Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
at University of South Australia, South Australia.
A four-year accredited engineering honours degree. Most programmes ladder a common first year into civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, software or mechatronic majors with mandatory industry placement.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the University of South Australia Bachelor of Engineering (Honours). We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official SATAC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
First year is a shared engineering foundation: engineering mathematics, physics, programming and computing, engineering design and graphics, and an introduction to professional practice. UniSA runs engineering as a practice-based degree, so first year already includes hands-on design and laboratory work alongside the theory. Second and third year are where you commit to a discipline such as civil, mechanical, electrical, mechatronic or software engineering. You take core analysis courses (structures and materials, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, circuits and signals, control systems, or software architecture depending on stream) plus laboratory and project work. UniSA's strong industry links bring in real briefs, guest engineers and site exposure, and you begin the mandatory industry placement. Final year centres on a major honours research or design project, often run with an industry partner, plus advanced discipline electives and a professional-practice course covering engineering management, ethics and sustainability. The degree is accredited by Engineers Australia, so graduates can work toward Chartered status and the program is recognised internationally under the Washington Accord.
Example first-year subjects
- Engineering Mathematics
- Engineering Physics
- Programming and Computing for Engineers
- Engineering Design and Graphics
- Introduction to Engineering Practice
- Materials and Mechanics
How you will be assessed
- Final exams worth a large share of mark in analysis courses
- Laboratory reports and experimental write-ups
- Design project deliverables and technical drawings
- Problem sets and quantitative assignments
- Group design and build projects
- Honours research or design project and presentation
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, structural or geotechnical engineer
- Graduate mechanical or maintenance engineer
- Graduate electrical or electronics engineer
- Graduate software or systems engineer
- Mining, mineral-processing or resources engineer
- Project or site engineer with a contractor
- Engineering analyst or design engineer in a consultancy
Graduate starting salary
$68,000 - $78,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
Most graduates enter graduate engineering programs with consultancies, contractors, infrastructure agencies, mining and energy companies or technology firms, then work toward Chartered Professional Engineer status with Engineers Australia. Postgraduate options include the Master of Engineering (specialist or management), the Master of Project Management and an MBA after several years of work. Strong students can pursue research masters and a PhD from the honours pathway.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students who enjoyed specialist maths and physics at school
- Practical problem-solvers who like building and testing things
- People comfortable with heavy quantitative and technical work
- Team players who can deliver group design projects
- Students keen to use placements and industry projects
It is probably not for you if
- Students who dislike maths-heavy and exam-heavy study
- Those wanting a flexible, essay-based or creative degree
- People unwilling to complete a mandatory industry placement
- Students who prefer to avoid laboratory and project work
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the University of South Australia handbook and on SATAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/unisa/bachelor-of-engineering-honours.