For your future career in engineering, engaging in professional work experience and industry placement is crucial. These opportunities open a gateway for you to immerse yourself in real-world industry settings, providing invaluable hands-on experience before you graduate.
Professional and industry experience
If you're enrolled in any undergraduate degrees offered by the School of Civil, Mining, Environmental and Architectural Engineering (CMEA), the School of Mechanical, Materials, Mechatronic and Biomedical Engineering (MMMB), or the School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering (SECTE), Engineers Australia requires you to have significant exposure to professional engineering practice throughout your degree. To meet this requirement:
- You must complete at least twelve weeks of approved professional experience.
- You must seek approval via the online forms in SONIA/EIS PEXs before commencing your placement.
- You are not eligible to graduate unless the professional experience requirement has been satisfactorily met.
It is recommended that you undertake your 12-week placement during the summer session following the successful completion of your prescribed third-year program. Nevertheless, any period throughout the year is deemed acceptable should an opportunity arise, provided you can still fulfil your other academic commitments. If you cannot undertake a consecutive 12-week placement, shorter periods may be considered with approval from your discipline coordinator.
Enrolling in ENGG454 (MMMB & CMEA) OR ECTE399 (SECTE) prior to seeking a placement will give you access to a Moodle site that has valuable information from careers on how to find and approach organisations.
This zero (0) credit point subject is available for enrolment in either the autumn or spring session.
To initiate your search for a potential organisation, explore the following suggestions:
- Moodle site
- Section Internship opportunities – a database of organisations that contact the university directly with targeted positions.
- Section Explore your options – link to UOW student job board and other external websites
- Contact your local councils, engineering companies, and other organisations directly
- see Moodle section – Prepare your application
If your initial attempts are unsuccessful, don't hesitate to consult with your discipline coordinator. You can find their contact details on the Moodle site.
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.
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:
- Complete the mandatory EEO module
- Nominate paid or unpaid placement
- Complete the application form for paid or unpaid placement
- Discipline coordinator approves
- Organisation mentor approves
- Placement is approved in EIS PEXs by faculty admin staff
- 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:
- Complete the University work experience/placement application form;
- 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
- 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.
Missed deadline to enrol?
Please complete the subject management form
Read the subject guidelines link
Refer to the guide for the year in which are you enrolled
Help with SONIA/ EIS PEXs System
Use the 'support request' form in SONIA/ EIS PEXs, located on the form tab of SONIA/ EIS PEXs
Help with aspects of professional experience
Contact your discipline professional experience coordinator (contact details on the Moodle home page)
Code of Practice
You are required to sign a document confirming that you have read and agreed to the University's “Code of Practice - Student Professional Experience” (the "Code").
This document is designed to clearly outline expectations for you, your professional experience supervisor, and the university, aiming to "minimise difficulties caused by misunderstanding or poor communication."