Edith Cowan University Information

  • Introduction

    Our changing world needs a university to change with it. A university where courses composed with industry deliver the most relevant knowledge and skills. A university that provides a bridge between where you are right now and where you what to be. ECU is that bridge between your world and the whole world.

    We go out of our way to help our students start on their journey, and to succeed in their studies, whatever their chosen field.

    ECU is home to a great mix of students – from people straight out of school to mature age students, international students who've moved to Perth and a growing number of online students.

  • Why Choose ECU?

    • For the 5th year in a row, ECU received the top undergraduate teaching quality ranking of all 37 public universities in Australia in the QILT (Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching Survey). ECU was also the top-ranked Australian public university for undergraduate skills development (now six years in a row) and second-placed public university for overall educational experience.
    • ECU has been named in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings for 2020 recognising the world's best 100 universities under the age of 50.
    • ECU graduates have given the university a 5-star rating for teaching quality in the Good Universities Guide for 14 years in a row. In the 2021 guide, graduates also rated ECU 5 stars for overall, teaching quality. skill development, student support, learning resources, learner engagement and overall student experience.
    • Our programs are developed in consultation with industry groups and we focus on our graduates' employability skills, including offering our students industry placements, internships and study tours.
    • ECU teaching staff are some of the best in their fields, with extensive industry experience and a genuine interest in their students' learning and achievements.
    Fantastic facilities and programs
    As Australia's most exciting young university, ECU is set to transform the city of Perth, in developing Western Australia's first comprehensive city campus in a $695 million project that will also support the State's recovery.

    The new ECU city campus will be the centrepiece of a Perth City deal, designed to bring the energy and vibrance of more than 9,000 students and staff to the heart of Perth's CBD.

    The campus will be where technology, industry and creativity meet and is set to open in 2025.

    ECU also has a wide range of courses across a number of study areas with highlights including:
    • Offering one of the most comprehensive Arts and Humanities Schools in the southern hemisphere.
    • Our Business and Law students have access to some of WA's newest facilities including a Digital Hub, SMART Lab, Moot Court, Centre for Business Development and Work Integrated Learning space.
    • We are ranked in the Top 175 universities worldwide for Engineering and Technology in the Times Higher Education rankings (2021).
    • we are ranked number 9 in the world for Quality Education and we are in the top 100 overall in the 2020 Times Higher Education impact rankings, showing how the global higher education sector is working towards the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
    • We offer a comprehensive range of medical and health science courses and are ranked 30th for Sports-related courses in the 2021 QS World University Rankings by Subject.
    • We prepare more nursing and midwifery students for careers in health than any other university in WA.
    • ECU is one of just two Academic Centres of Cyber Security Excellence in Australia and the only one in WA.
    • Not only are we the oldest School of Education in WA, but we are also the most highly rated. This is reflected in the fact that we are Australia's top public university for undergraduate teaching quality and overall education experience for Teacher Education (2021 QILT).
    • And we are very proud to be home to WAAPA, one of the world's leading performing arts academies.

    Many roads lead to ECU
    At ECU we attract a wide range of students, including high school graduates and students who aren't fresh out of Year 12.

    That's because we offer different options for gaining entry to our undergraduate programs. Like our Experience Based Entry Scheme or a University Preparation (UniPrep) course.

    Find out more about how ECU can help you achieve your dreams and become world ready.

  • Admission requirements

    Universities have many admission pathways, catering for applicants with varying qualifications, such as Year 12 studies, Vocational Education and Training qualifications, tertiary studies, and work and life experience.

    At ECU, we believe people from all backgrounds should have the opportunity to access a university education. That's why we've created a range of innovative admission pathways.

    Our pathways are available for school leavers and other applicants, and we provide the support and flexibility to anyone wanting to further themselves through education.

    While ECU will make every effort to offer you a place in your chosen course, attaining the minimum academic and English competency isn't an automatic guarantee. Sometimes the number of eligible applicants is greater than the number of places. Where this occurs, offers will be made on a competitive basis.

    English competency requirements
    All applicants are required to meet ECU's minimum English requirements as follows and equivalencies will be considered.

    Bachelor and Associate degrees
    WA English course: You must have achieved:
    ATAR or TEE English
    (including English, Literature, English as an Additional Language/Dialect or English as a Second Language)
    • a final scaled score of at least 50, OR
    • a final school letter grade of A, B, or C studied in Year 12
    General English*
    (including English, Literature, English as an Additional Language/Dialect or English as a Second Language)
    • a final school letter grade of A
      (*Experienced Based Entry Scheme and Creative Arts Portfolio Entry pathway applicants only)
    WACE English (Stage 2 or 3)
    (including English, Literature, English as an Additional Language/Dialect or English as a Second Language)
    • a final scaled score of at least 50, OR
    • a final school letter grade of A, B, or C in two units (Stage 2 or above) studied in Year 12
    Wholly School Assessed
    Senior English
    • a final school letter grade of A studied in Year 12
    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
    • 145 or greater on the STAT Written English (if sat prior to February 2010), OR
    • 140 or greater on the STAT Written English (if sat after February 2010).
    ECU Approved English Test
    • a satisfactory level of competency in an ECU approved English test.

    University Preparation and University Diploma courses
    WA English course: You must have achieved:
    ATAR or TEE English
    (including English, Literature, English as an Additional Language/Dialect or English as a Second Language)
    • a final scaled score of at least 50, OR
    • a final school letter grade of A, B, C or D studied in Year 12
    General English*
    (including English, Literature, English as an Additional Language/Dialect or English as a Second Language)
    • a final school letter grade of A, B or C studied in Year 12
    WACE English (Stage 1, 2 or 3)
    (including English, Literature, English as an Additional Language/Dialect or English as a Second Language)
    • a final scaled score of at least 50, OR
    • a final school letter grade of A, B, or C in one unit (Stage 2 or above) studied in Year 12, OR
    • a final school letter grade of A in both 1C and 1D units studied in Year 12
    Wholly School Assessed
    Senior English
    • a final school letter grade of A, B or C studied in Year 12
    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
    • 125 or greater on the STAT Written English (if sat prior to February 2010), OR
    • 110 or greater on the STAT Written English (if sat after February 2010).

    Academic entry requirements
    ECU offers a variety of ways to meet our minimum academic entry requirements for a course, depending on what you have studied previously, or your work or life experience. We call these admission pathways.

    In addition to meeting our minimum academic requirements through one of our admission pathways, applicants may also be required to have:
    • achieved WACE or equivalent (School leaver applicants only); and
    • satisfied ECU's minimum English requirements; and
    • met any course prerequisites.

    Overseas qualifications
    Provision is made for the recognition of overseas qualifications. Contact Future Students on 134 328 for further advice.

  • Admission pathways

    ATAR
      If you satisfy our minimum English and academic requirements and you:
      • have or will obtain an ATAR, you may meet the admission requirements for your chosen undergraduate course with your ATAR;
      • have not or will not obtain an ATAR, you may still have some options as outlined below.
      If you've attended a school on our ECU Access List, your selection rank may be adjusted upwards and you may meet the requirements for an undergraduate course.

      Alternatively, you may:
      • be eligible to apply through our Experience Based Entry Scheme; or
      • apply for another course with a lower ATAR requirement; or
      • consider one of our UniPrep courses which we recommend you include as a preference on your application.
      How to apply
      ATAR School Leaver applicants should apply directly to TISC.

    Experience based entry scheme
      If you satisfy our minimum academic requirements you may be eligible to be considered through our Experience Based Entry Scheme.

      This pathway assesses your application to ECU based on the evidence that includes your school results, qualifications, and work and life experiences. It allows applicants to be considered for entry to undergraduate courses and caters for:
      • school leavers with a near-miss ATAR for their chosen course;
      • school leavers who successfully completed at least 3 ATAR courses and 1 General course;
      • other applicants, who may or may not have completed Year 12.
      Some courses do not accept applications through this pathway - this will be noted in the published Course Entry requirement for your chosen degree at ECU.

      As part of your Experience Based Entry Scheme application, you need to include:
      • an introductory letter;
      • a resume;
      • two written references; and
      • copies of any certificates, awards or academic records if applicable (school leavers must also submit their most recent school report).
      Experience Based Entry Scheme applicants will have their supporting documents assessed against specified criteria including reasons for study and demonstrated preparedness for tertiary level study and will be admitted to undergraduate level courses based on a competitive process.

      Eligibility for this admission pathway does not guarantee entry into an ECU course at undergraduate level.

      How to apply
      ATAR School Leavers applicants should apply to TISC and submit an online application directly to ECU and upload your supporting documents for assessment (ecuworldready.com.au/apply).

      All other applicants should apply directly to ECU and upload supporting documents for assessment (ecuworldready.com.au/apply).

    Qualification from a recognised training organisation (RTO)
      If you have completed an RTO Certificate IV award, and you meet the minimum English and academic requirements you may be eligible to be considered for entry to the majority of our undergraduate courses.

      If you've completed an RTO Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Diploma award, you'll be eligible to be considered for entry and may also be eligible to receive credit for recognition of prior learning.

      How to apply
      ATAR School Leavers applicants should apply to TISC. All other applicants should apply directly to ECU and upload supporting documents for assessment (ecuworldready.com.au/apply).

    Enabling courses
      If you satisfy ECU's minimum English and academic requirements, you may wish to consider one of our enabling courses as an alternative pathway to our undergraduate courses.

      ECU offers three enabling courses:
      • University Preparation Course (UniPrep)
      • University Preparation Course - Education Program
      • Indigenous University Orientation Course (IUOC) - a specialised entry pathway for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students.
      These enabling programs offer an additional admission pathway to ECU. On completion of the general UniPrep or IUOC, you're eligible to be considered for entry to the majority of undergraduate courses at ECU subject to you also meeting any course specific requirements and availability.

      On completion of the University Preparation Course - Education Program, you're eligible to be considered for entry to our Bachelor of Education courses, subject to you also meeting any course specific requirements and availability.

      ECU will make every effort to offer UniPrep graduates a place in their chosen undergraduate course, however, where the number of eligible applicants is greater than the number of places available, offers will be made on a competitive basis. Some courses, such as Nursing, Paramedicine and Occupational Therapy are very popular and attract a large number of applicants each year.

      Australian citizens, holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens are eligible to study in a Commonwealth Supported Place, making these courses free, with no up-front or deferred tuition fee. Check ECU's website for details.

      How to apply
      ATAR School Leavers applicants should apply to TISC. All other applicants should apply directly to ECU (ecuworldready.com.au/apply).

    Creative Arts portfolio entry
      Our Creative Arts Portfolio Entry is a pathway for current School Leaver applicants who are passionate about art and design but may not have an ATAR.

      This pathway is available for the following courses and majors:
      • Bachelor of Design (all majors)
      • Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts major only)
      • Bachelor of Media and Communication (Photomedia or Screen Production majors only)
      To be considered for any of these courses through this pathway, in addition to meeting the minimum academic requirements you'll need to satisfy the following:
      • successfully completed a minimum of 1 ATAR course;
      • successfully completed a minimum of 3 General courses with at least one course in an area related to the course/major you've selected;
      • provide a discipline specific portfolio and attend an interview to assess your potential to succeed in your selected course/major.
      As part of your Creative Arts Portfolio Entry application you need to include:
      • an introductory letter;
      • a resume;
      • academic records;
      • two written references; and
      • a digital creative portfolio.

      How to apply
      ATAR students should apply to TISC and submit a direct application to ECU with your supporting documents (ecuworldready.com.au/apply).

      Non-ATAR applicants should apply direct to ECU and upload the require documents (ecuworldready.com.au/apply).

      As part of the application process, you will be contacted by ECU to attend an interview with staff from your chosen discipline.

      For more information please refer to Creative Arts Portfolio Entry.

    Special tertiary admissions test (STAT)
      ECU does not offer STAT to School Leaver applicants.

      Applicants completing STAT are required to satisfactorily complete both the Written English and Multiple Choice tests and achieve the minimum scores below.

      Bachelor/Associate Degrees
      STAT Prior to February 2010 After February 2010
      Written English 145 140
      Verbal or Quantitative components 115 135
      UniPrep Courses
      STAT Prior to February 2010 After February 2010
      Written English 125 110
      Verbal or Quantitative components 115 110

      How to apply
      Applicants should apply directly to ECU (ecuworldready.com.au/apply).

  • Educational access scheme

    ECU recognises that specific circumstances outside the control of an applicant may occur, which negatively impact on the individual's ability to successfully prepare for entry to university study.

    Applicants who have been impacted by one off or a series of events such as serious medical conditions or bereavements may be considered for entry.

    To apply for consideration through our Educational Access Scheme, you'll need to lodge your application via TISC and provide a statement and any supporting documents such as medical evidence required to verify your claims. Refer to Educational Access Scheme (EAS).

  • Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) courses

    In addition to meeting the minimum academic requirements entry to WAAPA is also dependent upon a successful audition/interview/folio presentation of previous work and/or practical/theoretical test.

    If you've listed any of the following WAAPA course(s) as a preference in your TISC application, you must also lodge a separate application and ensure this is submitted by the recommended date as noted on our website.
    • Bachelor of Arts (Arts Management);
    • Bachelor of Music;
    • Bachelor of Education (Secondary) - Music Education;
    • Bachelor of Performing Arts - Performance Making major.
    Please refer to our website for information on audition/interview dates. If you've lodged your separate application directly to ECU, you'll be contacted to arrange a specific date and time for your audition/interview.

