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ECU Experience

Starting a degree or adding to your qualifications is an exciting and sometimes daunting time. It's why we make a massive effort to ensure you get all the support you need to have a positive experience – on or off campus.

Creative thinkers made here.
Creative thinkers made here.
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Student Support Services

ECU is always rated one of Australia's best universities by past students who've experienced our commitment to supporting them through their time here. We've got your back anytime you need us.

Learning & career support

Learning advisers

Learning advisers assist with developing your study skills and can answer study questions like:

  • How do I keep up with all the reading?
  • What should I be doing with my lecture notes?
  • How do I know if I'm plagiarising?
  • What makes a good university essay or assignment?
  • How do I reference?

Peer mentors

Peer mentors help new students build social and academic networks so they settle more quickly into uni life.

Mentoring groups are led by later-year student volunteers who are trained mentors.

Careers & Employability Services

Careers & Employability Services provides free, professional career counselling and job search support. They'll help you find employment and work experience opportunities while studying, as well as plan your transition from uni to working life.

Personal support

Access and Inclusion

Access and Inclusion provide a free, confidential service for students with a disability and/or medical condition, either permanent or temporary, and can help make uni life a better experience.

Student Health Services

Student Health Services provide general practitioner, nurse and allied health services to Joondalup and Mount Lawley-based students, including:

  • sports medicine
  • pre-employment medicals
  • vaccinations and immunisations
  • contraception advice and pregnancy testing
  • blood tests
  • physiotherapy (Mount Lawley only)

Student Counselling Service

The Counselling Service is a free and confidential service offering:

  • a safe place with someone who will listen
  • qualified counsellors to help and support you
  • assistance for a wide range of challenges
  • care and support in times of uncertainty, crisis and loss

Campuses

We have three campuses in Western Australia, each offering a modern, vibrant location for study and learning. We're also committed to maintaining our environments by reducing our footprint and encouraging the achievement of a sustainable community.

Explore your options through the following media

View our facilities

Campus services

No matter which campus you study at – or even if you're studying online – you'll find great facilities to enhance your uni experience. Apart from cafes, taverns, ATMs, bookshops, gyms and sports centres and libraries, you'll find loads more useful services.

Childcare centres

Childcare centres on or near Joondalup, Mount Lawley or South West campuses, catering for children from 0-5 years.

Wireless networks

Wireless networks are available on all campuses.

Multimedia equipment

Multimedia equipment you can borrow through campus multimedia centres.

Computing facilities

On-campus computing 24/7 e-Labs for PC and Mac users, with the latest software.

Software for home use

Software for home use through license agreements we've negotiated on behalf of students.

Security

Security officers are available on campus 24/7 to assist and protect students, visitors and staff.

Student guild

The Student Guild is run by ECU students and provides academic, social and financial assistance, organises events, supports student clubs, and offers member discounts.

Find out more
ECU student guild logo

Getting to campus

Lots of students choose to drive to a campus, but this gets tricky at times, especially when the carparks fill up. So, we encourage everyone to think about sustainable transport for travel to and from campus. Fortunately, we're easily accessible by public transport and have facilities for bike riders too.

Student concession for public transport

If you're enrolled as a full-time student at ECU, you'll qualify for a Transperth student concession. To make things easier, you can have a Transperth SmartRider card combined with your ECU Student ID card.

Parking on campus

As a student, you must display a valid parking permit or a valid metered parking ticket when you park on university grounds on weekdays, between the hours of 7:00am and 5:00pm.

Student accommodation

Student villages

Accommodation is available at student villages on our Joondalup, Mount Lawley and South West (Bunbury) campuses.

Shops and sport and recreation facilities are within walking distance of the villages, or easily accessible by public transport.

For more information, visit the ECU Village website.

Off-campus accommodation

If you'd prefer to live off-campus, you should explore Perth rental properties at the REIWA or Domain websites.

Alternatively, you can live in a private home with a Western Australian family through the Australian Homestay Network.

Read our student accommodation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

International Students

Living & Study

If you've accepted our offer to study in Perth, Western Australia, and you're able to make Perth your home when travel restrictions return to 'normal', here's some information you might find useful.

Can I drive with my international licence in Western Australia?

You can drive the same vehicles that you are authorised to drive on your overseas licence, for as long as it remains valid in the country of issue. If your licence ceases to be valid, you must apply for a WA licence to continue driving.

Connect with communities in Perth

Perth is a multi-cultural city, home to a vast array of ethnic groups and cultural activities. For information about clubs, associations, religious groups, and other organisations relating to your home country, view the WA Governments multicultural network webpage.

Arranging schooling for your children

In Western Australia, the children of international students must be enrolled in approved government or non-government schools, registered by the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Read more about Dependant Schooling in Western Australia

Prepare to travel

In 'normal times' we recommend you arrive at least 2-3 weeks before the start of your classes so you can attend Orientation. However, we recommend you check the latest government advice about borders and timing, including quarantine requirements before travelling.

Things to bring to Australia

Here are some of the important things to remember to bring

  • Your passport, birth certificate, driver's license, medical records and other key documents, including ECU communications.
  • Your phone and laptop or other devices like a power converter
  • Clothes for warm weather and mild winters
  • Your sense of humour and adventurous spirit!

Things you shouldn't bring to Australia

Australia's quarantine regulations are very strict and many foodstuffs, plants, animal products, weapons and some medicines can't be imported here.

You'll be required to declare such items on the incoming passenger card on your flight to Australia. Failure to declare any of these restricted items could lead to on-the-spot fines or even prosecution.

For more information, see the Australian Government's advice for travelling to Australia.

At the airport

If you're moving to Perth to study at ECU, you can register for our Airport Arrival Service where we arrange for someone to meet you at the airport and take you to your accommodation. The service is free for international students and for domestic students moving from interstate.

How to enjoy uni life

Be organised

Being successful at uni is as much about being organised as it is about being intelligent.

Manage your time with a study pattern that helps you get to lectures/tutorials and submit your assignments on time.

Ask for help

Don't be put off by any early struggles. Talk to your lecturers, tutors, learning advisers or any of our other 'supporters'. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Meet people and do stuff

Don't be a stranger. Join a club or society. Attend everything you can, not just lectures and tutorials, but forums and other school activities.

Find a balance

Uni life is all about balance. You need to find that place between 'party animal' and 'full-on student' that suits you best.

The Important Things

Things you should know about if you're thinking about studying here.

Course Entry

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.

Fees & Scholarships

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

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.

ECU Experience

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.