Shaping the Future: Swinburne Sarawak Supports the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme


The Sarawak Government’s Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES), set to be implemented in 2026, is a landmark initiative aimed at expanding access to quality higher education for eligible Sarawakian students.

As a participating university, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus affirms its support for the scheme’s implementation and is committed to facilitating student awareness and preparedness as further details become available from the relevant government authorities.

This webpage serves as a central information hub and will be updated periodically with information on:

  • Eligibility criteria and funding scope
  • Application and admission processes
  • Swinburne Sarawak programs approved under the scheme
  • FAQs, and relevant information

Our Future Students Team is available to provide relevant guidance on program offerings, potential career pathways, and preparations for the 2026 intake under the FTES.

We invite prospective students to register their interest [here]. Updates will be shared as and when official information is announced by the Sarawak Government.


Follow us on all platforms for updates and be ready to Shape your Future with Swinburne Sarawak.

Information on Free Tertiary Education Scheme in Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak can be found here: Front page of brochure

FAQs for Sarawak Government's Initiative of Free Higher Education

Yes. Eligible students who wish to be considered for FTES are required submit the application online.

The outcome of your application will be communicated to you via your official Swinburne student email account once it is available.

Eligible Students who have applied for FTES do not need to pay their tuition fees for 2026 while waiting for the application outcome.

Any extension or additional fees due to a failed or repeated unit will not be funded and must be borne solely by the student.

Yes, you may submit an application. However, you will need to cancel your current scholarship/education aid once your application is approved.

The Premier of Sarawak has announced that the initiative will commence in 2026.

Yes, starting in 2026 and if you are an eligible Sarawakian, you will have the opportunity to pursue your studies at Swinburne Sarawak under this initiative.

For Sarawakian only.

The Premier of Sarawak has announced that the initiative will cover selected STEM and Professional Degree programs.

List of Courses:

Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Chemical)
    R2/0711/6/0001 MQA/FA8845 31.12.2027
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil)
    R2/526/6/0121 MQA/FA4323 19.07.2028
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Electrical and Electronic)
    R2/522/6/0228 MQA/FA4324 01.09.2027
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical)
    R2/521/6/0098 MQA/FA4325 01.09.2027
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Robotics and Mechatronics)
    R3/523/6/0106 MQA/FA4326 01.09.2027
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Software)
    N/481/6/0836 MQA/PSA15080 03.10.2028
  • Bachelor of Computer Science
    R2/481/6/0544 MQA/SWA18407 01.09.2027
  • Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology
    R3/481/6/0228 MQA/SWA18408 05.08.2029
  • Bachelor of Quantity Surveying (Honours)
    N/526/6/0147 MQA/PA14600 20.01.2029
  • Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology)
    R3/0512/6/0017 MQA/SWA18415 21.06.2030
  • Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science)
    N/422/6/0035 MQA/SWA13429 20.01.2027
  • Bachelor of Cyber Security
    N/0613/6/0099 MQA/PSA17793 28.08.2029
  • Bachelor of Data Science
    N/0613/6/0100 MQA/PSA17794 02.09.2029

Faculty of Business, Design and Arts

  • Bachelor of Design
    R3/0211/6/0069 MQA/SWA0159 30.07.2029
  • Bachelor of Design (Multimedia Design)
    R3/0211/6/0024 MQA/SWA18409 13.11.2028
  • Bachelor of Business (Accounting and Finance)
    R3/0411/6/0065 MQA/SWA0095 27.12.2029
  • Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
    R3/0411/6/0066 MQA/SWA0005 27.12.2029
  • Bachelor of Business (Finance)
    R3/0412/6/0032 MQA/SWA0096 27.12.2029
  • Bachelor of Business
    R3/0410/6/0022 MQA/SWA0004 27.12.2029
    - with majors in Finance and Marketing
  • Bachelor of Business
    R3/0410/6/0022 MQA/SWA0004 27.12.2029
    - with majors in Finance and Management
  • Bachelor of Business
    R3/0410/6/0022 MQA/SWA0004 27.12.2029
    - with majors in Finance and Human Resource Management
  • Bachelor of Business
    R3/0410/6/0022 MQA/SWA0004 27.12.2029
    - with majors in Finance and International Business

STEM courses offered at Swinburne Sarawak are Engineering, Science, and Computing degree programs.

List of Courses:

Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Chemical)
    R2/0711/6/0001 MQA/FA8845 31.12.2027
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil)
    R2/526/6/0121 MQA/FA4323 19.07.2028
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Electrical and Electronic)
    R2/522/6/0228 MQA/FA4324 01.09.2027
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical)
    R2/521/6/0098 MQA/FA4325 01.09.2027
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Robotics and Mechatronics)
    R3/523/6/0106 MQA/FA4326 01.09.2027
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Software)
    N/481/6/0836 MQA/PSA15080 03.10.2028
  • Bachelor of Computer Science
    R2/481/6/0544 MQA/SWA18407 01.09.2027
  • Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology
    R3/481/6/0228 MQA/SWA18408 05.08.2029
  • Bachelor of Quantity Surveying (Honours)
    N/526/6/0147 MQA/PA14600 20.01.2029
  • Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology)
    R3/0512/6/0017 MQA/SWA18415 21.06.2030
  • Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science)
    N/422/6/0035 MQA/SWA13429 20.01.2027
  • Bachelor of Cyber Security
    N/0613/6/0099 MQA/PSA17793 28.08.2029
  • Bachelor of Data Science
    N/0613/6/0100 MQA/PSA17794 02.09.2029

