murdoch.edu.au

Murdoch University holds a five-star rating for overall satisfaction, inclusiveness and employability from the QS Stars Assessment 2024. It is also ranked #1 in Western Australia for social equity and holds a five-star rating for student support in the Good Universities Guide 2026, while Excellence in Research Australia rates 81% of its research disciplines at world standard or above. These are the headline recognitions; the sections below explain what each one covers and how to weigh them.

The Recognitions at a Glance

What Each Recognition Actually Tells You

QS Stars: satisfaction, inclusiveness, employability

QS Stars is a rating system that assesses universities against a set of criteria rather than producing a single ranked list. The three categories Murdoch is rated five stars in speak to different concerns:

• Overall satisfaction reflects how current students rate their experience.
• Inclusiveness signals how well the university supports a diverse student body.
• Employability points to graduate outcomes and how prepared students are for work.

For a prospective student, this combination is most relevant if you care about the day-to-day experience and what happens after graduation, not just entry requirements.

Good Universities Guide 2026: social equity and student support

The Good Universities Guide is an Australian comparison resource for students choosing where to study. Two results stand out for Murdoch:

• #1 in WA for social equity — the strongest result within Western Australia on this measure.
• Five-star rating for student support — a top-band rating for the services available to students.

The social equity ranking is a state-level result, so read it as the leading position in WA rather than a national ranking. The university connects this to its history: it describes itself as the first Australian university to introduce flexible admissions to make education more accessible.

Excellence in Research Australia: 81% of disciplines

Excellence in Research Australia is the national assessment of research quality by discipline. Murdoch's result — world standard or above in 81% of its research disciplines — is the figure to check if research strength matters to you, for example when considering postgraduate research, honours, or a discipline where you want to study alongside active researchers.

How to Use These Rankings When Choosing

Rankings are a starting point, not a decision. A practical way to apply them:

1. Match the category to your priority. If graduate employment is your main concern, weight the QS Stars employability rating. If you need strong support services or are weighing access and equity, the Good Universities Guide results are more relevant.
2. Check the discipline, not just the institution. The 81% research figure is an average across disciplines — confirm the rating for the specific field you plan to study.
3. Compare on the same measure. Use the same rating categories when comparing Murdoch with other universities, rather than mixing a QS Stars rating with a national ranking.
4. Verify currency. These results are tied to specific years (QS Stars 2024, Good Universities Guide 2026, and the relevant Excellence in Research Australia round), so check for updated editions before relying on them.

For example, if you are a Year 12 student in Western Australia weighing support services and accessibility, the social equity and student support results are the ones to look at first; if you are considering a research pathway, start with the discipline-level research assessment.

Where to Confirm the Details

The rankings above are summarised on Murdoch University's own website, which also links to its courses, scholarships and application information. For the underlying methodology and full category breakdowns, consult the QS Stars, Good Universities Guide and Excellence in Research Australia sources directly, since each uses its own criteria and reporting cycle.

Murdoch University advertises a scholarship called Scholarships for Good, which offers $12,000 across your degree to students who are "making a positive impact on the world around you outside of your studies." The university also maintains a broader scholarships overview page covering "a range of scholarships that can help you throughout your studies." The available page evidence confirms these two entry points but does not list the full scholarship catalogue, eligibility rules, or deadlines, so treat the details below as a starting map rather than a complete list.

The named scholarship: Scholarships for Good

What it is

• Award amount: $12,000, distributed across the duration of your degree (not a single lump sum, based on the wording "across your degree").
• Who it targets: Students who demonstrate positive impact outside their studies — community involvement, volunteering, or similar contributions. The university frames it as part of its identity as "a university that cares," alongside its history as the first Australian university to introduce flexible admissions.
• Level of study: The page does not specify whether it applies to undergraduate, postgraduate, or both. Confirm this before relying on it.

What you can and cannot conclude from the available information

Where to find the full scholarship list

The homepage directs prospective students to a Scholarships section ("Discover our range of scholarships that can help you throughout your studies. View Scholarships"). This is the authoritative starting point for:

1. Scholarship categories — the site separates scholarships from courses and applications, suggesting a dedicated listing.
2. Application guidance — the "How to apply" page sits alongside scholarships in the main navigation, so application steps are likely documented separately.
3. Course-level eligibility — since courses are grouped into study areas (e.g., Agricultural Science, Nursing, Law, Veterinary Science), check whether any scholarships are tied to a specific study area.

Practical steps to take

1. Start at the Scholarships page linked from the homepage and read the Scholarships for Good details in full.
2. Check your course page — with over 200 courses across 17 study areas, some scholarships may be faculty- or discipline-specific.
3. Review the "How to apply" page for the general application process, then confirm whether scholarships require a separate submission.
4. Note the timing — the page does not publish deadlines, so confirm dates directly with the university before planning around them.

