Why Study / Key Benefits

The Master of Professional Engineering is a postgraduate engineering qualification designed for students who already hold an engineering background and want to extend their technical specialisation while developing professional, management, research and communication capabilities.

Key benefits include:

• Builds on an existing engineering qualification rather than starting engineering study from the beginning.
• Develops advanced knowledge in a selected engineering specialisation.
• Combines technical engineering study with professional practice, management, sustainability, research and entrepreneurship.
• Includes a Professional Engineering Entrepreneurship Project.
• Includes a Professional Masters Industry Project designed to provide meaningful professional experience.
• Provides access to Swinburne's Career Success Program, including career coaching, networking and professional-development activities.
• Selected students can work with Australian and global employers operating in Melbourne through the industry project.
• Provides a pathway for graduates interested in further research, including potential PhD study in a specialist engineering area.
• Students can select from eight engineering specialisations.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme combines common professional-engineering study with four units from the student's selected specialisation and one elective.

Core units include:

• Technology Management — ADM80012
• Engineering Project Management — CSM80006
• Principles of Sustainability — CVE80010
• Risk Management in Projects and Engineering Industries — RSK80006
• Professional Masters Practice of Work — EDU80011
• Research Methods — ICT80011
• Professional Engineering Entrepreneurship Project — EAT80001
• Professional Masters Industry Project — EAT80002
• Opportunity Discovery, Creativity and Design — ENT60009

Other compulsory study:

• Professional Skills Development — EAT80004, 0 credit points

The elective can be:

• Leading — MGT60041; or
• An available unit from another Master of Professional Engineering specialisation.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The programme currently offers eight specialisations.

1. Civil and Structural Engineering

Examples of specialisation units include:

• Advanced Concrete Design — CVE80004
• Bridge Design and Strengthening — CVE80005
• Finite Element Methods and Applications — CVE80018
• Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering — CVE80019
• Building Design Project — CVE80021

2. Construction Engineering Management

Examples include:

• Construction Law and Contract Management — CSM80003
• Systems, Processes and Technologies for Construction — CSM80011
• Documentation and Information Management with BIM — CSM80012
• Advanced Scheduling and Visualisation-Based Integrated Project Controls — CSM80014
• Managing Quality and Safety in Construction Site Operations — CSM80017

3. Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Examples include:

• RF Circuit Design Techniques — EEE80004
• Operation of Power Systems — EEE80010
• Renewable Energy — EEE80015
• Virtual Instrumentation — EEE80021
• Programming Principles and Practices — COS60018

4. Engineering Management

Examples include:

• Procurement, Tendering and Contracts — CSM80013
• Advanced Scheduling and Visualisation-Based Integrated Project Controls — CSM80014
• Introduction to Industry 4.0 — MEE80003
• Resource Planning and Management — MME80001
• Maintenance Management of Buildings and Engineering Assets — MME80003

5. Mechanical and Production Engineering

Examples include:

• Nanofabrication Technologies — ADM80001
• Work Systems in Manufacturing — ADM80002
• Surface Engineering — ADM80007
• Advanced CAD/CAM — ADM80010
• Advanced Manufacturing Processes — ADM80013
• Computer Modelling, Analysis and Visualisation — ADM80015
• Introduction to Industry 4.0 — MEE80003
• Manufacturing Systems and Design — PDE40001

6. Renewable Energy

Examples include:

• Programming Principles and Practices — COS60018
• Operation of Power Systems — EEE80010
• Analysis Techniques for Large Scale Power Systems — EEE80012
• Renewable Energy — EEE80015
• Design of Smart Power Grids — EEE80020
• Virtual Instrumentation — EEE80021

7. Robotics and Mechatronics

The four listed specialisation units are:

• Programming Principles and Practices — COS60018
• Robotics in Manufacturing — ADM80011
• Intelligent Inspection Systems — ADM80014
• Virtual Instrumentation — EEE80021

8. Sustainable Manufacturing

The four listed specialisation units are:

• Work Systems in Manufacturing — ADM80002
• Advanced Manufacturing Processes — ADM80013
• Renewable Energy — EEE80015
• Introduction to Industry 4.0 — MEE80003

Programme Highlights

• 2-year professional master's degree.
• 200 credit points.
• Eight engineering specialisations.
• Advanced technical study combined with professional engineering practice.
• Professional Masters Industry Project.
• Professional Engineering Entrepreneurship Project.
• Research Methods.
• Engineering Project Management.
• Principles of Sustainability.
• Risk Management in Projects and Engineering Industries.
• Career Success Program with personalised career coaching.
• Employer networking opportunities.
• Professional communication and employability-skills development.
• Optional Engineering Postgraduate Internship subject.
• Potential pathway to PhD research in a specialist engineering field.
• Maximum academic credit normally available: 100 credit points, subject to Swinburne's assessment.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne describes the degree as suitable for engineers seeking to diversify their careers and build advanced technical and management capabilities.

Potential career areas and roles include:

• Specialist engineer
• Engineering consultant
• Project engineer
• Engineering project manager
• Construction-related engineering roles
• Engineering management
• Infrastructure engineering
• Renewable-energy engineering
• Robotics and mechatronics
• Manufacturing engineering
• Production engineering
• Electrical and electronic engineering
• Civil and structural engineering

Swinburne specifically identifies employment environments such as:

• Construction
• Local government
• State government
• Federal government
• Public infrastructure owners
• Private infrastructure owners

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• Current course code: MA-EPRE.
• Current CRICOS code: 085866B.
• Current duration: 2 years full-time.
• Current campus: Hawthorn.
• Current 2027 intakes: 1 March and 2 August.
• Current application deadlines: 24 February 2027 and 28 July 2027 respectively.
• The programme is a master's by coursework rather than a research master's.
• A cognate engineering background is required for admission.
• Specialisation choice is subject to the applicant's previous engineering qualification.
• Students must complete the 0-credit-point Professional Skills Development unit.
• Participation in the Career Success Program is required, and the relevant CSP components are a prerequisite for the Professional Masters Industry Project.
• Selected students may undertake an industry project with Australian and global employers operating in Melbourne.
• Credit transfer and RPL are assessed individually.
• The programme page currently lists 2026 tuition fees, while Swinburne's general 2027 fee guide gives an engineering master's fee range rather than a course-specific figure.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students intending to study the Master of Professional Engineering in Australia normally require the Student visa (subclass 500).

Key requirements include:

• Enrolment in the eligible CRICOS course.
• A valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when the Department of Home Affairs decides the visa application.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an exemption applies.
• Meeting the Genuine Student requirement.
• Meeting applicable health requirements.
• Meeting applicable character requirements.
• Providing an Australian Values Statement where applicable for applicants aged 18 or over.
• Demonstrating financial capacity where required.
• Providing the documents specified by the Department of Home Affairs for the applicant's circumstances.

The Student visa allows eligible students to work:

• Up to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session.
• Unlimited hours during periods when the course is not in session, subject to the visa conditions.