Master of Systems Engineering
Degree Level Postgraduate
Year 2023
You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:
Degree Level Postgraduate
Year 2023
Program Code
LMDI
SATAC Code
4CM222 (Internal)
Study as
Part-time only
Mode
Online
Fees
$AU 27,300 per 1.0 EFTSL for students enrolled in 2023
Applicants will be required to have completed a Bachelor degree, Graduate Certificate, or a Graduate Diploma in a relevant discipline from a recognised higher education institution.
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.
Applicants who have:
For international students, this program can only be studied online from their home country.
12018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)
2UNSTOPPABLE® is a Kellogg Company trade mark used under licence. Ranked #46, 2022 THE Young University Rankings, Ranked #29, 2021 QS Top 50 Universities Aged Under 50.
This program provides recent graduates from a wide range of disciplines such as engineering, finance, business, and management with opportunity to kick start their career as systems engineers in Defence industries or other industries such as telecommunication, transportation, and rail.
The program is also ideal career step for a range of engineers and professionals in defence or non-defence industries: mid-career professionals with three or more years’ of experience from graduation, working within a defence or non-defence company who are looking to further their formal qualifications in engineering and prepare for a role as a senior engineer or a systems engineer; engineers from small to medium enterprises where the company is seeking to be part of a supply chain for a defence prime, and needs to increase the level of defence engineering knowledge in the company.
This postgraduate degree is offered as part of a suite of two programs (graduate diploma and master). The Graduate Diploma qualification easily transitions to a master level qualification.
There are also opportunities available to upskill with a Defence Professional Certificate, you may also receive credit for the Master of Systems Engineering. For more information about the new Defence short courses please visit our defence short course website.
You'll draw on your foundation of engineering knowledge to develop further skills in systems engineering, particularly tailored to the defence sector, and encompassing other sectors such as telecommunication, rail, mining, healthcare etc.
Courses taught in the program will align with the University's research strengths including: systems engineering and systems architecting, autonomous and unmanned systems, information technology, project management and engineering management, and the execution of large scale projects. Students will focus on a systems engineering approach to full life cycle development, from systems design and implementation, to test and evaluation and integration. The program will also develop skills in engineering management and integrated logistics support. Students will have the opportunity to study elective courses of their choice to broaden their knowledge and skills in specific areas and domains.
Through in-class exercises, coursework assignments, and the completion of a research project, you will develop an advanced knowledge of, and learn to implement, systems engineering tools and problem-solving methodologies in a complex systems environment.
In the final semester, students have the option of completing a minor thesis in a topic relevant to their workplace, or a group project where they will apply the theory and techniques to realistic problems in a professional development context.
Major projects in defence, telecommunication and rail industries 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.
This program enables you to develop an advanced understanding of the principle and practice of systems engineering in the development of complex systems through a combination of practical case studies and in-class exercises based on real-world scenarios.
This program is studied online.
Graduates of the program will be able to further their careers in various roles within the defence industry and government departments.
Potential employers include:
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.
Available for students who are interested in undertaking specified activities with the aim of enhancing the overall student experience at UniSA.
Travel Grants are available to participate in our Study Overseas Programs. UniSA has agreement with over 80 institutions globally.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.