Faculty of Business, Design and Arts

  • Bachelor of Design
    R3/0211/6/0069 MQA/SWA0159 30.07.2029
  • Bachelor of Design (Multimedia Design)
    R3/0211/6/0024 MQA/SWA18409 13.11.2028
  • Bachelor of Business (Accounting and Finance)
    R3/0411/6/0065 MQA/SWA0095 27.12.2029
  • Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
    R3/0411/6/0066 MQA/SWA0005 27.12.2029
  • Bachelor of Business (Finance)
    R3/0412/6/0032 MQA/SWA0096 27.12.2029
  • Bachelor of Business
    R3/0410/6/0022 MQA/SWA0004 27.12.2029
    - with majors in Finance and Marketing
  • Bachelor of Business
    R3/0410/6/0022 MQA/SWA0004 27.12.2029
    - with majors in Finance and Management
  • Bachelor of Business
    R3/0410/6/0022 MQA/SWA0004 27.12.2029
    - with majors in Finance and Human Resource Management
  • Bachelor of Business
    R3/0410/6/0022 MQA/SWA0004 27.12.2029
    - with majors in Finance and International Business

Yes, Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Business are on the approved programs under FTES. Please refer to the official listing linked here for more details.

Further information on postgraduate and pre-university programs under this initiative will be announced by MEITD.

Currently, the initiative is focused on undergraduate programs.

Yes, any student who meets the eligibility criterias and applies for the approved programs under FTES will benefit from the Free Tertiary Education Scheme from 2026 onwards.

All Sarawakians with a 'K' in their IC or Malaysians with a Sarawakian parent (with 'K' in their IC) are eligible for the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) for their first undergraduate degree, provided that they are not receiving any other educational sponsorship or scholarships. Additionally, they may accept FTES only once and only from one institution.

Yes. Swinburne Sarawak offers a range of bursaries and scholarships to support students financially.

Additionally, Yayasan Sarawak provides financial aid, including study loans and scholarships. For more details, please visit Yayasan Sarawak’s official website.

Yes. Students will still be eligible to participate in the Student Exchange Program at Swinburne Melbourne, Australia for one semester.

All existing requirements for the program remain unchanged. For more details, please contact us.

Further details regarding age eligibility will be announced by MEITD.

We will provide updates once the information is available.

Do look out for our Open Days several times a year. For admissions guidance, please consult our Education Counselling Team .

Our Education Counselling Team can assist you with any transfer related queries.

No but a student needs to fulfil this requirement before they complete their degree at Swinburne Sarawak.

Students are required to submit official supporting documentations, such as certified true copies of payslips endorsed by commissioner of oaths, authorised management officers, or verification by Ketua Masyarakat dan Ketua Kaum (KMKK).

Will FTES cover fees during exchange? If yes, is there any quota specifically for FTES students to apply for exchange? Yes. FTES will cover only tuition fees during the exchange program for approved students.

Students need to pass every subject in their degree program to continue the sponsorship under FTES.

Yes. FTES will include fees for the remaining duration of their degrees.

Students will receive their eligibility letters together with their offer letters for the degree.

Yes.

No, the RM500 deposit will be covered by FTES.

No.

FTES only apply to Degree. Students using IGCSE or equivalent can apply to foundation or diploma only.

No. This will be managed by the University.

FTES does not cover fees once student transfer to Swinburne Australia.

Eligibility for degree programmes under FTES will be assessed based on the applicant’s highest qualification and the existing entry requirements for the programme. For more information, please refer to the academic entry requirements.

Yes.

No, students who quits their program half way is not required to re-pay fees covered by FTES.

If you have further inquiries, please contact our Future Students Team for the latest updates and guidance.

Students who are currently receiving other scholarships or sponsorships and intend to switch to FTES must first terminate their existing sponsorship or loan, as FTES recipients are not allowed to hold or receive any other scholarship or financial aid intended to cover the tuition fees for the same programme.

For students on Yayasan Sarawak Loan:

As per the existing Loan Agreement, the process follows the standard procedure for switching to another sponsorship body. Borrowers are required to:

  • Terminate the existing loan; and
  • Repay all loan monies disbursed to date in full (no discounts or incentives apply).

Borrowers may submit an appeal for Deferment of Repayment, allowing the repayment schedule to commence after completion of the Bachelor’s degree, subject to approval.

To proceed with loan termination, borrowers must submit the following:

  • New sponsorship offer letter (e.g. FTES Offer Letter or official confirmation that studies are covered under FTES)
  • Appeal for Deferment of Repayment (formal email or letter, if applicable)

All documents must be emailed to: [email protected]

With the following recipients copied (CC):

For PTPTN recipients:

Students are required to visit the PTPTN office counter at Jalan Kulas to request loan termination and follow the subsequent instructions provided by PTPTN.

For all other scholarship or sponsorship recipients:

Students may contact Student Financial Advisory at [email protected] or visit Student HQ, Counter 11.



All Sarawakians with a 'K' in their IC or Malaysians with a Sarawakian parent (with 'K' in their IC) are eligible for the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) for their first undergraduate degree, provided that they are not receiving any other educational sponsorship or scholarships. Additionally, they may accept FTES only once and only from one institution.

Eligible students: From households with a monthly per capita income of RM1,500 or below.

Applicable to: Students pursuing their first undergraduate degree at one of the four state-owned institutions of higher learning without support from any other educational sponsorship or scholarship.

Program: Approved under the Sarawak Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES).

Support Provided: Eligible students will be entitled to:

  • RM10,000 annual stipend to assist with living expenses, including but not limited to food, transportation, and ancillary study needs.
  • RM5,000 for accommodation through the designated university housing unit.
Follow us on our platforms for the latest updates.