University Overview: A Modern Public University Named After a Legendary Woman
Edith Cowan University (ECU) is located in Perth, the capital of Western Australia. It is the second-largest public comprehensive university in Western Australia and is named after Edith Decosse Cowan, the first female member of the Australian Parliament.
ECU’s educational heritage dates back to 1902 with the founding of Clermont Normal School—Western Australia’s first institution of higher education—and it was elevated to the status of a comprehensive university in 1991. It currently has approximately 30,000 students, including 6,000 international students from more than 100 countries and regions around the world. The university’s motto is “Freedom through Knowledge.” An outstanding Edith Cowan University degree that gives you a competitive edge
Authoritative Rankings: A Young University Consistently Ranked Among the World’s Top 500
Although ECU is a young university, it has performed impressively in major international rankings:
The 2026 QS World University Rankings place it at No. 487 globally, placing it in the same tier as China’s Jilin University (No. 473) and Central South University (No. 491). The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings place it in the 351–400 range globally. The U.S. News World University Rankings place it at No. 457 globally.
In the THE Young University Rankings (for universities established within the last 50 years), ECU is ranked 64th globally. Even more noteworthy is that ECU has received a five-star rating for undergraduate teaching quality from The Good Universities Guide for 19 consecutive years, making it the top-ranked public university in Western Australia for teaching quality. Its employer satisfaction rating consistently ranks among the top ten in Australia.
Flagship Programs: Industry Accreditation and High Employment Rates
Flagship programs include the School of Business and Law, the School of Arts and Humanities, the School of Engineering and Technology, the School of Medicine and Health, the School of Nursing and Midwifery, the School of Natural Sciences and Science, the School of Education, and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
Programs such as Sports and Exercise Science, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Nursing, Education, and Media and Cultural Communication are all ranked among the world’s best.
The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) is hailed as a “cradle of stars,” having educated many international film stars such as Hugh Jackman. The Business School holds AACSB international accreditation; the Cybersecurity Research Center was established with dedicated funding; and all engineering programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Board (EA) and the Washington Accord.
Campuses and Facilities: A Modern Learning Environment in Perth
ECU has four campuses: Joondalup (Main Campus), Mount Lawley, ECU City in downtown Perth, and Bunbury (Southwest Campus).
The Joondalup Campus serves as the university’s headquarters and features a state-of-the-art health building, library, and student center. The Mount Lawley Campus is located near Perth’s CBD and boasts first-class performing arts facilities. The new ECU City campus is located in downtown Perth and features eight public performance and rehearsal spaces. The university boasts some of Australia’s most advanced teaching facilities, including the Asia-Pacific region’s leading “wireless campus,” an aircraft purchased for the aviation program, and an Olympic-standard fitness training center.
Perth has been consistently ranked as one of the world’s most livable cities for many years, with a cost of living approximately 20% lower than in Sydney and Melbourne.
Practical Education and Employment: Graduates Stand Out in the Job Market
In terms of practical education and employment, ECU adopts “work-integrated learning” as its core philosophy, with all degree programs including university-arranged internships or work placements. The university has ranked first in Western Australia for graduate employment rates for several consecutive years; in 2023, the full-time mid-career employment rate reached 93%, far exceeding the Australian average. The average annual salary for graduates is AUD 86,900, the highest among all universities in Western Australia.
