Study Master of Engineering (Civil and Infrastructure) at the University of South Australia (UniSA). Information for Australian students.

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Australian students

Start Date
February
July

Campus
Mawson Lakes

Duration
2 year(s) full-time

Program Code
LMCL

SATAC Code
4CM154 (Internal)
4CM155 (Internal)
4CM156 (Internal)

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Mode
On-campus

Fees
Commonwealth Supported

Entry requirements

Applicants must have successfully completed a Bachelor degree in civil engineering or a related discipline. A related discipline may be other four-year duration engineering or science degrees depending on the specialisation selected.

Applicants who have successfully completed an Engineers Australia/Washington Accord accredited Bachelor degree in civil engineering, or a Graduate Certificate in civil engineering, are eligible to enter the program with 0.5 EFTSL Advanced Standing and complete the program in 1.5 years of full-time study or equivalent part-time study.

Applicants who have successfully completed an Engineers Australia/Washington Accord accredited Honours degree in civil engineering, or a Graduate Diploma in civil engineering, are eligible to enter the program with 1.0 EFTSL Advanced Standing and complete the program in 1 year of full-time study or equivalent part-time study.

Applicants who do not meet the standard entry requirements, will be assessed on a case by case basis by the Program Director.

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Degree overview

No.1 in SA for graduate careers¹ and teaching quality² in Engineering.
Work on structural and geotechnical engineering for critical infrastructure, such as bridges, buildings, roads, water systems and transport systems.
Learn in industry-standard specialist facilities, and use high-tech testing and computer modelling equipment.
Develop competencies and gain real work experience through the UniSA STEM Professional Practice Program.
Part-time study options available.
UniSA is rated well above world-class for research in engineering³.

¹ComparED (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020-22 – Full-time Employment Indicator (Domestic Postgraduate). SA public universities.

²ComparED (QILT) Student Experience Survey 2020-21 (Postgraduate). SA public universities.

³2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)

Snapshot

Civil and structural engineers are responsible for the infrastructure and resources that keep our cities, towns and rural areas functioning. They focus on the design and construction of buildings, bridges and other structural components of an infrastructure.

In this degree you’ll develop sophisticated skills in engineering research methods and project management which you will use on a major civil engineering design project, with industry representatives as your clients. You will also complete a master thesis.

Graduate career-ready by completing the UniSA STEM Professional Practice Program and gain at least 450 hours of skills and competencies through a range of engagement activities such as placements, internships, guest lectures, industry panels, site visits, networking and events.

If you already have qualifications in civil engineering, you could be eligible for and complete this degree in less than two years. If you decide to exit this degree having successfully completed the first year, you will receive a graduate diploma qualification.

What you'll learn

You will learn advanced structural and geotechnical civil engineering, developing the skills to:

apply and synthesise civil engineering theories in solving practical infrastructure problems
create and design models to be used in infrastructure design and analysis
adapt data analysis methods at an advanced level
utilise advanced modelling techniques to solve a range of practical problems in civil engineering
develop advanced skills to communicate with civil engineering and related professionals

Through the electives available, you can choose to focus extensively on project management and leadership as part of this degree. Also key to the degree is the development and application of research methods and skills. These will be invaluable when you begin work on your master thesis.

Our UniSA STEM Professional Practice Program allows you to apply the skills and knowledge you've acquired throughout your degree in real-world settings.

Degree structure

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
FIRST YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Soil Mechanics	CIVE 3008	4.5		Rule(s): 4,5,6
Steel and Timber Design	CIVE 3013	4.5		Rule(s): 4,5,6
Research Data Analysis	CIVE 5015	4.5
Elective 1		4.5		Rule(s): 5,6
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Geotechnical Engineering	CIVE 3007	4.5		Rule(s): 4,5,6
Reinforced Concrete Design	CIVE 3003	4.5		Rule(s): 4,5,6
Advanced Soil Mechanics	CIVE 5083	4.5
Elective 2		4.5	Note(s): 1	Rule(s): 5,6
SECOND YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Engineering Masters Industrial Experience	ENGG 5030	0		Rule(s): 1,2,6
Engineering and Environmental Masters Design Project	CIVE 5091	9	Note(s): 3	Rule(s): 3
Masters Research Theory and Practice	ENGG 5020	4.5
Elective 3		4.5	Note(s): 1	Rule(s): 3,5,6
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Masters Research Project	CIVE 5092	9	Note(s): 1
Elective 4		4.5		Rule(s): 3,5,6
Elective 5		4.5		Rule(s): 3

Electives

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units

Construction Business Management	BUIL 4012	4.5
Principles of Project Management	BUSS 5142	4.5
Project Control Methods	BUSS 5163	4.5
Project Leadership and Teams	BUSS 5102	4.5
Geographical Information Systems and Analysis	GEOE 5001	4.5
Structural Analysis	CIVE 3011	4.5
Climate Change Adaptation	CIVE 5074	4.5
Earthquake and Masonry Engineering	CIVE 4036	4.5
Advanced Concrete Structures	CIVE 5079	4.5
Advanced Steel Structures	CIVE 5080	4.5
Green Infrastructure	CIVE 5085	4.5
Managing Complexity in Projects	BUSS 5404	4.5
Traffic Engineering	CIVE 4039	4.5
Application of Finite Element Method in Civil Engineering	CIVE 5093	4.5
Transition to Masters pathway elective list
Managing Complexity in Projects	BUSS 5404	4.5
Green Infrastructure	CIVE 5085	4.5
Advanced Steel Structures	CIVE 5080	4.5
Advanced Concrete Structures	CIVE 5079	4.5
Climate Change Adaptation	CIVE 5074	4.5

Rules & notes

Rules

1. Engineers Australia (EA) requires students to achieve at least 450 hours/60 days full-time equivalent (FTE) of discipline and/or industry related skills and competencies prior to graduation. At UniSA, students must complete the UniSA STEM Professional Practice Program (PPP) to gain these hours through a range of professional engagement activities such as placements, internships, guest lectures, industry panels, site visits, networking, and industry events. Please contact STEM.placements@unisa.edu.au for more information.

2. Upon completion of the UniSA STEM Professional Practice Program (PPP) students will be invited to enrol in this course and complete the required assessment for the course. The student will not be eligible to graduate until they have obtained a Non-Graded Pass (NGP) for this course.

3. Students who have received 36 units (1 year) of advanced standing must select electives from the Transition to Masters pathway elective list.

4. Applicants who have successfully completed an Engineers Australia/Washington Accord accredited Bachelor degree in civil engineering, or a Graduate Certificate in civil engineering, are eligible to enter the program with 0.5 EFTSL Advanced Standing in lieu of these courses, and complete the program in 1.5 years of full-time study or equivalent part-time study.

5. Applicants who have successfully completed an Engineers Australia/Washington Accord accredited Honours degree in civil engineering, or a Graduate Diploma in civil engineering, are eligible to enter the program with 1.0 EFTSL Advanced Standing in lieu of these courses, and complete the program in 1 year of full-time study or equivalent part-time study.

6. Students undertaking the Transition to Masters pathway from the LHMI Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil), the LHMI Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil and Structural) or the LHMI Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil and Construction Management) will receive advanced standing in lieu of these courses, and complete the program in 1 year of full-time study or equivalent part-time study.

Notes

1. With Program Director approval, students wishing to follow a research pathway (for instance those intending to undertake a PhD) may select an 18-unit two-semester thesis and alternative study plan. Students must consult with the Program Director in their first semester of study to discuss this.

2. Not all electives will be offered every year. Other options not listed here may only be taken with the prior agreement of the Program Director. Students may complete electives from the Water Resources Management specialisation, with Program Director approval.

3. Students entering the program with one year of advanced standing who have already completed a similar design project successfully, should enrol in two electives instead of this course.

Study hours

For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects, as well as to contribute to online discussion forums. So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12–26 hours of study when at university and 14–28 hours of independent study per week.

Assessment

Your studies at UniSA will incorporate both practical, professionally-focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:

reports and project documentation
essays and assignments
examinations
group projects and presentations

Global opportunities

Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. You may have the option to undertake an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas while you study. We have links with universities worldwide, as well as a range of travel grants available to make going overseas much more accessible.

You can choose short-term or semester-long study from a range of universities and countries depending on your area of study and cultural interests.

Take a look at the global opportunities available.

Research

UniSA has active connections with Australian and international institutions and industry through our research and collaboration.

Our research centres provide a dynamic teaching and research base for students. All have state-of-the-art facilities, with world renowned links and associations. Through your studies you may become involved with one of our research institutes and centres.

Why Master of Engineering (Civil and Infrastructure)

In this master degree, teaching and learning is supported by our world-class engineering research – our engineering research is rated well above world-class.¹

Our strong industry experience will help advance your expertise and career opportunities. Incorporating strong theoretical teaching, experience-based learning and cutting-edge facilities, we offer the ideal academic blend for graduates to meet the challenges of modern enterprise.

