Global higher education institution Curtin University has introduced PayID as a payment option for students, providing a fast and convenient way to pay directly from their bank account while improving payment visibility and reconciliation for the university.
Embedding real-time payments
Curtin processes thousands of student payments throughout the academic year. To improve operational efficiency and meet changing customer expectations, the university was looking to simplify payment processes by reducing payment delays, manual reconciliation, and payment enquiries.
At the same time, students increasingly expect fast, digital payment experiences. Curtin worked with Azupay to integrate PayID into its existing payment experience, helping shift student payments towards real-time account-to-account payments.
A simpler payment experience for students
PayID facilitates a fast and secure way to pay via online banking. Students are issued a unique email PayID that they use to pay by scanning a QR code or copying the PayID details into their online banking.
After entering the PayID, students see the name associated with the PayID, giving them greater confidence they are paying the intended recipient, before they confirm the payment.
When we introduced PayID, our students told us they were relieved we were finally catching up with how they prefer to pay. Students expect the same real-time, digital payment experiences they use in everyday life, and PayID gave us the opportunity to meet those expectations.
Jeffrey Chen, Student Finance, Curtin University
Improving business operations
The benefits extend beyond the student payment experience. Real-time payment confirmation and payment matching give Curtin greater visibility of incoming payments while simplifying reconciliation, refunds and exception management.
These improvements have enabled Curtin’s finance team to manage larger transaction volumes more effectively while reducing administrative effort.
By successfully shifting payment behaviour towards PayID, Curtin has improved the experience for students while reducing the operational effort associated with managing and reconciling payments.
Trent Daniel, Chief Customer Officer, Azupay
Driving adoption
To encourage students to use PayID, clear messaging was integrated through the payment journey, supported by student communications, on-page promotion, and awareness activities across key student touchpoints (e.g. portals, orientation activities).
Within 60 days from launching PayID in June 2025, around 70% of students who started an eligible PayID payment completed it successfully, demonstrating strong early adoption that continued to grow as awareness increased.
Curtin University’s 2026 records demonstrate:
- PayID became one of Curtin's top three payment methods
- More than 25% of Semester 1 payments were made via PayID
- Student satisfaction of the PayID payment experience reached 9 out of 10.
Outcomes
- Positive student payment experience - Students can make real-time payments securely through their online banking and see the name linked to the PayID before confirming, giving them greater confidence their money is going to where they intend it to.
- Operational efficiencies - Curtin University experienced improved visibility of incoming payments and simplified payment reconciliation processes which reduced manual effort associated with enquiries, exceptions and refunds.
- Lower payment acceptance costs - Greater adoption of real-time payments is reducing Curtin’s reliance on higher-cost payment methods and associated acceptance costs.
