Best Engineering Colleges in Australia

For aspiring engineering students, Australia is one of the most favorable countries in the world. With cutting-edge technologies, modernized infrastructure, and a pool of extremely talented and eminent professors on board, the Australian engineering colleges offer one of the best technology educations worldwide. You do not need to look for higher education in countries like the US and Canada alone. Australia too offers some amazing study options for you that you need to know about.

According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject (Engineering and Technology) 2020, 10 Australian institutions are ranked in the top 150 engineering and technology institutions of the world.

Engineering Programs

The universities and colleges offer numerous engineering sessions for both undergraduate and postgraduate level students. There are a plethora of options for students for specialization in courses like Biomedical engineering, Marine engineering, Chemical engineering, Information technology, Mechanical engineering, Manufacturing technology, Civil engineering, Land information technology and remote sensing, Electrical engineering, Mechatronics, Computer science engineering, Food technology, Aeronautical and space engineering, Software engineering, Mining, Plant and machine maintenance, etc.

The various levels of engineering courses that can opt for are:

• Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses focus on practical teaching methods which will provide you with vocational skills and knowledge to pursue supporting roles such as engineering associate or engineering technologist. Fabrication and welding, and manufacturing and mechanical engineering are common areas on which VET courses are popularly taken.
• Undergraduate courses arm students with the fundamental principles of engineering, where you will gain industry experience upon the completion of your degree. Undergraduate degrees often offer the greatest scope and variety of specialization, allowing students to focus on their specific interests and strengths. Most engineering courses offered in Australian institutions include 60 days (12 weeks) of internship and experience, allowing for practical and vocational use of skills acquired during the course. This also helps students to seamlessly progress and adapt to their eventual positions of employment.
• Postgraduate/research courses expand your professional knowledge and allow you to pioneer research and development in a chosen field.

Some of the most promising colleges and universities in Australia are (in no specific order):

1) University of Queensland

Rated as one of the premier institutes in Australia, the University of Queensland in Brisbane is renowned for its epoch-making research and teaching. Their first-class facilities and excellent infrastructure make this college one of the favorites for CEOs recruiting from world colleges.

For the 2021 academic calendar, the tuition fees the University of Queensland charges for international students is approximately AUD $45,000 (indicative per year).

The University of Queensland is home to the largest number of engineering study options in Queensland, with 6 core specializations, 14 majors, and 3 minors to choose from. Postgraduate specializations include bioengineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, materials and manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, petroleum engineering, renewable energy, software engineering, or urban water engineering.

2) University of New South Wales

Excellence in research programs, promising industry links, and worldwide exposure makes the University of New South Wales a leading research college in Australia. The UNSW has always taken the first step ahead in developing new ideas and promoting ground-breaking engineering education. Outstanding performers in technology and science get to meet each other in a platform where the university inspires them to excel.

The online application fee for the University of New South Wales is AUD $50 while the paper-based application fee is AUD $250. Some courses include the cost of the laboratory tools, equipment, and excursions and these are mandatory. The textbooks do not fall under the mandatory cost, but it budgets to a total of around AUD $1000 per year.

The ‘Indicative First Year Fee’ is $9500, however, it is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 based on a standard full-time load of 48 credit points. The actual tuition fees you will be liable for depends on your selected program of study and the specific year of enrolment. The total number of credits required for the course is 192. The number of indicative enrolments is almost 4400 for the year 2020.

3) University of Sydney

The University of Sydney has always been at the forefront of being responsible to the commitment of quality education. The diverse and extensive pool of knowledgeable and capable teachers and pupils of science and technology makes the campus an enriching experience where innovation and research go hand in hand. The university believes that it is the place where things happen as far as engineering and science education are concerned.

The ‘Indicative First Year Fee’ ranges from $47,500 to $50,000 depending on the nature of the engineering course.

4) University of Technology, Sydney

When the entire planet keeps discussing the latest technologies and the advancements of science, the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) makes sure they inspire enough industry focus to keep the speculations on. With real-world research infrastructure, facilities, state-of-the-art campus, UTS is one of the most coveted engineering colleges in Australia.

The application fee is $100 which is non-refundable. For engineering courses, the cost per credit point for 2021 is $800-$1000. The total required credit points are variable, but in most courses will require around 100-200 credit points.

5) Western Sydney University

The University of Western Sydney is another leader in technology education in Australia. The UWS provides one of the most cutting-edge platforms to increase engineering excellence and depth in research. The University welcomes outstanding talents from the field of science and technology.

The 2021 tuition fee is AUD $28500- AUD $33,000 (Indicative First Year Fee) per year for full-time students. The university allows you to apply for a refund request at least four weeks before the commencement of the session if you no longer wish to study there. In such a case, 50% of the session tuition fee will be given back.

Western Sydney University also offers a part-time Engineering course for those who are currently employed, with classes in the evenings and weekends. This course lasts for 8 years.

Other notable Engineering Institutions you may consider are: RMIT, Monash University, Curtin University, University of Wollongong

(Note: The ‘Indicative First Year Fee’ refers only to the amount payable in Year 1 based on a standard full-time load of 48 credit points. The actual tuition fees you will be liable for depends on your selected program of study, chosen credit courses, and the specific year of enrolment. The actual amount will be calculated upon enrolment of the candidate into the university. Also, the amount of the chargeable fee may be subject to a yearly reviewal by the University and may possibly increase each year during your course, at the start of each calendar year. However, such increments are limited by the Australian government and should not be a cause of worry. Federal caps are presented so that increases in tuition fees do not skyrocket and financially destabilize students that are currently enrolled.)

Eligibility criteria for admission

If you wish to study in Australia, then you may be required to take an English proficiency test like IELTS. In IELTS, you are required to obtain an overall score of 6.5 Band with no less than 6 Band in each of the four modules. This is the same for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Also, additional requirements for each course are:

• For an undergraduate course: You are required to complete your senior secondary education in your home country at the time of applying to the university. Universities will have specific (and differing) minimum requirements which the students are encouraged to investigate on their respective websites. Also, you are expected to submit your documents at the time of admission with all the transcripts and certificates, so make sure to have original versions of the required documents ready and available in the event that they may be required.
• For postgraduate course: If you apply for a master's degree in Australia then you need to provide your undergraduate degree along with the senior secondary education certificates at the time of your application in addition to your preferred English proficiency tests.