If you’re currently studying in Perth, your university experience could look very different in a few years’ time.
The Western Australian Government is looking at joining three of the state’s four public universities into one big institution. Nothing is final yet, but there are strong opinions both for and against the merger.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is being proposed?
A plan has been put forward to merge Curtin University, Murdoch University and The University of Western Australia (UWA) into one large university. The merged university would have almost 120,000 students, which would be the largest in Australia.
A similar merger happened earlier this year in South Australia, where the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia combined to become Adelaide University.
The government has not decided to go ahead with this proposal yet. It is currently preparing a business case, which will look at the costs and benefits and whether the universities could pay for the merger themselves. The business case will be finished in 2027, and a committee is expected to report to the government by mid 2027. There is no planned date for the merger to come into effect, should the proposal be successful.
Why does the government want to merge three universities?
The WA government says these universities are struggling in a few areas, and merging them together would be beneficial to all three.
Local enrolments are falling, and more than 15 per cent of Western Australians study at universities in other states. Undergraduate completion rates range from 49 per cent at Murdoch to 75 per cent at UWA. WA universities also get less research funding than several individual universities in the eastern states.
The government hopes one larger university would be stronger, attract more students (including international students) and keep more Western Australians studying in their home state.
What does it mean for international students?
For now, nothing changes for you, and classes will continue as normal. Over the next year, there is likely to be a lot of information coming out about the merger, so if you are thinking about studying in Perth or have just started your degree at one of these universities, keep an eye on the news.
Check your university’s website for updates and ask your course coordinator or international student office what any changes would mean for you.
What’s next?
The merger is only a proposal, and it could change or not go ahead altogether. With the business case not due until 2027, no changes are expected soon. You can follow the latest on both sides of the proposal on the WA Government’s university reform page or the Stop the Uni Merger website.