You will study advanced topics in structural and geotechnical engineering. You will learn contemporary civil engineering theory and work with modelling techniques at an advanced level.

For example, our students recently worked on a South Australian infrastructure project titled North-South Corridor – South Road Planning South of Ashwin Parade to South of Sir Donald Bradman Drive Intersection (Section R4). The industry partner for this was the Department Infrastructure and Transport.

¹ 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)

Real-world connections

UniSA collaborates with over 2,500 companies worldwide to ensure our degrees remain relevant and connected to industry. As part of all engineering degrees UniSA students participate in our UniSA STEM Professional Practice Program. The UniSA STEM Professional Practice Program gives you the opportunity during your studies to gain hands on experience and create industry connections. In-industry work placements and internships enhance the employability skills of our graduates.

You will benefit from our partnerships with industries, local councils, governments, communities and other research organisations are addressing the knowledge gaps and problems of our natural and built environments.

We also host regular University-wide career expos and employment forums through our Career Service, as well as alumni events in Australia and overseas.

Structural strong floor lab

Take a look inside the largest structural strong floor in Australia, located on-campus at UniSA. Civil engineering students use this space to to do full-scale testing of materials, girders, frames, beams, and to simulate things like earthquakes and traffic flow impact.

Career outcomes

Your career

There are a wide range of career options for highly qualified engineers, with employment opportunities in engineering consulting firms, construction companies, and local, state and federal government. You could consider:

engineering project manager: ensuring projects are completed according to project plans; managing project team resources; scheduling, preparation and resource forecasting for engineering and other technical activities; managing vendors and suppliers
engineering operations manager: supervising and leading teams of engineers, scientists and technicians who work on projects; overseeing production and quality control; directing operations, testing and maintenance; planning and scheduling, client consulting, budgetary responsibilities
civil engineer: responsible for the design, construction and testing of physical infrastructure; assesses the impact of large scale projects on the environment
structural engineer: works with architects, builders, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineers to make sure all parts of a structure are safe and fit for purpose; makes sure materials are used efficiently and appropriately

You could also continue with a PhD through one of our dynamic research institutes or centres.

Professional accreditation and recognition

This program is professionally accredited by Engineers Australia and is designed to meet the requirements for graduate membership of Engineers Australia and comparable international institutions through the Washington Accord. Such accreditation is provisional until the program produces its first graduates.

Industry facts

There is strong future demand for Design, Engineering, Science and Transport Professionals in Australia

(National Skills Commission 2021)

The Australian Government $200 billion investment into infrastructure has delivered over 35,000 construction projects since 2013 and has committed to an additional $17.9 billion for more civil projects

(Australian Government Budget 2022)

There is currently a skills shortage of experienced engineers in Australia

(Engineers Australia 2022)

How to apply

Applying to study with us:

go to the top of this page and make note of the relevant SATAC code (see below) then click Apply
you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application

You may be eligible for Advanced Standing and complete the requirements of this qualification in less than 2 years. Please see entry requirements for further details. When applying through SATAC, please refer to the codes below. If you are uncertain about your eligibility for Advanced Standing, please include more than one SATAC code in your list of application preferences.

2 years - SATAC CODE 4CM156
1.5 year - SATAC CODE 4CM155
1 year - SATAC CODE 4CM154

Advanced standing

If you already have qualifications in civil engineering, you could be eligible for Advanced Standing and complete this degree in less than two years.

Credit Transfer

Get a head start on your degree. Find out if you're eligible for credit from previous studies.

Go to credit assessor

Entry pathway

We believe in equal access to further education, so we offer a range of pathways to university.

Find a Pathway

Scholarships

Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.

More scholarships

Scholarship for student leadership

Available for students who are interested in undertaking specified activities with the aim of enhancing the overall student experience at UniSA.

Learn more

International travel grants

Travel Grants are available to participate in our Study Overseas Programs. UniSA has agreement with over 80 institutions globally.

Learn more

Your study experience and support

Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and spaces that simulate real work environments. You’ll also find student gyms and campus sport activities to keep you active. We also offer flexible study options, with online resources available for accessing lecture recordings, virtual classrooms, library resources and learning support.

Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation and private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages, or explore our student accommodation by Scape on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.

