Associate Degree in Engineering

Prepare for a professional career in civil, mechanical, mechatronic, electrical engineering or surveying, or continue studying after this qualification and become a fully-qualified engineer and/or surveyor.

In this qualification you will learn the mathematics, physics and chemistry you need to study engineering.

Depending on the combination of courses you choose, you could be eligible for up to 1.5 years of credit towards an Engineering (Honours) bachelor degree with UniSA and accrue some hours in the UniSA STEM Professional Practice Program.

UniSA is one of Australia's leading universities for Engineering research.1 So you’ll be taught by world-class teachers with everything you learn supported by our research excellence.

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

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:

Recent secondary education Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent AND

• Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
• Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
• Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points

Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.

Prerequisite: Students should have achieved SACE Stage 1 passes, or an equivalent TAFE or other approved qualification in Mathematics.

Recent secondary education ATAR profile

OR Higher education study

• Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
• Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above

OR Vocational Education and Training (VET)

• Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Certificate IV or above

OR Work and life experience

• Qualify for Special Entry, or
• Complete a UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
• Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past

Essential requirements for admission

Prerequisites

Assumed Knowledge

Deferment

This degree is available for deferment. This option is made available by responding to your offer during the application process via the SATAC website. Applicants who receive an offer into a midyear degree are eligible to defer for six months.

Along with courses in mathematics, physics and chemistry, you’ll study first year engineering core courses. These include Engineering Materials, Engineering Design and Innovation, Sustainable Engineering Practice and Programming Concepts.

You will also select a stream in civil engineering, electrical engineering or mechanical engineering where you’ll study courses specific to these areas.

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 (independent study). 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:

UniSA collaborates with over 2,500 companies worldwide. If you go on to study Engineering (Honours) you’ll have many opportunities to gain hands-on experience and make industry connections. The UniSA STEM Professional Practice Program allows you to gain at least 450 hours of skills and competencies through a range of engagement activities such as placements, internships, guest lectures, industry panels, site visits, networking and events.

UniSA also hosts regular University-wide employee master classes and employment expos, and alumni events in Australia and overseas.

Your career

Careers you could consider:

• electrical engineering technologist: designing, building, testing and repairing electronic parts in mobile phones, medical equipment, machinery control systems, or computers; using computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-assisted engineering (CAE) software to design systems and products.
• engineering design and development: working on products such as mobile phones or car part construction; research using mathematical modelling; using CAD and CAE software; testing prototypes and analysing results.
• maintenance technician: preventative maintenance work such as checking and calibrating instruments, fitting new parts or carrying out quality inspections; emergency maintenance work such as fixing equipment breakdowns or faults.
• engineering associate: work as a paraprofessional and design, develop and maintain products, equipment and processes; apply technical knowledge to complete routine engineering tasks such as performing calculations, operating machinery and preparing reports; and manage small projects under the supervision of a senior engineer.
• design drafter: support engineers to research and design new products and systems for an organisation; draft blueprints, model new components using 3D sketches; interpret engineering sketches, specifications and drawings; create test prototypes and oversee manufacturing processes; collaborate with design and production teams; and apply in-depth knowledge of the latest design trends and engineering software.
• engineering technical officer: support engineers to analyse and modify new and existing engineering technologies and apply them in the testing and implementation of engineering projects; monitor and test apparatus and operating equipment; conduct statistical studies to analyse production costs for a range of designs; and organise and direct site labour and the delivery of construction materials, plant and equipment.
• engineering developer: work with engineers to plan, design, develop, test and release new products and features, enhancements or fixes; assist with developing new methodologies and implement emerging technologies; write diagnostic programs and design and write code for operating systems; work on products such as mobile phones or car part construction; research designs using mathematical modelling using CAD and CAE software; and test prototypes and analyse results.

This associate degree is also a pathway into UniSA Engineering (Honours) degrees, so you could also continue your studies and become a fully-qualified engineer and/or surveyor.

Explore a range of engineering and construction careers here.

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, and areas that simulate real work environments. But you’ll also discover that your journey at UniSA is about social experiences, healthy living and getting involved. You’ll find student sports and fitness facilities, community clinics, tech zones and chill-out spaces. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and loads more.

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, an ideal 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 will make your life at university easier. We want you to be successful, and if you need help, we're here to assist. We provide a full range of support services, including:

• academic counselling
• personal counselling
• social support services, including family support and nearby childcare

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.