Murdoch University Singapore

What Murdoch University Singapore does

Murdoch University Singapore is the Singapore branch campus of Murdoch University (Perth, Western Australia), operating since 2000 as a transnational education outpost that delivers Australian university degrees to students in Southeast Asia. The institution partners exclusively with Kaplan Singapore for program delivery, infrastructure, and student recruitment, operating as a private education entity under the regulatory framework for foreign university branch campuses. Its core products are undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs across Business, IT, Communications, Criminology, Psychology, and Law, supplemented by an Executive Master in Leadership, Strategy & Innovation (EM-LSI) delivered 100% online, and short professional programs and workshops. Research is anchored by SCRIPT (Singapore Centre for Research in Innovation, Productivity and Technology), one of Australia's first offshore research centers.

The business model is tuition-driven with recurring annual billing. Primary revenue streams are undergraduate/postgraduate tuition, executive education fees, and short program/workshop income, with pricing not publicly disclosed. The institution serves two primary customer segments: higher education students (school-leavers and career advancers seeking Australian degrees locally) and working professionals pursuing executive education and leadership development. Supporting segments include corporate partners sponsoring innovation competitions (Innovate Singapore, Young Entrepreneurs Program) and the research community collaborating via SCRIPT. Distribution is multi-channel: physical campus at the new Odeon 333 City Campus (opened January 2025 at 333 North Bridge Road), the Kaplan partnership, and online self-serve platforms for executive programs. Marketing spans corporate website, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp direct inquiry, university fairs, industry symposiums, and PR activity via PRCA APAC membership.

Operationally, the local Singapore team is small (approximately 12-18 staff), managing operations while academic oversight remains with the Australian parent. The institution claims the highest student retention and progression rates of any Murdoch location globally, an alumni base of approximately 25,000 in Singapore (over a quarter of the university's total ~90,000 alumni), and 2021 record revenue of approximately SGD 20 million, 18% over budget despite COVID. Recent strategic activity centers on physical expansion (new campus, new offices), geographic outreach to China via Oracle, deeper Australian corporate philanthropy ties (Westpac Scholars Trust), and new student-facing platforms (TalkCampus mental wellbeing, 2026).

Name

Murdoch University Singapore

Legal name

Murdoch University Singapore

Website

https://murdoch.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Murdoch University Singapore is the Singapore branch campus of Murdoch University (Perth, Australia), operating since 2000 to deliver Australian undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive education degrees to students and professionals in Southeast Asia through a partnership with Kaplan Singapore.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Business & Management Research Universities (EDAHABAE), Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Transnational education programs
• University degree programs
• Executive education programs
• Professional development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Program Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs offered in Singapore through partnership with Kaplan. Programs include Business, IT, Communications, Criminology, Psychology, and Executive Education.
2. Executive Education: Executive Master in Leadership, Strategy & Innovation (EM-LSI) and professional development programs generating revenue from working professionals
3. Short Programs and Workshops: Revenue from short professional programs, workshops, and symposiums including the annual Murdoch-Kaplan Learning and Teaching Symposium

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Murdoch University Singapore is the Singapore branch campus of Murdoch University (Perth, Western Australia), operating since 2000 through a transnational education partnership with Kaplan Singapore. It delivers Australian undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs, professional development courses, and executive education (including the EM-LSI) to students in Singapore, complemented by research activities through the SCRIPT centre.

Product overview

Murdoch University Singapore operates as an offshore campus of Murdoch University (Perth, Western Australia) in partnership with Kaplan Singapore, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services. The core offerings include University Award Programs (undergraduate and postgraduate degrees) and Professional Programs delivered through a transnational education model. Supporting infrastructure includes SCRIPT (Singapore Centre for Research in Innovation, Productivity and Technology), one of Australia's first offshore research centers, and the recently launched Odeon 333 City Campus (2025). Student development is enhanced through Murdoch Edge (career readiness), the Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP), and the annual Innovate Singapore competition. Thought leadership is delivered via the River of Knowledge Series, Green Economy Series, and Murdoch-Kaplan Learning and Teaching Symposium. The Executive Master in Leadership, Strategy & Innovation (EM-LSI) provides online executive education. Student support is strengthened through the TalkCampus mental wellbeing platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SCRIPT: Singapore Centre for Research in Innovation, Productivity and Technology - a research and development centre based in Singapore
• Murdoch Edge
• Innovate Singapore
• Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP)
• River of Knowledge Series

Products and services

• University Award Programs
• Professional Programs
• Executive Master in Leadership, Strategy and Innovation (EM-LSI) 100% online 12-month executive program emphasizing strategizing and innovation capabilities for professionals seeking leadership roles.
• Murdoch Edge Career readiness program designed to improve employment outcomes and career preparation for enrolled students.
• Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) Structured eight-week entrepreneurship program equipping students with skills to develop innovative business ideas and startup ventures, with mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs.
• Innovate Singapore Competition Annual competition encouraging students to develop innovative solutions addressing challenges faced by Small and Medium Enterprises in Singapore.

