Just wanna know which is better in which ways

Curtin Bachelors of Science in Computing: http://courses.curtin.edu.my/courses-and-s.../bsc/computing/
vs
Swinburne Bachelors of Computer Science: https://www.swinburne.edu.my/courses/bachel...ter-science.php

I'd like to know the difference between these unis. Which is better? Which is harder? Which one has a better social environment? Which one has better food? etc.

Do leave all your comments below, thanks

This post has been edited by Axelredan: Jan 3 2019, 11:44 PM

I can't give you comments on the academics, or a realistic comparison, but I am a Swinburne graduate and I'll just share some about the uni.

Swinburne academic is quite good, but the fees are increasing on a yearly basis and I think it's now higher than Curtin's. 5 years ago, I went to Swinburne because the fee was cheaper. This is no longer true.

Both Curtin and Swinburne allow you to graduate with the same testamur as the ones in Australia. Your degree scroll will say you graduate from either Curtin or Swinburne, without stating Sarawak Campus. Meaning, it is the same degree certificate awarded by the home campus.

I would guess Curtin would provide a better social environment, since everyone lives in a campus which is a 20-minutes drive from the city and there is a small community within the campus. In Swinburne, I would estimate 60% of students are from Kuching, and they go to campus for lectures and tutorials and go home after they're done. It's like going to tuitions for them, just go when there's a class, go home after class. Not much campus life.

The problem with Swinburne is that not much accommodation is provided by the university and those that are provided are rather expensive. Majority search for private accommodation.

Kuching has a better city life, and you get more entertainment.

Kuching and Miri do not differ much when it comes to food.

Kuching has an airport that is more well-connected to cities in Malaysia. The same cannot be said for Miri airport.

But in Miri you do get to travel to Brunei occasionally, which I heard takes you the same time to Curtin if you travel from Miri airport.

Depending on where you're from, if you're from Sabah, KL or JB, both Kuching and Miri should be cheaper places to live. If you're from Penang, Ipoh or other states, Sarawak cost of living is noticeably higher.

I'm from Penang (Butterworth though, on the mainland, not Georgetown), and I found Kuching to be a relatively expensive city to live in compared to my hometown. But I've been told it's much cheaper than KK and KL.

I had my fun time in Swinburne. But it depends on you. Hope above insights help.

Very helpful bro, thanks so much . About the fees though. Swinburne states 30k RM on the website meanwhile Curtin states 40k RM. Are you sure Swinburne is more expensive?

https://www.swinburne.edu.my/courses/bachel...ter-science.php

It says 30,680RM on the website there ^

The course fee for Curtin is here: http://fees.curtin.edu.my/course-fee/course-2019/

It's RM28,264 per annum. Slightly more expensive than Swinburne's. Ya Curtin is a bit more expensive when it comes to CS.

But for engineering, Swinburne costs around RM31k, while Curtin RM29k.

i'd say it depends on what you're looking for.

Swinburne now has 2 new majors: cybersecurity and IoT

with swinburne, you can also go on exhange to the melbourne campus for 1 semester paying your fees in RM.

scroll - both are australian
food/restaurants- swinburne > curtin
malls/entertainment - swinburne > curtin
connectivity - swinburne > curtin
industry partners - kuching is the capital, more regional HQs there
campus size- curtin>swinburne
if you want very quiet life - miri > kuching
cost of living - swinburne > miri (miri is quite expensive because of brunei)


This post has been edited by papadon: Jan 11 2019, 03:35 PM

I was graduated from Curtin Miri but really can't give you the comparison for which one is better. If you want to compare the campus size, sure Curtin is better. Also the world university ranking, Curtin is ranked higher.

However, for the city. Miri is quite a boring place. The town is quite far away from school. Unless you got a car in there then is different case. What is my recommendation is get yourself a car for your own and housemate, friends, classmates, group mates convenience.

I only can describe about Curtin because I was graduated from Curtin Sarawak. For house renting, you need to look for the area in Desa Senadin but the area is not so peaceful. You have to more extra careful about thieves in that residence area.

