Engineering and technology
What to expect
Getting a degree in engineering and technology
What to expect
Engineers help to make things that impact on everything from the cars we drive, and the medical technology (including pharmaceuticals) we depend on, to our cities’ buildings and our regions’ water supplies.
Inspired? You should be. The engineering profession boasts many important achievements and there are many more ahead. In particular, engineering and technology graduates of the next few years are tipped to be instrumental in meeting challenges related to environmental change and the technology (e.g. nuclear technology) that may be employed to generate alternative energy sources.
That’s the technical side of things. But the engineering profession is also overcoming the image of being solely focused on the technical. The recently launched ‘Top 100 influential engineers list’
shows just how capable engineers are as leaders and how much impact they can and will have on
meeting the challenges of the future.
Getting a degree in engineering and technology
Visit the University Ratings section for engineering and technology course ratings.
Courses and specialisations
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Aviation technology |
Engineering management |
Aeronautical |
Aerospace |
Agricultural |
|
Audio |
Automotive |
Aviation |
Biomedical |
Biotechnology |
|
Building |
Chemical |
Civil |
Communications |
Computer systems |
|
Construction |
Electrical |
Electronic |
Environmental |
Geological |
|
Industrial |
Manufacturing |
Marine |
Materials |
Mechanical |
|
Metallurgical |
Mining and minerals |
Natural resource |
Optical |
Petroleum |
|
Polymer |
Process |
Project |
Production |
Space |
|
Structural |
Systems |
Telecommunications |
Transport |
Water resource |
|
Mechatronics |
Naval architecture |
Product design |
Technology management |
Wooden boatbuilding |
While some engineering specialisations focus on a certain type of technology (automotive engineering, aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, telecommunications engineering, marine engineering), others are concerned with adapting certain base elements or resources for myriad purposes (electrical engineering, chemical engineering, materials engineering, mechanical engineering), while another group concentrates on harvesting, developing and sustaining natural resources (environmental engineering, agricultural engineering, mining) engineering.
The newer engineering fields — aeronautics, informatics, mechatronics, etc. — have been more popular than the older sub-disciplines in recent years. This trend may reverse, however, with industry and faculty leaders decrying shortages of qualified professionals in the more traditional engineering specialisations (civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical).
Which course is for you?
Along with technical engineering and technology skills, attributes such as good oral and written communication skills, being imaginative, taking the initiative, and simply knowing how to work with others are often needed for employment in this field. But these skills are sometimes overlooked in engineering courses.
Therefore it might also be wise to do a double degree — you can now do engineering and arts, computer science, environmental science, commerce, law, or business, and so on. That keeps your options open and will help you add another dimension to your technical skill-base. But remember, there is often a difference in the cut-off scores between single and combined degrees.
Getting in
Overall, engineering is fairly tough to get into compared with other fields. Mathematics, sciences (especially physics) or other recommended backgrounds are almost always required. Some engineering and technology courses have special deals, scholarships and programs aimed at attracting female applicants who currently make up a mere 10% of the workforce.
Where to study
Engineering and technology courses are widely available throughout the country. In all, they are offered at around 60 campuses in both metropolitan and regional areas.
What to look for in a course
Over the years, the national Course Experience Questionnaire survey has found that university graduates in the engineering and technology field are often very critical of teaching standards, although it is interesting to note that many were satisfied with the generic skills gained through their study. You may, therefore, wish to look closely at the teaching standards offered through different courses and institutions.
Careers for engineering and technology degree graduates
If you’re unsure of exactly where your interests lie, you should research carefully and consider the following things. Most engineering students become engineers and, what’s more, the specialisation they study is the specialisation they practise. If you do chemical engineering, odds are you’ll be a chemical engineer, not a civil or mechanical or electronics engineer.
It’s not a once-and-for-all decision though, because many engineers move into other fields (especially management and, increasingly, project management and consultancy) a few years into their careers. Engineers of all persuasions can also work across different sectors and industries, offering some option for a change of scenery, but this is nevertheless a field that typically narrows down rather than opens up options.
Over the years, the national Course Experience Questionnaire survey has found that university graduates in this field are often very critical of teaching standards, although it is interesting to note that many were satisfied with the generic skills gained through their study. There are big differences between courses and campuses, so make good use of the tables on these pages and do your research thoroughly. Engineers Australia believes that Australia has a big shortage of engineers. This is starting to have an impact in the job market, with demand for graduates hotting up. Fields that are unlikely to meet predicted needs in coming years include mining, mineral exploration, civil, structural and infrastructure engineering. The 2009 graduate unemployment rate was 17 per cent, rating four stars against other fields, and starting salaries were excellent with the average sitting at $59,312.
For more information
For more information about careers in engineering, check out the Engineers Australia website and also see what Young Engineers Australia has to offer.
If you are interested in the field you should also consider the options in built environment , computing and information technology , some sciences , and surveying .
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