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EnglishWhat is Murdoch University?
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Murdoch University is a public university in Perth, Western Australia, and the second university established in that state. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate, research, and honours degrees across more than 200 courses, and it positions itself around access and student care: it was the first Australian university to introduce flexible admissions, and it holds a five-star rating from the QS Stars Assessment 2024 for overall satisfaction, inclusiveness, and employability.
Where it is and what it offers
Murdoch is based in Perth, Western Australia. Its course catalogue is organised into study areas rather than a single faculty list, which makes it easier to scan by field of interest:
| Study area | Examples of what sits here |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Science | Agriculture-focused science degrees |
| Allied Health | Health professions allied to medicine |
| Business | Business and commerce |
| Creative Media and Communication | Media, communication, creative practice |
| Criminology | Criminology |
| Education | Teaching and education |
| Engineering and Energy | Engineering and energy |
| Environmental and Conservation Sciences | Environment and conservation |
| Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences | Humanities and social sciences |
| Indigenous Knowledges | Indigenous knowledge studies |
| Information Technology | IT |
| Law | Law |
| Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences | Medical, molecular, forensic science |
| Nursing | Nursing |
| Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Physical sciences, maths |
| Psychology | Psychology |
| Veterinary Science | Veterinary science |
Within that catalogue, the university distinguishes four qualification levels:
- Undergraduate — your first degree, a Bachelor's degree.
- Postgraduate — deepens an undergraduate degree or supports a career switch.
- Research — an advanced program to explore a topic in depth.
- Honours — an extension of the undergraduate degree built around a research project.
There is also a dedicated International entry point for students joining from outside Australia.
What it is known for
Three claims on the site are worth separating, because they come from different sources and measure different things:
- Social equity: ranked #1 in Western Australia for social equity by the Good Universities Guide 2026.
- Student support: a five-star rating for student support, also from the Good Universities Guide 2026.
- Research: rated world standard or above in 81% of research disciplines by Excellence in Research Australia.
The QS Stars 2024 five-star rating covers overall satisfaction, inclusiveness, and employability. These are external assessments, so treat them as signals of positioning rather than as guarantees about any individual course.
The "care first" framing is backed by specific history rather than slogans: Murdoch describes itself as the first Australian university to introduce flexible admissions to widen access to education, and it runs a Scholarships for Good program that awards $12,000 across a degree to students making a positive impact outside their studies.
Who it suits
Murdoch is a reasonable fit if you want a Perth-based university with a broad course range, a strong access-and-support orientation, and options across undergraduate, postgraduate, research, and honours levels. The flexible-admissions history and the community-impact scholarship are particularly relevant if your path into university is non-traditional or if you are already active in community work alongside study.
If your decision hinges on a specific program's accreditation, entry requirements, or fees, those details are not covered here — check the individual course page under the relevant study area before applying.