Bachelor of Fine Arts
at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia.
A studio-based fine-arts degree with majors in painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, screen, sound, performance or expanded practice. Includes an annual graduate exhibition.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the Edith Cowan University Bachelor of Fine Arts. We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official TISC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
First year at ECU's Mount Lawley campus, alongside the creative-arts community that includes the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), is a broad studio foundation. You sample drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, printmaking and digital and time-based media, while units on art history, contemporary art theory and visual culture give you the language to talk about your work and others'. Second year you focus a studio direction such as painting and drawing, photomedia, sculpture and installation, or expanded and digital practice. Studio work becomes self-directed and project-based, with regular group critiques where you present work and defend your decisions. You also learn professional skills like documenting work, writing artist statements and proposing exhibitions. Third year is the capstone studio year: a sustained body of work developed under supervision, culminating in the annual graduate exhibition that is the key public showcase for emerging WA artists. You graduate with a portfolio and exhibition record rather than a licence. Strong students can continue into Honours.
Example first-year subjects
- Foundations of Studio Practice
- Drawing and Visual Language
- Introduction to Photomedia
- Sculpture and Materials
- Art History and Theory
- Contemporary Art and Visual Culture
How you will be assessed
- Studio projects and bodies of work with group critiques
- Portfolio and exhibition development
- Process journals documenting research and experimentation
- Written essays on art history and theory
- Artist statements and exhibition proposals
- Capstone graduate exhibition
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as practising artists, screen and stage performers, art directors and gallery educators across the cultural sector.
- Common destinations include exhibition assistant roles at state galleries, freelance studio practice and arts-administration positions in regional councils.
- Many alumni progress into curatorial roles, postgraduate study or arts education in secondary schools.
Typical first jobs
- Practising artist building a studio practice
- Gallery or exhibition assistant
- Arts-administration or program officer in councils or arts bodies
- Community-arts or workshop facilitator
- Photographer, printmaker or studio technician
- Arts educator (with further teaching study)
- Creative or production assistant in cultural organisations
Graduate starting salary
$50,000 - $62,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
Most graduates build a studio practice while working in related roles, entering exhibitions, prizes and residencies to grow their reputation over the first few years. Postgraduate options include an Honours year, a Master of Arts or creative-practice research, and the Master of Teaching (Secondary) for those who want to teach art and media. Many graduates combine making with arts administration, gallery work, education or community-arts projects.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Self-motivated makers who already create their own work
- Students who accept and act on critique
- People comfortable with open-ended, self-directed projects
- Those who enjoy both making and thinking about art
- Students willing to build a portfolio and exhibition record
It is probably not for you if
- Students wanting a structured, exam-based course with clear answers
- People seeking a guaranteed salary and single job title
- Those uncomfortable presenting unfinished work for critique
- Students who prefer purely theoretical or technical study
Related courses at ECU
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the Edith Cowan University handbook and on TISC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/ecu/bachelor-of-fine-arts.