Welcome to ECU
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Edith Cowan University.
At ECU we are guided by our values of integrity, respect, rational inquiry and personal excellence. Our focus on teaching and research is inspired by engagement and partnerships with those in the many communities we were established to serve.
Research at ECU extends knowledge and improves the quality of life for Australians and people across the globe. Our research priorities focus on solving real world problems across social, economic, physical and environmental domains.
Established in 1991, ECU has grown rapidly into a quality university with excellent student satisfaction and internationally recognised research.
Students and graduates at ECU are amongst the best in the world, with many fulfilling crucial roles in our society. Their outstanding achievements have been recognised throughout Australia and internationally through awards, grants, scholarships and prizes.
ECU is committed to widening participation and breaking down barriers that restrict entry to education, and we are continuing our work on the enhancement and development of alternative entry pathways to higher education.
We are a university that values diversity and this is exemplified by our multicultural student cohort spanning a wide range of ages. We also support gender equality and ECU is advancing this commitment through our membership of the Athena SWAN Charter in Australia.
About ECU
Edith Cowan University (ECU) provides the ideal learning environment for people who want to reach their potential.
Located in Western Australia, our industry-relevant teaching and research, supportive study environment and award-winning facilities enable ECU students to do more than just survive in this world – they thrive in it.
Established in 1991, ECU took the opportunity to reshape the way higher education is delivered in a distinctive and inspiring campus environment.
ECU courses are developed in consultation with industry, and teaching staff have extensive industry experience and networks. It’s why ECU students can expect placement opportunities, fieldwork, practicums and networking events as part of their studies.
This approach has been rewarded with five-star ratings for teaching quality over the past thirteen years, along with consistently high ratings for overall education experience and skills development, as reported in the Good Universities Guide.
ECU’s world-class research strives to make a difference to the community in Western Australia and beyond. ECU focuses on working with our communities, business and government organisations to solve real-world problems.
The University was named after Edith Dircksey Cowan, the first woman to be elected to an Australian Parliament. Her life was dedicated to the belief that education was the key to growth, change and improvement in society.
Her example informs ECU’s values as we pride ourselves in developing capable graduates who lead engaged and productive lives in the communities in which they live and work.
At a glance
ECU has more than 30,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students. We annually welcome more than 6,000 international students, originating from over 100 countries.
Our eight Schools collectively deliver more than 250 diverse courses across Medical & Health Sciences, Engineering, Education, Arts & Humanities, Business & Law, Nursing & Midwifery, Science and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Courses are offered on our three campuses – Joondalup and Mount Lawley in metropolitan Perth and the South West Campus at Bunbury, 200km south of the capital city. ECU also offers a comprehensive suite of online study options.
ECU incorporates the world-renowned Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, the oldest and most popular School of Education in Western Australia, the largest Nursing program in the State, and Kurongkurl Katitjin, our Centre for Australian Indigenous Education and Research.