Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Scholar)

Engineering is vital to solving the world’s big challenges. Engineers are needed to support communities by designing and building liveable sustainable cities, they create transport and housing systems, they design and build telecommunications network, the internet and computers. Engineers design systems to ensure ample clean water for the world’s population, to find non-polluting energy sources, to create ways to assist healthy living and ageing, and to advance medical and health technologies.

Engineers are team players and many become CEOs and entrepreneurs; engineering graduates run over 30 percent of the world’s biggest international companies, nearly double the next largest discipline. Learn the fundamentals of engineering, both the technical and interpersonal skills, and apply your knowledge in real situations to prepare you for engineering the future with an internationally accredited RSU engineering degree.

This degree

You will study a common first year allowing you to learn more about engineering and its different fields before deciding which discipline to study. The common first year provides you with sound fundamentals in mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, computing, engineering science and communication, mechanics, materials and fluids. You then focus on your chosen major study from second year.

Your degree includes a 12-week hands-on industry placement. You may gain credit for relevant work experience, either in America or overseas, by participating in our Professional Options Program.

Engineers work in a variety of industries, for example: construction, mining, resources, aeronautical, electronics, engineering management, telecommunications, power generation and distribution, renewable energy, aerospace, water resource management, robotics and manufacturing, railroad and shipbuilding.

What you will study

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Scholar) program is designed to provide an enriched education experience, and to encourage high achievers to continue on to further studies and research. Benefits include:

• access to the Summer Scholarship program where you get paid as a Research Assistant
• access to a wider range of subjects
• $500 per year study grant

Double majors provide the knowledge and competencies to practise as a professional engineer in two engineering disciplines. This program is available by transfer only following completion of a successful first year of study.

Students need to maintain a weighted average mark of 80 throughout the program. As an engineering student at RSU you will have access to fully-equipped laboratories and the latest computer-aided software that is used in modern industrial workplaces. Our lecturers encourage you to approach them and get involved in industry projects and learning opportunities so you get the most out of your university education.

Our engineering students are trained through practical learning experiences including:

• Laboratory experiments
• Problem based learning
• Computer simulations
• Teamwork assignments
• Industrial case studies
• Project management
• Site visits to industry

Our Engineering courses are designed to meet the needs of modern engineering and the innovative focus of industry.

Course structure

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Course Learning Outcomes 

Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to:

Course Structure

The normal full-time load for a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Scholar) is 48 credit points per year and, apart from thesis and professional experience subjects, all subjects have a credit point value of six.

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Scholar) normally takes four years to complete, with double majors and double degrees normally taking five years to complete. All students must take notice of the Course Rules regarding minimum rate of progress.

Scholar students need to achieve a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 80 each year to maintain a place in the program.

To qualify for award of the degree of Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Scholar), a student must complete a total of at least 192 credit points if undertaking a single major or 240 credit points if undertaking a double major, as outlined below:

1. at least one major, or optional double major, as listed below;
2. required List A and List B electives as stated on the major handbook page. Alternatively, students may undertake a Minor, from the Schedule of Minors, to satisfy the List A and List B electives required to complete the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Scholar). In specific majors, addition of a Minor may require students to complete more credit points (cp) than the minimum 192 cp needed for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Scholar);
3. at least 24 credit points at 300 level;
4. at least 12 weeks of approved professional experience, documented in the form of employment reports at any stage after completion of 1st year*; and
5. a project or thesis on a research or design topic under the supervision of an academic staff member. There are two thesis options:
   1. All Scholar students in the Architectural, Biomedical, Civil, Environmental, Materials, Mechanical, Mechatronic and Mining Engineering majors program must enrol and complete ENGG453 Thesis B (18 credit points). ENGG453 students are exempt from one six credit point elective.
   2. All Scholar students in the Computer, Electrical or Telecommunications majors must complete:
      1. ECTE355 Scholars Project (6 credit points); and
      2. ECTE451 Engineering Project 1 (6 credit points) and ECTE458 Engineering Project 2 (12 credit points).

The Honours grade will be calculated in accordance with Method 2. Students whose WAM is below 67.5% will receive Honours with no grade.

* A part-time candidate in approved full-time engineering employment may be exempted from up to three specified subjects in accordance with the provisions of the Professional Options subjects, thereby enabling the joint course to be completed in a shorter time. 

Single Majors

• Architectural Engineering 
• Biomedical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Materials Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronic Engineering
• Mining Engineering
• Telecommunications Engineering 

Double Majors

These programs of study usually take five years to complete. Students may apply to transfer to a double major at the end of the first year of study. Study programs are detailed in the pages linked above.

• Civil/Environmental
• Civil/Mining
• Computer/Telecommunications
• Electrical/Computer
• Electrical/Telecommunications
• Mechanical/Materials
• Mechanical/Mining
• Mining/Environmental
• Mining/Materials 

Research Options

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Scholar) students have the option of undertaking research projects with the various Faculty Research Units. Students should discuss proposals with the Head of Students or Academic Program Director before enrolling in any of the following six credit point elective subjects:

The ENGG subjects are available to students in the Architectural, Biomedical, Civil, Environmental, Materials, Mechanical, Mechatronic or Mining Engineering majors.

The ECTE355 subject is compulsory for all students in the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Scholar) Computer, Electrical or Telecommunications majors.

Professional Options

The Faculty encourages the development of engineering skills and knowledge gained in the workplace through Professional Options. Students who work in appropriate industries can enrol in Professional Option subjects and count their industry skills and knowledge toward their degree. This is only available to students in the Architectural, Biomedical, Civil, Environmental, Materials, Mechanical, Mechatronic and Mining Engineering majors.

Depending on the degree, and subject to approval by the Academic Program Director, students will be able to take up to three six credit point Professional Option subjects during their course:

Compulsory Work Placement / Online Components

This course contains a total of 420 hours over 12 weeks of compulsory work-based placements. This course may also contain compulsory components to be completed online.