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Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

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.

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Creative thinkers made here.
Creative thinkers made here.

Why study at ECU?

  • QILT - Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching

    Top uni in WA for Creative Arts

    Includes best ranking for undergraduate teaching quality, skills development, learning resources and student support.
    QILT is an independent Australian government survey.

  • The Good Universities Guide - teaching quality

    The highest quality teaching

    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!

  • The Good Universities Guide - teaching quality

    A 5-star postgrad experience

    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.

  • THE World University Rankings Top 100 Young

    One of the world's young guns

    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.

Courses

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.

About WAAPA Courses

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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Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts Disciplines

If you already know what you're interested in, choose a discipline.

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.

Download a guide

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

Creative thinkers start here

Experience Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at ECU.

Explore your options through the following media

  • Get an experience you won't find anywhere else in Australia.

  • Our Bachelor of Performing Arts (Performance Making major) prepares self-reliant and entrepreneurial artists to be the initiators of their own work.

  • WAAPA's production of Crazy for You at His Majesty's Theatre in Perth provided opportunities for students Holly Ballam (Stage Management) and Samuel Moloney (Music Theatre) to combine their backstage and on-stage skills under the watchful eye of industry professionals.

  • Our Certificate IV in Aboriginal Performance helps First Nations students refine their performance skills.

  • It takes a skilled and creative team to put on a show. WAAPA is the place to learn the diverse range of disciplines that work together to entertain and enthral an audience.

  • "When you choose to study at WAAPA, you'll be joining one of the world's most celebrated performing arts academies, recognised for the quality of its graduates-turned-stars."

  • Hear from WAAPA Music student Caitlin Malcolm and Tim White, WAAPA's Head of Classical Music about how the Bachelor of Music course prepares students for a career in the music industry.

  • Watch WAAPA's unique interdisciplinary collaboration.

Scholarship opportunities to reduce your expenses

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.

Realise your dream with our scholarships

WAAPA stars are born

Our graduates excel in their chosen professions around the world, confirming WAAPA's well-earned reputation.

Many well-known actors, dancers, musicians and music theatre stars, including Hugh Jackman, Meg Mac, Frances O'Connor, Jai Courtney, William McInnes, Lisa McCune, Lucy Durack, Dacre Montgomery, Emma Matthews, Jamie Oehlers, Eddie Perfect and Tim Minchin have called WAAPA home.

Do you have any questions about the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts study area?

Student stories

  • Nelson Baker

    Nelson Baker

    WAAPA Aboriginal Performance and Diploma of Screen Performance graduate

    The greatest gift WAAPA gave me was confidence

    Knowing what you're doing on set and within yourself with your acting is so important. Of course I have continued to learn so much more on set, but WAAPA gave me really strong foundations to work from. Everything both of these intensive courses offered me, from script-reading to short film work, has helped me so much and allowed me to feel ready for professional work in this amazing industry.

  • James Robertson

    James Robertson

    WAAPA Arts Management graduate

    The Arts Management degree gave me the skills and contacts to form a fantastic career in the arts industry

    In my role as Head of Media and Client Relations at AKA, my team and I formulate strategy and execute end-to-end marketing campaigns for commercial theatre, not-for-profit theatre companies, galleries and museums, major events and a diverse range of other arts and entertainment forms.

    WAAPA set me up to be confident in the industry, no matter what I have ended up working on.

  • Mia Thompson

    Mia Thompson

    WAAPA Dance graduate

    The teachers pushed me further than I believed I could go, they pushed me out of my comfort zone

    WAAPA really helped prepare me for my future as a professional dancer.

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.