Innovation Precinct open

Swinburne continues its commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation, officially opening the Innovation Precinct. This is across the entire Hawthorn campus, and includes:

• Design Factory Melbourne: Brings together students, research leaders, industry partners and entrepreneurs to solve complex problems, generate innovative solutions and forecast future scenarios.
• Factory of the Future: Equipped with advanced visualisation and design tools, this ground-breaking facility gives designers the resources to develop prototypes rapidly, create innovative products and research potential manufacturing methods.
• Digital Innovation Lab: Integrates economy-wide digital technology and the internet of things, big data, data science and domain science to help enable people to make better decisions.
• An entrepreneur-in-residence program: A mentoring program bringing leading experts together to support entrepreneurial teams of students and staff from across the university.
• A business incubator program: Supports at least 10 resident start-up companies each year from students to small start-ups, right through to established businesses and industry partners.

Australia’s first joint Master of Architecture and Urban Design

“This course was designed in collaboration with industry and local government to meet the growing need for design professionals who are skilled in working at multiple scales and in many formats and media, ranging from the building scale to whole cities and regions,” says Professor Jane Burry, Dean of Swinburne’s School of Design.

Innovation Precinct

Swinburne’s Innovation Precinct is where the university’s research and innovation capabilities combine to deliver projects with real-world impact. Its three pillars, the Factory of the Future, Digital Innovation Lab, and Design Factory Melbourne, are individual hubs where staff and students collaborate with industry, solve innovation challenges and produce commercial outcomes. It’s also home to the new Data for Social Good Cloud Innovation Centre, the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Championing Industry 4.0

Swinburne’s innovation and research hubs create real-word impact by making use of Industry 4.0 technologies such as simulation technology, autonomous robots, the Internet of Things, system integration, cybersecurity, additive manufacturing, cloud computing, augmented reality and big data.

With a reputation for quality education and focused research, Swinburne University of Technology attracts highly qualified academics and teachers who are at the forefront of their respective fields.

At Swinburne, students will learn from academics who are making real-world impact through their ground-breaking research. The University’s teaching staff bring their expert knowledge and industry experience into the classroom. Students will also be exposed to guest lecturers and speakers who are successful industry professionals, ensuring that what they learn is relevant and connected to the needs of industry.

In 2018, The Good Universities Guide rated Swinburne’s overall teaching quality 83.3% and awarded the University a five-star rating for its teacher-to-student ratio of 1:18. This ratio means students can expect smaller class sizes and more personalised one-on-one interaction with teaching staff.

With an 82.2 per cent rating for teaching quality and a five-star rating for both overall experience and student-to-teacher ratio (2019 Good Universities Guide), Swinburne students are some of the most satisfied:

“Having teachers that are truly engaged has made the course for me. Being taught by active, passionate, dedicated and successful writers has been inspirational. Not only do they show me my career possibilities, but they also give realistic and encouraging advice on how to succeed in the industry.”
– Julie Ahearne, studying Bachelor of Arts with a major in Professional Writing and Editing.

“Nothing has been out of reach since I transferred to Swinburne. I have endless opportunities here and it’s all thanks to the support systems available. The class sizes and individual attention you receive makes you feel valued and that your teachers genuinely care about helping you reach your goals.”
– Zenath Sadiqzai, studying Bachelor of Business with a major in Marketing

With a reputation for quality education and cutting-edge research, Swinburne attracts academics who are making a real-world impact through their research and teachers who bring their expert knowledge and industry experience into the classroom.

Teacher profile

Alan Duffy | Astrophysicist, Lead Scientist of the Royal Institution of Australia, Swinburne Associate Professor and Research Fellow

From black holes to the Big Bang, Associate Professor Alan Duffy is one of Australia’s top experts on all things galaxy-related. His research into dark matter and astrophysics has led to regular appearances in the media and on television, including shows like The Project and News Breakfast, to explain science in ways everyone can understand.

His ability to communicate complex scientific ideas and discoveries in an exciting and easy-to-understand way, won him the national 2018 Celestino Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science. It is the latest on an already impressive list of awards and accolades.

Swinburne has an international reputation for offering programs with a career-focused curriculum. Its courses are taught by academics who are engaged with industry in the areas they teach. Swinburne offers courses designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in their chosen field.

Its courses cover the following study areas:

• Arts and Humanities
• Aviation
• Built Environment and Architecture
• Business
• Design
• Education
• Engineering
• Film and Television
• Games and Animation
• Health
• Information Technology
• Law
• Media and Communication
• Psychology
• Science

Swinburne makes it easy to progress between different course levels. Its Foundation Year and UniLink programs are designed to help prepare students to progress to a bachelor degree.

Swinburne offers a range of postgraduate degrees designed to help students reach their goals:

• Professional master degrees designed to allow students to transition smoothly from study to the workplace.
• Advanced master degrees designed to help students develop specialised knowledge and research skills.
• Swinburne’s research degrees that allow students to plan, conduct and manage a substantial research project and give students access to specialist facilities, world-class researchers, training and support.
• Swinburne’s Global Leadership Program offers two postgraduate qualifications from two leading universities students graduate with a degree from Swinburne and a degree from Northeastern University in Boston, USA.

Swinburne also offers English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS). These courses give students the opportunity to learn from qualified teachers, interact in English in a multicultural environment, and prepare for entry to other Swinburne programs.

If students have excelled in their previous studies, they could be awarded a Swinburne International Excellence scholarship or a Swinburne International Alumni Direct scholarship. Generally, the better a student’s academic results, the higher the scholarship amount.

Students are automatically assessed for these scholarships when they apply to Swinburne and no separate application form is required.

• Foundation Year and/or UniLink Diploma scholarships: between AUD 2,500 – AUD 5,000 is available to eligible students who apply for a packaged Foundation Year and/or UniLink diploma with a bachelor’s degree.
• Undergraduate scholarships: 10 per cent – 25 per cent off course fees, up to AUD 38,000 is available to eligible students who apply for a bachelor’s degree (excludes the Bachelor of Aviation and Piloting, and the Bachelor of Aviation and Piloting/Bachelor of Business double degree).
• Postgraduate scholarships: 10 per cent – 25 per cent off course fees, up to AUD 21,000 is available to eligible students who apply for a two-year masters by coursework program. A fixed amount of AUD 2,500 is available to eligible students who apply for the Master of Information Technology (Professional Computing) and Master of Science (Network Systems)
• Alumni Direct scholarships: 10 per cent – 25 per cent off course fees is available to eligible students who apply directly to Swinburne for an undergraduate degree (excludes the Bachelor of Aviation and Piloting and the Bachelor of Aviation and Piloting/Bachelor of Business double degree) or postgraduate degree if they already hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from Swinburne, or have recently completed a Swinburne pathway course.

In addition to Swinburne International Excellence scholarships and Swinburne International Alumni Direct scholarships, there is a range of Swinburne scholarships that are also available to international students, but these may require students to submit a separate application.

International students must meet both academic and English language entry requirements for their chosen course.

English language requirements

Students may be required to sit one of the English language tests prescribed by the Australian Government, regardless of whether they meet the Swinburne entry requirements by other means.

The English language requirements vary for different study levels.

Academic requirements

Students must meet the minimum academic entry requirements to be accepted into their chosen course:

• Foundation Year: successful completion of the equivalent of Australian Year 11
• UniLink diplomas, vocational diplomas and certificates: successful completion of the equivalent of Australian Year 12
• Bachelor degrees, master degrees, PhD programs: entry requirements vary depending on the course students choose.

There may be some additional requirements, depending on the chosen course. For example, these may include referee reports or a portfolio.

Find out more about how to apply on the University’s website.

International Student Advisers

Living and studying in a different country can be challenging. That’s why Swinburne has a dedicated team of International Student Advisers available to help students with any issues they may experience. International Student Advisers are the first point of contact for students arriving at Swinburne and provide ongoing support on all issues, big or small, from advice on jobs and accommodation to help understanding visa and study obligations.

Facilities and services

The Hawthorn campus library offers students the space and resources for study outside of class. The campus also features 24-hour computer labs and quiet spaces for individual and group study.

Additional student services include:

• Careers and employment
• Counselling
• Health and wellbeing
• Accommodation
• Financial advice
• Learning and study skills
• Legal advice

In focus: Health and wellbeing

If students are struggling with physical, emotional or mental health difficulties, whether related to their studies or life outside Swinburne, they can access the university’s comprehensive health and medical services. Students who may be experiencing family issues, stress, grief, loneliness, depression or other mental health issues can also access Swinburne’s counselling and psychological services.

In focus: Extra employability support

In addition to Swinburne’s Careers and Employability services, the university offers extra support to help international students boost their employability and become job-ready:

• one-on-one career counselling
• resources to create a successful CV and cover letter
• feedback on job applications and LinkedIn profiles
• Job Club to support each other’s employment-seeking activities
• Information on working in Australia while studying
• Regular career and employability events

Hawthorn campus

Student population: 22,000

Nearest city: Melbourne

Just 10 minutes by train from Melbourne’s city centre, Swinburne’s Hawthorn campus is set in a vibrant shopping hub which includes laneways and arcades where students can get great coffee and find a quiet place to read. There is a diverse choice of restaurants and cafés plus dozens of shops and boutiques, and a bookshop. Two supermarkets and a number of international grocers mean students will never have to go far for the essentials. They can also take a break from study to visit the Central Gardens, go to the gym at the Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre, or catch a movie at the local movie theatre, Lido Cinemas.

Multimillion-dollar facilities

Major refurbishments and new infrastructure are a feature at the Hawthorn campus. The development of new buildings, renovation of existing buildings and beautiful landscaping enhance the study environment and education experience it offers its students.

Cutting-edge facilities include:

• The AUD 100 million Advanced Manufacturing and Design Centre (AMDC), which provides an innovative teaching, learning and research environment for design, business, engineering and information technology students.
• The Advanced Technologies Centre, which features state-of-the-art laboratories and research and education facilities. It includes a 550-seat retractable lecture theatre, 40 high-tech learning spaces and the Smart Structures laboratory – the only one of its kind in Australia – for leading-edge research in structural engineering.
• The George Building, a multi-storey student services hub, which houses study areas and a student games room.

The safety and wellbeing of students is a high priority at Swinburne. The university offers a range of services to make sure students feel safe on campus, especially during late-night study sessions.

Night bus

Operated by Swinburne Security, the night bus can drop students off anywhere in the local neighbourhood to ensure they get home or to their transport safely.

Security officers

Swinburne Security officers patrol the Hawthorn campus day and night and can respond quickly to students with security concerns. They are also available to accompany students anywhere on or around campus.

Safe@Swin app

Safe@Swin is the official smartphone app of Swinburne’s Safer Community program. The app provides quick access to campus security officers, emergency contacts and Swinburne’s out-of-hours crisis line. It also features information on student support services, links to report a concern, personal safety tools and campus maps.

Safer Community

If students feel unsafe or threatened, or are concerned about the safety of others, they can report the situation to Swinburne’s Safer Community team, who are trained to provide support, intervention and risk management around problematic behaviour.

Swinburne is committed to rewarding academic excellence.

An international student scholarship can save students money on tuition fees and help make their education goals a reality. Swinburne offers scholarships to high-achieving students across a range of study levels and disciplines.

Once students apply to study at Swinburne, they will be considered for an international student scholarship.

Some of the scholarships available include:

• Undergraduate degrees: up to AUD 38,000 is available to selected students who apply for a bachelor degree. The higher their academic results, the greater the scholarship amount.
• Postgraduate programs: up to AUD 19,000 is available to selected students who apply for any two-year master by coursework program – except the Master of Information Technology (Professional Computing) and Master of Science (Network Systems).
• Postgraduate Professional Computing and Networking Systems programs: AUD 2500 is available to selected students who apply to study the Master of Information Technology (Professional Computing) or Master of Science (Network Systems).
• Postgraduate Loyalty Scholarship: Students can continue their studies and save on tuition fees. Students who are graduating from a Swinburne bachelor degree and apply to study a master’s by coursework program will receive a 10% reduction in tuition fees. This reduction in fees increases with each year of their studies, helping students save more, the longer they study.
• Pathway courses: Between AUD 2500 and AUD 5000 is available to selected students who apply for a packaged Foundation Year and/or UniLink diploma with a bachelor degree.

Swinburne has a long list of successful alumni, from Garth Davis, Director of Academy Award-nominated film Lion, to Dimity Hawkins, co-founder of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, winner of Australia’s first Nobel Peace Prize.

One factor that sets Swinburne graduates apart from the rest is that they are equipped with not only the theoretical know-how, but also the hands-on industry skills and experience that employers look for. More than 80 per cent of Swinburne graduates find jobs within four months of graduating (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2016-2018).

Today, Swinburne graduates are spread around the globe and work for some of the most dynamic organisations from start-ups and not-for-profits to multinationals such as IBM, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Siemens, National Australian Bank and Mercedes-Benz.

Graduate success

Angelyn Tan Ee Ding

Head of Sales (Google Cloud), G-Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd

Bachelor of Business (Marketing), Malaysia

Angelyn Tan Ee Ding is creating a career in cloud computing, at the forefront of technological innovation. What she enjoys most about her role is assisting clients in the digital transformation of their business. The role has also brought exciting opportunities, including attending the Google Next conference in San Francisco for three consecutive years. She says that with more businesses adopting cloud technology, it is a great time to be in the industry.

Angelyn believes Swinburne helped her prepare for a career in cutting-edge technology. She says her degree encouraged her to think creatively, something that now comes naturally to her in both work and life.