Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
at James Cook University, Queensland.
A four-year engineering honours degree at Townsville (ranks shown) and Cairns (70.00 in 2026) with a common first year and a full-year research thesis. No prerequisites; English and Mathematical Methods (Units 3 and 4, C) are recommended.
Lowest selection rank
The lowest selection rank (LSR) is the lowest ATAR plus adjustment factors (equity, subject and regional bonuses) that received an offer to the JCU Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) for that intake. Universities publish it in their admissions student profiles. Only intakes with a published figure are listed.
| Intake | Lowest selection rank | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 70.00 | qtac.edu.au |
| 2025 | 70.00 | qtac.edu.au |
A lowest selection rank describes a past intake, not a guaranteed entry score. Check the current entry requirements on the official course page before you apply through QTAC.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
No formal Year 12 subject prerequisites; assumed knowledge may still apply.
What you will study
After a common first year, students choose one major. Townsville offers chemical, civil, electrical and electronic, and mechanical engineering; Cairns offers electrical and electronic, electronic systems and internet of things, maritime, and mechanical engineering. Engineering design, communication and project management run through the course, which ends with a full-year thesis on a significant research project.
Placement and industry experience
Students must complete at least 60 days of professional engineering practice before graduating, and hold a Senior First Aid certificate at graduation.
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as professional engineers in civil, mechanical, electrical, mining and software roles after gaining Engineers Australia registration.
- Common destinations include consulting engineering firms (AECOM, Aurecon, Arup), infrastructure agencies and major mining and energy companies.
- Many alumni move into project management, technology start-ups or graduate management programmes within five years.
Professional accreditation
- Engineers Australia
Typical first jobs
- Graduate civil or structural engineer at consulting firms (Aurecon, GHD, AECOM)
- Graduate mechanical engineer at industrial or manufacturing employers
- Graduate electrical or electronic engineer at power and utility operators
- Graduate mining engineer at north Queensland resource companies
- Graduate water or environmental engineer at regional councils or utilities
- Project engineer on regional infrastructure and resilience projects
- Graduate engineer in renewable energy and resources
Graduate starting salary
$68,000 - $78,000 per year
Source: qilt.edu.au. Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
Graduates are eligible for Engineers Australia membership and work in infrastructure, resources, energy and manufacturing, particularly across regional and northern Australia.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students who liked specialist maths and physics in senior school
- Problem-solvers who enjoy practical lab and design work
- People interested in tropical, regional and remote infrastructure
- Patient team players willing to do group projects across all four years
- Self-starters who chase summer engineering internships
It is probably not for you if
- Students who dislike maths or have not done methods and physics
- People wanting a humanities-style course with light contact hours
- Those who avoid group work and lab reports
- Students unwilling to do industry placement during summer breaks
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and selection ranks on the James Cook University website and on QTAC before applying.