Swinburne University of Technology is a world-class university creating social and economic impacts through science, technology and innovation. Founded in 1908 by the Honourable George and Ethel Swinburne as the ‘Eastern Suburbs Technical College’, Swinburne has continued to evolve, gaining university status in 1992. 

Swinburne has three campuses located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne — at Hawthorn, Croydon and Wantirna — offering tertiary education for Higher Education as well as Pathways and Vocational Education. The National Institute of Circus Arts is located in Prahran, Melbourne and also offer a range of qualifications online through Swinburne Online. In 2019, Swinburne unveiled a new location in Sydney offering a small suite of sought-after Swinburne courses.

As a dual-sector university, Swinburne offers higher education and Pathways and Vocational Education and offer courses in a broad range of disciplines and close ties with industry provide students with opportunities for valuable workplace experiences during their studies. 

Swinburne researchers have a reputation for high-quality research with particular strengths in astronomy, physics, engineering, materials science, computer science and information technology, design and innovation, health sciences, neurosciences and mental health. Underpinned by leading digital technology platforms, Swinburne researchers are collaborating with industry through embedded partnerships to drive innovation and create impact.

Higher Education

Swinburne provides Higher Education courses that encompass a blend of theory, hands-on knowledge and practical experience across six Schools:

School of Business, law and Entrepreneurship

• Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship
• Swinburne Law School
• Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance
• Department of Business Technology and Entrepreneurship
• Department of Management and Marketing
• Centre for Social Impact Swinburne
• Centre for Transformative Innovation
• Customer Experience and Insight Research Group
• Information Systems for Social Impact Research Group
• Social and Environmental Sustainability in Organisations Research Group
• Sport Innovation Research Group

School of Design and Architecture

• Department of Architectural and Industrial Design
• Department of Communication Design
• Centre for Design Innovation
• Design Factory Melbourne

School of Engineering

• Department of Aviation
• Department of Civil and Construction Engineering
• Department of Mechanical Engineering and Product Design Engineering
• Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure and Digital Construction

School of Health Sciences

• Department of Health Sciences and Biostatistics
• Department of Nursing and Allied Health
• Department of Psychological Sciences
• Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science
• Centre for Human Psychopharmacology
• Centre for Mental Health
• Swinburne Psychology Clinic
• Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults

School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies

• Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology
• Department of Computing Technologies
• Department of Engineering Technologies
• Department of Mathematics
• Department of Physics and Astronomy
• Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing
• Optical Sciences Centre
• Centre for Quantum Technology Theory
• Centre for Translational Automaterials

School of Social Sciences, Media, Film and Education

• Department of Education
• Department of Film, Games and Animation
• Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Department of Media and Communication
• Centre for Transformative Media Technologies
• Centre for Urban Transitions

Pathways and vocational education

Swinburne provides pathways and vocational education courses for practical skills or an opportunity to progress to another qualification through foundation and pathways courses and vocational education in Design, Media, ICT, Business, Finance, Health, Science, Education, Social services, Trades and Engineering Technology.

Department of Business, Design, Media and ICT

• Business
• Design
• Games and Animation
• Information Technology
• Media and Communication
• Film and Television

Department of Health, Science and Community

• Health
• Nursing
• Science
• Community Services
• Education
• General Education and Training

Department of Trades and Engineering Technologies

• Built Environment and Architecture
• Engineering
• Trades and Apprenticeships
• Vocational Education and Training for Secondary Students

QS University Rankings

• One of the world’s top 350 universities (2022), placing 19th in Australia
• Ranked #45 in the QS ‘Top 50 Under 50’ rankings (2021)
• Among the world's top universities in 14 subject areas:
  • In the top 100 for Automation and Control, Civil Engineering, Art and Design (2021)
  • In the top 125 for Law (2022)
  • In the top 150 for Telecommunication Engineering (2021)
  • In the top 200 for Communication, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Hospitality, Tourism and Management, Mechanical Engineering, Transportation Science and Technology (2021) and Physical Science (2022)
  • In the top 250 for Computer Science (2022)
  • In the top 300 for Material Science and Engineering (2021) and Psychology (2022)

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 

• One of the world’s top 350 universities (2022)
• Ranked #62 in the THE Young University Rankings (2021)
• Subject specific rankings:
• In the top 125 for Law (2021)
• In the top 175 for Engineering (2022)
• In the top 200 for Physical Sciences (2022)
• In the top 250 for Computer Science (2022)
• In the top 300 for Psychology (2022)

Academic Ranking of World Universities

• One of the world’s top 300 universities (2021)
• Subject specific rankings (2021):
• In the top 100 for Automation and Control, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering
• In the top 150 for Law, Telecommunication Engineering
• In the top 200 for Communication, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Hospitality, Tourism and Management, Mechanical Engineering, Transportation Science and Technology
• In the top 300 for Material Science and Engineering, Physics

Good Universities Guide 2020

• Awarded a 5-Star Overall Experience Rating for the second consecutive year
• In the top 20% of universities in Australia
• Nursing, business and teacher education study areas received 5-star ratings

CWTS Leiden Rankings 2021

These rankings are based on the proportion of a university’s papers that are in the top 1% most frequently cited:

• Ranked #43 in the world across all disciplines
• Ranked #2 in the world for Mathematics and Computer Science

US News

• Ranked #241 in the US News Best Global Universities 2021
• Subject specific rankings
• Ranked #61 for Civil Engineering (2021)
• Ranked #64 for Space Science (2021)
• Ranked #72 for Electrical and Electronic Engineering (2021)
• Ranked #84 for Optics (2021)

AACSB International Accreditation 2019

• Awarded the Australian Business Award (ABA) for Business Innovation for Swinburne Industry 4.0 Initiative. 
• Swinburne’s Faculty of Business and Law (including Swinburne Online) achieved accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. AACSB represents the highest standard of excellence in business education worldwide, and only 5% of the world’s higher education business schools have been awarded AACSB accreditation.