Edith Cowan University is a public university in Perth, Western Australia, best known for cyber security, nursing, education, business and the performing arts. It is rated among the top Australian universities for teaching quality and opens a new city-centre campus in 2026. Choose it for a practical degree in a city with lower rent than the east coast.
Perth, Australia
Official website: ecu.edu.au
#601
Top 10 in Australia for over a decade (Student Experience Survey)
Home to an Australian Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre node
New ECU City campus opening in Perth's centre in 2026
A$32,000 β A$40,000
International students, undergraduate and coursework master's
A$20,000 β A$26,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on ecu.edu.au before you apply.
Master of Cyber Security
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 84
Master of Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 84
Master of Business Administration
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 84
Master of Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 84
Master of Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 84
Bachelor of Nursing
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 94
Cyber security β one of Australia's leading programmes, with a Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre node.
Top 10 in Australia for teaching quality for more than ten years.
WA Academy of Performing Arts β alumni include Hugh Jackman.
ECU City β a new campus in Perth's centre opening in 2026.
Cyber security graduates join Western Australia's government agencies, banks and mining-services tech teams.
Nursing graduates enter WA Health hospitals, which recruit directly from ECU.
Graduates can stay and work in Australia for up to three years, longer because Perth counts as regional.
Business and IT alumni work at Perth's resources companies and consultancies.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Joondalup is the main campus, a modern site 25 minutes north of Perth by train with student housing and a hospital nearby; Mount Lawley, closer to the city, hosts arts and education.
Perth is a sunny, spread-out city on the Indian Ocean with beaches, the Swan River and rents below Sydney and Melbourne. It counts as a regional area for post-study work visas.
Confirmation of Enrolment from ECU
Proof of funds for fees and living costs
IELTS or equivalent English test result
Overseas Student Health Cover for stay
Genuine Student statement
Health examination, if requested
Applications are rolling for both semesters. For a February start, apply by late November to leave time for your offer, deposit and visa; for July, apply by late April. Nursing and performing arts programmes have fixed earlier deadlines and, for performing arts, auditions.
ECU has two main intakes: Semester 1 in February and Semester 2 in July. Most undergraduate and coursework master's programmes admit for both. Performing arts and some education programmes are February only, so check the course page.
You need a Student visa (subclass 500). After you accept your offer and pay the deposit, ECU issues a Confirmation of Enrolment. You then apply through ImmiAccount with proof of funds, Overseas Student Health Cover and a Genuine Student statement.
Cyber security, computer science, the MBA, engineering and data science are the most applied-for programmes. Master's entry usually needs a bachelor's degree with a pass average (around 55% for Indian degrees) and IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0; nursing requires 7.0.
Yes. ECU offers international merit scholarships that reduce tuition by a set percentage for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate applicants, with awards for students from India and other countries assessed automatically on application. Check the scholarships page for current eligibility and amounts.