Murdoch University is a public university based in
PerthPerth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Australia. It began operations as the state's second university in 1973, and accepted its first students in 1975. Its name is taken from Sir
Walter MurdochEmeritus Professor Sir Walter Murdoch, KCMG was a prominent Australian academic and essayist famous for his intelligence, wit, and humanity. He was a Founding Professor of English and former Chancellor of University of Western Australia in Perth. Murdoch University, also in Perth is named after him...
(1874–1970), the Founding Professor of English and former Chancellor of
The University of Western AustraliaThe University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
.
Strengths and affiliations
Murdoch University is a research intensive institution and a member of
Innovative Research Universities AustraliaInnovative Research Universities , formerly Innovative Research Universities Australia, is a network of seven comprehensive universities committed to conducting research of national and international standing....
(IRU Australia).
According to
The AustralianThe Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
newspaper ("What makes a good school of journalism"), Graduate Careers Council of Australia found its Journalism School is one of Australia's top five.
Murdoch University is the founder of the ACICIS (Australian Consortium for 'In-Country' Indonesian Studies) Study Indonesia program, a non-profit consortium of Australian universities that was established in 1994 to coordinate semester-long study programs at partner universities in
YogyakartaYogyakarta is a city in the Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia. It is renowned as a centre of classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry, and puppet shows. Yogyakarta was the Indonesian capital during the Indonesian National Revolution from 1945 to...
and
MalangMalang is the second largest city in East Java province, Indonesia. It has an ancient history dating back to the Mataram Kingdom. The city population at the 2010 Census was 819,708. During the period of Dutch colonization, it was a popular destination for European residents. The city is famous for...
in Indonesia, for Australian university students.
Student demographics
Murdoch University is home to over 18,500 students including 3,000 international students from over 100 different countries.
Murdoch University partners with other educational institutions, such as KDU University College in Malaysia, to provide university degrees to off-shore students.
Murdoch University has an international offshore campus in Singapore. It is known as Murdoch University International Study Centre Singapore.
In November 2008 H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Bin Murbarak Al Nahayan (Minister of Higher Education and Research) opened the Murdoch International Study Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Faculties and schools
There are four faculties and fourteen schools at Murdoch University:
- Faculty of Arts, Education and Creative Media
- School of Education
- School of Social Sciences and Humanities
- School of Media Communication and Culture
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- School of Chiropractic and Sports Science
- School of Nursing and Midwifery
- School of Psychology
- School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
- Faculty of Law, Business and Information Technology
- Murdoch Business School
- School of Law
- School of Information Technology
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
- School of Chemical and Mathematical Sciences
- School of Engineering and Energy
- School of Environmental Science
Research
- Excellence in Research for Australia 2010
Of the areas of research carried out at Murdoch that were assessed for the
Excellence in Research for AustraliaExcellence in Research for Australia is a research management initiative of the Australian Rudd Government being developed by the Australian Research Council .It replaces the Research Quality Framework that was developed by the Howard Government....
exercise in 2010, five were rated 5, defined as 'well above world standard': Physical Chemistry (including Structural); Crop and Pasture Production; Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy; Immunology; Medical Microbiology.
A further five areas were rated 4, or 'above world standard': Zoology; Animal Production; Fisheries Science; Clinical Sciences; Communication and Media Studies.
The Asian Research Centre, founded in 1991, produces multi-disciplinary research in politics, political economy, modes of governance, social change and policy making. Its distinctive contribution to the research debate is based on the proposition that these factors have their roots in broader processes of conflict and change in society that are connected to the advance of market economies.
The Centre encompasses researchers from across Murdoch University. It also regularly engages in collaboration with researchers from other universities around the world.
The Director of Asia Research Centre is Associate Professor Caroline Hughes, Associate Professor of Governance Studies in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Campuses
Murdoch University has three Australian campuses: South Street, Rockingham Campus, and Peel Campus.
South Street
The main campus is on South Street, Perth, in the suburb of Murdoch, near the
Kwinana FreewayThe Kwinana Freeway is a major arterial road in Perth, Western Australia, linking Perth with the southern suburbs and then further on towards Mandurah, a distance of . It has a speed limit of , except in central Perth and south of Lakes Road . Like all Western Australian freeways, the minimum...
(32.066520°N 115.835080°W). South Street campus is Australia's geographically largest campus at 2.27 square kilometre (0.876451900005054 sq mi), large enough to accommodate the
veterinaryVeterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
school and its animal stocks—the only such school in Western Australia. Most of the southern part of the university consists of paddocks of livestock, farms and renewable energy facilities.
The original group of buildings surround an open court, known as "Bush Court", in the northern part of Murdoch campus, which rises to the highest altitude on campus. Features of the campus include the Chinese garden and the Joglo Rahayu (Peace Pavilion), a semi-enclosed pavilion near the Education and Humanities building. A monument to the ongoing association between Murdoch University and Indonesian academic institutions in Java, it acts as storage for the only
gamelanA gamelan is a musical ensemble from Indonesia, typically from the islands of Bali or Java, featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings. Vocalists may also be included....
orchestra in Western Australia.
