Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Curtin University Perth

Program Overview

The Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Curtin University is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and corporate innovators who want to turn creative ideas into commercially viable opportunities. Across the two-year program, students develop expertise in entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, business creativity and innovation, design thinking, international marketing, ICT, analytics and data visualisation, while applying their knowledge to real-world cases and team projects.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build a strong foundation in innovation and entrepreneurial practice, exploring how innovation and creativity can be used as business tools and how design thinking can be applied to professional practice. The first stage also develops capabilities in ICT, analytics and data visualisation, helping students understand how technology and evidence can support innovative business decisions.

Year 2: The second year moves towards more advanced commercial and strategic application, with students developing commercialisation, managerial and stakeholder-engagement competencies while studying international business and entrepreneurial communication. Students also apply leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship skills through real-world cases and individual and team projects, while opportunities such as business internships, the MIT Global Innovation Bootcamp and Curtin Ignition commercialisation program can add valuable industry exposure.

Focus Areas:

Entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, business creativity and innovation, design thinking, international marketing positioning and engagement, ICT, analytics and data visualisation, commercialisation, stakeholder engagement, international business and entrepreneurial communications.

Learning Outcomes:

Graduates develop the ability to identify and pursue innovative opportunities, create competitive solutions to complex business problems, apply design thinking, communicate with culturally diverse stakeholders, use analytics and data visualisation, develop commercialisation strategies, and apply leadership and entrepreneurial skills in professional contexts.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

Curtin Business School holds international accreditation from EQUIS, AACSB International and EFMD, giving the business school strong international recognition and aligning the learning environment with globally recognised business-school standards.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings):

Curtin University ranks in the top 1% of universities worldwide in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2025. Curtin Business School also reports the highest position among Western Australian business schools in the Eduniversal Palmes of Excellence league and is placed in Australia's 4 Palmes category as a business school with significant international influence.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Curtin University Perth is strongly focused on applying innovation and entrepreneurial concepts to real business situations. Students develop practical capabilities in design thinking, business creativity, innovation, ICT, analytics, data visualisation and business simulations, while the course also provides opportunities for business internships, the MIT Global Innovation Bootcamp and Curtin Ignition, allowing students to move beyond classroom theory into real entrepreneurial environments.

Curtin’s dedicated entrepreneurship ecosystem adds another practical dimension to the degree. Students can connect with startup founders, entrepreneurs and industry experts through spaces and programs such as the Curtin Entrepreneurs Hub, Curtin Venture Mentors and Curtin Entrepreneurs Community, while Innovation Central Perth provides an industry-connected environment focused on prototyping and solving business challenges with technologies such as cloud computing, data analytics and IoT platforms.

Students can build their practical innovation experience through:

Business internships: The course specifically offers opportunities to complete business internships, giving students exposure to professional business environments and the chance to apply entrepreneurial and innovation skills in practice.
Business simulations: Students experience business simulations in the context of international business and entrepreneurial communications, helping them practise decision-making in simulated commercial situations.
Design thinking and prototyping: The curriculum includes the application of design thinking to professional practice and entrepreneurship, supporting practical development and testing of innovative ideas.
ICT, analytics and data visualisation: Students develop capabilities in ICT, analytics and data visualisation, providing digital tools and analytical approaches relevant to modern innovation and entrepreneurial decision-making.
MIT Global Innovation Bootcamp: Eligible students have the opportunity to participate in the MIT Global Innovation Bootcamp, providing an additional intensive innovation experience beyond the standard course curriculum.
Curtin Ignition: Students can access Curtin Ignition, an intensive commercialisation program designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs and corporate innovators trial and prepare business ideas for the commercial environment.
Curtin Entrepreneurs Hub: The dedicated Curtin Entrepreneurs Hub provides a flexible co-working space for startup teams and entrepreneurs, located within Curtin's industry-connected innovation precinct.
Entrepreneur mentoring: Curtin Venture Mentors connects Curtin students involved in entrepreneurship and commercialisation with industry experts who can provide guidance and entrepreneurial mentoring.
Startup community and networking: Curtin Entrepreneurs provides access to co-working facilities, networking events, Entrepreneurs in Residence and entrepreneurship experts, including one-to-one Office Hours and Lunch and Learn sessions.
Innovation Central Perth: Innovation Central Perth (ICP) brings together industry experts, university researchers, data scientists and students to develop solutions through concept testing, prototype development and integration analysis, using cloud computing, data analytics and IoT network platforms.
Venture Studio: Curtin’s $18.6 million Curtin Venture Studio provides access to capital, talent, market expertise, mentorship, infrastructure and equipment to support the development of research-backed ventures and prototypes.
Startup competitions and practical challenges: Curtin's entrepreneurship ecosystem includes Student Startup Weekend and the Curtinnovation Awards, giving students opportunities to develop and showcase innovative ideas.
Library and research support: Curtin Library provides collections and research resources supporting students' academic and innovation-focused work, alongside digital and research support services.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Curtin University Perth is designed for students who want to turn innovative ideas into commercial opportunities or lead innovation within established organisations. Graduates develop capabilities in entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, business creativity, commercialisation, stakeholder engagement and international business, preparing them for careers across startups, consulting, innovation and business development.

