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Course entry

Information about course entry requirements and admission pathways to university for domestic and international students considering study at ECU.

Undergraduate course entry options

There's more than one way to enter an undergraduate course at ECU.

Depending on what you've studied already, or your work or life experience, you have options – we call them admission pathways.

Find yourself below and discover your possible pathway. University, here you come!

Postgraduate course entry options

Our postgraduate courses include Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas, Masters by coursework, Masters by research, and Doctorates.

Postgraduate study is generally available if you have a Bachelors Degree, Bachelors with Honours, or equivalent.

International course entry options

International students have options for studying ECU courses or units, provided entry requirements, including English competency and academic prerequisites, can be met. Our local and international pathway partners can also assist you with qualifying to study an ECU course.

Recent secondary education

  • have completed secondary education* within the previous two years at a school, TAFE or other VET or higher education provider
  • will complete secondary education* this year at a school, TAFE or other VET or higher education provider
  • have other qualifications, such as a Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate
  • have started or completed some VET or higher education study while still at school

* Also applies to equivalent secondary education interstate or overseas.

    • If you have an ATAR, or you're aiming to have one at the end of the year, you may meet our entry requirements for an undergraduate course. You may also be required to have WACE and to satisfy English competency.
    • If your ATAR doesn't meet entry requirements for the course you've chosen, you have some options:
      • If you've attended a school on our ECU Access eligible schools list, your selection rank may be adjusted upwards and you may meet entry requirements for an undergraduate course.
      • Alternatively, you may try our Experience Based Entry Scheme.
      • Or, you can search for another course with a lower ATAR requirement.
    • If you've completed a Diploma or an Advanced Diploma, you may meet our entry requirements for an undergraduate course. You may also be eligible for recognition of prior learning. You may also be eligible for credit and recognition of prior learning.
    • If you've completed a Certificate IV, you may meet our entry requirements for an undergraduate course. You may need to satisfy English competency requirements.
    • If you've completed a Certificate III, you may be eligible for one of our University Preparation courses. We may also ask you to satisfy English competency.
    • If you have no ATAR or VET qualifications, but you've achieved WACE, you may be eligible to apply for an undergraduate course through our Experience Based Entry Scheme. For creative humanities courses, you should consider our Creative Humanities Portfolio Entry.

Work and life experience

  • left secondary education more than two years previously
  • haven't undertaken VET or higher education study since then
  • have professional or work experience that can demonstrate your readiness for higher education
  • have completed non-formal programs that helped you prepare for tertiary education, or programs relevant to a higher education field of study you're interested in

Vocational education and training (VET)

  • enrolled in a VET course at a public TAFE (or other VET provider) since leaving secondary education
  • completed your VET qualification or weren't able to do so
  • have other qualifications, such as a Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate
  • completed a Certificate IV during high school
    • If you've completed a Diploma or an Advanced Diploma, you may meet our entry requirements for an undergraduate course. You may also be eligible for recognition of prior learning. We call this credit and recognition of prior learning.
    • If you weren't able to complete your Diploma or Advanced Diploma, the above could still apply to you. You may need to satisfy our English competency requirements.
    • If you've completed a Certificate IV, you may meet our entry requirements for an undergraduate course. You may need to satisfy our English competency requirements.
    • If you've completed a Certificate III, you may be eligible for one of our University Preparation courses. You may need to satisfy English competency requirements.
    • If you weren't able to complete your Certificate III or IV, you may be eligible for a University Preparation course. You may need to satisfy our English competency requirements.

Higher education student

  • studied a higher education course since leaving secondary education – recently or some time ago
  • studied at a university or through a non-university higher education provider
  • completed a bridging or enabling course delivered by or on behalf of a higher education provider

Other types of applications

The application process is different for some of our creative courses, or if you're intending to study specific units, rather than a full course.

Credit for studies or work experience

Where you've finished related study, you may be awarded credit points towards an ECU course, or substitute some units for others. This is called credit and recognition of prior learning.

