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Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Science

The information on this page applies to future students. Current students should refer to their faculty handbooks for course information.

The Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Science is a well-established, popular combined degree emphasising the strong scientific foundations of engineering. The combined degree will give you two qualifications with just one extra year of study and expand your scientific and technological career options.

The Bachelor of Engineering emphasises practical aspects of science and technology, while the Bachelor of Science emphasises fundamental principles. The combined degree allows for major study in two areas of science. You will complete science units of study in each year of the course, and major in a science subject area from first year to third year.

Selection of your engineering stream will take place at enrolment. Note that, although you may have achieved the ATAR or equivalent for admission to the combined degree, you must also achieve the ATAR or equivalent for the engineering stream you wish to pursue as part of the combination. If you elect to undertake the Bachelor of Science in the Advanced or Advanced Mathematics stream, you must also achieve the ATAR for the relevant individual science stream.

Majors

Units of study

For full information on Units of Study available in this course, please visit the Sydney Courses website

Units of study information for engineering degrees (please select 'Engineering' and then 'Engineering Combined Degrees')

Full units of study list

Further course information

Study plan

The combined Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Science is undertaken full-time over five years. Students enrol in junior units of study with a maximum 48 credit points during first year. A typical unit of study has a value of 6 credit points. For the Bachelor of Engineering degree, students will complete core and available elective units of study as required by their engineering stream. Students undertake an honours thesis or engineering project in fifth year.

Students will complete one major in the Bachelor of Science from the majors available within the Faculty of Science.

Progression rules

The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies will monitor students for satisfactory progress towards the completion of the Bachelor of Engineering. In addition to the common triggers used to identify students not meeting academic progression requirements (as defined by the progression requirements of the Coursework Rule), students must pass any unit of study identified in the course resolutions as being critical to progression through the course.

The Faculty of Science will also monitor students for satisfactory academic progress. In the Bachelor of Science a student shall not have made satisfactory progress in any semester if the student:
(a) fails to complete successfully 50% or more of the credit points in which the student was enrolled for that semester; and /or
(b) fails to complete successfully on the second or later attempt the same unit of study; and/or
(c) fails to complete successfully any compulsory or barrier unit(s) of study, field or clinical work, practicum, or professional experience; and/or
(d) is consequently unable to complete the degree within the maximum permitted time while carrying a normal student load.

A student in the Bachelor of Science who has not made satisfactory progress in any semester will be placed on the faculty’s academic register. Such students will be required to take action as outlined in the University Academic Progression Policy or as otherwise directed by the faculty.

What is a major?

Candidates are required to complete one major in the Bachelor of Science and have the option of completing up to two majors. A major requires the completion of 24 senior credit points chosen from units of study listed in the table for that major, except for a psychology major. A psychology major requires 48 credit points across intermediate and senior units of study.

What is an elective?

An elective is a unit of study within a degree, usually an option within a course. Electives allow more detailed study of a particular subject.

Engineering electives are often recommended within an engineering stream as they are directly related to, or build a more comprehensive understanding of content taught in, core units of study within the stream. Each stream will also list acceptable alternative units of study, and free electives, providing a flexible study plan.

For the Bachelor of Science, electives can be chosen from units available within the Faculty of Science.

Course opportunities

All streams in the Bachelor of Engineering program include a mandatory 10-12 week practical/industrial placement, plant and site visits, and opportunities for the development of significant professional relationships with industry partners.

The Bachelor of Engineering and the Bachelor of Science both offer one-year exchange programs around the world.

Course outcomes and further study

Graduate opportunities

The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies enjoys strong professional and research links with Australian and global industry, affording unparalleled opportunities for Sydney Engineering graduates. See the details provided separately for each School: Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering (AMME) http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/aeromech; Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/chemical; Civil Engineering (CE) http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/civil; Electrical and Information Engineering (EIE) http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/electrical; Information Technologies (IT) http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/it

Science graduates from the University of Sydney have distinguished themselves in many areas of endeavour. Our graduates include winners of the Nobel Prize and the Rhodes Scholarship and leaders in international research, education, business, banking and government. Employers value a Sydney Science graduate's genuinely adaptable skills and ability to think creatively about complex issues. Recent graduates are employed in science-based work in industry, research, hospitals, forensics, patent offices quality control, medical laboratories, banking, business analysis, sales, marketing, human resources, librarianship, publishing, museums, computing, and biotechnology.

