysia campus grants the same Curtin University (Australia) degree that is awarded on the Perth campus.

Miri holds a notable place in Malaysian economic history: it is the site of Malaysia’s first oil well, drilled in 1910, and has since developed into a service hub for the Sarawak oil and gas sector. This history is reflected in Curtin Malaysia’s engineering and resource-sector program offerings, which have a particular depth in petroleum engineering and related disciplines that connect directly to the industry presence in the state.

Programs at Curtin University Malaysia

Curtin Malaysia organises its programs across faculties covering engineering, science, business, and humanities.

Engineering programs include petroleum engineering, chemical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and mining engineering. The petroleum engineering program is one of the flagship offerings, designed for the Sarawak and Malaysian oil and gas industry. Graduates pursuing careers at Petronas, Sarawak Shell, or other regional energy companies frequently come through this pathway. Engineering degrees are accredited by the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) and the Engineers Australia body, providing dual professional recognition.

Business and Finance programs cover accounting, finance, commerce, and marketing. The business faculty accepts students from foundation and A-Level pathways. Several programs are offered in parallel at the Perth campus, meaning students can transfer between campuses in some cases. The accounting programs are structured to meet the requirements of professional bodies such as CPA Australia and ACCA.

Science and Computing programs include environmental science, biotechnology, computer science, and information security. The environmental science program draws on Sarawak’s position in a biodiverse region and includes fieldwork components suited to the local ecosystem. Mass Communication and Media programs offer specialisations in advertising, public relations, and media production, and have produced graduates who work across Malaysian and regional media organisations.

Foundation and diploma pathways are available for students who are not yet ready for direct degree entry. English language preparation programs also run for students whose first language is not English.

Fees at Curtin University Malaysia

Curtin Malaysia sits in the mid-range of the Malaysian private university fee market for most programs. Annual tuition varies by faculty and program level.

The Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme is a state government initiative that covers tuition fees for eligible Sarawakian students enrolled in qualifying programs at Curtin Malaysia and other approved institutions. Eligibility is based on Sarawak residency and household income. Students under this scheme still pay for accommodation, food, books, and personal expenses, but the tuition component is borne by the state government. This makes Curtin Malaysia accessible to a segment of students who would otherwise be unable to afford a university degree from an internationally ranked institution.

From 1 July 2025, international students at private universities in Malaysia are subject to a 6% service tax on tuition fees. This applies to international students but not to Malaysian citizens. Curtin Australia scholarships and Curtin Malaysia merit awards are available based on pre-university academic performance.

Facilities at Curtin University Malaysia

The Miri campus occupies a dedicated site approximately 10 kilometres from Miri city centre. It includes faculty-specific laboratory facilities including petroleum engineering labs (core analysis, drilling simulation), chemical engineering process labs, electrical and computing labs, environmental science fieldwork equipment, and business computing suites.

The campus runs student accommodation in on-campus residential colleges, which is an important feature given the campus’s distance from Miri’s main urban services. On-campus facilities include a sports hall, outdoor courts, a gymnasium, food outlets, a student centre, and a health clinic. The library provides access to the Curtin University library system and digital databases including engineering standards, scientific journals, and business resources.

Miri itself provides access to hospitals, shopping centres, and Miri Airport, which has direct flights to Kuala Lumpur (under 2 hours), Kuching (50 minutes), and Kota Kinabalu. The airport’s connectivity makes it practical for students from Peninsular Malaysia and from Sabah or Brunei to access the campus without needing a road journey across Sarawak.

Admissions at Curtin University Malaysia

Curtin Malaysia accepts students for two main intakes: February and July. Foundation program intakes may run more frequently.

Direct undergraduate entry requires A-Level, IB Diploma, STPM, UEC, or equivalent qualifications. Requirements vary by program: engineering programs require strong mathematics and science grades, while business and mass communication programs are more accessible. English proficiency requirements are set at IELTS 6.0 to 6.5 for most programs, with specific requirements for each program listed in the admissions guide.

Students from international schools in Sarawak who completed Cambridge A-Levels or the IB Diploma can apply directly to degree programs if their grades meet the entry requirements for their chosen program. Students with lower scores can enter via the Foundation Studies pathway and progress to the degree upon meeting the grade conditions.

The transfer policy between Curtin Malaysia and Curtin Perth means that students who start in Miri can apply to transfer to Australia after completing a portion of their studies, subject to Curtin Perth’s transfer admission requirements and, for international students, Australian visa eligibility.

Curtin University Malaysia in Sarawak

Curtin University Malaysia is located in Miri, in the Miri Division of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. Sarawak is the largest Malaysian state by land area and has a distinct demographic and cultural profile from Peninsular Malaysia. Miri, with a population of approximately 350,000, is the state’s second largest city after Kuching.

The university plays a practical economic role in the state: it trains engineers and technical professionals for the oil and gas, plantation, and infrastructure sectors that form the backbone of the Sarawak economy. Its presence in Miri rather than Kuching means it serves northern Sarawak, Brunei, and the nearby Sabah border region as a local access point for degree education.

Families in Sarawak comparing secondary and tertiary options can also explore private secondary schools in Sarawak for context on the pre-university pathways that feed into Curtin Malaysia and other institutions in the state.

Contact Curtin Malaysia at study@curtin.edu.my or through the main enquiry line at 085-630 100. The admissions portal is at curtin.edu.my/malaysia.