Rockingham Campus
The Rockingham Campus is located 38 kilometres (23.6 mi) south of central Perth in the suburb of Rockingham (32.277917°N 115.750945°W). Opened in 1996, it is co-located with Rockingham Challenger Institute of Technology campus, and features an arts and commerce building.
Rockingham Regional Campus Community Library
Rockingham Regional Campus Community Library, located at the Rockingham Campus, is a joint venture between the university, the
City of RockinghamThe City of Rockingham is a Local Government Area in the far southern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth.-History:In 1896, residents of Rockingham petitioned to establish a road board, which they proposed be called "Clarence" which was the name of the failed settlement of...
and Challenger Institute of Technology. Members of all of these groups have free access to library membership.
Membership entitles all patrons to access to Challenger Institute of Technology, university and public library resources at Rockingham.
Peel Campus
The Peel Campus is located 64 kilometres (39.8 mi) south of central Perth in the suburb of
GreenfieldsGreenfields is a suburb of Mandurah, located east of Mandurah's central area. It includes several aged care residences and a large recreation oval and centre....
, near the regional centre of
MandurahMandurah is the second-largest city in Western Australia and is located approximately south of the state capital, Perth.The city attracts a large number of tourists, including many international visitors...
(32.517380°N 115.755934°W). Opened in 2004, it is the home of the School of Nursing and Midwifery. Murdoch University shares the campus with Challenger Institute and Mandurah Senior College.
Murdoch University International Study Centre Dubai
The International Study Centre in
DubaiDubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
is a Branch Campus of Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia.
The campus was established in 2008 in Dubai International Academic City to cater for the expanding Dubai Media and Financial sectors, and support Dubai’s ambitions in providing an ongoing reserve of regional graduates connected to the demands of the region’s booming industries.
In his inaugural speech, H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, stressed the importance of opening new world class universities in the UAE to support the country’s efforts to drive higher education in the region to world class standards.
The Study Centre features courses in the areas of media and mass communication and provides access state of the art TV and radio studios, newsrooms, editing suites, digital postproduction facilities.
Murdoch University International Study Centre Singapore
The Murdoch University International Study Centre (MUISC) in
SingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
was officially opened in June 2008 by Australian High Commissioner Mr Miles Kupa.
Headed by a Murdoch Academic Dean, the Centre is a partnership with the Singapore Manufacturer’s Federation Institute of Higher Learning and has more than 1,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students studying media, information technology and business courses.
MUISC Singapore is located at the SMa Institute of Higher Learning City Campus at North Bridge Road, and is conveniently situated opposite the Singapore National Library. It spans six floors of prime city space, and includes classrooms, computer laboratories, a library and a newsroom for journalism students.
Murdoch Guild
Murdoch Guild is the peak student representative body at Murdoch University. As such, it represents the interests of students to the University, all levels of government and the wider community, as well as providing services to students.
As well as handling student representation and assistance with education and welfare issues, the Guild runs two food outlets on campus, runs the tavern, sports and recreation centre and the second-hand bookshop. The guild partially finances many of the student associations on campus and run specific guild events of their own. The Guild also publishes
Metior, the campus magazine.
The Guild is the recognised channel of communication between the student body and the University Administration and has representatives on a vast array of the University's committees where the interests of students are involved.
The Guild is governed by a Council of eighteen students elected for one-year terms at the annual elections. Student representatives are elected to their positions by students in annual elections held in September. Both independent and party candidates run in the elections, with a historical bias leaning towards grouped members. In 2011 the Guild President is Brodie Lewis; the Education Vice President is Rebecca Leighton.
The Guild is affiliated with the
National Union of StudentsThe National Union of Students is the peak representative body for Australian university students. Most student unions in Australian campuses are affiliated to NUS...
.
Rockingham Students' Association (RSA)
Formed officially in 1998 as the Rockingham Student Council, the Rockingham Students' Association is the official Guild body representing students at the Rockingham Campus.
Mandurah Students' Association (MSA)
Formed officially in 2008, the Mandurah Students' Association is the official Guild body representing students at the Mandurah Campus.
Murdoch Institute of Technology
The Murdoch Institute of Technology (MIT) was established by the university and the Alexander Education Group. It is a feeder college catering for students wishing to complete diploma level courses. Future plans involve building dedicated facilities on the tennis courts north of the SSHE building, which currently houses the School of Education's teaching caravans and some satellite dishes.
Murdoch College
On the north east corner of the South Street campus, Murdoch College was established by the university and the Alexander Education Group in 2000 to cater for secondary students in a university environment and to enrich their academic, social and personal potential. It is one of few secondary schools on a university campus in Australia. It offers a complement of Year 7–12 subjects across the 8 learning areas. Many students from China, Hong Kong,
SingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Japan and Korea enrol at Murdoch College and enhance its multicultural ethos. The college manages to achieve decent matriculation scores as they engage in a practice common to most private colleges where non-academic students are discouraged from taking end of year exams.
