Edith Cowan University: The Edith Cowan College Pathway
TL;DR: Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a public university in Perth, Western Australia, and Edith Cowan College is its on-campus pathway. A college diploma counts as the first year of an ECU degree and leads into second year, a 12-month foundation leads into first year, and a one-semester programme leads into ECU master's degrees. Diplomas start on 22 February, 21 June and 18 October 2027.
If your grades or English score are not quite at direct-entry level, a pathway college lets you start in Perth now and move into an Edith Cowan University degree once you pass. This guide explains how the Edith Cowan College route works, what it costs and which scholarships carry on into ECU. Want to know which entry point fits you? Check your eligibility with Prosper.
What is Edith Cowan University like for international students?
Edith Cowan University is a public university in Perth with campuses at Joondalup, ECU City in the Perth city centre, and the South West campus in Bunbury. Teaching at the old Mount Lawley campus ended after Semester 2, 2025, when ECU City took its place.
ECU says it has held a five-star rating for undergraduate teaching quality for 18 straight years in the Good Universities Guide, and that it sits in the top 400 of the THE World University Rankings 2026 for the fourth year running.
Prosper applies to ECU through Edith Cowan College (CRICOS 01312J), the pathway college that teaches on ECU's Joondalup campus, in Building 80 of Campus West.
How the Edith Cowan College pathway works
There are three routes, depending on where you are now:
- Foundation (12 months): for students who have finished school but need a step before first year. To enter ECU first year you need 60% for most degrees, 80% for degrees such as Nursing, Midwifery, Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy, and 85% for Law. A 50% result takes you into the diploma instead.
- Diploma: each diploma is equivalent to the first year of an ECU bachelor's degree and leads into second year. Streams cover Commerce, Communications and Creative Industries, Computing and IT, Engineering Studies, and Health Science. There are two entry points: one for students with Year 11 or equivalent, and one for students with Year 12.
- Postgraduate Qualifying Programme (PQP): a one-semester, non-award programme that leads into ECU master's degrees in business, professional communication, computer science or cyber security.
Edith Cowan College fees and intakes
Edith Cowan College publishes 2027 fees in Australian dollars for the whole programme:
| Programme | 2027 fee (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Foundation | 31,500 |
| Diploma, first entry point (all streams) | 29,500 |
| Diploma, second entry point, Commerce | 34,500 |
| Diploma, second entry point, Communications and Creative Industries | 34,300 |
| Diploma, second entry point, Computing and IT or Engineering | 39,500 |
| Diploma, second entry point, Health Science | 39,900 |
| Postgraduate Qualifying Programme (4 months) | 17,500 |
There is also a $225 enrolment fee, and the college says students need a laptop. The 2027 intakes are 22 February, 21 June and 18 October for diplomas, 22 February and 26 July for the foundation, and 12 April and 25 October for the PQP.
Edith Cowan College English requirements
From the college's English requirements page:
- Foundation and diploma: IELTS Academic 5.5 with no band below 5.0, or PTE Academic 42 with no score below 36.
- Diploma, Health Science (Nursing stream): IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0.
- Postgraduate Qualifying Programme: IELTS 6.0 with no band below 6.0, or PTE 52 with no score below 50.
If your score is lower, the college's Academic English course costs AUD 475 a week.
Edith Cowan University scholarships for pathway students
Edith Cowan College lists these scholarships:
- 2027 ECC Merit Based Scholarship: 25% of a full year's tuition for the top 10% of new students with a weighted average mark of 65% or more in their first trimester.
- Academic English Scholarship: AUD 4,750, if you accept your offer and pay by 31 December 2026.
- Navitas Family Bursary: 10% for eligible family members.
Once you move into ECU, the 2027 ECU Success Scholarship gives 15% off tuition at the start, rising to 20% after 120 credit points and 25% later. It is assessed automatically for students on a packaged pathway, but it excludes Nursing, IT and Computer Science, Education, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Paramedicine and WAAPA courses.
Student visa rules to check
You study on a Student visa (subclass 500), which needs a Confirmation of Enrolment from the college. Home Affairs introduced new subclass 500 application rules from 2 October 2026, covering onshore applications and family members, so check them before you apply.
