About ECU

Edith Cowan University (ECU) is located in Perth, Western Australia, a gateway to many cities in Asia, Africa and Europe.

The University's international enrolments exceed 3,000 with students originating from more than 90 countries.

Named in honour of Edith Dircksey Cowan, the first woman elected to an Australian Parliament in 1912, ECU is a responsive and forward-thinking institution and an Australian leader in the provision of professionally focussed degree programs.

ECU's origins go back to 1902 when it began as a teacher training college. Today it is Western Australia's second largest university with approximately 23,000 students.

As the modern descendant of the first higher education institution in Western Australia, ECU upholds a well-deserved reputation for teaching excellence that dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century. One of the larger universities in Australia, it has four campuses, each with its own identity and history, up-to-the-minute learning resources, and a wide range of leading edge degree programs.

More than 330 courses are offered through the four faculties: Business and Law; Computing, Health and Science; Education and Arts, which incorporates the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts; and the Faculty of Regional Professional Studies.

Each year, an average of 4,000 students graduate with many entering professional careers in Australia or internationally, or continuing with further studies.

ECU International perspective

ECU’s International Mission is to be a leading provider of international education and training to individuals and groups, with an emphasis on accessibility, innovation, quality, flexibility and service. Edith Cowan University’s strategic location in Perth - Australia’s western gateway to Asia, the Indian Ocean, Africa and Europe, has resulted in the development of a strong focus on international activities. These include: offshore delivery of a range of courses with partner institutions; student and staff exchange programs with universities around the world; joint research activities; international consultancies; and individual academic links. Some 1,800 international students from over 30 countries choose to study at ECU and the university is committed to ongoing internationalisation of curricula and learning experiences for all students.

ECU is also an active member of various international university networks, such as the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the International Association of Universities, the Commonwealth Universities Study Abroad Consortium, and other multilateral student exchange programs such as UMAP (University Mobility in the Asia and Pacific). ECU also plays a leading role in the AEN (Australian European Network), and UTRECHT Exchange program.