Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
at University of the Sunshine Coast, 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 University of the Sunshine Coast 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
First year is a common engineering foundation: engineering mathematics (calculus, linear algebra, differential equations), physics for engineers, mechanics, programming, engineering design and an engineering practice subject. Teaching at Sippy Downs uses small cohorts and hands-on studio and lab work, and most students do not lock in a specialisation until the end of first year. Second and third year specialise into the majors UniSC offers, commonly civil, mechanical, electrical and mechatronic engineering. Design studios and lab work increase, with major group design projects and continuing engineering mathematics. Project briefs often draw on regional infrastructure, coastal and water-management challenges across the Sunshine Coast and wider South East Queensland. Final year is the capstone year: a year-long major engineering design or research project, advanced electives in your specialisation and the required engineering work experience. On graduation you can register with Engineers Australia as a Graduate Member and begin working toward Chartered status.
Example first-year subjects
- Engineering Mathematics 1
- Physics for Engineers
- Engineering Mechanics (Statics)
- Introduction to Programming
- Engineering Design and Practice
- Engineering Materials
How you will be assessed
- Final exams worth 50 to 70 per cent in mathematics and core engineering subjects
- Weekly problem sets and laboratory reports
- Group design projects across all years
- Major capstone design or research project in the final year
- Engineering work-experience portfolio
- Software and CAD assignments
Placement and industry experience
Engineers Australia accreditation requires students to complete at least 12 weeks (around 450 hours) of supervised engineering work experience during the degree, typically across summer breaks in the later years. UniSC arranges placements through regional industry partners including councils, water and infrastructure authorities, and construction and manufacturing employers across the Sunshine Coast and South East Queensland. The work-integrated learning component is built into the honours program.
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 a consulting firm
- Graduate mechanical engineer with an industrial or manufacturing employer
- Graduate electrical or mechatronic engineer
- Graduate water or environmental engineer with a council or water authority
- Project or site engineer on regional infrastructure projects
- Graduate engineer in a local-government technical services team
- Graduate engineer at a Brisbane consulting or contracting firm
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 take a graduate engineer position with a consulting firm, a local-government or state infrastructure agency, a water authority, or a regional construction or manufacturing employer, with many moving to larger firms in Brisbane. Postgraduate options include Master of Engineering specialisations, Master of Engineering Management, the MBA after some experience and research masters or PhD pathways. Many graduates also pursue Chartered status with Engineers Australia.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students who liked specialist maths and physics at school
- Problem-solvers who enjoy practical lab, field and design work
- Patient team players willing to do group projects across all four years
- Self-starters who chase summer engineering placements
- Students who can keep going through demanding mathematics subjects
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 laboratory reports
- Students unwilling to do industry placement during breaks
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the University of the Sunshine Coast handbook and on QTAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/usc/bachelor-of-engineering-honours.