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Study Abroad and Student Exchange

A perfect way for international students to experience Australia. You'll study and live in sunny Perth for up to a year, immersing yourself in the Western Australian culture and enjoying the fabulous facilities and legendary student support we offer at ECU.

Why study at ECU?

  • QILT - Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching

    A great student experience

    As an ECU undergraduate, you can expect the best overall student experience of any of the 38 public universities in Australia. More about QILT.

  • The Good Universities Guide - teaching quality

    The highest quality teaching

    ECU is one of the best unis in Australia for teaching. We've had 18 straight years of 5-star ratings in the Good Universities Guide to prove it!

  • 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.

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Study Abroad at ECU

Group of students sitting on a pier Group of students sitting on a pier

How it Works

You can study for one or two semesters in the Study Abroad program. If you are currently studying at an institution overseas and plan to return to it after your time abroad, make sure you chat to them about your plans at ECU. They can let you know if your studies will count as credit towards your degree.

At ECU, individual subjects are called 'units'. We have 100s to choose from! As part of your program, you can nominate to study 3-4 units in one semester or 6-8 units in two semesters. This includes undergraduate or postgraduate studies. You can study units from different schools to get a taste of different subject areas and disciplines.

There are four simple ways to search for units:

Help with choosing units

We want to help you create an unforgettable study experience in Australia, so chat to us today about the best selection of units to match your study goal.

Useful Tip

The ECU Handbook is a great place to review units. You can read an outline and see if it has a prerequisite. A prerequisite is a rule that you must meet before you can enrol in that unit. This might be prior learning at university level or completion of a specific ECU unit.

Download a guide

If you prefer paper over pixels, please download our Study Abroad guide.

Study Abroad course guide

Course Entry

To be eligible for Study Abroad you will need to meet English and Academic entry requirements.

English Requirements (undergraduate and postgraduate)

You will need an Academic IELTS overall minimum band score of 6.0, with no individual band less than 6.0.

For equivalent tests, please review the English Competency page.

Note: You may satisfy English if you have completed 0.375 equivalent full-time study load (EFTSL) of your university degree in English and are from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden or Switzerland.

Alternatively, if your home university can provide a letter confirming that you have a CEFR level of B2 or above, this will be accepted.

Please contact us directly for details.

The Study Abroad program can also be packaged with English through one of our pathway providers. This page lists our English language providers.

Academic Undergraduate Entry (Band 3)

Admission may be satisfied through the completion of secondary schooling in your home country. To check eligibility, visit our Secondary School Results page and select your country.

If you have an Australian Qualifications Framework qualification, or have successfully completed 0.25 equivalent full-time study load (EFTSL) at a Bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent) you may also satisfy undergraduate entry requirements.

Postgraduate Entry

Admission may be satisfied through the completion of a Bachelor (undergraduate) degree or higher.

Further information on academic admission can be found on the Course Entry page.

Important: List all the units you plan to study because we will assess your unit eligibility and course eligibility at the same time.

Useful Tip

Wondering if your Study Abroad semester might count as credit towards a degree at ECU? It is certainly possible. Check out our Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning page for more details. You can also start looking at degrees and entry requirements in Course Entry.

How to apply

You can apply online via the application portal. Simply create an account and select 'Apply for other program' located in the bottom right-hand corner. You will need to have your course code, the unit codes and application documents. For equivalent tests, please review the English Competency page.

Note: You can scan your application documents to your computer or USB in advance, so they are easy to access. This can include academic transcripts, completion certificates, passport, etc.

Here are the course codes for Study Abroad:

  • X01 Study Abroad Undergraduate One Semester
  • X17 Study Abroad Undergraduate Two Semesters
  • X02 Study Abroad Postgraduate One Semester
  • X18 Study Abroad Postgraduate Two Semesters

Once you have chosen your course, you will be asked to list the unit codes you plan to study in your one or two semesters at ECU. Please include the code and the name. For example, ACC1100 Accounting I.

Save time with a chat

A great way to save time on the application assessment is to chat to ECU staff. Contact us today at international.office@ecu.edu.au to arrange a time to chat in person, on the phone or online.

You can also speak to an ECU Authorised Representative (Agent). They can help you review things like prerequisites, availability, etc. That way, you’ll know you have chosen a good set of units and there will be fewer delays.

Useful Tip

Make sure you review the Important Dates page so you can submit your application on time.

Study Abroad Fees

The cost of Study Abroad at ECU depends on the number of credit points and semesters you study, along with the fee group. In 2025:

Fee Group A

This includes 100s of units from disciplines in Arts, Business, Computing, Design, Economics, Education, Humanities, Law, Mathematics, Science (non lab-based) and Social Science.

  • 45 credit points (3 units): $5,895 AUD
  • 60 credit points (4 units): $7,860 AUD

Fee Group B

This includes a special selection of units in the disciplines of Engineering, Nursing, Paramedicine and Science (lab-based).

  • 45 credit points (3 units): $8,775 AUD
  • 60 credit points (4 units): $11,700 AUD

How to calculate your fee

To calculate the cost of your preferred units for study abroad, use our fee calculator tool.

Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Select 'International Onshore Student' and your preferred study level.
  2. Select 'unit' in the drop down.
  3. Under 'Summary of your selection', click 'Study level' and select 'Study Abroad'.
  4. Search for the units you would like to study, using the unit name or code.

Useful Tip

Do you want to do exchange with ECU? Find out whether your university is an ECU partner.

Student Exchange

Our exchange program is open to students from one of our many partner institutions around the world. As an exchange student, your ECU tuition fees will be waived and you will continue to pay tuition fees to your home institution. It is an exciting opportunity to earn credit towards your degree, while experiencing a new culture and lifestyle.

Students taking a selfie in front of ECU Joondalup Campus Students taking a selfie in front of ECU Joondalup Campus

Nominations

Your home university will nominate you to ECU to apply for the exchange program. Speak to your home university Student Exchange team about this.

Nomination Deadlines

  • For study in Semester 1 (February to June) – October 31
  • For study in Semester 2 (July to November) – April 30
Female student in ECU Computer Lab Female student in ECU Computer Lab

Partner Universities

Do you want to do exchange with ECU? Find out whether your university is an ECU partner.

Useful Tip

If ECU does not have a partnership with your home university, you can still have an international study experience via the Study Abroad program. Check out the information on this page and consider how the program might work for you.

ECU Experience

Our campuses offer much more than excellent lecture theatres, libraries and cool study spaces. You'll also find a whole range of services to support you through uni, including student accommodation, a medical centre, cafes, gyms and more.

Find out more

Get in touch

We love to hear from our Study Abroad future students. Feel free to contact us today at international.office@ecu.edu.au. We can arrange a time to chat in person, on the phone or online.

You can also speak to an ECU Authorised Representative (Agent). They can help you with your application and your student visa requirements.

Student stories

  • ECU gave me a sense of belonging that I will forever cherish.

    My study experience at ECU was amazing. I always felt encouraged in my studies due to the fantastic student support and my lecturers. The friendships I formed will always have a special place in my heart and contributed to an enjoyable atmosphere on campus.

    Alena Meyer
  • You get the same opportunities as other students to enjoy ECU.

    I will keep pursuing my career after my Study Abroad program. I believe this amazing experience will help my career development.

    Mengdie (Edith) Guo
  • Don't fall in love with WA because, once you leave, it will break your heart.

    Don't neglect your studies, but take advantage of your time in Western Australia; it will be gone before you know it. Cherish the connections you make here. Try new things, and it's OK to be nervous because that feeling won't last long; the people you meet here will treat you like family.

    Riley Gullino

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.