Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) (Canberra)
- Commencing Terms
- Semester 1
- Duration
- 4 Year(s)
- Delivery Mode
- Face-to-face (includes blended)
- Campus
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Canberra
- Codes
- UAC code 450070 - Defence 451070 - Non Defence
- Program code 4474
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ATAR/2024 lowest selection rank
- 85 + Application (Defence)90 - Non Defence View all admission criteria
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2025 Indicative first year full fee
- $7,500*
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2025 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $37,000*
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2025 Indicative first year full fee
- -
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2025 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- -
Entry Requirements
Fees
Fees
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60-day internship
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Professional accreditation
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In-built Honours
The Australian Defence Force Academy
Combining teaching and research with military education
UNSW Canberra specialises in high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate courses in all areas relating to military, strategic and defence studies. This means future leaders of the Navy, Army and Air Force can combine their military and leadership training with our world-class university programs and defence industry expertise.
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees
Overview
A Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) from UNSW Canberra empowers you to solve real-world challenges by designing, building and improving machines that power industries, transportation and communities. You’ll learn to tackle complex engineering challenges in mechanical systems and power generation, particularly for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This four-year program covers fundamental areas like thermodynamics, mechanics, fluid dynamics and materials science, equipping you with the expertise to design and maintain critical systems.
Explore how to transform energy into power and motion, working with the latest materials and technologies. Specialise in areas like marine engineering, aerospace, or automation, building niche expertise that will set you apart. Throughout your studies, you’ll complete at least 60 days of work experience, developing the confidence to transition seamlessly into the workforce upon graduation.
With this Engineers Australia-accredited degree, civilian graduates will be equipped to lead the charge in everything from the automotive and aerospace industries to renewable energy and biomedical engineering. Defence graduates will be primed for roles that require precision, innovation and technical skill across the Navy, Army, and Air Force. This program also provides a pathway to advanced research opportunities through the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) Program.
Key features
Real-world experience
Build your resume before you graduate with a 60-day internship. You'll work alongside professionals on real industry projects gaining real-world engineering experience and practical knowledge that prepare you for a career solving complex, real-world challenges.
Specialisation and research opportunities
Tailor your studies to your interests and gain specialist expertise to propel your future career. Choose electives from one of five specialist streams and complete your Honours research project in a field of your choice.
Accredited by Engineers Australia
Graduate with a degree accredited by Engineers Australia and show future employers you meet the highest standards of engineering practice. This accreditation opens doors to work opportunities across Australia and internationally.
Why study at UNSW Canberra?
World-class facilities
Work in cutting-edge laboratories and engineering facilities designed for innovation that has an impact on a global scale. You’ll get to tackle real-world challenges and prepare for a future in industries ranging from energy and aerospace to biomedical and robotics engineering.
Learn from leading academics
Learn from leading researchers and industry practitioners, whose insights and connections will give you a deeper understanding of the latest trends and breakthroughs in mechanical engineering, preparing you for a career in a rapidly evolving industry.
Benefit from strong Defence and industry links
Located in Australia’s Defence capital, UNSW Canberra offers unparalleled connections with Defence and industry leaders, providing valuable networking and career opportunities in the ADF and beyond.
Want to see more from UNSW Canberra at ADFA?
Entry requirements
Additional Selection Criteria
Undergraduate entry to the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) is open to Australian residents who are members of the Australian Defence Force and selected members of overseas Armed Forces. Trainee Officers are selected by one of the three services (Navy, Army or Airforce) in the Australian Defence Force and must also meet academic entry requirements for UNSW Canberra at ADFA. Applying for ADFA is a dual application process. As selection for the Australian Defence Force is a competitive process, which can take up to 12 months, it is preferable that you apply to Defence Force Recruiting in Year 11. Visit this site for more information on both application processes.
This degree is also available to non-defence students.
Assumed knowledge
Mathematics, Physics
Adjustment Factors
We offer a range of adjustment factor schemes that reward students for academic performance and extra-curricular achievements. These schemes also take into account a range of personal and educational disadvantages that may have affected your studies.
HSC Plus
This scheme rewards students who perform well in Year 12 subjects that are relevant to their preferred UNSW degree. You may be awarded up to five points.
Elite Athletes, Performers and Leaders (EAPL)
This program recognises achievements in the areas of sport, academia, leadership and music at an elite level. You may be eligible for up to five points.
Educational Access Scheme (EAS), opens in a new window
Factors such as illness, financial hardship, language difficulties or attending a particular school can mean you don't always get the best possible marks in Years 11 and 12. If one of these situations applies to you, submit an application for the Educational Access Scheme (EAS) via UAC. Eligible students can receive between 1 and 10 points towards their chosen UNSW degree.
