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STEM Study

Three quarters of the jobs in the emerging economy will require critical and creative thinking, problem solving and collaboration, supported by literacy in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM capability.

ECU is a massive supporter of studies in STEM. We offer an exciting range of courses that prepare students for the future by building their STEM skills.

Creative thinkers made here.
Creative thinkers made here.

Why study at ECU?

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Why study STEM subjects?

Three students programming a robot

Skills for the future

As the world of work changes, through automation, globalisation and the explosion in digital technologies, we need to change our skills to match.

Future careers will rely heavily on skills like critical thinking, creativity, cultural awareness, collaboration and problem-solving.

In fact, it's predicted that future workers will spend more than double the time on job tasks that require science, maths and critical thinking than happens today.

This is why STEM is so important.

STEM at ECU

At ECU we offer many courses that develop your skills and knowledge in science, technology, engineering or maths.

We back this up with some of the best facilities in the Southern hemisphere. That includes industry-standard engineering facilities and a purpose-built Science building packed with state-of-the-art laboratories and the latest technology.

Courses

What can you study here?

To help our domestic and international students with a career direction, we group similar fields of work into study areas.

Within the five study areas below you'll find both undergraduate (first degree) and postgraduate courses in the range of STEM fields.

Study courses online

At ECU, we understand that many people have commitments like work and family that can make it hard to get to a campus.

It's why many of our undergraduate and postgraduate courses can be studied online.

Explore your interests

If a STEM course is not your thing, you can always find another ECU study area to match your career aspirations.

Each study area has disciplines you can explore to find your course.

Download a guide

If you prefer paper over pixels, please download one of our guides.

Domestic Students

Undergraduate course guide Postgraduate course finder

International Students

Create your own guide International student guide

Need some help deciding what to study?

Our future student events include a mix of on-campus and online sessions designed to help you decide what to study at ECU.

Creative thinkers start here

Experience STEM at ECU.

View our facilities

Explore your options through the following media

  • Dr Stacey Reinke's research looks at data as the driving force behind understanding biology and disease.

    Jaimee Klaasen chose to study Speech Pathology at ECU because she sees Speech Pathology as an extremely rewarding career path.

    Nursing and Midwifery double degree student Jessica Burgess talks about her ECU experience.

    Luke Brook, PhD (Computer Science) talks about how he's able to study, help raise 4 kids and hold down a job.

    Professor of Occupational and Environmental Health Jacques Oosthuizen is investigating the affects of hazardous chemicals on firefighters.

    Secondary Education (Science) graduate Ellyn Johnson says her studies and practical experience have prepared her so well that she now gets excited every time she's working with kids.

  • Environmental Science and Marine and Biology student Holly Winkle talks about having the flexibility to study across disciplines.

    Bachelor of Computer Science student Mason learnt a lot during his Work Integrated Learning placement and was made to feel like he was part of the team right from the start.

    Applied and Analytical Chemistry student Samantha Ridgway talks about the ease of returning to study as a mature age student.

    Professor of Petroleum Engineering Stefan Iglauer investigates climate change mitigation.

    ECU Engineering graduate Bruna Rocha is now a Graduate Structural Engineer at AECOM, a global engineering company that connects people through roads, bridges, tunnels and transit systems.

Student stories

  • Holly Winkle

    ECU Marine and Freshwater Biology student

    Field experience and flexibility

    Environmental Science and Marine and Biology student Holly Winkle talks about having the flexibility to study across disciplines.

  • Sean Johnson

    ECU Chemical Engineering student

    The lecturers at ECU are very approachable

    Chemical Engineering student Sean Johnson says the first year of Engineering gives you the opportunity to consider which discipline is right for you, and there is the option to change.

    He also talks about the practical nature of assignments in his course, particularly a recent one where he focused on beer brewing, applying his chemical engineering knowledge and process design and criteria to the task.

  • Soumita Kale

    Soumita Kale

    ECU Cyber Security student

    There are fantastic opportunities to learn and grow and it looks great on your resume! 

    One of the things I didn't know before I started my course was the plethora of opportunities ECU provides to students – from networking events to volunteering opportunities. It has been the most valuable aspect for me and helped me get involved with running and attending different workshops to spread knowledge about cyber security and to learn about what it's like working within the industry.

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.