Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak | Malaysia

Campus setting	Suburban
Living cost	RM 1,200 per month
Student population	Small (1,000 or less)
International students	20%
Institution type	Private

About Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak

Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus is the international branch campus of Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. The Sarawak campus opened in Kuching, the capital city of the Malaysian state of Sarawak, in 2000.

The campus is a partnership between Swinburne Australia and the Sarawak government. The campus is part of a long-term strategy by Swinburne Australia, established in 1908, to globalize its operations and provide its students with international living, working and learning opportunities.

Since it was first set up, Swinburne Sarawak has been growing rapidly. The custom-designed campus has a current student population of 4,000. Apart from Malaysia, students hail from more than 60 countries, making it a truly international university.

Only 15 minutes away from the heart of Kuching city and nestled within commercial and residential areas, the 16.5-acre campus offers undergraduate degrees in engineering, science, commerce, computing and design that are identical to those of its home campus in Australia. Also offered are postgraduate research programs at PhD and masters in these disciplines as well as the MBA (International) and MA (TESOL). Also included is the one-year foundation programs in business, design, information technology/multimedia, engineering and science. A range of English language proficiency programs are also available.

Students may complete their degrees entirely in Kuching or transfer to one of its campuses in Melbourne to complete them.

These courses are a fraction of the cost of studying in Australia and parchments are awarded by Swinburne Australia.

Applied professional emphasis and direct placements in industry are a feature of many of its undergraduate courses. The focus on practical training is an integral part of the course structure and the university is well known for producing employment-ready graduates.

Swinburne Sarawak maintains a strong technology base and important links with industry. It aspires to be a research intensive university and is developing its research capability with a focus on areas relevant to industry. With state-of-the-art facilities, it conducts research on information security, mechatronics engineering, software engineering, business as well as education and e-learning.

Swinburne Sarawak is rated Tier 5: Excellent, the highest rating achieved by any university in the Malaysian Qualifications Agency’s Rating System for Higher Education (SETARA) for 2009, 2011 and 2013.

The MQA is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the quality assurance practices and accreditation of national higher education in Malaysia.

Campus information

Swinburne’s Sarawak campus is the international branch of Swinburne University of Technology in Australia.

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

The city is known for its relaxed lifestyle, clean environment, greenery and friendly people. It is only a short distance from many beautiful beaches and nature reserves.

The Sarawak campus offer courses in business, design, engineering, IT and science as well as postgraduate studies by coursework and research.

Facilities and services
Modern, custom-designed buildings house lecture theatres and halls, computer and research labs, a state-of-the-art digital resource centre, auditorium, cafeterias, student lounge and sporting facilities.

There are many recreational clubs and activities, making campus life interesting and colourful. Students living on-campus are within walking distance, or are only a short drive away, from the city centre. Many students also live in the residential areas near the campus.

Getting there
The campus is only 15 minutes away from the Kuching city centre.

The campus is located along Jalan Simpang Tiga in Kuching, and is a 10-minutes’ drive from the city centre. There are many places for shopping, dining and entertainment in the vicinity of the university. For example, the Spring shopping mall is within walking distance from the campus, and is a popular haunt among students.

Accommodation

On-Campus accommodation
The University’s on-campus hostel is located along Jalan Simpang Tiga and can accommodate 478 students. Full-time international and outstation students are given priority to reside at the hostel. First-year Foundation/Degree students are encouraged to reside at the hostel. The on-campus hostel offers a conducive environment with 24-hour security and general supervision.

Rooms are furnished with:

Bed with mattress
Study table with shelf and chair
Wardrobe
Fan
Blinds / Curtain
Mirror
Lighting
Air conditioning unit (optional)

The hostel blocks are furnished with:

Hostel equipped with CCTV surveillance and door access system
Bathrooms and toilets on each floor
Common lounge with TV and sofa set
Kitchen/ dining area equipped with refrigerator, gas stove and microwave oven
Laundry facilities (coin-operated washing machine & dryer)
24 hour security guards on duty
Hot and cold water dispenser
Free wireless internet access
Reading/visitors area

To reserve a room, a booking fee is required. Payment of rental is to be made in full for each term.

Fees:

Option A - Twin sharing with fan: RM 95.00 (RM 380.00 deposit)
Option B - Single room with fan: RM 155.00 (RM 620.00 deposit)
Option C - Twin sharing with air-conditioning: RM 152.50 (RM 610.00 deposit)
Option D - Single room with air-conditioning: RM 232.50 (RM 930.00 deposit)

Off-Campus accommodation
Off-campus accommodation is available at Tabuan Plaza apartments, located within a reasonable distance from the campus.The apartment units are equipped with security access terminal for the safety of its tenant. A complimentary shuttle service to and from the campus is provided to Tabuan Plaza. Each room is furnished with: