Engineering and Technology in Australia

What you can expect from undergraduate study in Engineering and technology

Specialisations you can do
Aviation technology, Engineering management, Engineering -aeronautical, -aerospace, -agricultural, –audio, -automotive, -aviation, -biomedical, -biotechnology, -building, -chemical, -civil, -communications, -computer systems, -construction, -electrical, -electronic, -environmental, -geological, -industrial, -manufacturing, -marine, -materials, -mechanical, -metallurgical, -mining and minerals, -natural resource, -optical, -petroleum, -polymer, -process, -project, -production, -space, -structural, -systems, -telecommunications, -transport, -water resource, Mechatronics, Naval architecture, Product design, Technology management, Wooden boatbuilding
What you're in for
Engineers help to make things that impact on everything from the cars we drive, and the medical technology (including pharmaceuticals) we depend on, to our cities’ buildings and our regions’ water supplies. Inspired? You should be. This profession boasts many important achievements. And there would appear to be many more ahead. In particular, engineering and technology graduates of the next few years are tipped to be instrumental in meeting challenges related to environmental change and the technology (e.g. nuclear technology) that may be employed to generate alternative energy sources. That’s the technical side of things. But the engineering profession is also overcoming the image of being solely focused on the technical. The recently launched ‘Top 100 influential engineers list’ shows just how capable engineers are as leaders and how much impact they can and will have on meeting the challenges of the future.
However, as a prospective member of this profession, your first challenge will be to think carefully about whether you really want to be an engineer and, if so, what kind of engineer. Many courses automatically set you on a path to one specialisation, although some don’t. While some engineering specialisations focus on a certain type of technology (automotive, aerospace, biomedical, telecommunications, marine), others are concerned with adapting certain base elements or resources for myriad purposes (electrical, chemical, materials, mechanical) while another group concentrates on harvesting, developing and sustaining natural resources (environmental, agricultural, mining). The newer engineering fields — aeronautics, informatics, mechatronics, etc. — have been more popular than the older sub-disciplines in recent years. This trend may reverse, however, with industry and faculty leaders decrying shortages of qualified professionals in the more traditional engineering specialisations (civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical).
If you’re unsure of exactly where your interests lie, you should research carefully and consider the following things. Most engineering students become engineers and, what’s more, the specialisation they study is the specialisation they practise. If you do chemical engineering, odds are you’ll be a chemical engineer, not a civil or mechanical or electronics engineer. It’s not a once-and-for-all decision though, because many engineers move into other fields (especially management and, increasingly, project management and consultancy) a few years into their careers. Engineers of all persuasions can also work across different sectors and industries, offering some option for a change of scenery, but this is nevertheless a field that typically narrows down rather than opens up options.
Along with technical skills, attributes such as good oral and written communication skills, being imaginative, taking the initiative, and simply knowing how to work with others are often needed for employment, but are sometimes overlooked in engineering. Therefore it might also be wise to do a double degree — you can now do engineering and arts, or computer science, environmental science, commerce, law, or business, and so on. That keeps your options open and will help you add another dimension to your technical skill-base. But remember, there is often a difference in the cut-off scores between single and combined degrees.
Overall, engineering is fairly tough to get into compared with other fields. Mathematics, sciences (especially physics) or other recommended backgrounds are almost always required. Some engineering courses have special deals, scholarships and programs aimed at attracting female applicants who currently make up a mere 10 per cent of the workforce.
(Note: an increase in federal government funding for engineering studies was announced in the May 2007 budget. At the time of publication, it is not known whether this will result in any change in CSP rates for relevant courses.) If you are interested in the field you should also consider the options in built environment, computing and information technology, some sciences, and surveying.
For more information about careers in engineering, check out the Engineers Australia website, www.engineersaustralia.org.au and also see what Young Engineers Australia has to offer at www.engineersaustralia.org.au/youngengineers .
What’s happening?
