Engineering: your questions answered
Thinking about a career in Engineering? Great choice! The field of Engineering promises a variety of opportunities for those who love problem-solving, analysis and generating creative, hands-on solutions.
What is engineering?
Engineering is the application of science and maths to design, build and maintain cutting-edge infrastructure and technologies. Engineers specialise in diverse fields and apply their skills to solving significant real-world challenges, changing the future for the better.
When you study engineering, you’ll analyse why things work the way they do, and how you could get them to work better.
Can I study engineering at JCU?
JCU offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Engineering.
If you’re a recent school leaver, have never completed a university degree, or hold a degree in an unrelated field, then our undergraduate degree, the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) is the course you need to become an engineer.
Read on for more information about studying engineering at JCU as an undergraduate.
If you would like to know more about JCU’s postgraduate opportunities in Engineering, explore our Master of Engineering (Professional) or Master of Engineering Management course pages.
How can I study?
Currently, the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) course is not available in online study mode.
You can study the course on-campus at Townsville, Bebegu Yumba, Douglas or Cairns, Nguma-bada, Smithfield.
At JCU, you’ve got the option to diversify your future career opportunities by studying a double degree.
Pair your Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) with a Bachelor of Information Technology or Bachelor of Science.
Am I eligible to study?
JCU’s Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) does not have any subject pre-requisites. However, given the requirements of the course, the following subjects are noted as recommended knowledge:
- English
- Mathematical Methods (or equivalent).
All undergraduate courses, including the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) have a required Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). As these can change each year, we recommend that you check the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) course page for the most up to date information.
If you do not have an ATAR, explore JCU’s Pathway options to gain entry into uni.
This depends on where you have completed your Diploma of Engineering.
At JCU
JCU offers the Diploma of Engineering [Pathway] as a pathway into a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).
Successful completion of this 1-year, full-time (or 2 years part-time) Diploma enables you to transfer into a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) with your first-year subjects complete, saving you time on your degree.
At another institution
If you have completed a Diploma of Engineering or equivalent at another university or recognised tertiary education provider within the last 10 years, you may be eligible to apply for credit towards your engineering degree.
At JCU, some courses have pre-approved credit allowances. You can use our credit calculator to see if your Diploma of Engineering or equivalent is listed.
If not, you should still complete an application for credit, as JCU can also assess your prior learning on an individual basis. Learn more about the process for applying for credit at JCU.
On the job learning is an extremely effective way to build your practical skillset. As such, JCU can assess the informal or non-formal learning you received as part of your career development. Depending on the evidence you provide and the learning you have completed, you may be eligible for credit towards your Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).
As every workplace is different, JCU must consider each application on its individual merits. We are unable to provide an estimate of how much credit you may receive for prior work experience.
You can find out more about this process by exploring our Credit for Previous Learning page.
A Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) requires 96 credit points for completion.
The maximum amount of credit that you can receive for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) is 48 credit points.
If you are successful in receiving credit for a particular subject, you will have 21 years from the date of the assessment of credit to use it, after which the credit is cancelled.
For further information about credit allowances for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) consult the Handbook section of the course page.
When can I study?
You can begin your Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) studies at either Townsville, Bebegu Yumba, Douglas or Cairns, Nguma-bada, Smithfield campuses in either January (Trimester 1) or September (Trimester 3).
This will depend on how regularly each core (required) subject is offered. You can access details about the core and elective subjects for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in the Handbook section of the course page.
For advice specific to your circumstances, you may wish to chat with one of our Future Student advisors.
What can I expect from my study experience?
You can specialise your Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) by selecting a major, minors and electives. However, before you begin to focus on your chosen area, you will complete several core subjects that the entire cohort are required to undertake. These are sometimes called common subjects.
There are currently 8 first year common subjects within the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours). This will ensure that you develop a firm foundation in several disciplines and have the opportunity to try a bit of everything before deciding on your major.
Depending on your specialisation choices, you may also encounter some common subjects in your later years of the degree.
As the first year of a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) consists of common subjects, it can be completed at either the JCU Townsville or Cairns campuses.
However, the majors you can choose from second year onwards depend on which campus you wish to study at:
Townsville Bebegu Yumba, Douglas campus
Cairns Nguma-bada, Smithfield campus
Please note that not all majors are available for mid-year entry. Consult the specific major listing in the Handbook to determine specific availability.
There are also several minors and elective subjects that you can combine with your major. You can find a detailed list of these on the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) course page.
As part of your degree, you will need to gain experience in Professional Engineering Placement.
At JCU, you satisfy this requirement through the completion of an industry placement. Within this placement you must complete the equivalent of 60 days full-time work.
Ready to study Engineering at JCU?
Now that you have the answers you need, you can take the next step in your study journey and apply for the course that suits you best.
Choose to focus your attention solely on Engineering or diversify your skillset by choosing one of our double degrees.
Looking for more info?
We've answered the most common questions about Engineering for you here. However, it's normal to have questions specific to your circumstances. For more details and 1-on-1 advice, you can call, email or chat with a JCU advisor.