Welcome and what this session covers

G'day, and welcome to the Choosing Your Uni virtual expo. I'm your emcee, Rob Malicki. Welcome to today's session on Curtin University. We're going to be getting started in just a moment, but firstly I'd like to acknowledge that I'm today on Gadigal land in Sydney, part of the Eora nation. I respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians.

Before I get started, let me tell you what's coming up in the next 20 minutes. Hello to those of you who are tuning in live. Thank you for joining us. You can drop your questions in the chat down below, regardless of what platform you're on: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or YouTube. And if you're watching this on the recording, make sure you ask your questions in the Discord. We have a Choosing Your Uni Discord which is available, and if you're a parent watching the recording, you can also jump in the parent group and ask questions. We will get back to all of your questions.

What's Curtin University known for? I'm going to be telling you all about that in this session. We're going to address who would be well suited to studying at Curtin. We're going to hear from some students who have actually studied there. We're going to talk about academic strengths, and I'm going to be taking you into the hard data: the data from the Australian Government's Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching research, so you can really understand everything about student satisfaction, employment, salaries, rankings, and the like. I'll be very straight with you. I'm going to take you behind the scenes of what it actually means for you. We'll also be taking some questions if we have time, and at the end I'll tell you about the institutions I think you should be comparing Curtin against to help you build your shortlist.

Is Curtin University the right fit for you?

Here is a number that should make you pay attention to Curtin University. The institution scores 89.7% for employer satisfaction. It's the highest of any university in Australia. It's not in the top five, it's not number three: it is number one. What that means is that the people doing the hiring for jobs rate Curtin graduates more highly than graduates from any other university in the country.

So who is Curtin University actually for? It's probably not for you if you want that sandstone university experience: one that's been around for 150 years and has a really traditional feel to it. Curtin started as a technical school back in 1900, and it still thinks like a technical institution. It's practical. It's applied. It's built around doing things, not just studying them. It's probably not for you either if you want to be in the middle of a city. The main campus is in Bentley, which is about 15 minutes east of Perth. It's suburban. It's got lots of space, but it's not that inner-city laneway, coffee, tram kind of experience.

But if you want a degree designed with your future employer sitting at the table, if you want to be in a city that's affordable, that's growing fast, and that's connected to some of the biggest industries on the planet, then stick around, because Curtin University could well be for you.

What students say about studying at Curtin

Before I give you my take, let's hear from someone who's actually studied there.

The best thing I like so far is definitely the food, the people, the weather has been great. The staff are really helpful, and you've got a lot of materials and a lot of workshops and stuff like that, which are really helpful when it comes to academic performance. They're really helpful at that.

That's one perspective, and I've got plenty more to share with you. If you've got questions about Curtin or about the uni in general, drop them in the chat and I'll do my best to get to them.

Three things that define Curtin University

Here are three things I think really define Curtin University. The first: the mining and resources connection is genuinely extraordinary. Curtin is ranked fifth in the entire world for mineral and mining engineering. That's fifth on the planet, and that's not some obscure metric: it's from the QS subject rankings. Western Australia is where a huge proportion of Australia's mining and resources wealth comes from, and Curtin is the university that feeds that industry. It has deep, long-standing partnerships with companies like Rio Tinto, BHP, Woodside, and Chevron. So if you're interested in engineering, geoscience, energy, or anything in that resources space, Curtin isn't just a good option: it's arguably one of the best options in the entire country. I would literally move from somewhere else in Australia to Perth just to go to Curtin for that.

Second, Curtin is built around applied learning. This is a university that came from technical education, and that DNA runs through everything. Work-integrated learning, which means real placements, internships, and work experiences that you do as part of your degree, is embedded across engineering, business, and health programs. This isn't just an add-on: it's actually part of the model, and every degree is designed with an eye on what you'll actually be doing after you graduate.

Third, Curtin is genuinely global in a way that most Australian universities aren't. It has full campuses in Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, and Dubai. These aren't just partnership arrangements: they're actual Curtin University campuses. That means you can start your degree in Perth, transfer to another campus for a semester or longer, and complete the entire degree in that model. That's a different kind of mobility than a standard exchange programme.

Why Perth is a strategic advantage, not a compromise

Let's talk about Perth itself, because cities actually matter. Perth is one of the most isolated cities in the entire world, and for some people that feels like a big disadvantage. It scares some people away, and I get that question on my YouTube channel all the time. However, let's look at what that actually means. It means a lower cost of living than places like Sydney and Melbourne. It means less competition for part-time work. It means a lifestyle that genuinely prioritises being outdoors, and an economy that's powered by resources, defence, and increasingly by space and technology as well. If you're studying in those fields, being in Perth isn't a compromise: it's actually a strategic advantage.