University life is quite enjoyful. You class schedule also quite flexible. There got shuttle bus, RHB atm machine in the school. The shops area outside that university is quite boring. Only got one supermarket, some restaurants and got supersave store in there. So you must get yourself a car so you can drive to town. I'm not sure Miri now got grabcar or not because I was studied in there at 10 years ago. You should go down to town to buy something unless you do not feel the area is boring. Miri town there got Boulevard Shopping Complex, Imperial city mall, Bintang Megamall. I think the only largest shopping mall in the town is Bintang Megamall. If you are looking for printer, laptop, a keyboard or mouse. Go for the Boulevard Shopping Complex and Imperial City Mall. Also Poslaju and TMpoint just beside Imperial City Mall (what I still remember). So if you want to subscribe internet, do online shopping and take your parcel. Just go beside Imperial City mall. That's what I am remembered for what Miri got at 10 years ago.

For internet access, I think the Desa Senadin area now may have Unifi. I'm not so sure but last time I was subscribed to streamyx. My university life actually is quite enjoyful. When come to weekends, all of us group together then bring our own laptop to play dota. Some of them dated a new girlfriend, some of them makes a lot of friends.

You can check google map too, now the area should have build many accommodations in the Curtin Water area.

This post has been edited by junclj: Jan 11 2019, 04:47 PM

Thank you so much for the input bro

I see I see. Not bad, thanks for input . I think ill go with swinburne instead because kuching is capital and also I dont really wanna buy a car in east malaysia

This post has been edited by Axelredan: Jan 11 2019, 05:09 PM

I should point out that majority of students in Swinburne also own a car because it's very inconvenient to move around in Kuching too!

You can rely on Grab, which is constantly available as Kuching is the capital, but it can be very costly. Hence, you can argue that owning a car is not a necessity, but not owning one can be a great inconvenience.

If you don't buy a car, make sure you live on-campus (which typically only offers for first-year students), or areas within walking distance to campus (King Centre).

The downside of Swinburne is that they do not provide enough accommodation for its students (very limited on-campus accommodation, literally no off-campus accommodation). You have to find your own to stay. As I've said earlier, most students in Swinburne are locals, hence the university doesn't offer much for its students because the demand is not high.

If you're forced to find a private accommodation, be prepared for a possibility of needing a car.

actually grab isn't very expensive in kuching, sometimes i think it's cheaper than KL. rates for eg:

1. airport to swinburne: rm8-10
2. swinburne to vivacity megamall: rm5
3. swinburne to downtown: rm6-7

besides living on campus, you can live at:
1. victorial hall (next to swinburne) - http://www.victoriahall.com.my

swinburne management is also in discussion with some condo developers nearby for student accommodation.

best option is to live nearby campus so you cut down grab fees. just walk to campus. and nearby the campus there's a lot of f&B options and services like dobi, telco, pharmacy, clinic, etc.

good luck!

Why don't you call up the Uni's to get more info?

I'm from Kuching but a Curtin Miri grad. When it comes to computer science, during my time (2006-2011) there weren't many students doing that course so I imagine it wasn't too fun. That might change now, but it's worth calling them up and compare the class sizes, industry contacts, etc.

As others have mentioned, Kuching is a bigger city with more offices so generally more industry connected. But Miri is an oil and gas town, which was one of the reason i stayed there (engineering course though) to build up contacts. Worked great for me

Food wise, you get bigger chains in Kuching. But local food I'd say they're equal.

Thanks a lot. Very helpful. Do let me know if you know other good condos in walking distance there

Citadines above ST3 is a superb condo but it's very pricey, beyond reach of ordinary students.

It is also directly across Spring shopping mall, with a pedestrian overhead bridge connected to the condo.

The downside is there's less kopitiams around.

Any nice cheap ones? Best "bang for buck" with decent condition for students?

There are plenty but at a considerable distance from the campus, which means you'll need a car.

The one above Vivacity has been popular. I heard the price is "reasonable" but in my opinion only probably to those who are wealthy.