Studying in Bunbury

Bunbury is one of the few regional cities in Western Australia where you can complete a university degree, a trade qualification or a school year without moving to Perth. The campuses sit close to the waterfront, rents are generally lower than the capital, and the things to do after class are the reason people stay.

Edith Cowan University South West

ECU's South West campus is in central Bunbury and is the university presence in the region. Courses typically cover nursing, education, business, science and social work, with a smaller, campus-based feel than the Perth sites. Confirm current offerings and application dates on the ECU website before you plan a move.

South Regional TAFE

South Regional TAFE delivers vocational and trade training across the South West, including campuses in and around Bunbury. Hospitality, construction, community services, maritime and health support are the pathways that feed the local job market — the port, the hospital, tourism and the building trades.

Schools

Greater Bunbury has a full range of public and private primary and secondary schools, plus education support centres. Families relocating from Perth or interstate usually start with the Department of Education's local-intake maps, then look at the independent and Catholic schools if they want a particular program.

Student life

This is the advantage over studying in a larger city: Back Beach and Koombana Bay are a short trip from campus, Victoria Street and the waterfront cover cheap eats through to a Friday night, and the Ferguson Valley is twenty-five minutes away when you want to get out of town. Two nights is enough for visiting family — use the weekend itinerary and accommodation guide.

Thinking of staying after you finish? See living in Bunbury and working in Bunbury.