I'll be very honest: Perth is one of my favourite student cities in all of Australia, along with Brisbane. If you're an international student thinking of studying in Australia, I would absolutely look at Perth. I would not be swayed by the fact that it's far from the eastern states, because it's not like you're going to be travelling there on weekends anyway. If you are going to do some travelling, you'll do it during semester breaks, and that distance becomes much less of an issue. Perth is definitely worth a look.

Academic strengths: mining, space, and research

Now let's get into some of the academic details, because Curtin has some real standout areas that go well beyond mining. The West Australian School of Mines sits within Curtin's Faculty of Science and Engineering. It's one of the most respected mining and mineral schools globally, and as we've said, it ranks fifth in the world. It's not a fluke: it reflects literally decades of integration with industry, heavy research investment, and a focus on graduate outcomes. If you want to work in resources or anything peripheral to it, a Curtin mining degree will open doors, hands down.

Curtin's Science and Engineering faculty does go further than that. It has major research infrastructure in space and astronomy, including the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, a joint venture between Curtin and the University of Western Australia. It's involved in what's called the Square Kilometre Array, one of the biggest science projects on the planet, which is building the world's largest radio telescope right here in Western Australia. If space and astronomy interest you, that's a remarkable thing to have on your doorstep.

Beyond space and resources, Curtin operates over 100 research centres and institutes. It's in Australia's top ten for total research income, which is quite impressive for an institution that's not in the Group of Eight. Being that high in total research income means it's winning a lot of grants. Research strengths span health innovation, cyber security, defence technology, renewable energy, and critical minerals: the materials needed for things like batteries and solar panels.

Health, business, humanities, and creative arts at Curtin

The Faculty of Health at Curtin is another strong point. It offers programmes across nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, public health, and all of these have clinical placements woven into the degree from early on. The Health Innovation Research Institute has expanded with new facilities in recent years, and there's a real pipeline from study to employment in Western Australia's health system. If you're interested in health and education pathways, ECU and Australian Catholic University have some excellent degrees in those areas, as does the University of Notre Dame, which has a campus in Fremantle. All worth a look.

The Faculty of Business and Law brings a practical and industry-engaged approach, and the Faculty of Humanities covers media, creative arts, and social inquiry. Curtin's creative arts programmes include dedicated studios, performance spaces, and digital labs. If you're interested in those degrees, I'd also consider Edith Cowan University, with its brand-new city campus and remarkable facilities.

Campus life and the Bentley campus transformation

Let's talk about size for a minute, because Curtin is huge: 65,000 students, with 47,000 undergraduates and 18,000 postgraduates. Roughly 22% of its students are international, drawn from all over the world. I love having international students in our classrooms. It brings diversity, new thinking, and different approaches to learning. Having those students in the mix is genuinely part of daily life at Curtin, not something you only see at orientation week. In the real world, we collaborate with people from across cultures, countries, and backgrounds, and having that in the classroom creates a genuinely enriching experience.

The main Bentley campus has had some serious investment. It's one of the universities that has changed the most in the couple of decades since I first went there in the early 2000s. Back then I thought the place was a little bit drab, and then when I came back about ten years later it had completely transformed: beautiful murals on the walls, a state-of-the-art library renovation, and the Innovation Central Perth technology hub, which is partnered with Cisco. There's also the Curtin Exchange precinct, a newer mixed-use development that integrates accommodation, retail, and learning spaces into the Bentley campus. Last time I was at Curtin I stayed in that Exchange precinct, and it was fantastic. I was able to come back from meetings at 9 p.m. and still get a meal from a restaurant right on campus. It was buzzing day and night, and that's what I believe universities should be doing.

More student perspectives on flexibility and course choice

Let's hear from another student who's experienced Curtin first hand.

Personally, I guess it's just the fact that you can choose whichever units you want. Even though I'm doing creative writing and screen arts, there's a lot of units you can choose. You don't have to follow a very set schedule. And if you really want, you can go in a more experimental style, or if you want to stick to the more production-based path. There's quite a bit you can do within just one degree.

Firstly, the huge variety. They let you pretty much study anything you want. I'm actually doing accounting and screen arts as a double major. They really don't care what combination you want to do.

Graduate employment, salaries, and student satisfaction data

Now let me show you how Curtin stacks up on the national data. This comes from the Australian Government's Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching student survey, which gives you the actual knowledge about what students say and where they end up as part of a degree, not only from Curtin but from every university.

