Why Edith Cowan University (ECU) is the University for You?

Edith Cowan University (ECU) has grown rapidly into a quality university with excellent student satisfaction and internationally recognised research. Students and graduates at ECU are globally renowned for their outstanding achievements through awards, grants, scholarships, and prizes. ECU is situated in Western Australia with more than 30,000 students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, out of which approximately 6,000 are international students.

ECU Fast Facts: Hugh Jackman turned down a role in the famous soap opera 'Neighbours' to study ECU's very own Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. That’s not all. ECU Australia has been a top choice for students from around the world for a long time, and there are 101 reasons why.

Now, before we get into all the reasons why ECU is the perfect university for you, here's a little something on the University's cool history.

Edith Cowan University History

While it was established in 1991, the origin of Edith Cowan University dates back to 1902 with the establishment of Claremont Teachers College, the first tertiary education institution in Western Australia. It was named after the first woman to be elected to Australian Parliament, Edith Dircksey Cowan, and is the only Australian university named after a woman.

Edith Dircksey Cowan obtained government support for her scheme that worked to raise funds for students to attend universities in other states prior to a university being built in Western Australia. Her work in this area was acknowledged by naming Western Australia's oldest education institution and newest university after her, as well as her image being added to the Australian $50 note.

Keep reading to find out the answer to the question: ‘Is ECU a good university for you?’

ECU Australia Rankings

ECU Australia offers more than 250 courses and has partnerships with several educational institutions to conduct courses on campus and offshore. Its focus on teaching and research is inspired by strategic global partnerships with leading institutions, including Zhejiang Normal University in China, Health Careers International in India, and the Australian College of Business and Technology in Sri Lanka.

The university has consistently received high subject rankings, including the Global Top 250 in Education and Business and Economics by Times Higher Education (THE) in 2026. Notably, ECU is ranked 41st globally in Hospitality and Tourism Management by the Shanghai Ranking, placing it among the world's elite for the sector.

ECU Australia: Low Investment & High ROI

ECU is consistently recognised as one of the most affordable public universities in Australia. It combines competitive tuition fees and living costs with a high graduate employment rate, nearly 93% within four months, ensuring a rapid and high return on your educational investment. Additionally, students at ECU Joondalup and ECU City benefit from free CAT bus services and significant student discounts on the Transperth rail network, further lowering monthly expenses.

ECU’s Regional Advantage

While Perth is a thriving state capital, the Australian Government classifies it as a Category 2 Major Regional Centre. Just as universities in Adelaide, this status of Perth gives ECU graduates a significant edge over those in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane.

• Lower Living Costs: The cost of living in Perth remains significantly lower than on the East Coast. Rent in suburbs like Joondalup is 30–40% cheaper than comparable areas in Sydney.
• Extended Stay (Subclass 485): Graduates from ECU’s Perth campuses, Joondalup and ECU City, are eligible for an additional 1 year of post-study work rights. Those at the Southwest Bunbury Campus (Category 3) may be eligible for an additional 2 years.
• PR Pathway Bonus: Studying at ECU allows you to claim an extra 5 points toward your Skilled Migration points test, which helps in the PR visa process.
• Full Work Rights for Spouses: Master's and PhD students at ECU benefit from full work rights for their partners, which is a major financial boost for families, especially with WA's high-demand FIFO (Fly-In-Fly-Out) sectors.

Longer Stay-Back Period for ECU Graduates

Note on Age Limits: As of the latest 2026 migration updates, the age limit for the Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 visa is 35 years for most applicants, with exceptions for PhD and Master's by Research graduates.

With ECU’s Joondalup or city campuses automatically granting you an extra year of work rights and 5 bonus points toward your Permanent Residency, don't leave your migration strategy to chance. Get a FREE PR Pathway Audit from our experts to see how Perth’s Category 2 Regional status can maximise your Australian PR Points at ECU and fast-track your future.

ECU State-of-the-Art, Industry-Standard Campuses

Nothing like a variety of choices when trying to pick the perfect location. With 3 campuses in Western Australia and one in Sri Lanka, ECU offers modern and vibrant locations for students to study and learn.

#1 Joondalup Campus: This campus is the university's headquarters and boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including a health and wellness building, a multi-million-dollar sport and fitness centre, an award-winning library and student hub, an outdoor cinema for summer months, and incredible on-campus housing.

#2 ECU City Campus: The ECU City Campus is located in the heart of Perth Central Business District (Perth CBD) and is integrated with the Perth Busport. It is a transformative project, whose official opening is a part of the Perth City Deal. Located on James Street, the campus serves as a hub for Performing Arts (WAAPA), Creative Industries, and Business and Law, bringing 10,000 students and staff to the city centre.

#3 Southwest Campus: Located two hours away from the south of Perth, the Southwest Campus, Bunbury, is within easy reach of the world-famous Margaret River region. The Campus is the largest university campus outside the metropolitan area and features modern facilities, small class sizes, a comprehensive range of courses, and on-campus accommodation.

#4 Sri Lanka Campus: ECU recently established its first full offshore campus in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It offers complete Australian degrees locally in fields like Cybersecurity and Biomedical Science. It grants a Sri Lanka Undergraduate Scholarship, offering 10% reduction in tuition fees for the first year Sri Lankan citizens enrolling at the Colombo campus.