Quantifiable outcome

• Highest student retention and progression levels of any Murdoch location globally
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• TalkCampusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Mental wellbeing platform launched for student community to address rising mental wellbeing challenges.
• Oracle ChinacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Strategic collaboration to advance education and digital skills in China. Representatives from Oracle China, Murdoch University Singapore, One-Tom Internetworking (Beijing), Kingston International College, and recruitment partners gathered to strengthen collaboration.
• Westpac Scholars TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025$100 million Westpac Scholars Trust sponsors Disruptive Leaders Program for undergraduate scholars from across Australia to experience Singapore.
• Common Purpose UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Organization partnered with Westpac Scholars Trust and Murdoch Singapore to deliver the Disruptive Leaders Program cultural and industry experiences.
• PRCA APACminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Murdoch Singapore signed 1-year institutional membership with global PR industry association, PRCA Asia Pacific division.
• PEEL Development CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018MOU signed with Western Australia's Peel Development Commission for agri-innovation precinct development. SCRIPT leads industry outreach and investment attraction.
• Fund SingaporeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership for Transform Peel initiative and agri-innovation projects between Singapore and Western Australia.
• Google SingaporeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 August 2017Hosted Singapore Forum on Cyberworlds in Asia Pacific 2017 at Google Singapore offices. Supported by Google's community and education initiatives.
• Gemstar TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2017Singapore-based launch-pad company partnered to launch Young Entrepreneurs Program in Singapore. Provides master classes, workshops, and incubation support for student entrepreneurs.
• Commonwealth Bank of AustraliacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Sponsor for Innovate Singapore competition and Young Entrepreneurs Program. Provides Design Lab experience in Sydney for winning teams.
• Singapore AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership offering 70 air tickets to Perth for Singapore students who enroll at Murdoch University Perth or transfer from Kaplan.
• Institute of Public Relations Singapore (IPRS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2016MOU signed to set up Student Chapter at Murdoch University's Singapore campus. Provides deeper exposure and experiences with the PR industry in Singapore.
• Kaplan SingaporecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing partnership for program delivery and student recruitment. Kaplan provides infrastructure and student pathway services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• PSB Academy: Established Singapore private education institution partnering with Australian and UK universities for degree programs. Competes for the same Australian-degree-seeking student segment, with broader portfolio across engineering, life sciences, and business.
• INSEAD Singapore: Top-tier global business school with a Singapore campus offering executive MBA and executive education programs. Competes with Murdoch Singapore's EM-LSI and executive education offerings for the high-end working-professional segment in Singapore.
• SIM Global Education: One of Singapore's largest private education providers, partnering with multiple UK, Australian, and US universities to deliver degrees locally. Competes directly for the same Singapore students seeking foreign credentials, with broader program portfolio scale.

Others

• Kaplan Singapore: Murdoch Singapore's primary channel partner for program delivery, but also a competing private education provider offering its own degree pathways with multiple UK and Australian university partners. Functions simultaneously as distribution partner and adjacent competitor.

Direct peers

• James Cook University Singapore: Branch campus of James Cook University (Australia) operating in Singapore with comparable IT, Business, Psychology, and Psychology programs. Directly competes for the same Australian-degree-seeking student segment in Singapore.
• University of Newcastle Singapore: Australian public university's Singapore TNE campus offering similar undergraduate and postgraduate degrees through a partner-provider model. Direct peer in transnational education delivery, also previously led by Professor Peter Waring, and competes head-to-head for Singapore students seeking Australian credentials.
• SP Jain School of Global Management: International branch campus in Singapore offering undergraduate and postgraduate business and management programs. Competes with Murdoch Singapore's business and executive education offerings for similar mid-career professional and undergraduate segments.
• Curtin University Singapore: Curtin Singapore is the offshore campus of Curtin University (Perth), operating a TNE model with similar business, IT, and communications programs. Highly comparable to Murdoch Singapore in target audience, partnership model, and Australian-degree positioning.

Regional players

• RMIT Vietnam: Australian public university's offshore campus operating a TNE model in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Same Australian-degree, foreign-campus model as Murdoch Singapore but serving the Vietnamese market rather than Singapore.
• University of Nottingham Malaysia: Branch campus of a UK Russell Group university delivering transnational education in the region. Operates the same TNE model as Murdoch Singapore (foreign university branch campus targeting Asian students), but in the Malaysian rather than Singapore market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyYd2CoidjjYug9Sf-_I1Lw
• Facebookfacebook.com/murdochsingapore
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/murdoch-university-singapore

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Murdoch University Singapore