The Chief of Defence Force Students Program in Engineering offers the opportunity for students entering UNSW Canberra with a high Entrance Rank, and who maintain a high level of performance in their studies, to undertake research in a range of disciplines that will develop their critical thinking and independent research skills beyond that available in the standard Engineering program. In Year 1 of the program, students will be engaged with cohort activities so as to develop and maintain their interest and continuing involvement in the program via invited lectures, seminars, general reading and social events.

Commencing in Year 2, the research projects, each offered as separate courses, will be supervised by academic staff from the same or closely related discipline. Students in the research courses may work independently or as part of a team, depending on the nature of the project undertaken, though all students will submit individual assessment. Final assessment, due by the end of session, will be based on a written paper and an oral presentation.

The Program is of four years duration, and is awarded as an honours degree. The Programs is in the process of being accredited by Engineers Australia.

The BE (Mech) (CDF) program has program objectives and learning outcomes in common with the standard BE(Mech) program. The program extends the educational principles embodied in the BE to a higher level of the degree. In the program, students will be exposed in first year to research methods in Engineering and will be offered significant extensions to the ideas and analysis performed in the standard degree program. This will allow them to undertake research projects, at the appropriate level, in their later years, thereby, more fully integrating research into the standard undergraduate degree. The individual projects undertaken in close association with academic staff on research topics of mutual interest underpin the program and give the students the ability to develop their full potential.

The Bachelor of Engineering (CDF) degrees require a prescribed program structure as determined by the engineering program chosen. Each year of the program comprises a number of School-based courses and courses taught by other Schools within UNSW Canberra. Specialisation in Mechanical Engineering increases as the degree program progresses. A research component is taken each semester in years 1-3. The full year thesis is worth twice the normal credit allocation in the final year.

First Year Program

and 1 x General Education Course

Fourth Year Program

And 1 x General Education Course and 1 x Technical Elective Course

Note: ZEIT4011 and ZEIT4012 require the approval of the Undergraduate Coordinator

Upper level courses from other programs may be taken with the Undergraduate Coordinator's approval. Not all electives may be offered in any year.

*The courses ZEIT4503, ZEIT6574 and ZEIT6572 share some common teaching materials which make them mutually exclusive.

1. Faculty Regulations for Undergraduate Students

A student must comply with the Faculty Regulations for Undergraduate Students. In the event of a conflict, the rules for the Bachelor of Engineering take precedence over the Faculty Regulations for Undergraduate Students.

2. Degree Requirements

2.1 The degree of Bachelor of Engineering (CDF), shall be conferred as an Honours Degree.

2.2 To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering (CDF), a student shall normally be enrolled for a minimum of eight sessions and gain a minimum of 192 units of credit (normally 24 UOC in each full time session).

2.3 A student completing a Standard Program shall complete courses, in the years prescribed, for all engineering students and those pertaining to one particular branch of engineering as set out in the relevant schedule.

2.4 A student completing a Non-Standard Program shall, subject to the requirements of Rule 2.5 (below), timetabling requirements and the approval of the appropriate Head of School, be permitted to enrol in any one year in courses selected from more than one year of the relevant schedule.

2.5 Before a student's enrolment will be accepted for any course, the student must have completed the relevant pre-requisite courses shown in the Course Catalogue, except where the Course Authority for the appropriate course approves otherwise.

2.6 A student for enrolment for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering (CDF) shall hold an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) or equivalent, of no less than 98.

2.7 To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering (CDF), a student shall normally achieve a sessional Weighted Average Mean (WAM) of 85.

2.8 Normally, a student who does not comply with the requirements of Rule 2.7 (above) shall be transferred to candidature for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering. Such review will occur at the end of each Semester.

2.9 Rule 2.8 above shall not normally be invoked for students with Potential Graduand status.

2.10 A student for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering may, at the discretion of the Head of School, transfer to the degree of Bachelor of Engineering (CDF) upon completion of 24 units of credit with a WAM of 80 or greater in semesters 1 or 2 of the Year 1 program.

3. Practical Experience Requirements

Before graduation a student shall complete 60 days of approved practical engineering experience which must be done in blocks of at least 20 working days each, each block being in the service of a single employer.

Note: Service Training and Practical Experience Requirements

Service training conducted during the degree program is recognised as partially satisfying practical experience requirements in the following ways:

For Naval Midshipmen, 30 days for experience gained at a defence establishment between second and third years. (Time at sea prior to arrival at UNSW Canberra is not eligible for consideration.)
For Army Cadets, 30 days for the year spent at Royal Military College between third and fourth years.
For Air Force Cadets, 30 days for experience gained at a defence establishment between second and third years.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

These regulations apply to all undergraduate degrees and are to be used in conjunction with Academic Rules and Program Information. All rules in this Handbook apply to each student who enters an undergraduate program in 2013. The rules remain applicable until the student exits their program, either by discontinuation or graduation. Students who entered a program in another year should consult the rules and regulations for that year.

1. Meeting degree requirements

1.1 To be eligible to graduate, a student must comply with the Faculty Regulations for Undergraduate Students and specific program rules.

1.2 Every student must complete courses as part of their degree. The requirements of a course will be outlined by its course convenor.

1.3 A student will be prevented from enrolling in a course if they have not met the prerequisites specified.

1.4 Each course completed or granted as credit towards a program may be counted towards only one major in that program.

2. Multiple enrolment

No student will be admitted into a UNSW program without the approval of the relevant Head of School if they are already enrolled in another program of study at any tertiary institution.

3. Study required per UOC

25-30 hours of work (over a 13 week teaching period) including face-to-face teaching sessions and private study time, is expected for 1 UOC per session (e.g. 150-180 hours of study is expected for a 6 UOC course).

4. General Education requirement

4.1 All UNSW Canberra programs include 12 UOC of General Education courses.

4.2 All ZGEN courses are worth 6 UOC and are offered each semester. If students wish to undertake more than 12 UOC of ZGEN courses they may select an additional ZGEN course/s as upper-level free electives.

4.3 Students must select one General Education course from each of the following groups:

Group 1 ZGEN2222 Introduction to Strategic Studies OR ZGEN2801 Leadership and Management;

and

Group 2 ZGEN2240 Introduction to Military Ethics OR ZGEN2215 Law, Force and Legitimacy.

5. Limit of Pass Conceded (PC)

A student cannot be awarded more than 18 UOC for PCs.

6. Limitation on enrolment each semester

In any session, a student cannot enrol in more than 30 UOC without the approval of the Registrar's Nominee (Manager, Student Administrative Services).

7. Credit Cancellation Period

No units of credit shall count towards any award at undergraduate level if ten or more years have elapsed since a candidate accumulated the units of credit.

8. Credit for previous study

8.1 Credit may be granted on the basis of previous studies at a recognised tertiary institution provided a Credit for Previous Study form is submitted and approved within the credit cancellation period.

8.2 If a student believes their previous studies and/or work experience have given them the knowledge and skills taught within a core course, but they have not completed suitable studies at a recognised tertiary institution, they may seek approval from the relevant program authority to substitute this course for one outside their degree rules.

9. Variation of program or course requirements

Upon sufficient cause being shown, the Presiding Member, Academic Board may, in special cases, vary the requirements of the degree rules provided that any proposed variation shall be initiated by a recommendation from the relevant Head of School and the Registrar's Nominee.

Enrolment in this progam is restricted to Midshipmen, Officer Cadets and Advanced Students in the Australian Defence Force and equivalent ranks from selected foreign Defence Forces.