Student accommodation is available on all three campuses in the student villages. Everything you would require is within walking distance and also easily accessible by public transport.

ECU Australia Teaching Schools

ECU is organised into 10 teaching schools, with each school responsible for ongoing research programmes. Clearly, they have something in store for everyone, irrespective of their passions and interests.

Did You Know?
ECU is home to the world-renowned Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, the oldest and most popular School of Education in Western Australia, the largest Nursing programmes in the State, and Kurongkurl Katitjin, their Centre for Australian Indigenous Education and Research.

Work-Integrated (WIL) Learning at ECU

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is a learning experience that allows students to develop their skills in the workplace. What it lets you do is apply the knowledge and practical skills you develop in the classroom to a professional environment relevant to your area of study. This is a compulsory module and is aimed at making sure that you are future-ready.

ECU Australia offers two common types of placements for students doing work-integrated learning.

#1 Unpaid Placements: Here, students complete a 450-hour unpaid placement (full-time for 12 weeks, or a part-time equivalent). During this time, students become fully integrated into the workplace and complete projects that demonstrate meaningful placement outcomes. Any part-time work must be worked around the WIL placement. Students completing an unpaid placement are fully covered by university insurance for the duration of their placement.

#2 Paid Placements: Paid placements, including scholarships, Summer Vacation programmes, and internship opportunities offered by large companies, are accepted as WIL options if they meet the 450-hour WIL requirement. The best part? You get to decide and then discuss it with the WIL coordinator to make sure it is compatible before you apply.

Note for Edith Cowan MBA WIL: The School of Business and Law guidelines have shorter 100-hour work placements and 16-week internships (600 hours). Refer to the details below:

• Duration: Minimum of 100 hours in a work setting
• Credit Points: 20-credit point unit
• Nature of Work: Part-time, focusing on projects and tasks that align with MBA learning outcomes
• Sourcing: Placements are secured through the WIL team or via student-initiated, pre-approved networking
• Requirements: Students must follow SBL WIL Guidelines, which may include police clearances or immunisations

With over 250 programmes, choosing the right specialisation in Engineering, Nursing, or Cyber Security is critical for professional accreditation. Our counsellors provide a Zero-Cost Profile Evaluation to match your academic background with ECU’s 5-star rated teaching schools. Sign up now to find the ECU course that matches your career goals.

ECU Scholarships for International Students

Studying in Australia comes with several benefits, and university-specific scholarships are just one of these benefits. If your profile does not match the requirements of other common Australian scholarships, you can apply for these three ECU scholarships for international students.

• International Undergraduate Scholarship: Offers a 20% reduction in tuition fees for the entire duration of the course for students from select countries.
• International Masters Scholarship: Provides a 20% tuition fee reduction for the duration of select Master's degrees.
• Research Excellence (PhD/Master’s by Research): High-achieving research students can apply for fully-funded scholarships that include a stipend of AU $35,000 per year, relocation allowances, and an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
• ECU City Campus Welcome Bursary: A special AU $5,000 bursary for new international students commencing at the new City Campus is paid in two AU $2,500 instalments.
• Sri Lanka Undergraduate Scholarship: This award provides a 10–15% tuition fee reduction for the first year of study at the Colombo campus, specifically for fields like Nursing and Cybersecurity.
• Welcome to ECU Online Scholarship: It offers a 30% deduction on tuition fees for students studying off-campus.

All these scholarships not only help students boost their confidence and perform better in a demanding environment but also bear the high costs of studying in Australia.

From the 20% International Masters Scholarship to the special AU $5,000 ECU City Campus Welcome Bursary, we help you find every dollar available to lower your tuition. Secure your financial roadmap and find out how to meet the AU $29,710 living expense requirement for the student visa.

Top ECU Facilities for International Students

No matter which campus you are studying at, or even if you are studying online, ECU offers a variety of great facilities to make sure you have the best cultural and college life in Australia. Apart from the cafes, taverns, ATMs, bookshops, gyms, sports centres, and libraries, you will find heaps of useful services, as well.

• Wireless Networks: Available on all campuses; multimedia equipment can be borrowed through the campus multimedia centres
• Computing Facilities: On-campus 24/7 e-Labs for PC and Mac users, with the latest software
• Software for Home Use: Software for home use through licence agreements negotiated on behalf of students
• Security: Security officers are available on campus 24/7 to assist and protect students, visitors, and staff
• Student Guild: Run by ECU students and provides academic, social, and financial assistance, organises events, supports student clubs, and offers member discounts
• Student Accommodation: Low-cost on-campus housing, with easy access and low transportation costs

Here are a few more reasons why ECU is the university for you:

• You can join a Quidditch Club.
• You can practice Law in a Moot Court.
• You can solve crimes in a Forensics Simulation Centre.
• There's a Broadcast Studio produced entirely by students.
• You can be a Paramedic in Virtual Reality.

Choosing Edith Cowan University (ECU) means stepping into the most modern educational environment in Australia. With the landmark ECU City Campus now welcoming its first cohorts, students are part of Perth’s professional heartbeat. From the world-class stages of WAAPA to the high-tech labs of Joondalup, ECU offers a perfect blend of theory and industry-integrated practice.

Ready to join the next generation of ECU graduates? From selecting the right course to navigating your Australian Student Visa and securing the latest scholarships, our expert counsellors are here to help. Register and take the first step toward your Australian future.