Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
at The University of Queensland, Queensland.
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 The University of Queensland 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 | QTAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | QTAC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | QTAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official QTAC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
The UQ Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) is a four-year Engineers Australia accredited program taught from St Lucia. Year one is a shared engineering core covering engineering analysis and design, engineering modelling and problem solving with MATLAB or Python, engineering mathematics, engineering statics and dynamics, and a physical chemistry or thermodynamics unit. Most students confirm their major (Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronic, Mining, Software, Materials, Aerospace, Biomedical, Environmental, Computer Systems) at the end of year one. Year two carries discipline core units, design studios and laboratories. Year three runs advanced discipline units, electives and starts the engineering thesis or industry-linked project sequence. Year four is dominated by an individual research thesis (around 20 percent of the year), professional engineering practice, electives and a capstone design project. The degree is delivered with a strong focus on Queensland-specific industry (mining, civil infrastructure, renewable energy, biomedical) and demands the completion of 60 days (12 weeks) of supervised engineering practice before graduation under EA accreditation.
Example first-year subjects
- Engineering Statics and Dynamics
- Engineering Mathematics I and II
- Engineering Modelling and Problem Solving
- Engineering Analysis and Design
- Engineering Thermodynamics
- Foundations of Electrical Engineering
How you will be assessed
- Final exams of 40 to 60 percent in maths-heavy engineering core units
- Laboratory reports and pre-lab quizzes
- Design studio submissions with drawings, prototypes and team presentations
- Programming and modelling assignments using MATLAB, Python or specialty software
- Capstone individual thesis (year four) supervised by an academic
- Industry placement logbook and supervisor evaluation
Placement and industry experience
Engineers Australia accreditation requires a minimum of 60 days of supervised engineering practice before graduation. UQ runs the Engineering Internship and Industry Placement (EIIP) program to match students with engineering employers across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Bowen Basin and Mt Isa. Hosts include major consulting firms (Aurecon, AECOM, Arup, GHD, SMEC, WSP), mining and resources companies (BHP, BMA, Glencore, Anglo American), infrastructure agencies (Transport and Main Roads Queensland, Queensland Rail, Sunwater), energy and renewable firms, and technology companies. Most students complete their placement across summer breaks in year two and year three. Placements are typically paid at industry-standard rates.
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 engineer at large consulting and design firms (AECOM, Aurecon, Arup, GHD, SMEC)
- Graduate engineer at construction and infrastructure contractors
- Graduate mining or resources engineer with BHP, BMA, Glencore, Anglo American (Bowen Basin, Mt Isa)
- Software or systems engineer at Brisbane tech firms, banks and defence (EOS, Boeing Brisbane)
- Project engineer at Transport and Main Roads Queensland, Queensland Rail, Sunwater
- Graduate in Brisbane City Council, Energex, Powerlink and Queensland Government departments
Graduate starting salary
$75,000 - $90,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
Honours classification is built into the degree (no extra year required). Top students enter research masters or PhD pathways at UQ. Common postgraduate pivots include the Master of Engineering Science (specialty stream), Master of Project Management, Master of Sustainable Energy and the UQ MBA. The Engineers Australia pathway leads to Chartered Status (CPEng) after typically three to five years of supervised work. Combined bachelors with Commerce, Science, Computer Science, Arts, Mathematics and Information Technology are widely offered.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students who excelled in Year 12 Methods or Specialist Maths and Physics
- Those who enjoy building and problem solving in teams
- People aiming for chartered engineering status and a long technical career
- Students happy to do industry placement during summers, often in mining or remote sites
- Those willing to manage demanding workloads across four years
It is probably not for you if
- Students wanting a three-year degree with light maths
- Those who dislike laboratory and design-studio work
- Anyone uncomfortable with high contact hours (typically 22 to 28 per week)
Careers this leads to
Australian career pathways that name this Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) as an entry route. Each page shows uni, TAFE and apprenticeship alternatives.
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the The University of Queensland handbook and on QTAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/uq/bachelor-of-engineering-honours.