Creative thinkers perform here. They compose here. They build and design here. We're one of the world's leading performing arts academies. And no matter how talented you might be already, we'll challenge you to become even better. Because we know that creativity has no limits.
Includes best ranking for undergraduate teaching quality, skills development, learning resources and student support.
QILT is an independent Australian government survey.
ECU is one of the best unis in Australia for teaching. We've had 17 straight years of 5-star ratings in the Good Universities Guide to prove it!
Our postgraduate students have rated us 5 stars for their overall experience in the latest Good Universities Guide. More 5-star ratings included: skills development, student support and teaching quality.
We're ranked one of the world's best universities under 50 years old, and we've already established a global reputation for such a young institution.
In extremely competitive fields, the employment record of WAAPA graduates is outstanding and well-attuned to the needs of the industry.
WAAPA designers, arts management and production graduates are highly sought after, and many hold influential positions across performing arts companies, festivals, venues, film, television, major events, arts organisations and teaching institutions.
At WAAPA you can choose a degree specialising in a particular area, such as a Bachelor of Arts (Acting) or a Bachelor of Arts (Arts Management).
In some cases you can choose a specialisation within a degree. For example, you can specialise in Classical Vocal, Classical Instrumental, Composition and Music Technology, Jazz or Contemporary Music within a Bachelor of Music degree.
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If you already know what you're interested in, choose a discipline.
Our future student events include a mix of on-campus and online sessions designed to help you decide what to study at ECU.
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Experience Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at ECU.
Scholarships recognise those whose life journey may have been challenging, as well as students who've shown outstanding academic excellence and endeavour.
A scholarship can help you realise your ambitions by paying for fees, text books and living expenses.
Just two years after finishing his WAAPA training, Production & Design graduate Christian Peterson is now touring the world as a sound engineer with Cirque du Soleil.
After graduating, Christian worked full-time as a sound technician on festivals, concerts and theatre shows in Perth and around Australia. After scoring a gig on the Perth leg of the Cirque du Soleil show, Kooza he was offered the tour of Australia, New Zealand and Dubai with the Cirque show, Toruk.
Christian then spent several months in Montreal, Canada – where Cirque is based – designing and building the arena version of Corteo. He is currently touring North America with Corteo. Nice work we say!
Do you have any questions about the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts study area?
WAAPA Aboriginal Performance graduate
WAAPA really prepared me for the industry in every way possible
I really fell in love with theatre and the process of making it when I was at WAAPA and from pretty early on knew that I wanted to do it for the rest of my life.
I enjoyed the hard work every day and the shows I saw at WAAPA are still some of my favourite pieces of theatre I've ever seen. WAAPA really prepared me for the industry in every way possible.
WAAPA Music Theatre graduate
The WAAPA Musical Theatre course was an unbelievable launching pad for me and my fellow class mates into this crazy industry we call the performing arts
One of the many invaluable opportunities we were given, and a personal highlight for me, was working with professional creatives (choreographers, directors and writers).
Even at the end of a sweaty fourteen-hour day – that could have possibly included a keyboard spot test, a high stakes scene presentation, a song repertoire performance, show choreography rehearsal, a ballet class and a costume parade – WAAPA was constantly buzzing with passion and was an amazing place to study for three years.
Things you should know about if you're thinking about studying here.
There's more than one admission pathway into an ECU course. It depends on what you've studied already, or your work or life experience.
Course tuition fees can change, but we can give you an estimate of your costs. If you're eligible, a scholarship or student loan can help too.
Applying for a course is a fairly simple process, especially if you have scanned copies of qualifications, your resume or other paperwork, ready to upload.
Starting a course is an exciting and sometimes daunting time, so we make a massive effort to ensure you get all the support you need to have a positive experience.