At ECU, we help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities to achieve their dreams and aspirations through further education. We'll assist you with choosing a university entry pathway and with understanding and adapting to your new university life.
Creative thinkers made here.
Creative thinkers made here.
Why ECU?
Pathways
There are a few different ways you can enter university. Whether you didn't get the ATAR score you were aiming for, or you've completed other qualifications, or even if it's been a few years since you've studied, you have some options.
Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment
The Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment (AURA) used to be known as the Aboriginal Student Intake Test (ASIT). It allows someone who has completed a Certificate II or lower to be considered for university entry.
It includes a self-assessment of your skills, knowledge and lifestyle to enable you to make informed decisions about entering university and thriving here as a student.
If you haven't completed at least a Certificate III qualification, AURA may be the simplest way for you to gain entry to enabling or undergraduate study.
Another option for students is one of our bridging courses called UniPrep – short for University Preparation.
UniPrep comes in a few flavours – some are short, intensive courses, while others take longer to complete.
Whichever one you choose, if you complete it successfully, you'll be ready to apply for entry to a whole range of undergraduate courses across our eight study areas.
If you'd like to chat about your pathway options, please email us at: kk@ecu.edu.au
What can you study here?
To help our students with a career direction, we group similar fields of work into study areas.
Within each study area below you can choose an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. And within most degree courses, you can choose your speciality, or major subject.
As an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student you may be eligible for different kinds of Government or ECU student loans. The Aboriginal Tutorial and Mentoring Program also covers the cost of a tutor to help you with academic and study skills assistance.
You could also be eligible for a scholarship to help with the costs of studying.
Commonwealth Scholarships
For example, there are different kinds of Commonwealth Scholarships that cover higher education costs:
The Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship
The Indigenous Enabling Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship
And some provide additional financial support if you're from a rural or remote area:
The Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship
The Indigenous Enabling Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship
ECU's Centre for Indigenous Australian Education and Research, Kurongkurl Katitjin provides support services and programs to help meet the academic and cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. These include:
Dedicated Student Success Officers
Nala Karla Student Rooms and facilities
Tutorial Assistance
Elder-in-Residence Program
Student stories
My ECU studies have taught me that hard work pays off
My study experience has been amazing and I am grateful for the connections I have built with friends from my futsal team, who I now consider my family.
I first began my journey with ECU through the Indigenous University Orientation Course. This pathway gave me the guidance and time to help me pick a career I am passionate about.
The lecturers offer great support and will always do their best to help you out when you need.
My ECU studies have taught me that hard work pays off and I am proving that more and more each semester, as I get closer to the end of my studies.
ECU offers a high level of support for my studies
The skills I have developed throughout my time at ECU have been invaluable. I was fortunate enough to complete an internship within the ECU's Corporate Marketing and Events Team, which gave me the opportunity to apply my learnings from my studies in a real world environment.
Balancing family, work and study has been the biggest obstacle during my studies, however ECU offers a high level of support to enable me to keep pursuing my studies and move forward with a smile on my face.
The Important Things
Things you should know about if you're thinking about studying here.
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.