Course accreditation

Sydney engineering degrees are accredited by Engineering Australia and by other major professional engineering institutions. Our graduates are recognised internationally through the Washington Accord of the International Engineering Alliance http://www.washingtonaccord.org

Depending upon the major or majors undertaken within the Bachelor of Science, the degree offers professional recognition by a range of government and non-government organisations. See the information on each of the majors available for further details.

Further study

After completing the Bachelor of Engineering, further study is available through the Graduate School of Engineering and IT. The GSE provides a link between postgraduate students in the different Engineering disciplines, and offers a welcoming and supportive environment in which to undertake challenging coursework programs and research. The faculty's postgraduate coursework and research are focused on industrial applications supported by strong fundamental research programs run by internationally recognised academics.

Following completion of the Bachelor of Science, eligible candidates may proceed to an additional honours year, or to the Graduate Diploma in Science in some areas of study, as pathways to higher degrees by research in the sciences at Sydney. The BSc also provides for admission to a range of Sydney postgraduate and graduate entry coursework programs.

About honours

Both the Bachelor of Engineering and the Bachelor of Science can be awarded with honours. Honours is available to meritorious candidates in all streams of the Bachelor of Engineering who complete an alternative set of units of study in the final year of the program. Admission to the honours year is by permission of the program coordinator after the completion of third year. Admission requires an ISWAM (Intermediate-Senior Weighted Average Mark) of at least 65 in units of study completed over second and third year. To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree a candidate must complete the requirements for the pass degree but include the alternative 12 credit point honours pathway described in the table of units of study for the stream.

The Bachelor of Science with Honours comprises a widely recognised and highly regarded additional year of undergraduate study available to students who have recently completed an undergraduate degree. Honours is a unique opportunity for students to explore their research potential with an independent project and generally consists of the following three components: an independent research project supervised by one or more internationally recognised scientists; additional courses in experimental design or technical training; some coursework study including classes. Completing a science degree with an honours year opens the door to many employment and scientific research opportunities. For detailed advice see the Bachelor of Science (Honours)

Admission

Admission requirements

Admission to this course is on the basis of a secondary school leaving qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including national and international equivalents), tertiary study or an approved preparation program. English language requirements must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English. Special admission pathways are open for domestic mature aged applicants who do not possess a school leaving qualification, educationally disadvantaged applicants and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Applicants are ranked by merit and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking. Details of admission policies are found in the Coursework Rule.

Flexible Entry Scheme available for this degree http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/futurestudent/flexibleentry

Assumed knowledge

HSC Mathematics Extension 1, Physics and/or Chemistry. If you attempt engineering without this prior level of knowledge of Mathematics you may experience difficulty, so you are strongly advised to undertake an appropriate bridging course. Science assumed knowledge should be appropriate to the Engineering stream or Science major that is chosen for this combined degree.

How to apply

Domestic students

How to apply

Applications for the University's undergraduate courses are made through the Universities Admission Centre (UAC). On-time applications for the March Semester close on the last working day of September. On-time applications for the July Semester close in May. Please note: not all courses are offered in the July semester intake.

International students

How to apply

Overseas applicants may apply (i) directly to the University's International Office, (ii) through a University overseas representative (education agent), or (iii) through the Universities Admissions Centre, for students applying on the basis of a current Australian Year 12 secondary school examination, or studying either an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3.

Fee disclaimer

Domestic students

Indicative Undergraduate Student Contribution Amount

This student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013 for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol. If you are a Commonwealth supported student and was enrolled in a University course before 1 January 2012 your student contribution may differ.

For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Future Students' website.

Annual review

Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the student contribution. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.

International students

Indicative international tuition fees for undergraduate students

This international tuition fee is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013, for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact tuition fees that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol.

For further information about how to calculate your specific total tuition fees, please refer to the University's Future Students' website.

Annual review

Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees and health insurance

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the tuition fees. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.

In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through an approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.