Why Study / Key Benefits

The Associate Degree of Engineering is a two-year engineering qualification designed to provide practical and foundational engineering knowledge and a pathway into the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at Swinburne.

Key benefits include:

• Provides a university-level engineering qualification in two years of full-time study.
• Offers a pathway into the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).
• Combines engineering theory with practical, project-based learning.
• Provides access to Swinburne engineering laboratories and facilities.
• Students are taught by academics and teachers with industry experience.
• Work Integrated Learning is incorporated through professionally focused, industry-linked projects and a six-week engineering work experience placement.
• Develops problem-solving, analytical, programming and engineering skills.
• Allows students to select a major in Civil, Electrical, Mechanical or Mechatronics engineering.
• Completion can assist graduates in becoming eligible for membership of Engineers Australia at Associate Level.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The qualification requires 200 credit points.

Core engineering study covers areas including:

• Technology in an Indigenous Context Project – COS10027
• Introduction to Programming – COS10028
• Engineering Mechanics – EAT10002
• Engineering Materials – EAT10003
• Energy and Motion – EAT10005
• Humanitarian Engineering Design Project – EAT10027
• Computer Aided Drafting and Design – EAT20001
• Project Management Practice and 3D Design Applications – EAT20005
• Professional Practice in Engineering – EAT20024, compulsory no-credit unit
• Engineering Capstone Project – EAT20035
• Applied Engineering Mathematics – MTH00005
• Calculus and Applications – MTH10015
• Linear Algebra and Applications – MTH10016

Civil major:

Students choose one of two options.

Road Engineering option:

• CVE20001 Topographical Engineering
• CVE20005 Road Engineering
• CVE20015 Digital Engineering Project
• One elective from:
  • CVE20004 Geomechanics
  • MEE20003 Fluid Mechanics 1: Forces and Energy
  • MEE20004 Structural Mechanics

Structural Engineering option:

• CVE20003 Design of Concrete Structures
• CVE20015 Digital Engineering Project
• MEE20004 Structural Mechanics
• One elective from:
  • CVE20001 Topographical Engineering
  • CVE20004 Geomechanics
  • MEE20003 Fluid Mechanics 1: Forces and Energy

Mechanical major:

Computer Aided Drafting and Design option:

• MEE20005 Materials Processing and Machining
• MEE20007 Design and Product Visualisation Project
• Two electives from:
  • MEE20001 Thermodynamics
  • MEE20003 Fluid Mechanics 1: Forces and Energy
  • MEE20004 Structural Mechanics
  • MEE20006 Engineering Dynamics

Mechanical Machine Dynamics Systems Design option:

• MEE20004 Structural Mechanics
• MEE20006 Engineering Dynamics
• Two electives from:
  • MEE20001 Thermodynamics
  • MEE20003 Fluid Mechanics 1: Forces and Energy
  • MEE20005 Materials Processing and Machining
  • MEE20007 Design and Product Visualisation Project

Mechatronics major:

Microcontroller Systems Design option:

• COS20007 Object-Oriented Programming
• EEE20001 Digital Electronics Design
• Two electives from:
  • EEE20006 Circuits and Electronics 1
  • ENG20009 Engineering Technology Inquiry Project
  • ENG20010 Engineering Technology Design Project
  • TNE20003 Internet and Cybersecurity for Engineering Applications

Mechatronics Machine Dynamic Systems Design option:

• EEE20001 Digital Electronics Design
• MEE20006 Engineering Dynamics
• Two electives from:
  • COS20007 Object-Oriented Programming
  • EEE20006 Circuits and Electronics 1
  • ENG20009 Engineering Technology Inquiry Project
  • SWE20004 Technical Software Development

Electrical major:

Renewable Energy Electrical Engineering option:

• ENG20009 Engineering Technology Inquiry Project
• ENG20010 Engineering Technology Design Project
• Two electives from:
  • EEE20005 Electrical Machines
  • EEE20006 Circuits and Electronics 1
  • EEE20013 Power Protection
  • EEE30002 Electrical Power Systems

Electrical Microcontroller Systems Design option:

• ENG20009 Engineering Technology Inquiry Project
• TNE20003 Internet and Cybersecurity for Engineering Applications
• Two electives from:
  • EEE20005 Electrical Machines
  • EEE20006 Circuits and Electronics 1
  • EEE20013 Power Protection
  • ENG20010 Engineering Technology Design Project

Disciplines / Specialisations

Students can choose one of four engineering disciplines:

• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronics Engineering

Civil focuses on areas such as:

• Urban water management
• Road engineering
• Structural and concrete design
• Surveying
• Geomechanics
• Construction-related engineering applications
• Digital engineering

Electrical focuses on areas such as:

• Electrical machines
• Circuits and electronics
• Power protection
• Electrical power systems
• Renewable energy
• Microcontroller systems
• Engineering technology design

Mechanical focuses on areas such as:

• Engineering mechanics
• Manufacturing
• CAD/CAM
• Materials processing
• Thermodynamics
• Fluid mechanics
• Structural mechanics
• Engineering dynamics
• Product visualisation

Mechatronics focuses on the integration of:

• Mechanics
• Electronics
• Programming
• Digital systems
• Microcontrollers
• Engineering dynamics
• Cybersecurity applications
• Technical software development

Programme Highlights

• Two-year engineering qualification.
• 200 credit points.
• Hawthorn campus.
• CRICOS registered course.
• Four engineering majors.
• Practical engineering projects and laboratory learning.
• Four professionally focused, industry-linked projects.
• Six-week engineering work experience placement.
• Engineering capstone project.
• Programming and computer-aided design included in the core curriculum.
• Engineering mathematics and fundamental engineering sciences included.
• Pathway to the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).
• Professional recognition through Engineers Australia at Associate Level may be available following completion, subject to Engineers Australia's membership requirements.
• Swinburne states that its engineering degrees incorporate Work Integrated Learning.

Career Outcomes

The qualification is designed to prepare graduates for para-professional engineering employment.

Swinburne identifies career opportunities including:

• Engineering Officer
• Associate Engineer
• Junior Engineer

Career opportunities can vary according to the selected major.

Civil graduates may work in areas associated with:

• Civil and infrastructure engineering
• Road engineering
• Structural engineering
• Surveying
• Construction and infrastructure projects

Electrical graduates may work in areas associated with:

• Electrical engineering support
• Electrical systems
• Power systems
• Renewable energy
• Electronics
• Control and embedded systems

Mechanical graduates may work in areas associated with:

• Mechanical engineering
• Manufacturing
• CAD/CAM
• Product development
• Materials processing
• Mechanical systems

Mechatronics graduates may work in areas associated with:

• Mechatronics
• Automation
• Robotics
• Control systems
• Instrumentation
• Manufacturing
• Automotive and aerospace applications

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current CRICOS code is 108893E.
• The current 2027 intakes are 1 March 2027 and 2 August 2027.
• The course is based at Hawthorn.
• International students in Australia holding a Student visa must study full-time and on campus.
• The programme includes practical and industry-linked learning.
• The course provides a pathway to the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), but progression and credit should be confirmed for the student's chosen engineering discipline.
• Previous study and experience may provide credit or advanced standing, assessed case-by-case.
• The maximum academic credit stated in the handbook is 125 credit points.
• Engineers Australia recognition at Associate Level is different from professional-engineer accreditation and should not be interpreted as equivalent to completion of a professionally accredited Bachelor of Engineering degree.
• Swinburne's current course page refers to professional accreditation by Engineers Australia.
• The course handbook contains the detailed current unit structure and should be checked before enrolment because unit availability and course structures can change.

International Student Visa Requirements

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

Key requirements include:

• Enrolment in a full-time CRICOS-registered course.
• A valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an applicable exemption applies.
• Satisfaction of the Genuine Student requirement.
• Meeting applicable health and character requirements.
• Providing evidence of financial capacity where required.
• Meeting any applicable Student visa English-language evidence requirement or exemption.
• Applicants aged 18 or over must meet the Australian Values Statement requirement.
• Applicants must provide accurate identity and supporting documentation.
• Applicants may be required to provide biometrics.

Financial capacity:

The Department of Home Affairs currently states that a student must have sufficient funds for:

• Travel costs.
• The first 12 months of course fees, less eligible amounts already paid.
• 12 months of living costs.
• Additional living costs for accompanying family members.
• School costs for accompanying school-age children, where applicable.