Public transport
Murdoch campus is approximately 800 metres from Murdoch Train Station, and is linked by bus services. The
CircleRouteThe CircleRoute is a pair of suburban bus routes in Perth, Western Australia. Like all Perth bus routes, the buses are branded Transperth and operated by companies contracted by the Public Transport Authority. The routes are identical except for direction: 98 is clockwise, and 99 is anticlockwise...
bus service travels from the campus to
FremantleFremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
and other suburban centres.
Rockingham campus is linked by bus services to
Rockingham Train StationRockingham Station is a bus and railway interchange located in the Rockingham suburb of Cooloongup, Western Australia. Situated near the intersection of Rae Road and Ennis Avenue in Cooloongup, east of Rockingham Shopping Centre, it is served by the interurban Mandurah line, with services to both...
, approximately 1500 metres away.
Mandurah campus is linked by bus services to Mandurah Train Station about 3 km away on the route from the station to the suburb of
LakelandsLakelands is the northernmost suburb of the city of Mandurah, Western Australia.The Lakelands Estate is being developed by Peet Limited and is expected to comprise 2500 lots when completed....
Notable faculty and alumni
- Reg Bolton
- Jeremy Callaghan
Jeremy Callaghan is an Australian actor whose portrayal of the cute and shy Constable Brian Morley on the popular TV drama Police Rescue ensured international attention...
– actor
- Alan Eggleston
Dr Alan Eggleston , Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since July 1996, representing Western Australia. He was born in Busselton, Western Australia, and was educated at the University of Western Australia, where he studied medicine, and at Murdoch University,...
– Australian politician
- Vivienne Elanta
Vivienne Heloise Elanta was a Western Australian environmental activist.-Personal life:Born in Germany, Elanta was the eldest of Gertraud Adler and Robert Neuman's five children. She had just six years of schooling...
- Brian Greig
Brian Andrew Greig OAM , Australian politician, was an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate from 1999 to 2005, representing the state of Western Australia....
– Australian politician
- Frederic Jevons
Frederic Raphael Jevons was a British biochemist and later an Australian educator...
- Michael Keenan
Michael Fayat Keenan , Australian politician, was elected to the House of Representatives as member for the Division of Stirling, Western Australia for the Liberal Party of Australia at the 2004 federal election. He was educated at Murdoch University, Perth, the Australian National University, and...
- Bill Loader
William Ronald George "Bill" Loader is a minister of the Uniting Church in Australia and a professor at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia....
– Professor of New Testament
- Toby Miller
Toby Miller is a British/Australian-American interdisciplinary social scientist with areas of concentration including cultural studies and media studies. He is also the author of several books, numerous articles, and is a guest commentator on television and radio programs across the globe...
– cultural and media studies scholar
- Margaret Quirk
Margaret Mary Quirk is a current Australian Labor Party MP serving the role of Minister for Corrective Services; Small Business; Minister Assisting the Minister for Federal-State Relations in the state of Western Australia...
– Australian politician
- John Turner
John Harcourt Turner , a former Australian politician, was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Myall Lakes between 1988 and 2011 for the National Party of Australia....
– Australian politician
- Kon Vatskalis
Konstantine "Kon" Vatskalis is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly since September 2001, representing the Darwin-based electorate of Casuarina...
- McKenzie Wark
McKenzie Wark is an Australian-born writer and scholar. He works mainly on media theory, critical theory and new media. His best known works are A Hacker Manifesto and Gamer Theory.-Life:...
– writer and academic
- Giz Watson
-Biography:Watson was born in 1957 in Eastleigh, a town in Hampshire, England, and emigrated to Western Australia in September 1967, travelling extensively through the state. She studied environmental science at Murdoch University and, after leaving university to do voluntary work for a couple of...
Australian politician
- Grant Woodhams
Grant Allen Woodhams in Sydney, New South Wales is an Australian politician. He has been a National Party member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since February 2005....
– Australian politician
- Basil Zempilas
Basil Zempilas is a sports presenter and commentator on radio and television in Perth, Western Australia. He currently appears on Seven News, and radio stations 1116 SEN and 92.9. Zempilas has commentated on the Olympics and several other major sporting events.-Early life:As a child Zempilas...
– newsreader
- Adam Bandt
Adam Paul Bandt is an Australian politician and former industrial lawyer. Bandt was elected to the Australian House of Representatives in the 2010 Australian federal election for the Division of Melbourne...
– Australian Politician
- Edmund Yeo
- Early life :Yeo was born in Singapore. His father, Eric Yeo, is a film critic and a former exec of Polygram Records, where he produced the albums of the band Alleycats. His mother, Chik Soon Come, was a pop singer...
– Malaysian filmmaker
External links
- University Site:
- Student Associations:
- Other sites: