Institutes / Universities
Edith Cowan University
Established in
1991Famous For
Performing Arts, Education, Nursing
- Overview
- Services
- Rankings
- Accommodation
- Location
- Courses
- Scholarships
Overview
Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a globally recognised Australian university based in Perth, Western Australia. It is named after Edith Cowan, Australia's first female parliamentarian, and continues her legacy of creating opportunities through education and empowering students to make an impact in the world. ECU is known for quality teaching, strong student support and career-focused education, and has held a 5-star rating for undergraduate teaching quality for 19 consecutive years.
More than 30,000 students study at ECU, including over 6,000 international students from more than 100 countries. Teaching is delivered through eight schools:
- Arts and Humanities
- Business and Law
- Engineering and Technology
- Medical and Health Sciences
- Nursing and Midwifery
- Science
- Education
- Performing Arts (WAAPA)
Courses are developed with strong industry input, helping students build practical skills, real-world experience and career confidence. More than 30,000 students study at ECU.
In 2026, ECU opened ECU City, a landmark campus in the centre of Perth and a major part of the city's transformation. With modern learning spaces, advanced technology and strong links to industry, it reflects ECU's future-focused approach to education. ECU City sits alongside ECU Joondalup, ECU South West in Bunbury and ECU Sri Lanka, giving students a choice of settings and a strong global outlook.
For international students, ECU offers globally recognised qualifications, scholarship opportunities, student support and a strong focus on future career success.
CRICOS code: 00279B
Services
Student support services are available at ECU to help new arrivals settle in and succeed in their studies. ECU also offers scholarship opportunities for international students, and its international academic scholarships are assessed at the same time as your course application, so there's no separate form to complete.
If you don't yet meet direct entry requirements, ECU works with pathway partners to help you qualify. Edith Cowan College, located on ECU's Joondalup campus, offers pathway programmes into ECU degrees, including Academic English, diplomas and a Foundation Program. The College also runs an orientation for new students, introducing them to staff, support services and campus life. ECU's other onshore pathway partner is TAFE International Western Australia (TIWA).
Rankings
ECU is placed among the world's leading young universities and performs strongly in both global and student-experience rankings:
- Five stars for undergraduate teaching quality in the Good Universities Guide 2026, for 19 years running
- First in Western Australia for postgraduate coursework overall experience, student support and full-time employment (Good Universities Guide 2026)
ECU received rankings in ten subject areas in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, with highlights including:
- Sports-related subjects: top 50 globally (of 1,912 institutions) and top 9 in Australia
- Nursing: returned to the global top 100
- Hospitality & Leisure Management: first-ever ranking, debuting in the global top 150
- Performing Arts: top 150 globally and top four in Australia
Accommodation
ECU offers on-campus accommodation, known as ECU Village, at its Joondalup and South West campuses. Both villages are operated by Campus Living Villages and offer single and multi-room units with shared self-catering facilities in a modern, friendly environment. There is a range of apartment styles, including recently developed apartments, to suit different budgets.
Students who prefer to live off campus can use the ECU Accommodation Listings platform, which covers the Joondalup, South West and City campuses and connects students with housing providers and housemates.
Location
ECU has three campuses in Western Australia, as well as ECU Sri Lanka overseas. ECU City, which opened in 2026, sits in the centre of Perth, placing students in the heart of the city's business, cultural and creative life. ECU Joondalup is in the Perth metropolitan area, while ECU South West is in Bunbury, around 200 km south of the Perth CBD, offering a smaller, regional setting.
Perth is known for its sunny climate, coastline and relaxed lifestyle, with beaches and outdoor activities close at hand.
Courses offered at Edith Cowan University
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