Study Graduate Certificate in Defence Systems Integration at the University of South Australia (UniSA). Information for Australian students.

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Entry requirements Degree overview Career outcomes How to apply Study experience

This degree is only available to Australian students

You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:

Australian or New Zealand Citizen
Australian Permanent Resident (including Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders)

Australian students

Start Date
February
June

Campus
Mawson Lakes

Duration
0.5 year(s) full-time

Program Code
LCDI

SATAC Code
4GC096 (Internal)

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Mode
On-campus

Fees
$AU 15,100 per 0.5 EFTSL for students enrolled in 2025

Entry requirements

Applicants will be required to have completed a Bachelor degree in a relevant discipline from a recognised higher education institution. However, applicants without a Bachelor degree but who have a minimum of five years professional experience in a relevant discipline, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Relevant disciplines for entry typically include engineering (aeronautics, astronautics, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial, mechanical, nuclear, software, systems), chemistry, physics, computer science, or mathematics. Applicants with qualifications in other disciplines are encouraged to apply and will be assessed on a case by case basis.

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This program will not be offered in 2025. To apply for a future intake, please register your interest via the Enquire button.

Degree overview

Learn about the systems engineering life cycle, from conceptual design through to delivery into operations.
Draw on expertise from industry to underpin the focus on real-world defence sector requirements.
A pathway to the UniSA Master of Systems Engineering.
UniSA is rated well above world-class for research in engineering.¹

¹2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)

Snapshot

The defence sector is one of the priorities for the State and Commonwealth Governments. With the Australian Government committing to extensive investments in Australia's defence capability over the next decade¹, there are now significant opportunities and increasing demand for a highly skilled and specialised workforce.

This program is a great way for engineers and defence industry professionals to learn more about systems engineering through a formal qualification.

On-campus teaching for this program is based at the Mawson Lakes campus. Only 20 minutes from the city centre with easy parking. The Mawson Lakes campus is also accessible by bus and train with the Mawson Lakes train station only a short walk.

¹Australian Government Department of Defence

What you'll learn

You'll draw on your foundation of engineering knowledge to learn further skills in systems engineering, tailored to the defence sector.

Courses taught in the program will align with the University's research strengths including: engineering, autonomous and unmanned systems, and System of Systems (SoS) integration. Students will have the opportunity to study an elective course of their choice to broaden their knowledge and skills in specific areas.

Through in-class exercises and coursework assignments, you will learn about engineering systems and problem-solving methodologies applicable to the real-world.

Degree structure

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
Course name Principles of Systems Engineering	Area and cat no. ENGG 5031	Units 4.5	Reference Note(s): 1
Course name Defence Systems	Area and cat no. EEET 5149	Units 4.5	Reference
Course name Principles of Test and Evaluation	Area and cat no. EEET 5151	Units 4.5	Reference
Course name Elective		Units 4.5	Reference Note(s): 2

Electives

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units
STUDY PERIOD 2
Course name Engineering Economic Analysis	Area and cat no. MFET 5011	Units 4.5
Course name Geographical Information Systems and Analysis	Area and cat no. GEOE 5001	Units 4.5
Course name Probabilities and Data	Area and cat no. MATH 4043	Units 4.5
STUDY PERIOD 5
Course name Advanced Human Computer Interaction	Area and cat no. COMP 4026	Units 4.5
Course name Foundations and Applications of Human Factors	Area and cat no. BEHL 5050	Units 4.5

Rules & notes

Notes

1. This course develops the necessary management framework for systems engineering and integration, and should be undertaken at the first opportunity.

2. Students must select an elective from the list below. Other options not listed may only be taken with the prior agreement of the Program Director.

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
group projects and presentations
reflective journals

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.

Why Graduate Certificate in Defence Systems Integration

Major defence projects are inherently complex systems, which draw on many disciplines; including hardware, software, power electrical, electronic, mechanical, hydraulic, and engineering management. The integration of these disciplines in a systematic way requires the coordination of many and diverse resources over an extended period.

Drawing on specialist visiting lecturers to underpin the focus on real-world defence sector practices, you'll learn about principle and practice of systems engineering through a combination of practical case studies and in-class exercises based on real-world scenarios.

This program is studied intensively in a blended mode, including both on-campus and online content.

Real-world connections

With strong connections with global defence companies, UniSA provides opportunities to network and receive insights from industry experts.

UniSA is one of Australia’s leading universities for Engineering research.¹ Our leading researchers will be your teachers and everything you learn will be supported by our research excellence. We also host regular University-wide career expos and employment forums through our Career Service, as well as alumni events in Australia and overseas.

¹UniSA’s Engineering research rated well above world-class – 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)

Career outcomes

Your career

Graduates of the program will be able to build on their existing knowledge in engineering skills and may be able to further their careers in various roles within the defence industry and government departments.

Potential employers include:

• Department of Defence
• Lockheed Martin
• Naval Group
• Nova Systems
• SAAB Australia
• Thales
• ASC
• BAE Systems
• Boeing
• Telstra
• Optus
• Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications

Industry facts

Defence acquisitions and equipment maintenance and support activities provide work for over 28,000 Australians in industry

(Australian Government Department of Defence)

The Australian Government is investing over $200 billion in Australia's defence capability over the next decade

Australian Government Department of Defence

Thinking of studying soon?

2025

Ready to start your studies in 2025? You can apply to the University of Adelaide or UniSA now before continuing on to the new Adelaide University in 2026.

When the time comes to transfer, we’ll be here at every step, ensuring you’re well supported with personalised advice and a detailed study plan.

2026

Planning to start your studies in 2026? You can apply to Adelaide University directly.

Applications are currently open for international students and will open for Australian students in August 2025.

Have any questions? We're here to help! Contact Adelaide University's Future Student Enquiries Team.

UniStart - your 100% online pathway to a degree

Just starting out on your university journey, don’t meet the entry requirements for your chosen degree, or want to refresh your study skills? Set yourself up for success and pave the way to a degree with UniStart, UniSA Online’s six-month pathway program launching in 2025.

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How to apply

Applying to study with us:

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

Credit Transfer

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Entry pathway

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

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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.

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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.

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International travel grants

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

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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

Dr Mahmoud Efatmaneshnik is a senior Lecturer at UniSA, where he teaches Model Based Systems Engineering and Integrated Logistics Support, among other courses. He has a PhD in Complexity Management for Systems Engineering from University of New South Wales. He has valuable Systems Engineering experience with the $200M Systems F6 DARPA (Defence Advanced Research Project Agency) project in the US as well as with an ARC-Linkage project on Automated Agriculture System. He has thought Systems Engineering and related topics in UNSW-ADFA and ANU. He is the editor in chief of Australian Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering. He has served on the board of Systems Engineering Society of Australia (SESA) for any years and works closely with that of INCOSE.

Dr Mahmoud Efatmaneshnik

Program Director

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Dr Mahmoud Efatmaneshnik

Program Director

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