Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a leading public university located in Perth, Western Australia, and is celebrated for its strong vocational focus, exceptional graduate employment record, and innovative teaching methods. Named after Edith Dircksey Cowan, the first woman elected to an Australian parliament, the university embodies a commitment to equity, social justice, and impactful community engagement. ECU is structured across three main campuses—Joondalup (the principal and largest campus), Mount Lawley (home to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts—WAAPA), and the Southwest Campus in Bunbury—providing diverse learning environments across metropolitan and regional settings. A key distinguishing feature of ECU is its practical approach to education, which includes extensive Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities, ensuring students gain essential real-world experience and graduate with high levels of job readiness.

ECU consistently achieves outstanding results in national student satisfaction and graduate outcomes surveys, often being ranked among the top Australian public universities for the quality of its undergraduate teaching and overall educational experience. This commitment to excellence is reflected in its high rating for undergraduate starting salaries and full-time employment, often placing it at or near the top in these categories nationally for public universities. The success stems from a curriculum designed in close consultation with industry partners, ensuring that the skills taught are directly relevant to current and future employment markets. ECU offers a broad spectrum of courses through its schools, including the highly respected School of Medical and Health Sciences, the School of Business and Law, the School of Education, and the School of Engineering, all focused on delivering practical and career-oriented learning.

The Mount Lawley campus is nationally famous as the home of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). WAAPA is recognized as one of Australia’s most prestigious performing arts schools, offering elite training in disciplines such as acting, musical theatre, dance, and music. This centre of excellence adds a unique creative dimension to the university’s profile. The Joondalup campus is a modern, technology-rich environment, featuring world-class facilities like its state-of-the-art ECU Sports Science and Wellness Precinct and advanced computer labs. Furthermore, ECU is undergoing a transformative project to establish the ECU City Campus in the Perth CBD, which will further integrate the university with the city’s business, arts, and technology sectors, fostering greater collaboration and offering even more industry-connected learning experiences.

ECU’s research strategy is strategically aligned with its educational mission, focusing on areas that have significant community and industry impact. Key research strengths include cyber security (home to the ECU Security Research Institute), public health (with a focus on lifestyle diseases and ageing), resource management, and engineering innovation. The university actively fosters an entrepreneurial environment, encouraging staff and students to translate research findings into practical applications and commercial ventures. This commitment to both practical teaching and relevant, applied research solidifies ECU’s reputation as a progressive institution dedicated to shaping the future workforce and contributing meaningfully to societal advancement, both within Western Australia and internationally.