The Master of Engineering Science program is designed for engineers and graduates wishing to develop and expand their knowledge and skills in their current area of expertise.* This will enable students to meet or maintain professional accreditation standards and to provide opportunities for continuing professional development, as well as the opportunity to interact with those at the cutting edge of their discipline. Students will develop their technical knowledge and ability to analyse engineering problems. They will also gain further skills in solving engineering problems and justifying professional decisions.

Students will have the chance to work on a complex, open-ended enquiry-based project. This will develop their systematic approach to a problem and require project planning and the ability to analyse, interpret and communicate results proficiently. The completion of the research provides a pathway towards postgraduate research degrees through the development and demonstration of enquiry-based skills.

(* It is also possible for students to acquire some knowledge and skills in a different specialisation with the approval of the Stream Authority. This may require the student to take additional foundation and disciplinary knowledge courses at the discretion of the Stream Authority.)

Entry Requirements

Students need a recognised four year Bachelor degree in an appropriate area of engineering with a minimum 65% average as determined by the Postgraduate Entry Score Calculator**

** NOTE: The cut-off for students from Chinese non-211 institutions is 70% (as determined by the Postgraduate Coursework Entry Score Calculator). For entry details (particularly for South Asian students) click here.

The program is designed to enable students to fulfil a number of needs including:

Students must complete 96UOC of courses to be eligible for the degree, and must complete:

This degree is offered in specialisations (streams) including:

A specialisation consists of 72UOC specialisation courses and 24UOC elective courses. Specialisation courses must include between 18-30UOC of disciplinary knowledge courses, 18-30UOC of advanced disciplinary courses and 18-30UOC enquiry-based courses including a 12-24UOC project. Elective courses must include Engineering and Technical Management Courses.

Specialisations may be broad or narrow, and include options that cross the traditional disciplinary boundaries in the Faculty. Some specialisations include approved courses outside the Faculty of Engineering. A number of specialisation courses may be offered in both internal and external attendance modes and may be delivered in regular sessions, block or intensive modes on or off campus.

At the discretion of the Program or Stream Authority, students may be required to develop their foundational disciplinary knowledge through enrolment in undergraduate level courses that are deemed appropriate by the Authority. Students will be granted credit towards the program for the satisfactory completion of these courses up to a maximum of 12UOC.

Research project

Students complete between 18UOC and 30UOC of enquiry-based projects and research-directed courses. A project involves an independent investigation at an advanced level by the student and may include research, design, feasibility or other analysis requiring integration of knowledge and evaluation across a range of topics in the area of specialisation.

Enquiry-based projects must be complex, open-ended problems that allow room for student creativity, and the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of results. There must be multiple possible solutions or conclusions at the outset and sufficient complexity to require a degree of project planning from the student.

Work-based projects are encouraged for practising engineers provided they meet the requirements of advanced independent study. Such projects must be approved by the specialisation authority prior to commencement of the project.

Advanced Standing

A student may apply for credit towards the program as per the UNSW Recognition of Prior Learning Policy and Procedures. For example, a student with a 4-year engineering honours degree could obtain a maximum of 48UOC of advanced standing.

If the maximum credit is given, a student must still complete the following:

(Courses may count in more than one of the above categories.)

Applications for credit should be addressed to the relevant Stream Authority (contact relevant school for further details).

Enquiry-based Learning

The specialisation courses must include between 18UOC and 30UOC of enquiry-based learning. Of this between 12UOC and 24UOC must be a enquiry-based project.

A enquiry-based project involves an independent investigation at an advanced level by the student and may include research, design, feasibility or other analysis requiring integration of knowledge and evaluation across a range of topics in the area of specialisation. Such projects must be complex, open-ended problems that allow room for student creativity, and the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of results. There must be multiple possible solutions or conclusions at the outset and sufficient complexity to require a degree of project planning from the student. Work-based projects are encouraged for practising engineers provided they meet the requirements of advanced independent study. Such projects must be approved by the specialisation authority prior to commencement of the project.

General Rules of Progression

Progression in all postgraduate coursework programs in the Faculty of Engineering is permitted by course. However:

(a) Not all courses are available every session and some courses may only be available in alternate years. Students should check the approved list of courses for their specialisation and the Engineering and Technical Management specialisation for further details. Students will need to select courses carefully to ensure they can complete their program in minimum time. Students are not permitted to enrol in courses with clashing timetables.

(b) Students must satisfy the rules governing re-enrolment. A student's academic standing is evaluated at the end of each session. Any student not in Good Standing should discuss the situation with the Academic Adviser in the relevant school, and may be required to talk to a counsellor in the Careers and Counselling Unit. The full description of the University policy governing enrolment and academic standing can be found at https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/academiclife/assessment/AcademicStandingExplanation.html

(c) Students must satisfy the relevant pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements for each course.

(d) Only in exceptional circumstances will students be permitted to enrol in more than 24 units of credit in a session. The part-time mode will usually require students to enrol in a minimum of 18 UOC within any three consecutive sessions.

(e) Students are only permitted to enrol in courses that satisfy the program requirements as specified in the On-Line Handbook for the program in which they are enrolled. Enrolment in any other course is permitted only on a Non-Award basis, that is, on a tuition fee basis.

(f) Notwithstanding the above, before a student can enrol in any non-standard program, such a program must meet with the approval of the relevant program authority as shown in the program rules.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  UNSW Fee Website.

The courses in each specialisation form an articulated sequence. Students who complete the Graduate Diploma program may upgrade to the next program with full credit for the courses undertaken, provided they have completed the previous program at UNSW. A credit average (65) is generally required to articulate to the next level in the sequence. Students who have enrolled in a program will be permitted to exit with a lower qualification in the specialisation sequence providing they have completed the requirements of that program. Subject to the approval of the program authority and available places, students will be permitted to transfer to another specialisation with credit transfer being subject to the requirements of the specialisation into which the student is transferring.

All software required for coursework is provided on the computers in the School computer laboratories. Some students find it advantageous to buy their own computer and software so that they can work at home. Some external courses may require students to own their own computer with Microsoft Office or equivalent. Specialist software packages that are required for external courses will be provided as part of the course pack to students.

Field projects, site visits and industry seminars or lectures are a requirement of some courses and may involve additional expense.

All programs are available on a full-time or part-time basis.