Why Study/Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Professional), majoring in Product Design, combines industrial design creativity and human-centred design with engineering science, manufacturing and innovation.

Key benefits include:

• Combines product design, industrial design and professional engineering.
• Human-centred approach to designing products.
• Engineering science and innovation integrated with creative design.
• Industry-linked projects in every semester.
• Work Integrated Learning throughout the degree.
• Opportunity to complete a 12-month paid professional work placement.
• Practical development of product design and manufacturing skills.
• Exposure to mechanical engineering applications.
• Development of creativity, innovation and engineering problem-solving.
• Professionally accredited by Engineers Australia.
• Opportunities to develop products for Australian and international markets.
• Access to specialist engineering facilities and laboratories.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The degree requires 475 credit points.

Year 1 – Engineering core:

• ENG10001 Humanitarian Engineering Design Project
• ENG10002 Engineering Materials
• MTH00007 Preliminary Mathematics
• PHY10001 Energy and Motion
• COS10009 Introduction to Programming
• COS10025 Technology in an Indigenous Context Project
• ENG10003 Engineering Mechanics
• MTH10013 Linear Algebra and Applications

Year 2:

Core:

• MTH10012 Calculus and Applications

Product Design major:

• DID10001 Product Visualisation 1: Hand Sketching
• DPD20001 Digital Modelling
• DPD20002 Product Design Engineering Studio
• DID20002 Materials and Processes
• DPD20004 Sustainable Product Design Project
• MEE20004 Structural Mechanics
• PDE20001 Thermo Fluid Systems

Professional work placement:

The 12-month professional placement consists of:

• WEI20001 Work Experience in Industry A
• ENG20003 Integrated Professional Placement A – Engineering
• WEI20002 Work Experience in Industry B
• ENG20004 Integrated Professional Placement B – Engineering

Together, these placement units contribute 100 credit points.

Year 4:

• EAT20008 Professional Experience in Engineering
• DPD30001 Advanced Product Design
• MEE30005 Machine Design Project
• DID30001 Digital Manufacturing
• DPD30002 Design for Social Responsibility
• MEE40010 Integrated Engineering Design Project
• MME30002 Engineering Management Project
• 2 elective units

Year 5:

• DPD40002 Global Design
• MEE40011 Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Technologies
• DPD40004 Professional Design Attributes
• PDE40001 Manufacturing Systems and Design
• 2 elective units

The displayed study sequence is indicative. Swinburne notes that unit availability and sequencing can change and may vary according to advanced standing and exemptions.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Professional) offers several engineering majors, including:

• Architectural
• Biomedical
• Civil
• Electrical and Electronic
• Mechanical
• Product Design
• Robotics and Mechatronics
• Software

This report relates specifically to the Product Design major.

The Product Design major combines:

• Human-centred design
• Industrial design
• Mechanical engineering applications
• Product design
• Manufacturing
• Digital modelling
• Product visualisation
• Sustainable product development
• Structural mechanics
• Thermo-fluid systems
• Machine design
• Digital manufacturing
• Global design
• Renewable energy and hydrogen technologies
• Design for social responsibility
• Engineering management

Programme Highlights

• 5-year professional engineering degree.
• 475 credit points.
• Product Design major.
• 12-month paid professional work placement opportunity.
• 100 credit points of professional placement.
• Industry projects every semester from Year 1.
• Work Integrated Learning guaranteed for Swinburne bachelor degrees.
• Human-centred product design.
• Engineering science and innovation.
• Product design and manufacturing.
• Digital modelling and visualisation.
• Sustainable product development.
• Design for social responsibility.
• Global design.
• Manufacturing systems and design.
• Renewable energy and hydrogen technologies.
• Engineers Australia professional accreditation.
• Specialist engineering facilities including the Applied Mechanics Hub.
• Swinburne currently reports #1 in Australia for Automation and Control in the ARWU Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025 and #1 in Victoria for Engineering in the US News Best Global Universities by Subject 2025–2026. These are university-level/subject-area rankings, not rankings of this individual Product Design major.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies the following career opportunities:

• Industrial designer
• Industrial engineer
• Product designer
• Product design engineer
• Entrepreneur
• Design consultant

The degree can also support work involving:

• Product development
• Engineering design
• Manufacturing
• Industrial design
• Sustainable product development
• Engineering project management
• Design consulting
• Innovation and entrepreneurship

International Student Visa Requirements

International students intending to study this programme in Australia generally require a Student visa (subclass 500).

Key requirements include:

• A valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
• Enrolment in the relevant CRICOS-registered course.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an exemption applies.
• Meeting the Genuine Student requirement.
• Meeting applicable health requirements.
• Meeting applicable character requirements.
• Demonstrating financial capacity where required.
• Providing English-language evidence where required.
• Meeting applicable welfare requirements if under 18.