If you have at least 5 years relevant professional experience, you may be eligible for entry into a graduate certificate program.

Many courses progress from graduate certificate to master's level in natural stages. We call this 'articulation'.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

We provide support and specialised entry pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Interviews, folios and auditions

For some of our Education, Arts & Humanities or WAAPA courses, you'll be asked to submit a folio of work, or attend an interview and/or audition as part of the admission process.

Inherent requirements for entry to some courses

In some ECU courses, especially those offered by the Schools of Nursing & Midwifery and Education, you must meet our Inherent Requirements. These are the essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate your abilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of those courses or units.

Graduate Certificate

Diversify your skills and knowledge with courses of 3 or 4 units that can be completed in as little as 6 months full-time. Many Grad Certs can be studied online or part-time too.

* Some Grad Certs are available based on your work experience, rather than previous qualifications.

  • Academic Admission requirements

    The minimum requirements include a Bachelor degree or equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional (work) experience.

    You will also need to meet Course Specific requirements.

    View all Graduate Certificate Courses.

Graduate Diploma

A step up from Graduate Certificate, with 8 units and usually 1 year full-time study (or longer part-time). Allows you to study a major in a new field, rather than completing another degree.

* Generally, you can receive credit towards a Grad Dip if you've completed a Grad Cert in the same area.

  • Academic Admission requirements

    The minimum requirements include a Bachelor degree or equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional (work) experience.

    You will also need to meet Course Specific requirements.

    View all Graduate Diploma Courses.

Masters by coursework

A Masters may require up to 2 years full-time study. Part-time and online study options may also be available, depending on the discipline.

* You might gain credit towards a Masters by coursework from similar courses you've completed at Grad Cert or Grad Dip level.

  • Academic Admission requirements

    The minimum requirements include a Bachelor degree or equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional (work) experience.

    You will also need to meet Course Specific requirements.

    View all Masters by coursework Courses.

Masters by research

Research Masters is generally an opportunity to delve deeper into a profession, or to follow a Bachelors degree where a research project or thesis is required.

Masters by research generally takes up to 2 years full-time study, or longer part-time.

  • Academic Admission requirements

    The minimum requirements include a Bachelor degree or equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional (work) experience.

    You will also need to meet Course Specific requirements.

    View all Masters by research Courses.

Doctor of Philosophy

A supervised 4-year full-time research degree, leading to the submission of a thesis or a creative work plus an exegesis (a paper that interprets your creative work).

  • Academic Admission requirements

    • Masters Degree (Research); or
    • Bachelor Honours Degree (First or Upper Second class); or
    • Demonstrated capacity to undertake original PhD-level research.

    English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • IELTS Overall band minimum score of 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0);
    • Bachelor degree from a country specified on the English Proficiency Bands page;
    • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
    • Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience;
    • Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.

    Where applicable, you'll also need to meet any course specific entry requirements.

    View the Doctor of Philosophy course.

Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated)

A new 4-year degree that includes a foundation year of research preparation, followed by up to 3 years of research and the submission of a thesis.

  • Academic Admission requirements

    • Masters Degree (Research); or
    • Masters Degree (Coursework) in a related discipline area; or
    • Masters Degree (Coursework) with 2/3 research component; or
    • Bachelor Honours Degree.

    English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • IELTS Overall band minimum score of 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0);
    • Bachelor degree from a country specified on the English Proficiency Bands page;
    • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
    • Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience;
    • Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.

    Where applicable, you'll also need to meet any course specific entry requirements.

    View the Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated) course.

Professional experience can count

If you don't have a Bachelors degree, but can show that you have at least 5 years professional experience relevant to a study discipline we offer, you can apply for a Graduate Certificate course.

Generally, if you successfully complete a Graduate Certificate you can progress to a Graduate Diploma, and from there, to a Masters by coursework degree.

