Bachelor of Engineering in Materials Engineering

The objective of the Materials Engineering course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for the design, development, production and application of engineering materials for gainful use by society. This objective is achieved through detailed study of the relationships between the structure, processing and properties of materials. The course is also designed to provide training in effective communication, management and teamwork skills, and the environmental sensitivity required of modern engineers.

The course is structured so that the early years provide training in sciences, mathematics, computing and design. This establishes the basis for the study of structures and properties of metallic, ceramic, polymeric and composite materials, the ways they are produced and processed, and how they are used in the manufacture of goods and engineering components. The emphasis of the later years of the course is on processing, and design and application of engineering materials.

In their final year, students can choose a series of elective subjects to develop a specialisation in one of four fields: Materials Science and Technology, Metallurgical Processing, Materials Manufacturing or Polymers.

The course may be taken as a four year full-time program or a five year combined part-time / full-time program. A seven year part-time program is possible.

As a requirement for graduation, full-time students must gain at least twelve weeks approved experience in a relevant industry during the course. Part-time students in approved full-time employment may be exempted from up to three prescribed subjects by completion of Professional Option subjects.

Normally, a student may not proceed to subjects in the fourth year of the full-time course until subjects in the first and second year have been completed satisfactorily. In addition, students must satisfactorily complete a sufficient number of subjects each year to meet the minimum rate of progress requirement as set out in the Course Rules. Failure to do so may result in exclusion from the course.

Honours are awarded at the end of the course on the basis of overall performance throughout the course.

The course has been fully recognised by The Institution of Engineers, Australia, which is the professional accrediting body. This recognition ensures that graduates from this course are admitted, on application, to the grade of Graduate Membership of the Institution of Engineers, Australia.

Students entering the University who have attained an Associate Diploma in a relevant field from the New South Wales Department of Technical and Further Education or an approved equivalent qualification are entitled to limited exemptions as approved by the Director of Studies of Materials Engineering.

All students must take particular notice of the Course Rules regarding minimum rate of progress.

Students should attend all classes including lectures, tutorials and laboratory classes. The Director of Studies of Materials Engineering may refuse to certify that students have satisfactorily completed a subject unless they have attended at least 80 percent of the classes scheduled.


THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS MUST BE COMPLETED TO QUALIFY FOR THE MATERIALS ENGINEERING SPECIALISATION.