Professional and industry experience

Enrolling in the Professional Experience subjects - ENGG454 or ECTE399 offered by the School of Engineering, before seeking a placement will grant you access to a dedicated Moodle site. This site provides valuable resources from careers, as well as information on identifying and approaching organisations.  

ENGG454 and ECTE399, zero (0) credit point subjects, are available for enrolment in the UOW Online Wollongong Autumn Distance or UOW Online Wollongong Spring Distance sessions.

To begin your search for a potential organisation, explore the following suggestions:

• Moodle site
  • Internship opportunities section – a database of organisations that have contacted UOW with targeted positions
  • Explore your options section – links to the UOW student job board and other external websites
• Contact your local councils, engineering companies, and other organisations directly
• Refer to the Moodle section Prepare your application for additional guidance

If your initial attempts are unsuccessful, contact your discipline coordinator for support. Their contact details are available on the Moodle site. 

Professional experience student guidelines for placements

As a requirement for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) suite of degrees, students are required to obtain a minimum of 12 weeks (60 days) of full-time or equivalent professional experience in a relevant industry during their course and submit a report to a satisfactory standard.

For further details, please refer to the Subject Outline and the relevant ENGG454/ECTE399 Professional Experience Guidelines listed below:

• Option 1 Professional experience student guideline for paid placement (PDF)
• Option 2 Professional experience student guideline for unpaid placement (PDF)
• Option 3 Professional experience student guideline for multiple or overseas organisation placement (PDF)

Before you kick off your placement, you've got to make sure it's approved through the online forms in SONIA/EIS PEXs.

There are seven key steps to complete that are detailed in the initial 'Welcome to ENGG454/ ECTE399'  email you got when you signed up:

1. Complete the mandatory EEO module
2. Nominate paid or unpaid placement (see the Guidelines tab for details)
3. Complete the application form for paid or unpaid placement
4. The discipline coordinator approves
5. Organisation mentor approves
6. Placement is approved in EIS PEXs by faculty admin staff
7. Confirmation letter sent to organisation mentor.

As a student, you should expect employers to treat you like a regular employee, requiring minimal supervision for assessments and offering standard employment conditions. If you choose to volunteer without pay, rest assured that you are covered by the University's insurance. To ensure a smooth experience for both you and the employer during the placement, both parties need to outline clear roles and responsibilities.

If you're opting for a voluntary role, here's what you need to do:

1. Complete the University work experience/placement application form;
2. Attach a letter signed by the placement supervisor: 
   • on company letterhead 
   • detailing the dates of the placement 
   • confirming that the student will not be paid during the placement period
3. Submit the completed form and the letter to the subject coordinator.

Note: once processed, the university's finance department will send a letter detailing the insurance arrangements directly to the placement organisation and contact listed on the form.

In the section titled "Report" within the subject guidelines, you'll find a comprehensive list of all the required information. Make sure to refer to the provided marking guide for the report. Reports are due on the Friday of week 10 in either autumn or spring session, and you can check the Moodle submission link for the exact date.

Remember, reports cannot be submitted after the cut-off date of week 10. If you need an extension, reach out to your discipline coordinators. Extensions will only be granted under exceptional circumstances, and you must obtain the coordinator's consent before the original submission date.

The following grades may be awarded, and you can find detailed information on grades and feedback on the Moodle submission link. It's important to note that an unsatisfactory grade will be recorded in two specific circumstances:

• Satisfactory
• Unsatisfactory – Resubmit: The student is required to revise the report and submit it again, or add an additional report.
• Unsatisfactory – Repeat: The student is asked to repeat the professional experience for 12 weeks or less.

Academic Consideration is not applicable for ENGG454 or ECTE399. 

For all enquiries or extension requests, please submit the Support Request for EIS PEXs form through the Moodle Site or SONIA.

Alternatively, you may contact your Subject Coordinator to discuss your options on a case-by-case basis.

If you have missed the deadline to enrol according to the published key dates you will need to get approval from the head of students in your discipline by completing a subject addition form.

Missed the deadline to enrol?

Complete the subject management form.

Read the subject outline

Refer to the guide for the year in which you are enrolled.

Help with SONIA/ EIS PEXs System

Submit a 'support request' form located under the "Forms" tab in SONIA/ EIS PEXs.

Help with aspects of professional experience

Contact your discipline professional experience coordinator (contact details are on the Moodle home page).