Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) program is offered full-time at the Gold Coast and Nathan campuses and delivery is via internal mode (on-campus) with a Trimester 1 and 2 intake only.

This program includes compulsory study in Trimester 3. Students who commence in Trimester 2 should note that you will be required to study in Trimester 3 for the first year of the program.

Student Income Support

To be classed as a full-time student, you are required to enrol in a minimum number of credit points each standard study period. The minimum credit points for full-time enrolment in this program is 30 credit points.

Trimester 1 and Trimester 2 are deemed standard study periods. As Trimester 3 is a non-standard study period, continuing students moving from one year to the next will not be required to study during this trimester to be eligible for student income support.

Domestic students who commence in Trimester 3 may be eligible for student income support from the onset of study provided they are enrolled full-time in this study period.

Please refer to the Australian Government website for more details.

An integrated program of exposure to industry practice will be built into the program. Practising engineers will be directly involved in the learning and teaching process, particularly through involvement with laboratory and tutorial sessions. Staff will draw upon their industry/professional experience in choosing their laboratory activities, their projects and/or case studies and problems. Field trips will enhance awareness of the current industry/professional practice. The final year Professional Practice course provides a WiL experience, integrating technical expertise with the practical issues of professional/industry practice. A co requisite of this course is the completion of a minimum of 12 weeks (60 days) of approved experience in an engineering practice environment (or a satisfactory alternative).

The pinnacle of our work-integrated learning experience is the 40 credit point Industry Affiliates program (IAP) wherein students will undertake a trimester-long capstone project. Students are encouraged to conduct their IAP-Thesis project in industry and our IAP office will assist in finding placements for students who might have been unable to find their own placement. Total work placement (hours): 408.

Key employment sectors*

• Civil engineering
• Communications
• Energy
• Technology
• Medical
• Information Technology

Potential job outcomes

• Civil engineer
• Electronic engineer
• Electrical engineer
• Mechanical engineer

*Source: Australian Government Job Outlook

Your future career will be guided by your choice of major. Here's an overview of where your choice could take you:

Civil Engineering (Gold Coast and Nathan)

Civil engineers support the design and development of essential services and manage and improve the built environment. By studying civil engineering, you'll develop your knowledge in the planning, design and construction of buildings and infrastructure. Demand for civil engineering professionals has grown and is expected to continue be an area of high demand. You could find employment in jobs such as chief civil engineer, construction engineer, municipal engineer, structural engineer, transport engineer, water supply distribution engineer, project manager and consulting engineer. If you want a career creating tomorrow's cities, then this major is for you.

Electronic Engineering (Nathan)

In our modern world, we're surrounded by technologically advanced electronic devices. The phone in your pocket, your computer, or the jet airliner flying overhead only exist because of advanced electronic circuits developed by electronic engineers. In this major, you'll focus on the development, construction and design of electronic parts and systems, ranging from everyday items to applications for large corporations and industries. You could find employment in areas such as energy production, transport control systems development, and communications, including satellite navigation, broadband services and telecommunications.

Electronic and Energy Engineering (Nathan)

The energy sector is a fast-advancing engineering discipline, with huge investments expected in the coming decades. You will be prepared for a career in areas such as electronics design and fabrication, power transmission, renewable power generation, solar energy systems, wind energy systems, electric vehicles, efficient lighting and energy research.

Electronic and UAV Engineering (Nathan)

As Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are rapidly finding application in many areas, the need for both certified pilots and for engineers to design and maintain these vehicles is on the rise. The Electronic and UAV Engineering major offers UAV flight training and professional pilot licence theory. Graduates will be employable as UAV pilots, UAV designers, engineers in the aviation and general electronics industries. This degree is also a pathway for students wishing to be a Pilot Engineer but with a private rather than commercial licence.

Electrical and Renewable Energy Engineering (Gold Coast)

Australia has a plan to reach net-zero by 2050 and renewable energy (e.g. wind and solar) is the key to unlocking the carbon emission reduction. Thus, the investment in renewable energy generation has increased dramatically over recent years in Australia, which also creates a big job market in the renewable energy integration and energy storage sector. Renewable energy will bring opportunities to reduce carbon emissions while it also brings technological challenges to the security of the existing power grid. By studying renewable energy integration courses, you will master the renewable energy integration technologies, methods of analysis, and solutions to mitigate the new challenges. The main job markets are Australian Energy Market Operator, transmission/distribution network service providers, power industry consulting companies, solar/wind farm commissioning companies, and renewable energy development/construction companies.

Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Gold Coast)

Electrical and electronic engineers work with senior administrators, civil and mechanical engineers, computer scientists and various workers in the business, building and construction industries. The essential nature of an electrical engineer's role places them in the position to influence the development and application of new and emerging technologies. This includes the fast-growing energy industry. You could work to incorporate locally generated renewable energy resources into our more conventional supply systems, helping to reduce costs, save energy and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental Engineering (Nathan)

Environmental professionals with strong ecological social science backgrounds are in demand both in Australia and internationally. You'll find opportunities in government departments such as Transport and Main Roads, Natural Resources and Mines, Department of Science, IT and the Arts (DSITIA) along with Environment and Resource Management. You'll also enjoy opportunities with consulting firms in the construction, mining, oil, smelting and manufacturing industries.

Mechanical Engineering (Gold Coast and Nathan)

Mechanical engineering is the most diverse of all the engineering disciplines. As a graduate, you'll be qualified for a career in medical, automotive, aerospace, renewable energy, marine and sports-related sectors.

Mechatronics (Nathan)

With specialised skills across both electronic and mechanical engineering, as a graduate you'll be prepared for work in the design, development and production of smart engineering systems and products. You'll find career opportunities across many industries including manufacturing, mining, transport and defence and emerging fields such as medical and assistive technology smart cities, precision agriculture and robotics.

In Australia, professional accreditation of entry to practice engineering programs is the responsibility of Engineers Australia and is normally carried out on a five-yearly cycle. Griffith University underwent this review in August 2015.

Accreditation ensures academic institutions consistently meet national and international benchmarks and engineering graduates of an accredited program are assured membership with Engineers Australia at the relevant career grade and enjoy reciprocal privileges by equivalent professional bodies overseas.

Countries such as the USA, United Kingdom, Hong Kong (SAR), New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and others that are co-signatories to international agreements on joint recognition offer international recognition.

The Washington Accord, the Sydney Accord and the Dublin Accord recognise the substantial equivalence of accreditation systems and accredited programs across international boundaries at the Professional Engineer, Engineering Technologist and Engineering Associate levels respectively. Please refer to the International Engineering Alliance (IEA) website for more details.

Please see the Engineers Australia website for the most recent list of accredited programs.

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) program provides a pathway to research higher degrees with direct entry into doctoral programs for students who graduate with First Class Honours. It also provides the opportunity for gifted graduates to apply for scholarships and awards.