Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering)
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you are an Australian citizen, or
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you are not an Australian citizen, and
you are not a New Zealand citizen (excluding TAFE courses), and
you are not an Australian permanent resident.local or an international student? - This information is for international students.
Overview
Civil engineers are concerned with the design, construction and improvement of our built environment. This degree provides you with the technical expertise and management skills needed to plan, design, construct and maintain facilities such as buildings, bridges, dams, water supply systems, waste treatment systems, road and rail networks, and air and sea ports. You will gain comprehensive engineering theory as well as hands-on practical work and real-life projects to get you job-ready.
*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.
Course in detail
On this page: course description, course structure and units of study.
Course description
This program information is provided for prospective students. Current students, please refer to your program planner and unit outlines. Program planners are available on the faculty website under Information for Current Students.
Civil engineering offers a creative and rewarding career in many different areas that are essential to modern civilisation. Career prospects for civil engineers are good, both in Australia and overseas. Because civil engineers are responsible for many of Australia's essential services, they will continue to be needed in considerable numbers for the foreseeable future.
Swinburne also offers a double degree in Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering)/ Bachelor of Commerce.
Please also refer to the Civil Engineering website for more information.
(Students holding an international student visa are required to study full-time and cannot study part-time.)
Course structure
This course operates under a student workload model based on 100 credit points for a full-time academic year. One credit point is deemed to be equivalent to one hour of student work per week over a semester, whether in contact with staff or in private study. The normal full-time load is four units of study per semester, each worth 12.5 credit points. The typical student's average weekly workload during semester is therefore expected to be 50 hours. Total student contact hours, including lectures, classes, tutorials, flexible learning and laboratory and field sessions will vary in different semesters.
Students complete a total of 32 units (400 credit points), as follows:
10 x Foundation Studies units (125 credit points)
13 x Technical Studies units (162.5 credit points)
2 x Infrastructure Studies units (25 credit points)
3 x Management and Business Studies units (37.5 credit points):
13 x Technical Studies units (162.5 credit points)
2 x Infrastructure Studies units (25 credit points)
3 x Management and Business Studies units (37.5 credit points):
- HES5175, and
- HES3380, and
- HES5380
4 x Electives (50 credit points), either from:
- Specialist Studies Elective Group
- Approved Minor
In addition:
3 x Compulsory, non-credit point units (0 credit points):
3 x Compulsory, non-credit point units (0 credit points):
- HED400 (or IBL), and
- HES0000, and
- HED402
Note: this program contains four Capstone experiences.
HED400 Professional Experience in Engineering (0 credit points)
In addition to the above, all Engineering students must complete a minimum of 12 weeks relevant industry experience. Where students complete Industry-Based Learning, an exemption will be granted for HED400. Please note that due to government regulation international students holding a student visa are not able to undertake IBL.
In addition to the above, all Engineering students must complete a minimum of 12 weeks relevant industry experience. Where students complete Industry-Based Learning, an exemption will be granted for HED400. Please note that due to government regulation international students holding a student visa are not able to undertake IBL.
Industry-Based Learning (HEW050/HEW055) (0 credit points)
Engineering students have the option of undertaking a 6 or 12 month, full-time, paid professional placement to link theory to practice, develop leadership potential and enhance graduate employability. Placements are subject to availability and student eligibility, and unit fees apply. Please note that due to government regulation international students holding a student visa are not able to undertake IBL. More information on IBL is available on the Course Experience tab.
Engineering students have the option of undertaking a 6 or 12 month, full-time, paid professional placement to link theory to practice, develop leadership potential and enhance graduate employability. Placements are subject to availability and student eligibility, and unit fees apply. Please note that due to government regulation international students holding a student visa are not able to undertake IBL. More information on IBL is available on the Course Experience tab.
HES0000 Careers in the Curriculum (0 credit points)
In addition to the above, all Swinburne undergraduate students must complete a compulsory unit of study, Careers in the Curriculum. Careers in the Curriculum is an innovative unit designed to assist Swinburne students to enhance their employability and career prospects.
In addition to the above, all Swinburne undergraduate students must complete a compulsory unit of study, Careers in the Curriculum. Careers in the Curriculum is an innovative unit designed to assist Swinburne students to enhance their employability and career prospects.
Careers in the Curriculum has been developed by Swinburne Careers and Employment who provide advice and feedback on completing job applications and undergoing interviews, directed at obtaining graduate employment. Careers in the Curriculum is a one semester compulsory unit usually undertaken in second year.
Students will not incur a HECS or fee debt as the cost will be met by the university as part of an initiative to enhance students' employability skills.
Units of study
The recommended sequence of study or 'program planner' for both new students and current students are available at the links below:
Most courses offer elective units, minors and/or majors within the structure, as listed above. Please refer to the Elective Options available for this program.