Student services

Our student services provide you with all the support you need at university. You can access a full range of support services including academic and personal counselling, career advice, social support services, as well as those through our student association, USASA. When you become a UniSA student, you can also contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and more.

24/7 digital environment

Our learnonline facilities include a personal learning environment with virtual classrooms, lecture recordings, emails, learning support, administration, library access and results. The environment is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can tailor your learning to your life. We are continually investing in innovative digital technologies for a high-quality student learning experience.

Your campus

We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with modern facilities including lecture theatres, libraries and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments.

Your program director

My research focuses on infrastructure compliant strategies for storm water management in developed and developing countries. I also teach civil and water-related engineering courses.

Dr Faisal Ahammed

Program Director

Enquire

Dr Faisal Ahammed

Program Director

Enquire

Ask UniSA

How do I apply?

There are a number of ways to apply to study UniSA's undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.

Applications for admission into the University of South Australia’s undergraduate and most postgraduate degrees are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Visit satac.edu.au and follow the links.

For the MBA degrees please apply through the UniSA MBA Application Portal. Applications for a small number of degrees are submitted direct to UniSA through our Apply Online portal. It will be noted on the degree page if you need to apply via Apply Online.

Postgraduate study by research
For information on applying to do postgraduate study by research, including Master of Research, PhDs or Doctorates, please visit unisa.edu.au/resdegrees.
Is there a closing date for applications?

Undergraduate
Yes. The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be given equal consideration is in early December. While you may be able to apply after this date, you are not guaranteed to be considered equally with other applicants and your application may not be assessed in time for the main round of offers (mid January). Some degrees will not make any offers after the main offer round. Please click here find all of the key dates for applications here.

Postgraduate
Most postgraduate degrees do not have a closing date for applications. However, there are exceptions, so it is best to check – either on the SATAC website, Apply Online or the degree homepage. Postgraduate offers are normally ‘rolling’, meaning they may be sent out at any time up until the program starts. This also means that applications may close at any time without warning, if the quota is filled earlier. For this reason, postgraduate applications should be submitted without delay. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquiries team on (08) 8302 2376 or via the online enquiry form.
What credit can I receive for previous studies?

Credit transfer or advanced standing

You may be eligible to receive a credit transfer or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area at an equivalent or higher level. Receiving a credit transfer will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree.

Recognised prior learning

If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning for this experience. Receiving recognised prior learning will normally reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and can reduce the duration of the degree.

How do I get credit?

Credit transfer and recognition of prior learning is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director who will discuss your prior learning and experience with you to ascertain what credit you may be eligible for.

Many of our credit transfer arrangements are listed on our online Credit Assessor.
Can I speak to someone regarding my study options?

UniSA welcomes the opportunity to speak with you regarding your study options. Our staff are able to talk to you about degree information, career outcomes and pathways, entry requirements, applications, and student life, so that you are able to make the best study decision for your future.

Click here to book a 1:1 appointment with one of our enquiries team.

If you are interested in studying an MBA please contact admissions@unisa.edu.au and our Future Student Enquiries team will contact you regarding your enquiry.

Alternatively, you can complete a MyCareerMatch career profile. MyCareerMatch is an online career profiling tool that you can use free-of-charge through UniSA. MyCareerMatch specialises in career profiles and provides you with a personalised career report outlining information about your personality style and a list of career options, which are complementary to your natural strengths and talents.

We have many events throughout the year where you can speak with a lecturer or tutor about your degrees of interest. You can find out what is happening at UniSA by visiting our events page or by signing up to our mailing list, so you're the first to know about careers events, information sessions, degree requirements, scholarships and more!

There are also many career counsellors external to the University that you can discuss your career options with. If you are unsure where to start your search, you can contact the Government's Work Ready team (formally Skills for All). Visit skills.sa.gov.au or call 1800 506 266.

You may also find Job Outlook a helpful resource in your decision-making.
Where can I get further information?

It can be difficult to decide what degree you would like to do and where. You might find information from government organisations will help to weigh up your degree and provider options.

Find a course or a provider

TEQSA is a regulatory body for higher education providers. Use the TEQSA national register of higher education providers to search for a course or a provider. Compare courses and providers for undergraduates and postgraduates using the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) online comparison tool.

More information on university admission

Visit the SATAC website to find out important news, events and information on applying to university in South Australia. Visit Study with Us to find out everything you need to know about studying at UniSA, admissions and the application process.

Questions about your application

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your application you should contact the Future Students Enquiries team in the first instance.

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Study overseas

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