Student Intranet - News

Tuesday, 16 December 2025

Starting uni is a big deal. Turning up to campus for the first time can feel exciting, confusing and a little bit scary, often all at once. If you’re worried about getting lost or not knowing where to go, you’re definitely not the only one.

This page is a quick guide for your first visit to an ECU campus.

Before you arrive

You don’t need to have everything figured out before your first day, but a tiny bit of planning will make things feel less stressful. You can use tools such as:

• Getting to a campus – detailed info about public transport, driving, cycling and parking for each campus
• Getting to ECU – maps and directions if you’re still deciding how you’ll travel

A good rule of thumb is to:

• check how you’ll get to campus (and how long it takes at the time of day you’ll travel)
• save your campus map and timetable to your phone
• aim to arrive a bit earlier than you think you need for your first few classes

After the first week or two, the trip usually starts to feel much more routine.

How room numbers work

Finding the right building and room can be challenging in the first week of semester. It’s completely normal to need to stop and check the signs.

ECU uses a standard room-numbering system. You’ll see these numbers on your timetable, on signs inside buildings and on campus maps. A typical room might be written as:

JO 19.123

This means:

• JO = Joondalup Campus
• 19 = Building 19
• 1 = Level 1
• 23 = Room 23 on that level

So, if your class is in JO 19.123, you’re looking for room 23 on level 1 of Building 19 at the Joondalup Campus. Once you know this pattern, the campus maps and signs make a lot more sense.

Heading to Joondalup?

If you’ll be studying at Joondalup, start with the Getting to Joondalup campus webpage. On that page you’ll find:

• directions to campus and public transport options
• parking information and car park locations
• the Joondalup campus map, including building numbers and key landmarks

Use it alongside your timetable and the room-number guide above to work out:

• which car park or entrance makes the most sense for you
• which building and level you need for your first few classes

Joondalup can feel big on your first visit, but it gets much easier once you’ve been there a couple of times.

Heading to City Campus?

ECU City is our new vertical campus in the heart of Perth’s CBD. Instead of being spread out across lots of low-rise buildings, you’ll be moving up and down through different levels of one integrated city campus.

Room numbers at City Campus will contain an additional element indicating if the room is in the north or south side of the building.
For example, CC 1S.364 is City Campus, Building 1 - South Side, Level 3, Room 64.

Travel into the city is covered in Getting to ECU and public transport information for the CBD. Once you arrive at ECU City, you won’t be left to figure it out on your own.

When you walk into the foyer, you’ll find:

• Wayfinding kiosks where you can look up your room and see directions
• staff and guides in the foyer during busy times – you can show them your timetable and they’ll help you work out which lift, level and area you need
• Clear signage near lifts and in main corridors so you can double-check you’re on the correct level before you start looking for your room

If you walk in, look around and think wow, this is a lot, that’s completely normal. Find a kiosk, talk to a staff member and let them help you get where you need to go.

Heading to South West (Bunbury)?

If you’re based at South West (Bunbury), check the South West campus webpage. There you’ll find:

• directions to campus and local transport options
• parking information and car park locations
• the South West campus map, showing buildings, entrances and key services

Again, pair this with your timetable and the room-number guide to plan your first trip. The campus has a more compact, community feel, and most students say it starts to feel familiar quite quickly.

Other helpful resources

A few extra tools and services can make getting around even easier:

• Use public transport apps like Transperth’s Journey Planner or your usual maps app to check real-time services, plan your route and see how long the trip will take on the day.
• Lost on Campus (StudentVIP) is a free app and website with detailed maps and wayfinding technology to help you get around campus. You can search for buildings, lecture theatres, cafés, toilets and more, and see how far away they are from you. You can use it in your browser at Lost on Campus or download the app from your usual app store.
• If you have access, mobility or health needs that affect how you get around campus, you can connect with Access & Inclusion for tailored support and planning before semester starts.

It’s okay to ask for help

Getting turned around once or twice is pretty standard in your first few weeks. Most students need a bit of time (and a few wrong turns) before campus starts to feel familiar.

If you get stuck, head to the Student Hub, talk to Security, or ask an ECU staff member to help point you in the right direction. We’re excited to welcome you to campus and help you find your feet!