For this program, students may complete a minor in one of the following fields:
- Construction Management
- Infrastructure Design
- Port and Coastal Engineering
- Advance Structural Design
- or an approved minor
Graduate outcomes
On this page: aims and objectives, career opportunities and professional recognition.
Aims and objectives
Program objectives
The following six objectives are the typical skills and abilities that Swinburne graduates will have a few years after graduation as they develop their professional engineer careers.
The following six objectives are the typical skills and abilities that Swinburne graduates will have a few years after graduation as they develop their professional engineer careers.
- Manage complex civil engineering projects that are motivational, entrepreneurial, research and/or industry linked
- Take leadership and mentoring roles during the design and implementation phases of civil engineering projects
- Work in local and/or international organisations demonstrating an understanding of global engineering issues
- Apply civil engineering technical expertise to industry-related fields
- Work autonomously and in teams within organisations or as a consultant
- Apply ethical standards, principles of design for sustainable development, and environmental consideration to conceptualising and implementing industry-related projects
Program outcomes
At the completion of the Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering) course, graduates should be able to demonstrate the attainment of the following Civil Swinburne Engineering Competencies, required for external professional recognition:
At the completion of the Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering) course, graduates should be able to demonstrate the attainment of the following Civil Swinburne Engineering Competencies, required for external professional recognition:
- K1 Basic Science: Proficiently applies concepts, theories and techniques of the relevant natural and physical sciences
- K2 Maths and IT as Tools: Proficiently uses relevant mathematics and computer and information science concepts as tools
- K3 Discipline Specific: Proficiently applies advanced technical knowledge of Civil Engineering within that context
- K4 Emerging Disciplinary Trends: Interprets and applies current or emerging knowledge from inside and outside Civil Engineering
- K5 Practice Context: Discerns and appreciates the contextual factors affecting professional engineering practice
- K6 Professional Practice: Appreciates the principles of professional engineering practice in a sustainable context
- S1 Engineering Methods: Applies engineering methods in practical applications
- S2 Problem Solving: Systematically uses engineering methods in solving complex problems
- S3 Design: Systematically uses engineering methods in design
- S4 Project Management: Systematically uses engineering methods in conducting and managing projects
- A1 Ethics: Values the need for, and demonstrates, ethical conduct and professional accountability
- A2 Communication: Demonstrates effective communication to professional and wider audiences
- A3 Entrepreneurial: Appreciates entrepreneurial approaches to engineering practice
- A4 Information Management: Demonstrates seeking, using, assessing and managing information
- A5 Professional Self: Demonstrates professionalism
- A6 Management of Self: Demonstrates self management processes
- A7 Teamwork: Demonstrates effective team membership and team leadership
Career opportunities
Civil engineers work as planners, designers, construction managers, administrators, investigation and research engineers and consultants. They work for public authorities, municipalities, consulting firms and industry, or are self-employed.
Civil engineering is also an excellent preparation for many general managerial positions in business and industry, not directly related to civil engineering.
Course experience
On this page: honours and Swinburne Abroad.
Honours
Swinburne Engineering degrees offer the opportunity for high achieving students to graduate with an Honours grade.
Engineering Honours are awarded on the basis of academic achievement in twelve units nominated as representing the key values of the program. The mark for the student’s first attempt each of in the nominated units is averaged to determine the Honours grade:
H1: Greater than or equal to 80%
H2: Greater than or equal to 75% and less than 80%
H2B: Greater than or equal to 70% and less than 75%
H3: Greater than or equal to 65% and less than 70%
Swinburne Abroad
Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help internationalise your degree. International Exchange is an academic program allowing you to study at a Swinburne Partner Institution for one or two semesters during your degree. Swinburne's Partner Institutions offer many relevant subjects as well as a secure base to explore a different culture. Your studies whilst on exchange can be credited towards your Swinburne degree, provided they are relevant and approved by Swinburne. For further information visit the Swinburne Abroad website.Entry requirements
This course has academic and English language requirements, and prerequisites.
Academic requirements
To assess eligibility for entry to Swinburne, visit the Academic Entry Requirements page.
English language requirements
Swinburne College English for Academic Purposes Certificate: EAP 5 Advanced: 70%; OR, obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; OR, a TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 550 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 79, with no individual band below 18.
Refer to the English Language Requirements website for further information.
Apply
On this page: how to apply, course fees, scholarships and find out more.
Course fees*
A$25,750 (annual for 2013)*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.
Scholarships
A range of scholarships are available to international students, visit our Scholarship Page for details.
Find out more
Submit an Online Enquiry
Tel: +613 8676 7002 (outside Australia)
Freecall: 1800 897 973 (within Australia)
Email: international@swinburne.edu.au
Tel: +613 8676 7002 (outside Australia)
Freecall: 1800 897 973 (within Australia)
Email: international@swinburne.edu.au