Mine Geotechnical Engineering - 8059
Program Summary
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering
Contact: School
Campus: Sydney
Career: Postgraduate
Typical Duration: 1.5 Years 
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC Per Semester: 6
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC For Award: 72
View program information for previous years
Program Description
The Masters in Mine Geotechnical Engineering is offered as a specialist postgraduate coursework qualification for people who currently, or wish in the future to, work within the underground hard rock or underground coal mining industry with particular responsibilities in the field of strata control. The program has been designed to cater for people with different backgrounds, including either engineering or scientific tertiary qualifications and/or relevant experience. The program may be undertaken on either a part-time or full-time basis.
The overall program content provides an initial grounding in fundamental principles of rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering, followed by a comprehensive coverage of practical strata control applications, from the point of view of both the technologies involved, together with their implementation and management. The learning outcomes of this program will therefore provide a student with both the fundamental and practical knowledge base to be able to fulfil the role of a mine Strata Control Engineer.
The program is particularly designed for people working at mine sites, or those who have access to a mine site for practical assignments. The course is offered in a flexible delivery format, with a large component available in a distance format, plus a limited number of face-to-face workshops/sessions. Assessments will include a number of practical, site-based assignments, including group and interactive work and presentations.
Please note that some electives may be offered only every two years. A course calendar indicating current block and distance options is available from the UNSW School of Mining Engineering website:
NOTE: This program does not allow international students to enrol on a student visa.
Entry Requirements
Entry to the Masters in Mine Geotechnical Engineering is by satisfying the requirements of the UNSW Graduate Diploma in Underground Ground Control or UNSW Graduate Diploma in Coal Mine Strata Control with a minimum of 70% WAM and no course fails.
There is no direct entry path for this program, however, in rare exceptional circumstances, students who can demonstrate equivalent prior learning may be approved an alternative entry pathway by written permission of the Head of School or Director of Postgraduate Studies (Coursework).
NOTE: If students lose or change jobs and no longer have mine site access, the School will work with the students affected to arrange ongoing access to a mine site, or mine site data, so as to enable the opportunity for successful completion of the courses and related assessment tasks. This may include ongoing access agreed with their past employer, or access to an alternate site or site database being arranged. As such, there is no requirement for the students to have to change streams or programs on this account.
The overall program content provides an initial grounding in fundamental principles of rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering, followed by a comprehensive coverage of practical strata control applications, from the point of view of both the technologies involved, together with their implementation and management. The learning outcomes of this program will therefore provide a student with both the fundamental and practical knowledge base to be able to fulfil the role of a mine Strata Control Engineer.
The program is particularly designed for people working at mine sites, or those who have access to a mine site for practical assignments. The course is offered in a flexible delivery format, with a large component available in a distance format, plus a limited number of face-to-face workshops/sessions. Assessments will include a number of practical, site-based assignments, including group and interactive work and presentations.
Please note that some electives may be offered only every two years. A course calendar indicating current block and distance options is available from the UNSW School of Mining Engineering website:
NOTE: This program does not allow international students to enrol on a student visa.
Entry Requirements
Entry to the Masters in Mine Geotechnical Engineering is by satisfying the requirements of the UNSW Graduate Diploma in Underground Ground Control or UNSW Graduate Diploma in Coal Mine Strata Control with a minimum of 70% WAM and no course fails.
There is no direct entry path for this program, however, in rare exceptional circumstances, students who can demonstrate equivalent prior learning may be approved an alternative entry pathway by written permission of the Head of School or Director of Postgraduate Studies (Coursework).
NOTE: If students lose or change jobs and no longer have mine site access, the School will work with the students affected to arrange ongoing access to a mine site, or mine site data, so as to enable the opportunity for successful completion of the courses and related assessment tasks. This may include ongoing access agreed with their past employer, or access to an alternate site or site database being arranged. As such, there is no requirement for the students to have to change streams or programs on this account.
Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this program, students should be able to:
1) Advanced disciplinary knowledge and practices
Graduates will have acquired advanced disciplinary knowledge and skills in Mining Engineering, and an ability to apply these in a range of contexts.
Students should be able to:
At the conclusion of this program, students should be able to:
1) Advanced disciplinary knowledge and practices
Graduates will have acquired advanced disciplinary knowledge and skills in Mining Engineering, and an ability to apply these in a range of contexts.
