WAAPA is a place where artistry, creativity, self-expression and collaboration are encouraged and celebrated.
Our students are free to experiment and learn in a protected, supportive environment, with high-quality training in a student culture that is welcoming and positive.
Having students from a wide range of creative disciplines under one roof offers incredible opportunities for cross-disciplinary cooperation, where life-long friendships and artistic collaborations are forged.
WAAPA moves to ECU’s new city campus from Semester One, 2026. As one of the most dynamic, innovative and technologically advanced university campuses in the Southern Hemisphere, this state-of-the-art building will include six world-class venues for WAAPA’s 300-plus public performances a year.
So if you’re passionate about pursuing a career in the performing arts, I invite you to use this guide to select the course that’s right for you. Applying to study at WAAPA is highly competitive but for those who are successful, it is absolutely worth it.
Executive Dean WAAPA
Professor David Shirley
WAAPA’s Aboriginal Performance program prepares students for the demands of professional work as an actor and performer in theatre, film and television.
Studying acting at WAAPA is an inspiring and all-consuming experience. The courses produce graduates who are prepared for a career in a wide variety of media, including theatre, television, film and radio, both in Australia and internationally.
WAAPA’s Arts and Cultural Management graduates are versatile employees who are industry ready for exciting and challenging careers in the arts and entertainment industries.
WAAPA’s Dance programs train classical and contemporary dance artists by utilising teaching methods designed to develop and refine the skills of each individual.
WAAPA Music students follow a specialised performance-based curriculum in their chosen area, in addition to studying a common core of history and theoretical studies.
WAAPA’s acclaimed Music Theatre course provides graduates with the skills and experience required to engage in professional theatre practice.
Preparing confident graduates who have the technical and creative skills to execute ideas to a high professional standard, the bold vision required to build the future of the performing arts industry.
WAAPA provides Production and Design students with the greatest diversity of ‘on-the-job’ theatrical experiences.
Postgraduate studies provide a practical-based learning and research experience enhanced by the opportunities offered by the multi-disciplined nature of WAAPA and expert supervision by WAAPA’s outstanding research staff.
We offer a large selection of courses and disciplines across our study areas, with the right balance of practical experience and academic excellence and a wide range of study options. If you want to reach your potential in a learning environment that is supportive, flexible and relevant to the real world - then you've come to the right place.
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