Many courses progress from Graduate Certificate to Masters level in natural stages. We call this 'articulation'.

Credit for studies or work experience

Where you've finished related study, you may be awarded credit points towards an ECU course, or substitute some units for others. This is called Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning.

If you have qualifications already, you may want to check our CRPL database.

Study in Perth

  • One of the world's most liveable and friendliest cities
  • Australia's highest rated public university for student experience and teaching quality
  • Modern, safe campuses with world-class facilities
  • Diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses

  • Undergraduate entry

    We offer pathway programs to undergraduate study through our partner institutions in Perth. Some also offer courses to improve your English language.

    Check minimum requirements for Secondary School Results and English Competency.

    If you've completed a Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma at a recognised Australian education provider, this may also help you meet minimum entry requirements for an undergraduate course.

    With a Diploma or Advanced Diploma, you could also be eligible for advanced standing.

    Postgraduate entry

    If you have a Bachelors degree or equivalent, or you can show that you have at least 5 years professional experience that's relevant to an ECU course, you can apply for entry to a Masters by coursework or a Masters by research degree.

    Please note that visa restrictions may apply.

    Check the minimum English Competency requirements.

Study Abroad & Exchange

  • Study in Perth for one or two semesters as part of our Study Abroad Program
  • Completed units can count towards your home institution degree
  • Study in Perth on an Exchange Program with an ECU exchange partner university
  • Huge choice of units across eight diverse study areas

  • Study on Exchange

    If your home university has an exchange agreement with ECU, you have the opportunity to study for one or two semesters here and receive credit at your home institution.

    ECU has around 100 exchange partners in 36 countries.

    View our Exchange Partnerships.

    Study Abroad Program

    If your home university doesn't have an exchange agreement with ECU, or is unable to offer you an exchange place here, you can apply as part of our Study Abroad Program.

    Study abroad students pay a set tuition fee and attend ECU full-time for one or two semesters.

    View our Study Abroad program.

Study in your home country

  • Study at one of our overseas partner institutions closer to home
  • Specialised undergraduate and postgraduate courses
  • Transfer to Perth to complete all or part of the course
  • Experience the Australian education system in a familiar environment

  • International partners

    ECU has agreements with international partner institutions that enables the delivery of selected courses and/or units overseas.

    Our current partners are located in China, India, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Singapore.

    If you have completed previous studies, you could also be eligible for advanced standing.

    View available Courses & Locations.

Pathway providers

Successfully completing a pathway program at one of our partner institutions can help you enter some ECU courses. These organisations offer courses that can be visa packaged with ECU courses, leading to a smooth transition from one institution to another.

Edith Cowan College is conveniently located on our Mount Lawley and Joondalup campuses.

Domestic providers
Edith Cowan College Australia (ECC)TAFE International Western AustraliaInternational Institute of Business and Technology Australia (IIBT)
Phoneix AcademyAustralian Professional Skills (APS)Institute of Health and Nursing Australia (IHNA)
Australian Institute of Workplace TrainingKeystone College of Business and TechnologySheridan Institute of Higher Education

ECU Sri Lanka

ECU Sri Lanka

ECU Sri Lanka is one of the only universities in Sri Lanka where you can obtain a full international degree. Whether you choose to study your qualification in Sri Lanka or transition to Australia, ECU offers a seamless pathway to completing your degree and enjoying a truly global experience.

ECU Sri Lanka

Study an ECU course in your home country

ChinaZhejiang Normal University
SingaporePSB Academy
Sri LankaEdith Cowan University - Sri Lanka
VietnamHo Chi Minh City Open University

English language providers

If you don't meet our English language entry requirements, you may consider studying English with one of our package partners.

Perth providers
Edith Cowan College Australia (ECC)International Institute of Business and Technology Australia (IIBT)
Phoenix AcademyPerth International College of English (PICE)
Language Links

The Important Things

Things you should know about if you're thinking about studying here.

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.