Edith Cowan University
Perth's teaching-focused university: home to WAAPA, WA's largest nursing school and a new CBD campus.
- Students
- 30,661
- International
- 35%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 27.9:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- A$42,400
- From · 2027
- Founded
- 1991
About ECU
Edith Cowan University is Western Australia's youngest university but traces its roots to 1902 and the Claremont Teachers College. It was established under the Edith Cowan University Act 1984, gained university status in 1991, and is named after Edith Dircksey Cowan, the first woman elected to an Australian parliament; ECU says it is the only university in Australia named after a woman. In 2025 it had 30,661 students, including international students from more than 100 countries.
ECU is organised into eight schools: Arts and Humanities; Business and Law; Education; Engineering; Medical and Health Sciences; Nursing and Midwifery; Science; and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Its main campus is at Joondalup in Perth's northern suburbs, with a regional campus in Bunbury and a campus in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In 2026 it opened ECU City in Perth's CBD, replacing the Mount Lawley campus and becoming the new home of WAAPA.
ECU is known above all for teaching quality and practical, career-focused degrees: nursing, education, cyber security, engineering and the performing arts. Entry is accessible, with indicative ATARs of 70 for most courses, which suits students who want a supportive, applied education in a sunny, relaxed city.
Freedom Through Knowledge
University motto
Why students choose ECU
ECU has held a five-star Good Universities Guide rating for teaching quality for 19 consecutive years.
WAAPA offers the most comprehensive range of performing arts training in Australia, and alumni include Hugh Jackman and Jai Courtney.
The School of Nursing and Midwifery runs the largest undergraduate nursing program in Western Australia, accredited by ANMAC.
International scholarships cut tuition by up to 20%, and new international students at ECU City could receive a AUD 5,000 welcome bursary in 2026.
Admissions
Semester 1, 2027 (starting February 2027)
Selectivity
ECU does not publish an offer rate. Most bachelor's degrees list an indicative ATAR of 70; Nursing and Midwifery 75, engineering degrees 80, and the Bachelor of Laws 85. WAAPA courses select by audition or interview.
Typical entry requirements
| ATAR (indicative) | 70 for most bachelor's degrees (e.g. Commerce, Nursing, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Psychology); 75 for Nursing/Midwifery; 80 for engineering honours degrees; 85 for Laws |
|---|---|
| Engineering prerequisites | Mathematics Methods ATAR (plus further subjects for some majors) |
| International secondary qualifications | Country-specific minimum results; Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology are assessed individually |
| IB | IB Diploma accepted (the IB Certificate alone does not meet undergraduate entry); IB English at HL 3 or SL 4 meets the English requirement |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 70 Standard undergraduate minimum: IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 70 (no section below 17), or PTE Academic 52. Many courses set higher levels, e.g. IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 84 / PTE 58 at the higher band, and IELTS 7.5 overall for Education (Early Childhood Studies). IELTS Online, TOEFL Home Edition and PTE Online are not accepted. |
Deadlines
- Semester 1, 2027: international student visa holders (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) Non-binding Next deadline · In 48 days23 November 2026
Accept your offer and pay fees by 30 November 2026.
- Semester 1, 2027: international student visa holders (all other regions) Non-binding In ~3 months15 January 2027
Accept your offer and pay fees by 22 January 2027. Orientation begins 8 February 2027; lectures start 22 February 2027.
- Semester 1, 2027: direct applications (domestic) Non-binding In ~4 months7 February 2027
Midnight deadline for a completed application; accept offers by 5 March 2027. Year 12 students apply through TISC: main-round offers 23 December 2026, second-round offers 20 January 2027.
Dates are from ECU's important-dates page for Semester 1, 2027. Some courses, including WAAPA programs, require early application (dates from 31 August to 12 October 2026 for several courses). ECU also has a mid-year (Semester 2) intake.
How to apply
International students apply directly to ECU through the online applicant portal or via an ECU authorised agent; applicants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sub-Saharan Africa (except Mauritius) or Uzbekistan who need a student visa must apply through an agent. Australian Year 12 students apply through TISC. After an offer, you accept online and pay the first semester's fees and Overseas Student Health Cover to receive the Confirmation of Enrolment for your visa. Scholarships are assessed automatically with your application.
What admissions looks for
- Secondary results at or above the course's indicative ATAR or the equivalent for your country's qualification.
- Required prerequisite subjects, such as Mathematics Methods for engineering.
- English competency at the course's level, from IELTS 6.0 upwards.
- For WAAPA, performance ability shown at audition or interview.
Tips for applying to ECU
- 1 Apply well before 15 January 2027 if you need a student visa for February: ECU says it cannot accept applications after the published Semester 1 dates.
- 2 If you are from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India or Nepal, your deadline is earlier (23 November 2026) and you must apply through an authorised agent.
- 3 Check the higher IELTS band for your course: some degrees need 6.5 rather than 6.0, and IELTS Online is not accepted.
- 4 Planning WAAPA? Apply direct to ECU (not TISC), watch the early deadlines, and prepare for an audition.
- 5 Ask about the 20% international scholarships, such as the 2027 North Asia International Scholarship: they are assessed automatically with your course application.
Costs & financial aid
2027 · figures in AUD
International students are automatically assessed for academic scholarships worth up to 20% off tuition, such as the 2027 North Asia International Scholarship (20% for the standard course duration), and may also receive bursaries; new international students at ECU City could receive a AUD 5,000 welcome bursary in 2026. Domestic students can defer fees through HECS-HELP, and ECU offers ATAR High Achievement (ATAR 90+) and Outstanding Achievement (ATAR 97+) scholarships.
- Up to 20% off tuition
- International academic scholarships
- AUD 5,000 for new international bachelor's or master's students
- ECU City Campus Welcome Bursary (2026)
- AUD 1,000 to 1,500 (2026-2027 commencers)
- Nursing (C33) Regional Living Allowance Bursary, South West campus
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (February and July intakes)
WAAPA (Acting, Music, Dance and more)
The most comprehensive range of performing arts training in Australia, now based at ECU City; entry by audition.
Bachelor of Science (Nursing)
Part of the largest undergraduate nursing program in Western Australia, accredited by ANMAC.
Bachelor of Science (Cyber Security)
Taught in the School of Science, which covers computing, information science and security science.
Bachelor of Laws
Accredited by the Legal Practice Board of WA, with a moot court and practical work through Encompass Legal and Community Services and the Innocence Project.
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Majors from mechanical and mechatronics to naval architecture, marine and offshore engineering, and motorsports.
Education
ECU's School of Education is the largest in Western Australia, with more than 100 years of teacher education.
Research
- ECU runs nine Strategic Research Institutes and Centres.
- Its Criminal Justice Review Project (Innocence Project) gives law students casework experience.
- ECU Health Centres at Wanneroo and Yanchep provide community healthcare and training for health students.
Schools & faculties
- School of Arts and Humanities
- School of Business and Law
- School of Education
- School of Engineering
- School of Medical and Health Sciences
- School of Nursing and Midwifery
- School of Science
- Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)
- Kurongkurl Katitjin (Centre for Indigenous Australian Education and Research)
In the 2026 Good Universities Guide, ECU postgraduate coursework students rated it first in Western Australia for full-time employment, overall experience and student support.
Student life
Most students are at the leafy Joondalup campus in Perth's northern suburbs, built around a lake, with student accommodation, a medical centre, cafes and gyms. The new ECU City campus at Yagan Square puts WAAPA's theatres and studios, and courses such as law, in the middle of Perth's entertainment district, while ECU South West in Bunbury offers a small regional campus. ECU rates highly in national surveys for student support, and international students come from more than 100 countries.
- WAAPA productions and performances at ECU City.
- Joondalup campus lake, library and student services hub.
- Student Guild support including financial assistance and a second-hand book service.
- Five-star Good Universities Guide ratings for student support and overall experience (2026).
Housing. ECU offers student accommodation through its own accommodation company, and international students must arrange Overseas Student Health Cover before arrival.
Location
Perth is Western Australia's capital, with a mild Mediterranean climate, long beaches and a reputation as one of the world's most liveable cities, and ECU notes that day-to-day living costs are lower than in some other major Australian cities. Joondalup is in Perth's northern suburbs, ECU City sits at Perth City Link beside Yagan Square in the CBD, and ECU South West is in Bunbury, 200 km south. Buses and trains stop near the campuses.
Nearest airport: Perth Airport (PER)
Notable alumni
- HJ Hugh JackmanActor (WAAPA graduate)
- JC Jai CourtneyActor (WAAPA graduate)
- JJ Jim JefferiesStand-up comedian (WAAPA)
- AA Anne AlyAustralian federal minister and counter-terrorism academic
- MA Musa AmanYang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sabah since 2025 and former Chief Minister of Sabah; ECU MBA
- HC H. C. CoombsEconomist and first Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (studied at predecessor Claremont Teachers College)
- NB Nicole BoltonAustralian international cricketer
Frequently asked questions
What ATAR do you need for Edith Cowan University?
Most ECU bachelor's degrees have an indicative ATAR of 70. Nursing and Midwifery is 75, engineering honours degrees 80 and the Bachelor of Laws 85.
How much does ECU cost for international students?
Estimated first-year fees on ECU's course pages range from about AUD 42,400 (Commerce, Laws) to 45,850 (Nursing), and 57,350 for the Nursing/Midwifery double degree. Scholarships can reduce tuition by up to 20%.
What IELTS score does ECU require?
The minimum for undergraduate study is IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 6.0 (TOEFL iBT 70, PTE 52), but many courses need 6.5 and some, like Early Childhood Education, need 7.5.
When is the ECU application deadline for international students?
For Semester 1, 2027, student-visa applicants must submit a complete application by 15 January 2027 (23 November 2026 for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal). Lectures begin on 22 February 2027.
Where is WAAPA?
WAAPA, ECU's performing arts academy, moved from Mount Lawley to the new ECU City campus in central Perth in 2026.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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