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.
Includes best ranking for undergraduate teaching quality, skills development, learning resources and student support.
QILT is an independent Australian government survey.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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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If you already know what you're interested in, choose a discipline.
Our future student events include a mix of on-campus and online sessions designed to help you decide what to study at ECU.
If you prefer paper over pixels, please download one of our guides.
Experience Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at ECU.
Music Auditorium
'The Edith' Spiegeltent
Roundhouse Theatre
Props and Scenery Workshop
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.
Just two years after finishing his WAAPA training, Production & Design graduate Christian Peterson is now touring the world as a sound engineer with Cirque du Soleil.
After graduating, Christian worked full-time as a sound technician on festivals, concerts and theatre shows in Perth and around Australia. After scoring a gig on the Perth leg of the Cirque du Soleil show, Kooza he was offered the tour of Australia, New Zealand and Dubai with the Cirque show, Toruk.
Christian then spent several months in Montreal, Canada – where Cirque is based – designing and building the arena version of Corteo. He is currently touring North America with Corteo. Nice work we say!
Do you have any questions about the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts study area?
The highlight of my WAAPA experience was working on shows; they're all student run, so students can 'take it and make it yours'
I really enjoy the mix of creative and technical work that's involved in sound engineering. Some days I'm behind the console mixing a show, and other days I'm rigging the speakers, making cables and loading trucks. Sound is very subjective and we all respond to it differently; if an audience walks away applauding and happy, then that makes it all worth it.
Luckily, I'm now working with Cirque du Soleil, surrounded by a great team, with people from all around the world!
The Bachelor of Performing Arts has given me the skills to maintain, develop and practice as an independent artist
The Bachelor of Performing Arts is the type of course that doesn't confine you to one specific artistic form. Instead it opens doors and windows to numerous forms of performance art and how it exists in the world, broadening your own horizons of how you can be a part of it.
It has let me experience what was once unknown practices such as the Suzuki Training Method and Butoh, it has even taken me to Singapore to train with many different cultures from all around the world at ITI. But most importantly, it has taught me what it truly means to be an artist.
Things you should know about if you're thinking about studying here.
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.
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 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.
