About ECU

Edith Cowan University (ECU) is where creative thinkers are made.

Located in Western Australia, our dedication to providing industry-relevant teaching and research, supportive student experiences and award-winning facilities enable ECU students to think outside of the box, to use creativity to tackle challenges and seize opportunities.

Since 1991, ECU has reshaped the way higher education is delivered.

Our courses are developed in consultation with industry and our teaching staff bring extensive knowledge and networks to engage and inspire students. Work integrated learning placements, fieldwork, practicums, and networking events are just a few of the opportunities students can expect as part of their ECU journey.

ECU's higher education delivery approach has been rewarded with five-star ratings for undergraduate teaching quality for the past 17 consecutive years, with top ratings for overall experience, learning resources, skills development, and student support, in the Good Universities Guide, Australia's largest course comparison website.

World-class research

ECU's world-class research delivers meaningful real-world impact and solutions to some of our greatest global challenges. ECU works closely with local communities and industry partners to provide our students with the best opportunities to gain the sought-after skills that will enable them to flourish beyond study.

Honour her name

The University is immensely proud to be named in honour of Edith Dircksey Cowan OBE.  A university named in her honour is a fitting tribute to an inspirational woman with a pioneering spirit who dedicated her life to the belief that education was the key to growth, change and improvement in society.

While Edith Cowan is most famously known as the first woman to be elected to an Australian parliament, making her one of the first women to be elected to a British parliament in the world, this was only one of many outstanding contributions she made to our State.

The University has embraced Edith's values of inclusion and equity which are honoured in many ways throughout the fabric of the University. ECU is now 'home' to Edith's former family home, which has been reconstructed, refurbished and sits proudly overlooking the lake on the Joondalup Campus.

ECU leads by Edith Cowan's example, as we pride ourselves in producing capable graduates who can think creatively, ask the right questions, and develop solutions to improve the communities in which they live and work.

At a glance

ECU has more than 30,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, including international students from 100 countries.

Our eight schools collectively deliver a diverse range of courses across arts and humanities, business and law, education, engineering, medical and health sciences, nursing and midwifery, science and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Courses are offered on our three campuses – ECU Joondalup and ECU Mount Lawley in metropolitan Perth and ECU South West in Bunbury, 200km south of the capital city. ECU also offers a comprehensive suite of online study options.

ECU incorporates the oldest and most popular School of Education in Western Australia, the largest Nursing program in the State, Kurongkurl Katitjin, our Centre for Australian Indigenous Education and Research, and the world-renowned Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts,.

Excitingly, coming to the heart of Perth in late 2025 is ECU City. This Perth city centred campus will be a place where technology, industry and creativity meet to deliver the creative thinkers, adaptive learners and global citizens who our world so desperately needs as the leaders of tomorrow.