Admission pathways
Your ATAR is not the only measure of your potential to succeed, which is why we offer a range of pathways into university. Explore your options below and get in touch with our Future Student Advisers to discuss your path to UNSW.
Gateway Admission Pathway
This scheme is open to students who attend Gateway schools, live in a low-socioeconomic area based on IRSAD and IEO indexes of SEIFA criteria, or are an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person. It adjusts the ATAR requirements for your preferred UNSW degree and provides early offers and early conditional offers to UNSW.
Entry programs for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
We offer entry programs for Indigenous Australians, including the Indigenous Preparatory Programs and the Indigenous Admission Scheme (IAS). The entry pathway program you apply for will depend on the degree you want to study.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
For more details, visit the English Language Requirements page.
Program structure
In the Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) at UNSW Canberra, you’ll study a dynamic mix of core mechanical engineering subjects and specialised electives. Your core courses will give you a solid foundation in engineering, covering essential topics like thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and materials science, equipping you with the fundamentals to design and analyse complex systems.
As you progress, you can specialise in areas such as robotics, marine engineering, or aerospace, tailoring your degree to match your career goals. In your final year, you’ll complete an Honours research project and a 60-day industry internship, gaining hands-on experience and applying your skills in real-world settings.
Full program structure
The Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) is a four-year full-time program. Students will complete 192 Units of Credit (UOC).
Future careers
Future careers in Defence
Studying mechanical engineering will give you the key skills to become a successful engineer within the ADF. You could develop, design, construct and improve mechanical systems such as biomedical devices, automatic control systems, environmental pollution control devices, clean combustion, underwater exploration and space vehicles.
With accreditation from Engineers Australia, you’ll be ready to work in Australia and abroad from the moment you graduate.
Whether you are in the Navy, Army or Air Force, mechanical engineers are required to maintain and repair an extremely diverse and sophisticated range of equipment.
Navy
As a Navy graduate, you’ll gain vital expertise to be the technical authority on board the ship. You’ll find yourself responsible for the ship’s structures, propulsion systems, electrical generation and distribution. Your skills will allow you to work closely with the ship’s core equipment, including the main and auxiliary machinery, engines, hydraulics and more. Use your mechanical engineering degree to discover your career in the Navy in roles including:
- Mechanical Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer Submariner
Army
As an Army graduate, you’ll be posted to the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME), Armour Corps or Infantry Corps. You could find yourself working in mobile and static workshops, headquarters, or be involved with equipment procurement. You’ll gain experience repairing and maintaining equipment including tanks, armoured personnel carriers, helicopters, artillery guns, missile systems and more. Your next Army career could be in exciting roles including:
- Army Officer
- Mechanical Engineer
Air Force
As an Air Force graduate, you’ll play a critical role in managing equipment including aircraft structures, propulsion systems, weapons and more. Discover new heights in your ADF career with roles including:
- Aeronautical Engineer
- Armament Engineer
Future careers in non-Defence roles
Mechanical engineers are in demand, in Australia and around the world, across a range of evolving industries, including aerospace, robotics, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. Job growth for mechanical engineers is projected to grow over the next five years*, as industries adopt new technologies and sustainable practices. Your expertise will be critical in shaping the future of transport, healthcare and infrastructure, leading advancements in efficiency, safety and sustainability.
Potential civilian roles
- Aerospace Engineer
- Automotive Engineer
- Building Services Engineer
- CAD Technician
- Design Engineer
- Energy Engineer
- Hydraulic Engineer
- Maintenance Engineer
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Mechatronics Engineer
- Mining Engineer
- Operations Engineer
- Plant Engineer
- Product Development Engineer
- Project Engineer
- Research and Development Engineer
- Robotics Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Test Engineer
- Thermal Engineer
- Transport Engineer
- Water Systems Engineer
*Australian Government Jobs and Skills Atlas, 2024
Accreditation
Engineers Australia
How to apply
Applications for undergraduate study from domestic students (Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand citizens) are processed by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
Visit the Apply section of the UAC website, opens in a new window and you can nominate up to five degrees in order of preference, with the first being your most desired degree and university.
On-time applications for admission usually close at the end of September each year for Term 1 admission. Late applications can be submitted, but a late fee will apply. For study starting in Term 1, the majority of offers are made in December and January. Visit the UAC website, opens in a new window for key dates for admission outside of Term 1.
Ready to start your application?
Fees & Scholarships
The Australian Defence Force covers tuition fees for defence students.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
QS World University Rankings, 2025
AFR Top100 Future Leaders Awards, 2020-2025
#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders
