Founded more than 100 years ago, Swinburne University of Technology is a world-class university creating social and economic impact through science, technology and innovation. Originally a technical college, in 1963 Swinburne led the way with one of the first industry-based learning programs and from the 1970s offered degrees in engineering, accounting, chemistry and arts.

Awarded university status in 1992, Swinburne is internationally recognised as one of the world’s best universities under 50 years’ old. Swinburne ranked number 45 in the 2019 QS University Rankings Top 50 Under 50, number 81 in the 2019 THE Young University Rankings, and is ranked in the top three per cent of universities worldwide by the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2018.

Swinburne’s commitment to high-quality teaching is what makes them educational leaders in science, technology, innovation, business and design. The 2019 Good Universities Guide has awarded Swinburne five-star ratings for their teacher to student ratio, and for the overall quality of the educational experience.

The Hawthorn campus boasts state-of-the-art facilities featuring the latest digital 4.0 technologies. Students also have exposure to high-impact global research, with Swinburne ranked ‘well above’ world standard in sixteen fields of research in the 2018 ERA Research Excellence Rankings.

Courses at Swinburne are developed in consultation with industry experts meaning students graduate with the skills and experience employers are looking for. Swinburne’s reputation for producing in-demand, industry-ready graduates is highly regarded. More than 80 per cent of Swinburne graduates find jobs within four months of finishing their course (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2016-2018).

With 18% of its student population coming from overseas, Swinburne prides itself on being a university that embraces diversity and actively promotes an environment that is inclusive for all.

Swinburne University of Technology was founded in 1908 and enjoys a global reputation as an institution making an economic and social impact through innovation, science and technology. Originally established as a technical college, Swinburne was a pioneer of industry-based learning programs, later progressing to offering degrees in chemistry, engineering, accounting and arts.

Awarded university status in 1992, Swinburne is recognised today as one of the world's best young universities. The 2021 QS University Rankings placed Swinburne at number 45 in their Top 50 Under 50, an index of the world's top universities under 50 years old, and the 2020 THE Young University Rankings placed Swinburne at number 63 out of 250 institutions.

Swinburne also ranks among the world's top 300 universities by the Academic Ranking of World Universities, which placed the university in the top 1.5 per cent of universities worldwide and in the top 10 in Australia. With notable strengths in science, technology, film, engineering, innovation, business, law, and design, Swinburne attracts high-profile, industry-engaged academics.

The Hawthorn campus in Melbourne, Australia, features state-of-the-art facilities fitted with the latest digital 4.0 technologies. Students learn by working on real-life industry challenges and projects and graduate with actual industry skills, experience and knowledge that employers look for.

Swinburne's graduate outcomes speak for themselves. Over 82 per cent of Swinburne postgraduate graduates find full-time jobs within four months of finishing their course, and the median salaries for Swinburne undergraduate and postgraduate, graduates are the highest in Victoria, Australia (2021 Good Universities Guide).

With 18 per cent of the institution's student population coming from overseas, Swinburne celebrates diversity and welcomes students from a vast array of cultures, ethnicities and religions.

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.

Start online, continue on campus

Swinburne has pivoted quickly in response to the global pandemic, transitioning the majority of its on-campus classes to online delivery and revising course entry requirements. This pivot means students around the world can still access world-standard education from the comfort of their home.

Students can begin their course online, temporarily, and then travel to Australia for on-campus classes once restrictions ease. Swinburne's next Semester 2, 2020 online intake will commence on 2 November 2020.

Financial support for international students

Swinburne has introduced new incentive programs to assist international students impacted by travel restrictions, including the Swinburne X LinkedIn International Program and ELICOS+ Exclusive. The university has also increased its Swinburne International Excellence undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships, with up to 75 per cent off course fees now available to eligible students.

Trusted by over 20,000 students

Students can expect the same high-quality learning experience from Swinburne's online delivery. In fact, Swinburne Online been delivering online courses to domestic and international students for over a decade, which are all accredited by the Australian Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, the same body that accredits Swinburne's on-campus courses.

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 is reputed for the quality of education offered to students, including a five-star rating from the Good Universities Guide 2021 for skills development, student support and overall experience. Students have rated their experience at the university highly:

''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, Bachelor of Arts

''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, Bachelor of Business

With a reputation for quality education, industry-engagement and first-class research, many of Swinburne's academics are recognised internationally for their ground-breaking research with real-world impact.

Teacher profile

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

Professor Alan Duffy is an award-winning academic and expert on all matters related to astrophysics and dark matter. His research has led to notable acclaim with appearances in the media, including television shows. He is a well-known and respected science communicator and was awarded the 2018 Celestino Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science.

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.

Swinburne has increased the value amount of scholarships on offer, and introduced new incentive programs, to help students focus more on learning and worry less about finances, even when studying online. This includes:

• Swinburne X LinkedIn International Program: this incentive program gives undergraduate and postgraduate students a 30 per cent fee reduction on online units they study in their home country, plus access to exclusive LinkedIn Learning content.
• ELICOS+ Exclusive: this incentive program gives students a refund of up to ten weeks ELICOS tuition fees once they start their main Swinburne course.
• Pathway scholarship: AUD 2,500 – 5,000 off course fees is available to eligible students who apply for a Foundation Year, UniLink diploma or Postgraduate Qualifying Program packaged with a degree.
• Undergraduate scholarship: 10 – 75 per cent off course fees is available to eligible students who apply for a bachelor's degree. The scholarship does not include the Bachelor of Aviation and Piloting/ Bachelor of Business double degree or the Bachelor of Aviation and Piloting.
• Postgraduate scholarship: 10 – 75 per cent off course fees is available to eligible students who apply for a master's degree by coursework or research.
• George Swinburne STEM Postgraduate scholarship: 30 per cent off course fees is available to all students who meet the entry requirements of eligible postgraduate STEM courses.
• Alumni Direct scholarship: 10 – 25 per cent off course fees is available to eligible students who apply for undergraduate degree studies (This does not include the Bachelor of Aviation and Piloting or the Bachelor of Aviation and Piloting/ Bachelor of Business double degree) or postgraduate degree studies, having studied an undergraduate qualification or pathway course at Swinburne.

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

International Student Advisers

Moving to another country to study can be a daunting experience. That's why Swinburne has a dedicated International Advisory and Support team who are available to help students settle into the Australian and university community.

Swinburne's International Student Advisers can help students with any questions, big or small. From adjusting to online learning to help with understanding visa and study obligations, and everything in between. The team can also refer students to other specialist services that include counselling accommodation assistance learning and study skills financial advice legal advice careers and employment support.

Health and wellbeing

The university offers an extensive range of health and medical services to students. These services cover all aspects of physical, emotional and mental health. The counselling service is on hand to assist students who may be experiencing difficulties such as depression, stress and anxiety.

Employability support

Swinburne has a dedicated Careers and Employability service to help students increase their employability. They also provide specialist support to international students, including career counselling, job application feedback, CV writing assistance, student work rights, career events, and a job club.

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.

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. The app 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.

From Melbourne to Milan, Swinburne graduates are spread around the globe and work for some of the most dynamic organisations, from start-ups to not-for-profits to multinationals. Tesla, Adidas, Pfizer, British Airways, PwC, HSBC and Apple are just some of the companies where Swinburne graduates have made their mark.

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 and winner of Australia's first Nobel Peace Prize. All around the world, Swinburne graduates are writing their own success stories.

Graduate success

Angelyn Tan Ee Ding

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

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.