[7] It is the university's largest campus outside of Australia with a total area of 1,200-hectare (3,000-acre) comprising academic and residential blocks.

[9][10] It also offers foundational courses and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) among other higher degree by research programs.

[10][11][12] It is named after John Curtin, a prominent Prime Minister of Australia during World War II from 1941 to 1945.

[28][29][30] Curtin University is the modern descendent of the Perth Technical School, established in 1900, which later became the Western Australia Institute of Technology in 1966.

As of 2022, it is the largest university in the state of Western Australia with 58,607 students enrolled across its domestic and overseas campuses.

Professor Kevin McKenna became the inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive (President) of the newly-formed institution.

Curtin Malaysia's operations in Miri commenced in February 1999, with initial study programs in various fields of engineering and commerce, with the campus fully opening by 2002.