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Performing Arts

See yourself on the stage? Why not build on your creative skills at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, one of the world's leading performing arts academies? WAAPA is recognised nationally and internationally for the quality of its acting, dance music theatre and music graduates. Your audition awaits.

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Creative thinkers made here.
Creative thinkers made here.

Why ECU?

  • QILT logo

    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 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

WAAPA provides world-class teaching, concert facilities and performance opportunities for aspiring professionals in acting, dance, classical, jazz or contemporary music, and musical theatre.

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 Performing Arts at ECU.

Explore your options

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

  • "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."

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

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

  • 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 Performing Arts study discipline?

Student stories

  • Mariah O'Dea

    Mariah O'Dea

    WAAPA Performing Arts graduate

    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.

  • Melissa Fitzgerald

    Melissa Fitzgerald

    Bachelor of Music (Classical Performance - Instrumental) graduate & PhD candidate

    Studying classical guitar at WAAPA is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences

    I began my studies as a timid girl with much to learn, but found quickly that being surrounded by passionate staff and students every day created an excellent environment for learning and developing my craft. All of the classes helped to further my development as a musician, however for me, the highlight was my individual tuition, workshop classes, and frequent performance opportunities as they really helped me to grow in confidence and gain experience as a performer.

  • Evelyn Roberts

    Evelyn Roberts

    Bachelor of Arts (Dance) student

    WAAPA has been such a fantastic institution for me to study at

    Being able to complete a Diploma, then an Advanced Diploma, and then articulate into a Bachelor of Arts (Dance) is just amazing. The dance faculty is outstanding and staff are really helpful in guiding everyone on their own individual journey. For example, they gave me their whole-hearted support in entering me in the Genée International Ballet Competition last year, leading to my selection as a finalist to perform at the Sydney Opera House.

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.