    If you nominate an ECU Music preference and are unsuccessful, you'll automatically be considered for an appropriate Diploma or Certificate level course at WAAPA.

    Apply directly to ECU (not TISC) for Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses at WAAPA. For further enquiries contact futurestudy@ecu.edu.au.

  • Past and current students of Edith Cowan University (including WAAPA)

    Apply directly to ECU if you:
    • Are a current Year 12 student who will not obtain an ATAR (including students completing a Certificate IV as part of your Year 12 studies);
    • Are not considered a current Year 12 student and wish to:
      • apply through the Experience Based Entry Pathway; OR
      • you have or you are due to complete a TAFE or RTO Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma
    • Are a graduate of ECU or another University and wish to enter a fourth-year Honours degree at ECU;
    • Have previously been made an offer of a place in a course at ECU or with WAAPA and now:
      • want to be considered for an alternative course at ECU; OR
      • wish to take up your deferred offer from 2021; OR
      • have discontinued from your course at ECU and now wish to resume your studies in that course (Resume a Course).

    Apply through TISC if you:
    • Are a current Year 12 student who will obtain an ATAR; or
    • Deferred your ECU course and now want to apply for courses at both ECU and other universities
    If you're applying through TISC for WAAPA courses or other courses at ECU that require an interview and/or audition you must also submit an online application direct with ECU.

  • General information

    Our campuses and online study
    We have three main campuses in Western Australia, each offering a modern, vibrant location for study and learning. Our campuses feature up-to-date facilities including wireless internet, 24-hour access to computer labs, libraries with open study spaces outside office hours and a safe environment for you to study in, either alone or with other students.

    Joondalup
    Our Joondalup Campus is located 25km north of Perth and is a short walk or bus ride from the Joondalup Train Station and Lakeside Joondalup, the largest shopping centre in Western Australia. Set within beautiful surrounds, including a lake and an outdoor cinema, Joondalup's spacious parkland provides a great place for students to study and relax. The campus features award winning architecture, from the grandness of the Chancellery Building with its elaborate spires, to our vibrant golden Ngoolark building and state of the art buildings for Engineering, Science and Health and Wellness.

    Mount Lawley
    Located in the thriving cultural hub of Mount Lawley and close to Perth CBD, you can't help but be inspired by the artistic vibe at our Mount Lawley Campus. The campus is also home to one of the world's leading performing arts academies, the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. The campus is also home to Kurongkurl Katitjin, ECU's Centre for Indigenous Australian Education Research, an invaluable teaching and support resource for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

    Bunbury (South West)
    Located two hours' drive south of Perth, our South West Campus in Bunbury is the largest university campus in regional Western Australia, offering small, personalised class sizes and on campus accommodation. Courses are provided in commerce, science, health sciences, nursing and midwifery, social work, exercise and sports science, teacher education. The campus features a cafe, mini gym, new creche facilities, multi purpose sports courts, nursing demonstration wards, science laboratories and a library with 24 hour access to a computer lab.

    Online Study
    If you'd like to study at university but can't attend classes for reasons such as distance, family or work commitments, then online study may be for you. Many of our courses and units are offered online, and our excellent support services are also available to online students. Courses can be seen via the Course Search facility.

    Deferral of an offer
    If you're offered a place you can apply to defer your offer for up to one year, subject to the course being available in the desired academic period. If deferral is approved, you'll be contacted by ECU, and provided with information on how to commence your studies in later semesters. A place for the same course and campus will only be guaranteed for the following two semesters, subject to availability. For some courses, such as those from WAAPA, you won't be able to defer your offer and will be required to re-apply.

    Part-time study
    Part-time study doesn't necessarily refer to attendance at evening classes. Part-time study involves undertaking a lesser load than the normal full-time load. A normal full-time load is 60 credit points of study per semester, for example four units of 15 credit points each.

    Advanced standing (credit)
    See Advanced standing/credit transfer.

  • Further enquiries

    Obtain further information on ECU courses by contacting:

    Future Students
    Edith Cowan University
    270 Joondalup Drive
    JOONDALUP WA 6027

    Telephone within Australia: 134 328 (134 ECU), from Overseas: (61 8) 6304 0000
    Email: futurestudy@ecu.edu.au or
    Visit the website: ecuworldready.com.au and click on the Got a question? Ask Us link.

    Cricos Provider Code: 00279B