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Changing streams or degrees

Procedure for changing or entering streams

The School of Civil Engineering offers different streams of the BE degree: (plain) civil engineering, civil (structural), civil (geotechnical), civil (environmental), civil (construction management), and PEM (Project Engineering and Management).

The civil streams (except PEM) are the same until you start to chose your electives in Semester 2 of year 3.

The stream specialisation requirements (eg in structural or geotechnical) require the completion of certain 3rd and 4th year electives. Consequently, combined degree students who want to do a specialisation stream, may need to complete more than 240 credit points, since the combined degrees are based mainly on the core units of study.

The conditions of completion of a stream refer to completion of specific electives and a thesis in that specific area.

Changing streams requires the approval of the Head of School of Civil Engineering (delegated to the Director of Undergraduate Studies). Students wishing to move into civil from other streams of engineering (chemical, electrical, mechanical etc) need to apply.

Civil students who want to swap between streams of civil, will automatically have their requests approved if they meet these criteria:

  • Enrolment into streams, or transfer between streams, can occur either at entry to the University or by application after the end of Semester 2 and before the start of Semester 1 the next year (transfer will only be considered if you have more than 48 credit points remaining in your degree and you have not yet started your thesis/project).
  • Your ATAR should be greater than or equal to the ATAR required for entry into that stream in the year you first enrolled at the University, or
  • Your WAM (weighted average mark) is >65 for the previous two semesters.
  • Please contact the Undergraduate Student Administrative Advisor if you wish to change streams.

Procedure for changing degrees

Single BE and the combined degrees with Arts, Science, Commerce etc are considered different degrees. Since candidature involves more than one Faculty, different procedures are required.

  • It is usually acceptable to downgrade a combined degree to either of the individual degrees by applying at the Faculty Office. Note you will need to satisfy the requirements of the single degree to graduate.
  • Students who wish to transfer from a single BE to a combined degree (or between combined degrees) or any other course outside the administration of the Faculty must apply to the Universities Admissions Centre or International Office as appropriate.