Students should be able to:
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the disciplinary body of knowledge, including established theories and recent developments relevant to Mining Engineering.
- Apply disciplinary principles and practices to new or complex environments.
2)Enquiry-based learning
Graduates will have developed an understanding of enquiry-based learning and demonstrate analytical skills.
Students should be able to:
Graduates will have developed an understanding of enquiry-based learning and demonstrate analytical skills.
Students should be able to:
- Plan and execute an enquiry--based or mining industry research project, undertake a capstone experience or complete a piece of work that involves substantial scholarship.
- Apply enquiry-based learning and ways of thinking to new disciplinary and/or professional contexts.
3) Cognitive skills and critical thinking
Graduates will have developed advanced critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Students should be able to:
Graduates will have developed advanced critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Students should be able to:
- Investigate, generate and synthesise complex ideas and concepts at an abstract and/or applied level.
- Critically evaluate contemporary debates and literatures in Mining Engineering.
- Analyse problems or issues, articulate appropriate solutions and justify propositions and/or professional decisions.
4) Communication, adaptive and interactional skills
Graduates will be able to communicate effectively to a range of audiences, and be capable of independent and collaborative enquiry and working effectively with others.
Students should be able to:
Graduates will be able to communicate effectively to a range of audiences, and be capable of independent and collaborative enquiry and working effectively with others.
Students should be able to:
- Communicate complex ideas in a variety of formats to diverse audiences.
- Demonstrate a high level of personal autonomy and accountability in the acquisition or application of knowledge or skills.
- Demonstrate an understanding of, and the ability to apply, the principles of teamwork and collaboration.
5) Global outlook
Graduates will have an awareness of international issues within Mining Engineering.
Students should be able to:
Graduates will have an awareness of international issues within Mining Engineering.
Students should be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of international perspectives relevant to Mining Engineering.
- understanding of their discipline in its interdisciplinary context
- ethical practitioners
- capable of applying their discipline in local, national and international contexts
- culturally aware and capable of respecting diversity
- capable of environmental responsibility
Program Structure
The 8059 program requires completion of one of two specialisations. The program requires a total of 72 UOC.
Course enrolments must be consistent with stream requirements.
Academic Rules
(a) Assumed Knowledge
Assumed knowledge is specific to specialisations and courses that are selected and may include one or more of the following: maths, physics, chemistry. Details on assumed knowledge of specific courses are available from the UNSW handbook course description or Program Authority.
(b) Exemptions: Recognised prior learning (RPL) may be available towards the program award for selected courses within the program. A maximum of 12 UOC of RPL will be considered on application to the Program Authority, and according to the UNSW RPL Procedure. Criteria for approval will include: equivalent course duration at a recognised institution, equivalent course content and assessment.
(c) Electives: A set of electives developed specifically for this program will be available to the students to choose from. Selection of Electives from outside this set will require approval of the program authority.
(d) Award of the Degree: A student who completes the requirements for the degree shall receive at graduation a testamur for the degree of Master in Mine Geotechnical Engineering.
(e) Administration of the Program: The program will be administered by the School of Mining Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering.
(f) Course Delivery: The courses for this program will be delivered by the School of Mining Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering.
Assumed knowledge is specific to specialisations and courses that are selected and may include one or more of the following: maths, physics, chemistry. Details on assumed knowledge of specific courses are available from the UNSW handbook course description or Program Authority.
(b) Exemptions: Recognised prior learning (RPL) may be available towards the program award for selected courses within the program. A maximum of 12 UOC of RPL will be considered on application to the Program Authority, and according to the UNSW RPL Procedure. Criteria for approval will include: equivalent course duration at a recognised institution, equivalent course content and assessment.
(c) Electives: A set of electives developed specifically for this program will be available to the students to choose from. Selection of Electives from outside this set will require approval of the program authority.
(d) Award of the Degree: A student who completes the requirements for the degree shall receive at graduation a testamur for the degree of Master in Mine Geotechnical Engineering.
(e) Administration of the Program: The program will be administered by the School of Mining Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering.
(f) Course Delivery: The courses for this program will be delivered by the School of Mining Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering.
Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website: UNSW Fee Website.
Area(s) of Specialisation
Study Levels
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