A new degree structure that has already been established in some fields at selected institutions has the potential to become more common in the future. The structure follows a US-style model where undergraduates enter a general ‘pre-professional’ degree (perhaps in science, applied science or technology, for engineering) and then transfer to a professional postgraduate qualification. The total number of students studying engineering reached a high in 2005 and looks like increasing in the immediate future. Several new Commonwealth Supported Places for engineering students in a range of fields will be available from 2008.
On average, how tough is it to get into Engineering and technology courses? Tough
Who does undergraduate courses in Engineering and technology?
Number of students: 49,030
Percent of students over 25 years: 15%
Percent of students from non-English speaking backgrounds: 38%
Number of international students: 11,866
Percent studying part time: 18%
Percent studying externally: 7%
Percent women: 15%
Tuition costs
Average tuition fees for international students $73,662 per annum
Average tuition fees for domestic fee-paying students $64,730 per annum
Graduates views of the course experience
Teaching quality: 1 star
Development of generic skills: 4 stars
Overall satisfaction: 1 star
Your prospects
Over the years, the national Course Experience Questionnaire survey has found that university graduates in this field are often very critical of teaching standards, although it is interesting to note that many were satisfied with the generic skills gained through their study. There are big differences between courses and campuses, so make good use of the tables on these pages and do your research thoroughly. Engineers Australia believes that Australia is heading for a big shortage of engineers, which will be further exacerbated by the graduate employment opportunities that are now available in the US for Australian graduates through the recent free trade agreement. This is starting to have an impact in the job market, with demand for graduates hotting up. Fields that are unlikely to meet predicted needs in coming years include mining, mineral exploration, civil, structural and infrastructure engineering. The 2006 unemployment rate was 13 per cent, better compared to other fields. Starting salaries were very good, the average sitting at $48 463.
What salary can I expect?
Graduate starting salary: $48,463
Will I get a job?
Percentage of graduates looking for job who did not find full time work four months after graduation: 13%
Where graduates go when they do get jobs:
Public sector: 11%
Private sector: 53%
Private practice: 27%
Overseas: 7%
Will I need to go on to further study?
How many graduates immediately go on to further study? 13%
How does Engineering and technology compare with other fields of study?
Click here to compare Engineering and technology with the other 29 fields of study.
Do institutions differ in how they teach Engineering and technology?
Yes. The following 60 campuses all provide Engineering and technology courses. Click on the campus name to find out more about the individual campuses. Click on the University name to see how their Engineering and technology courses rate and compare.
Australian Catholic University: Strathfield
Australian Defence Force Academy: Australian Defence Force Academy
Australian Maritime College: Newnham
Australian National University: Main
Canberra Institute of Technology: Bruce
Central Queensland University: Bundaberg, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton
Charles Darwin University: Alice Springs, Casuarina
Curtin University of Technology: Bentley, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Port Hedland, Sarawak
Deakin University: Geelong, Geelong Waterfront, Melbourne, Warrnambool
Edith Cowan University: Joondalup
Flinders University: Bedford Park
Griffith University: Gold Coast, Nathan/Mt Gravatt
James Cook University: Cairns, Townsville
JMC Academy: Melbourne, Sydney
La Trobe University: Bendigo, Melbourne (Bundoora)
Macquarie University: North Ryde
Monash University: Clayton, Gippsland, Malaysia
Murdoch University: Murdoch
Queensland University of Technology: Gardens Point
RMIT University: City
Swinburne University of Technology: Hawthorn, Prahran, Sarawak
University of Adelaide: North Terrace
University of Ballarat: Mt Helen
University of Melbourne: Parkville
University of New England: Armidale
University of New South Wales: Kensington
University of Newcastle: Callaghan
University of Queensland: St Lucia
University of South Australia: Mawson Lakes
University of Southern Queensland: Springfield, Toowoomba
University of Sydney: Camperdown/Darlington
University of Tasmania: Hobart, Launceston
University of Technology, Sydney: City
University of Western Australia: Crawley
University of Western Sydney: Penrith
University of Wollongong: Wollongong
Victoria University: Footscray Park