Why Study / Key Benefits

• Specialise in Civil Engineering within a professional Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).
• Develop technical and management skills for planning, designing, constructing and maintaining infrastructure.
• Undertake industry-linked projects throughout the degree.
• Complete a 12-month paid professional work placement opportunity.
• Gain practical exposure through Swinburne’s engineering facilities, including the Construction Simulation Hub, Trimble Technology Lab and Applied Mechanics Hub.
• Develop problem-solving, sustainable design, research and information-literacy, ethical decision-making, communication and teamwork skills.
• Civil Engineering graduates are eligible to apply for graduate membership of Engineers Australia.
• The course is professionally accredited through Engineers Australia.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme consists of engineering core studies, Civil Engineering major studies, electives and professional placement. The current handbook identifies 475 credit points overall.

Engineering core units

Current core units include:

• Humanitarian Engineering Design Project – ENG10001
• Engineering Materials – ENG10002
• Preliminary Mathematics – MTH00007
• Energy and Motion – PHY10001
• Introduction to Programming – COS10009
• Technology in an Indigenous Context Project – COS10025
• Engineering Mechanics – ENG10003
• Linear Algebra and Applications – MTH10013
• Calculus and Applications – MTH10012
• Professional Experience in Engineering – EAT20008.

Civil Engineering major

The current handbook lists the following Civil major units:

• Topographical Engineering – CVE20001
• Digital Engineering Project – CVE20015
• Structural Mechanics – MEE20004
• Statistics and Computation for Engineering – MTH20010
• Design of Concrete Structures – CVE20003
• Geomechanics – CVE20004
• Road Engineering – CVE20005
• Fluid Mechanics 1: Forces and Energy – MEE20003
• Urban Water Resources – CVE30001
• Design of Steel Structures – CVE30002
• Transport Engineering – CVE30003
• Engineering Management Project – MME30002
• Cost Engineering Project – CVE30005
• Geotechnical Engineering – CVE40001
• Structural Design of Low Rise Buildings – CVE40002
• Water Engineering Design Project – CVE40010
• Infrastructure Design Project – CVE40006
• Engineering Data Analytics and Applications – CVE40011.

All listed major units are normally 12.5 credit points.

Professional placement

The 12-month professional placement is worth 100 credit points and comprises:

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

The handbook states that the course requires between 1,672 and 1,976 hours of mandatory placement, with the total depending on the number of placement weeks completed.

Indicative study sequence

The published 2026 indicative sequence includes:

Year 1:

• Humanitarian Engineering Design Project
• Engineering Materials
• Preliminary Mathematics
• Energy and Motion
• Introduction to Programming
• Technology in an Indigenous Context Project
• Engineering Mechanics
• Linear Algebra and Applications.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The selected specialisation for this programme is Civil Engineering.

The wider Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Professional) currently offers these majors:

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

The Civil major focuses particularly on:

• Infrastructure
• Structural engineering
• Geotechnical engineering
• Road and transport engineering
• Water resources
• Construction and engineering management
• Sustainable infrastructure
• Digital engineering
• Engineering data analysis.

Programme Highlights

• Five-year professional engineering degree.
• 475 credit points.
• Civil Engineering major.
• 12-month paid professional placement opportunity.
• 100 credit points of professional placement.
• Industry-linked projects every semester from Year 1.
• Engineers Australia professional accreditation.
• Access to specialist engineering facilities, including the Construction Simulation Hub and Trimble Technology Lab.
• Graduates are eligible to apply for graduate membership of Engineers Australia.
• Strong emphasis on sustainable design, practical engineering, teamwork and problem-solving.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies the following potential career outcomes for the Civil major:

• Civil engineer
• Civil design engineer
• Structural engineer
• Environmental engineer.

Depending on electives, placement experience and professional development, graduates may also work in areas such as:

• Infrastructure development
• Transport engineering
• Water engineering
• Geotechnical engineering
• Structural design
• Construction and project management
• Engineering consulting
• Environmental and sustainability projects.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• Current course code: BH-ENGPRF1.
• CRICOS code: 107338G.
• Current duration: 5 years full-time.
• Location: Hawthorn.
• 2027 commencement dates: 1 March and 2 August.
• Application deadlines: 24 February and 28 July 2027.
• Total requirement: 475 credit points.
• Mandatory professional placement: 1,672–1,976 hours, depending on placement duration.
• Mathematics prerequisite is mandatory unless an accepted equivalent or MathsLink Methods bridging arrangement applies.
• Students admitted with previous relevant study may be eligible for academic credit.
• Credit transfer and RPL are assessed case by case.
• Professional placement is an essential component of the Professional degree.
• Some professional, safety, communication, physical and technical capabilities are identified by Swinburne as required components of the course. Reasonable adjustments may be available for adaptable components.

International Student Visa Requirements

The relevant visa for an international student undertaking this on-campus degree in Australia is generally the Australian Student visa (subclass 500).

Swinburne states that international students in Australia who hold Student visas must study full-time and on campus.

Under the current Student visa rules, eligible students can:

• Study an eligible course in Australia.
• Travel in and out of Australia.
• Work up to 48 hours per fortnight while the course or training is in session