You heard me talk about Curtin's employer satisfaction being the highest in the country, but the full picture is more nuanced than that single headline number. Curtin's student satisfaction, graduate salaries, and global ranking positions all tell a story, and it's not necessarily the one you would expect from a university based in Perth.

Let's start with student satisfaction, which is 77.4%. That puts Curtin roughly middle of the pack nationally. It's not bad, but it's not amazing either. For a university of nearly 65,000 students, maintaining satisfaction at that level is pretty decent, but there are smaller universities that score higher simply because they offer a more personalised service. Honestly, it's a trade-off for going to a large institution. You do need to be more proactive, and you need to be on the lookout for opportunities yourself, rather than having them handed to you as you might at a smaller institution.

Teaching quality follows a similar pattern. Curtin performs solidly but doesn't lead the nation here. What it does do well is connect teaching to industry, and that practical focus shows up more in employment data than it does in student satisfaction surveys.

On graduate employment: 80.9% of students are employed within four months of completing their degree. That's above the national average and competitive with many of Australia's most prestigious universities. And remember that employer satisfaction figure of almost 90%: employers don't just hire Curtin graduates, they rate them highly when they're on the job, and that's critical for a good career.

Graduate starting salaries at $75,000 are strong and well above the national median. That's partly driven by the industry mix in Perth: resources, engineering, and health all tend to pay really well. But it also reflects how tightly Curtin's degrees are connected to employer needs.

Global rankings and what they actually mean for you

Let's have a look at the global rankings. The QS global ranking places Curtin at 183rd in the world and 12th in Australia, which is a very good result. The Times Higher Education rankings place it in the 250 to 300 band, roughly 14th nationally. These are solid positions. It's not a Group of Eight university, the Group of Eight being the coalition of Australia's most prestigious and research-intensive institutions. But it is comfortably in the next tier, and honestly, for students choosing between Curtin and some of the Group of Eight universities, the graduate salary and employer satisfaction data should weigh heavily in that decision.

I think rankings are less important than most people think. It's more about what you want to study and how well an institution aligns with you as a person. You can explore all of that on the Choosing Your Uni platform: it's free, it's independent, and it's configured to help you figure out what's right for you based on your interests, your preferences, and your goals.

How Curtin compares to UWA and other universities

You shouldn't look at Curtin in isolation. The most obvious comparison institution is the University of Western Australia. UWA is a Group of Eight member, meaning it does rank significantly higher globally: 77th in the world on some recent rankings. But here's the thing. Curtin's median graduate salary is $75,000 versus $67,300 for UWA, and Curtin's graduate employment rate is 81% versus UWA's 69%. UWA has more prestige on paper. Curtin produces stronger employment outcomes in the data. That's a genuine tension, and it's worth sitting with and thinking about carefully. You really should look at the UWA session to compare these two institutions properly, because it's not as simple as a single metric. It all depends on what you want to study and why. There are areas where UWA excels, and starting salaries are only one part of the picture.

There are other excellent institutions in Perth worth comparing, including Edith Cowan University and Murdoch University, and I did mention Notre Dame earlier. Looking a little further afield: if you're after a technology-based institution in the heart of a city, you've got RMIT in Melbourne, UTS in Sydney, and Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. All three are in the heart of their respective cities, all have real areas of expertise and strength, and are definitely worth a look if you want that industry-integrated education with a different kind of lifestyle. Of course, the eastern capital cities are far more expensive, and that's once again where Perth really shines as a student destination.

There are also some of Australia's excellent regional institutions worth considering, including the University of Southern Queensland and Southern Cross University, where you'll find specific subject areas with employment outcomes and starting salaries that are comparable to Curtin. You can compare all of those on the Choosing Your Uni platform at choosingyouni.com.

Wrapping up: is Curtin on the rise?

We have a whole bunch of other sessions coming up today, so I'm going to wrap up this session. If you're interested in having your personal questions answered, jump on the Discord. The community is there to support you and we will answer literally every question, no matter how detailed or specific. You will get a personal response. And if you're a parent, the Choosing Your Uni Facebook group, links below, will also answer everything you may wish to ask.

This has been great chatting with you about Curtin University. It's an excellent institution that's really on the rise. Some universities seem to be heading in one direction and flatlining, or even declining a little. Curtin, to me, is one of those institutions that is genuinely on the rise, and it's definitely worth a look. Thanks for joining me in today's session, and I'll see you later in the expo.