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 three years duration, and is awarded as a pass degree. There is provision for students who have completed the BTech to upgrade it to a BE degree in Aeronautical Engineering by undertaking at least 18 months further study at a later stage.

The Programs is in the process of being accredited by Engineers Australia.

The BTech (Aero) (CDF) program is very similar to the first three years of the BE(Aero) (CDF) program. The BTech (Aero) (CDF) is primarily designed for RAAF Officer Cadets who intend to become aircrew and wish to enhance their understanding of the operation and performance of aircraft. The program extends the educational principles embodied in the BTech 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 Technology (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 Aeronautical Engineering increases as the degree program progresses. A research component is taken each session in years 1-3.

First Year program

Plus 2 x General Education Courses

1. Faculty Regulations for Undergraduate Students

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

2. Degree Requirements

2.1 To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Technology (CDF), a student shall normally be enrolled for a minimum of eight sessions and gain a minimum of 144 UOC (normally 24 UOC in each full time semester).

2.2 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.

2.3 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 Heads of School, be permitted to enrol in any one year in courses selected from more than one year of the relevant schedule.

2.4 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.

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

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

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

2.8 A student for the degree of Bachelor of Technology may, at the discretion of the Head of School, transfer to the degree of Bachelor of Technology (CDF) upon completion of 24 UOC with a WAM of 80 or greater in semester 1 or 2 of the Year One program.

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

3. Practical Experience Requirements

3.1 Before graduation a student shall complete 40 days of approved practical engineering experience which must be done in blocks of at least 20 working days each where practicable and where each block must be in the service of a single provider, 20 days of appropriate service training may be counted towards this total.

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

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 2016. 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.

Please refer to Faculty Regulations information