Graduate Diploma in Defence Systems Integration

The defence sector has become one of the priorities for the State and Commonwealth Governments.

With the Australian Government investing over $200 billion 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 the next step for a range of engineers and defence industry professionals:

mid-career engineers with five or more years’ experience from graduation, working within a defence company who are looking to further their formal engineering qualifications and extend their skills and knowledge in systems engineering.

This postgraduate degree is offered as part of a suite of three programs (graduate certificate, graduate diploma and master).

Each qualification extends to the next, so you can easily transition to a master level qualification.

1Australian Government Department of Defence

Entry requirements

You'll draw on your foundation of engineering knowledge to study 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 and systems integration, autonomous and unmanned systems, and System of Systems (SoS) integration. Students will study 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.

Through in-class exercises and coursework assignments, you will develop an further knowledge of, and learn to implement, systems engineering tools and problem-solving methodologies in a systems environment.

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 and 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.

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:

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 employee master classes and employment expos, and alumni events in Australia and overseas.

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

Your career

Graduates of the program will learn the fundamental skills of systems integration to further their careers in various roles within the defence industry and government departments.

Potential employers include:

• ASC
• BAE Systems
• Boeing
• Defence SA
• Department of Defence
• Lockheed Martin
• Naval Group
• Nova Systems
• SAAB Australia
• Thales

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

Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and areas 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 has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, a perfect 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.

Our student support services can make your life at university easier. We provide a full range of support services including academic and personal counselling. You can also access a range of services through our students association, USASA. When you become a UniSA student you can contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and any other questions you might have.

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