Context that may matter for your decision

Murdoch highlights a five-star QS Stars rating (2024) for overall satisfaction, inclusiveness, and employability, and cites the Good Universities Guide 2026 for being #1 in WA for social equity and five-star for student support. These claims are relevant background if you are weighing Murdoch against other institutions, but they are not scholarship terms — verify award conditions on the official scholarship pages rather than inferring them from rankings.

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:

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.

To apply to Murdoch University, start from the How to apply section of murdoch.edu.au and choose the pathway that matches your study level and applicant type. The site separates Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Research, Honours, and International entry points, so the correct starting page depends on whether you are applying for your first degree, a postgraduate qualification, a research program, an honours year, or as an international student.

Choose your applicant pathway first

Murdoch's own course pages group its offerings into these levels, and each has its own application route:

The site's main navigation also includes a direct How to apply link ("Ready to apply? Take the first step towards your university journey today"), which is the fastest route to the current steps and forms.

Step-by-step application process

1. Find your course. Use the course search or browse the study areas: Agricultural Science; Allied Health; Business; Creative Media and Communication; Criminology; Education; Engineering and Energy; Environmental and Conservation Sciences; Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; Indigenous Knowledges; Information Technology; Law; Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences; Nursing; Physical Sciences and Mathematics; Psychology; Veterinary Science. Murdoch lists more than 200 courses.
2. Confirm the course level. Check whether the course sits at undergraduate, postgraduate, research or honours level — this determines which application page applies to you.
3. Open the How to apply page for your level. Follow the instructions listed there for documents, deadlines and the application form.
4. Check international requirements if applicable. If you are an international applicant, use the International entry point rather than the domestic pathway.
5. Review scholarships before or alongside applying. Murdoch advertises a "Scholarships for Good" program worth $12,000 across your degree for students making a positive impact outside their studies, plus a range of other scholarships. Checking eligibility early lets you plan your application around relevant deadlines.
6. Submit and track your application. Use the confirmation and next steps provided on the How to apply page for your pathway.

What to verify before you submit

• Entry requirements for your specific course — each course page states its own requirements; don't assume they are the same across study areas.
• English language and document requirements — confirm these on the How to apply page for your applicant type.
• Key dates — application deadlines differ by level and by domestic/international status.
• Scholarship deadlines — the $12,000 Scholarships for Good award and other scholarships may have separate timelines from admission.

Common sticking points

• Using the wrong pathway. Applying through the undergraduate route when you need postgraduate or international entry is the most avoidable delay. Match your level and status first.
• Skipping the course page. Requirements vary by course, so read the individual course entry before starting the form.
• Leaving scholarships until after enrolment. The site presents scholarships as part of the prospective-student journey; review them while preparing your application.

Why applicants choose Murdoch

Murdoch describes itself as the second university established in Perth, Western Australia, and cites a five-star rating for overall satisfaction, inclusiveness and employability from the QS Stars Assessment 2024. It also states it is #1 in WA for social equity and holds a five-star rating for student support (Good Universities Guide 2026), with research rated at world standard or above in 81% of disciplines (Excellence in Research Australia). These points are relevant context if you are comparing institutions, but they do not change the application steps above.

For the exact forms, document checklists and deadlines, use the How to apply link on murdoch.edu.au and select the pathway that matches your situation.

Murdoch University offers more than 200 courses grouped into 17 study areas, spanning agriculture, business, engineering, health, law, science, and the arts. Courses are delivered across four main levels: undergraduate (Bachelor's degrees), postgraduate, research degrees, and Honours. Prospective students can browse by study area or by course level, and international applicants have a dedicated entry point.

Study Areas

Murdoch groups its courses into the following study areas to help you find the path that suits you:

The full list of courses within each area is available through the university's course search.

Course Levels

Murdoch describes four course levels, each serving a different stage or purpose:

• Undergraduate — your first degree, also referred to as a Bachelor's degree, and the first qualification you can complete at university.
• Postgraduate — deepens your understanding of your undergraduate degree or helps you switch careers to a new area.
• Research — an advanced study program that gives you an opportunity to deeply explore a topic of your choice.
• Honours — an extension to your undergraduate degree, focusing on a research project.

There is also a separate International entry point for students joining Murdoch's global community.

How to Choose

Start with the study area that matches your subject interest, then check which course levels are offered in that area. If you are unsure, the course search lets you browse all courses or explore by study area first. Applicants ready to proceed can follow the university's "How to apply" guidance, and scholarship options are listed separately for those who want to check funding before applying.

One example task: if you want to move into nursing but already hold a degree in another field, look at the Nursing study area and compare its undergraduate and postgraduate offerings to see which entry point fits your background.