Typical career opportunities include:

Entrepreneur / Startup Founder
Innovation Manager / Advisor
Innovation Engagement Advisor
Business Development Manager

Career development and professional opportunities include:

Curtin Careers: Students can access a Curtin-exclusive online jobs board, job-application support including instant résumé feedback, leadership development workshops and other career resources designed to build employment readiness.
Industry connections: The course itself develops industry, executive and startup connections and networks, while students work on real-world cases and individual and team projects relevant to private and public-sector organisations.
Internship opportunities: The course provides opportunities to complete business internships, allowing students to gain practical workplace experience alongside their postgraduate studies.
Entrepreneurship support: Curtin offers a dedicated entrepreneurship ecosystem including Curtin Ignition, Curtin Accelerate, Curtin Entrepreneurs Hub, Curtin Venture Mentors, Curtin Venture Studio and Curtin Kickstart. These initiatives can provide mentoring, expert advice, commercialisation support, funding opportunities and connections with investors and industry.
Curtin Accelerate: Eligible entrepreneurs can access the 12-week Curtin Accelerate program, which provides access to 40+ innovation and entrepreneurship experts, Venture Studio resources and potential equity-free grant funding and AWS credits.
Curtin Ignition: Students and aspiring entrepreneurs can participate in Curtin Ignition, an intensive program featuring practical teaching, expert clinics, mentoring and advice from experienced entrepreneurs and innovators to help develop ideas for the commercial environment.
Industry partnerships: Curtin maintains collaborative relationships with companies in Australia and internationally, supporting teaching, research, internships, recruitment and innovation. Its industry network includes organisations such as Alcoa, Bankwest and BHP.
Industry Exchange: Curtin's Industry Exchange connects industry partners with student talent through a project-based model, where paid student interns tackle real-world business challenges and deliver agreed project outcomes with academic support.
Graduate employment outcomes: Curtin reports that 92% of its domestic graduates obtained employment in 2022, the highest rate among WA public universities. Curtin also states that employers' overall satisfaction with its graduates was ranked #1 among Western Australian universities in the 2024 QILT Employer Satisfaction Survey.
Salary outcomes: Curtin reported a $70,000 median full-time undergraduate graduate salary in the 2021 Graduate Outcomes Survey, the highest among WA public universities at that time. This is a university-wide undergraduate figure rather than a salary specific to this master's course, so it should be used as a general Curtin graduate benchmark rather than a guaranteed salary for Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship graduates.
Accreditation and long-term value: Curtin's official course information does not identify a separate professional accreditation specifically for this master's degree. Its longer-term value instead comes from the postgraduate qualification, Curtin's industry-connected learning environment, and access to its entrepreneurship and commercialisation ecosystem.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, students interested in advanced research can consider progressing to a research-based higher degree such as a doctoral program, subject to meeting Curtin's admission and research requirements. The master's also provides a strong foundation for continuing professional development through Curtin's entrepreneurship ecosystem, including advanced commercialisation, mentoring and venture-development programs such as Curtin Ignition, Curtin Accelerate and Curtin Venture Studio.