Associate Degree of Engineering
Majoring in Civil
50.0
Choose your major
Civil
Build the future – literally – with a Swinburne civil major, featuring technical excellence and a host of real-world industry learning opportunities.
Electrical
Gain technical expertise in power system design, electronics, control systems, signal processing and embedded systems.
Mechanical
Learn the core concepts of mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and energy as you participate in industry-based projects and practical workshops
Mechatronics
Integrates mechanics, electronics and computer science to prepare students for a range of roles within the field of mechatronics.
Overview
The Associate Degree of Engineering gives you the skills and qualification to pathway into the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).
You’ll have access to leading labs and facilities and be taught by teachers who are working in the industry.
Get more for your ATAR
Looking for a uni with state-of-the-art facilities, guaranteed industry experience and a supportive community? Find your dream course and make Swinburne your #1 VTAC preference.
Your major
Civil
Build the future – literally – with a Swinburne civil major featuring technical excellence and a host of real-world industry learning opportunities. Gain the technical expertise and management skills needed to plan, design, construct and maintain infrastructure, with plenty of hands-on workplace learning. Graduates are eligible to apply for graduate membership of Engineers Australia.
Your industry experience
Build up your CV with real industry experience while you study through our Work Integrated Learning programs, which are a guaranteed part of all our engineering degrees and can include placements, internships or industry-linked projects. In this degree, you'll apply your learning in eight professionally focused, industry-linked projects.
Skills you’ll learn
- Problem solving
- Engineering principles
- Analytical problem solving
- Programming
Your career opportunities
- Engineering officer
- Associate engineer
- Junior engineer
Key codes
International student visa
International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.
Professional accreditations
Why Swinburne?
Top 175 for engineering and technology
Times Higher Education World University Ranking by Subject 202386.1% of graduates found employment within 4 months of completing their course
Ranked Top 300 in Engineering
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023Qualifications
Successful completion of one of the following:
- Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.
- Completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including Certificates, Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas, Associate Degrees and Degrees).
- Applicants without a formal qualification may be considered for entry upon completion of the STAT test.
Subject adjustments:
- A study score of 25 in Biology, Chemistry, any Information Technology, any Mathematics, Physics or Systems Engineering equals 2 aggregate points per study.
- A study score of 30 in Biology, Chemistry, any Information Technology, any Mathematics, Physics or Systems Engineering equals 3 aggregate points per study.
Overall maximum of 10 points. Subject adjustment points are applied to the aggregate, not the ATAR.
Course prerequisites
These prerequisites have been updated for Semester 1 2025 entry
- VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in any English (except EAL) or 25 English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent
- VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in any Mathematics
Applicants who do not meet the mathematics prerequisites for this course will be required to successfully complete Swinburne’s MathsLink Methods bridging program.
- VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in any English (except EAL) or 25 English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent
- VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in any Mathematics
Admission requirements
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. Check admission requirements for general information about the admission process.
English language requirements
Satisfactory completion of one of the following:
- IELTS overall band of 6.0 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
- Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 65%, all skills 65% or above
- or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.
Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.
Credit transfer
Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Finding your fit
At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.
-
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
-
Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology (Civil Engineering Design)
-
Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology (Mechatronics Engineering Design)
How credit points work
To qualify for the award of Associate Degree of Engineering, students must complete 200 credit points comprising of:
- Twelve (12) Core Engineering units (150 credit points)
- One (1) Core Professional Practice in Engineering (Compulsory no-credit unit)
- Four (4) Specialisation Core units (50 credit points) for the award in either Associate Degree of Engineering (Civil) or Associate Degree of Engineering (Mechanical) or Associate Degree of Engineering (Mechatronics).
Your units
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Core units | |
|
Technology in an Indigenous Context Project
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
COS10027 |
|
Introduction to Programming
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
COS10028 |
|
Engineering Mechanics
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
EAT10002 |
|
Engineering Materials
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
EAT10003 |
|
Energy and Motion
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
EAT10005 |
|
Humanitarian Engineering Design Project
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
EAT10027 |
|
Computer Aided Drafting and Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
EAT20001 |
|
Project Management Practice and 3D Design Applications
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
EAT20005 |
|
Professional Practice in Engineering
Core unit |
EAT20024 |
|
Engineering Capstone Project
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
EAT20035 |
|
Applied Engineering Mathematics
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
MTH00005 |
|
Calculus and Applications
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
MTH10015 |
|
Linear Algebra and Applications
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
MTH10016 |
Your major units
Select one of the following options
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Mandatory units | |
|
Topographical Engineering
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
CVE20001 |
|
Road Engineering
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
CVE20005 |
|
Digital Engineering Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
CVE20015 |
| Select one of the following units | |
|
Geomechanics
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points |
CVE20004 |
|
Fluid Mechanics 1: Forces and Energy
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points |
MEE20003 |
|
Structural Mechanics
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points |
MEE20004 |
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Mandatory units | |
|
Design of Concrete Structures
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
CVE20003 |
|
Digital Engineering Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
CVE20015 |
|
Structural Mechanics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points |
MEE20004 |
| Select one of the following units | |
|
Topographical Engineering
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points |
CVE20001 |
|
Geomechanics
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points |
CVE20004 |
|
Fluid Mechanics 1: Forces and Energy
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points |
MEE20003 |
Want to see the full range of electives?
Learn about all the electives you can take in the course handbook.
2025 fees
Yearly fee* ($AUD)
$9,314
Total fee* ($AUD)
$18,628
2025 fees
Yearly fee* ($AUD)
$38,760.00
Fees are estimates only
Published student tuition fees for 2025 unit enrolments in HE Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and Undergraduate Full Fee Paying (FFP) are subject to change based on individual circumstances at enrolment. Fees may vary for units studied in future years, with part-time fees being proportionally lower depending on the number of units taken per semester. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.
Fees are estimates only
The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.
How do I pay my fees?
HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme available to you if you are eligible and enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of your contribution amount. You can also choose to pay your fees up front.
International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.
To pay your fees:
- log in to My Financials
- check your Australian bank account details are correct
- check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
- pay using your preferred payment method.
Eligibility for HECS-HELP
You are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan if you have been offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for an undergraduate degree at Swinburne or a UniLink course, and you:
- are an Australian citizen and doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
- hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
- hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens.
Student services and amenities fee
This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.
The fee shown in the capped amount for 2025.
This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.
This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.
Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.
SSAF fee* ($AUD)
$365
SSAF fee* ($AUD)
$365
Scholarships
Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.
Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.
When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.
Apply through an agent
Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.
Apply directly
Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online!
Apply through VTAC
International students currently studying Year 12 in Australia must apply through VTAC. VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.
VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.