Applying from Sri Lanka
Edith Cowan College sets out entry for Sri Lankan O/L and A/L results on its academic entry requirements page, which uses a country selector. Send us your results and we will match them to the right entry point: the foundation, the first or second diploma entry point, or direct entry to ECU.
When you search for ECU from Sri Lanka, you will also find ECU Sri Lanka, a separate website for study in Sri Lanka. This guide is about studying in Perth through Edith Cowan College.
Frequently asked questions
What is Edith Cowan College?
Edith Cowan College is the pathway college for Edith Cowan University in Perth. It teaches a foundation programme, diplomas and a postgraduate qualifying programme on ECU's Joondalup campus.
Does an Edith Cowan College diploma lead into second year at ECU?
Yes. Each Edith Cowan College diploma is equivalent to the first year of an ECU undergraduate degree, so passing students move into the second year of the linked degree.
How much does Edith Cowan College cost?
For 2027, the foundation costs AUD 31,500 and the first diploma entry point costs AUD 29,500. Second-entry diplomas cost between AUD 34,300 and AUD 39,900, depending on the stream.
What IELTS score does Edith Cowan College need?
Edith Cowan College asks for IELTS 5.5 with no band below 5.0 for the foundation and diplomas. The Nursing stream needs 6.5 and the Postgraduate Qualifying Programme needs 6.0 in every band.
Which ECU campuses are open?
Edith Cowan University teaches at Joondalup, ECU City in the Perth city centre, and the South West campus in Bunbury. Teaching at Mount Lawley ended after Semester 2, 2025.
More guides
Compare ECU with other options in our guide to good universities in Australia, check Australia tuition fees for international students, read how to apply to university in Australia, see the Australia student visa English requirements, and learn what a Confirmation of Enrolment is. For funding, see our guide to scholarships for international students.
PS: The Edith Cowan College route works best when you enter at the right point, because that decides how many years you spend before graduating. Send us your results and we will tell you whether the foundation, a diploma or direct entry fits. Check your eligibility with Prosper.
References
- Farewell Mount Lawley, Edith Cowan University, https://www.ecu.edu.au/about-ecu/our-campuses/mount-lawley-campus/farewell-mount-lawley (accessed 12/11/2026)
- The 5-star experience, Edith Cowan University, https://www.ecu.edu.au/about-ecu/welcome-to-ecu/5star-experience (accessed 12/11/2026)
- Campus, Edith Cowan College, https://www.edithcowancollege.edu.au/future-students/study/campus/ (accessed 12/11/2026)
- Foundation, Edith Cowan College, https://www.edithcowancollege.edu.au/courses/foundation/ (accessed 12/11/2026)
- Diplomas, Edith Cowan College, https://www.edithcowancollege.edu.au/courses/diplomas/ (accessed 12/11/2026)
- Postgraduate programmes, Edith Cowan College, https://www.edithcowancollege.edu.au/courses/postgraduate/ (accessed 12/11/2026)
- International fees, Edith Cowan College, https://www.edithcowancollege.edu.au/how-apply/international/fees/ (accessed 12/11/2026)
- Important dates, Edith Cowan College, https://www.edithcowancollege.edu.au/future-students/essential-information/important-dates/ (accessed 12/11/2026)
- English requirements, Edith Cowan College, https://www.edithcowancollege.edu.au/how-apply/international/english-requirements/ (accessed 12/11/2026)
- Scholarships, Edith Cowan College, https://www.edithcowancollege.edu.au/future-students/scholarships-bursaries/scholarships/ (accessed 12/11/2026)
- 2027 ECU Success Scholarship, Edith Cowan University, https://www.ecu.edu.au/scholarships/details/2027-ecu-success-scholarship (accessed 12/11/2026)
- Academic entry requirements, Edith Cowan College, https://www.edithcowancollege.edu.au/how-apply/international/academic-entry-requirements/ (accessed 12/11/2026)
- Changes to Student visa application rules, Department of Home Affairs, https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/changes-to-student-visa-application-rules-500-590 (accessed 12/11/2026)
