The University Feasibility Study represented the second phase of the Government's consideration of structural reform options for WA's public university sector. It included an update of data underpinning the University Sector Review 2023 Report, policy analysis, stakeholder consultation and a rapid cost-benefit analysis (Rapid CBA) of various merger options identified as delivering beneficial structural reform.
The University Feasibility Study made a number of findings that provide a strong foundation for a merger, including that:
- given the size of the State’s population and the funding model for universities, WA public universities would benefit by pivoting from competing with each other to combining to compete more successfully with interstate and international universities;
- WA’s public universities are largely generalists, offering similar courses, governed by the same compliance requirements, and requiring broadly similar Australian Tertiary Admission Ranks (ATAR) scores.
While the 2023 Report recommended two possible mergers, the Feasibility Study considered three: (1) Curtin, Murdoch and UWA; (2) Murdoch and UWA; and (3) Curtin and UWA (not proposed in the 2023 Report).
Following multiple reviews of WA's public university sector, the WA Government is undertaking a business case to explore potential university mergers. Find out more about the WA University Reform business case.
