Edith Cowan University

Edith Cowan University, or ‘ECU’, is Western Australia’s youngest university and one of the world’s best young universities under 50 years old.

And for an amazing 14 years in a row, ECU has been rated 5-stars by graduates for teaching quality as reported in the Good Universities Guide. 

ECU is also the only university in Australia named after a woman. Edith Cowan (OBE) was one of Australia’s most influential and inspiring women. She influenced the course of education in Australia, paving the way for many people to access an education they could only previously dream of. She was also the first woman elected to the Australian Parliament.

Study at ECU

ECU has more than 31,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and is one of the most multicultural student populations in Australia, typically welcoming around 7,000 international students from more than 100 countries.

Teaching staff have extensive professional experience and networks. So students can expect to gain the knowledge, skills, confidence and even contacts needed to make their way in the world.

ECU courses are also internationally recognised, with many being professionally accredited by national and international organisations. Student learning also extends beyond the classroom with practicum placements in real businesses or organisations, and opportunities for paid internships and international study tours.

ECU has a diverse mix of exciting and popular courses, many of which can be studied online, including subjects like:

Cyber Security, Counselling, Motorsports Engineering, Nursing, Sports Science, Teacher Education, Environmental Science, Law, Broadcasting, Paramedicine, Music Theatre, Nursing, Hospitality & Tourism Management and Criminology.

ECU’s teaching and research is delivered by eight schools, including the world-renowned Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, or WAAPA:

o   Arts & Humanities

o   Business & Law

o   Education

o   Engineering

o   Medical & Health Sciences

o   Nursing & Midwifery

o   Science

o   WAAPA

Schools are split between the Joondalup and Mount Lawley metropolitan campuses, with some courses also taught at the South West Campus near Bunbury in regional WA.

University of the Future

In 2025, ECU is opening an exciting new campus in the middle of Perth city. The University’s Creative Industries, Business and Technology Campus represents the future of university education — urban, connected, integrated with business and community and part of the life blood of a thriving city.

Admission pathways

Taking inspiration from the university’s namesake, ECU has been a leader in finding ways to give people from all circumstances – from school leavers to mature age students who’ve not studied for many years, to those from challenging socio-economic backgrounds – an opportunity to access higher education. 

This access is possible through a range of admission pathways, including university preparation courses, a creative arts portfolio entry and an experience-based entry scheme.