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Product Design Engineering

Frequently Asked Questions



1. What is Product Design Engineering?

Product Design Engineering is a combination of two traditionally separate fields, industrial design and engineering. These two disciplines have been brought together to produce a new graduate who will develop competitive products in both quality and design.

In this project driven course, the disciplines of creative design and engineering are integrated with material science, manufacturing processes and the management of innovation. Product Design Engineering students spend equal time at the Hawthorn campus studying engineering and at the Prahran campus studying design. You will be guided to be creative through design studio classes while acquiring engineering knowledge that enables you to design all scientific and technical aspects of a product. Graduates of this course belong to a unique generation of product design engineers, capable of designing new products that, at present, can only be imagined. The Bachelor of Engineering (Product Design Engineering) is a four-year course with an optional and additional year in the Industry-Based Learning program (IBL).


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2. What are the prerequisite subjects for Product Design Engineering?

Undergraduate (Local)
The prerequisite subjects for local applicants to the Bachelor of Engineering (Product Design Engineering) are Units 3 and 4 a study score of at least 20 in English (any) and Mathematical Methods (either).

Undergraduate (International)
The pre-requisite subject for international applicants to the Bachelor of Engineering (Product Design Engineering) is Advanced Mathematics. Note that Advanced Mathematics studies must be equivalent to the Year 12 VCE Advanced Mathematics subject that includes topics in co-ordinate geometry, circular (trigonometric) functions, calculus, algebra, statistics and probability.


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3. What ATAR score do I need for the Bachelor of Engineering (Product Design Engineering)?

Selection is based on an interview with emphasis on pre-requisite studies and ATAR.

Applicants must submit the online request for Interview – Product Design Engineering (www.swinburne.edu.au/engineering/pde) by September 30. Some applicants will need to attend an interview, details will be posted to applicants by early November for interviews in late November and early December.


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4. How do I apply?

Students wishing to commence their studies in Semester 1 should apply through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

The VTAC codes for the Bachelor of Engineering (Product Design Engineering) are 34121(CSP) and 34123 (IFP).

For further information, visit the VTAC website.

Students wishing to commence their studies midyear can apply directly to Swinburne through the Swinburne How to Apply website.

International undergraduate and postgraduate students can download an application form on the Swinburne International website.


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5. How are students selected?

Undergraduate (Local)
Selection is based on an interview, pre-requisite studies and ATAR.

Applicants must submit the online request for Interview – Product Design Engineering (www.swinburne.edu.au/engineering/pde) by September 30. Some applicants will need to attend an interview, details will be posted to applicants by early November for interviews in late November and early December.

For further information, visit the VTAC website.

Undergraduate (International)
Pre-requisite studies: Advanced Mathematics
Year 12 ATAR/UAI/TER score = minimum of 70 or equivalent
A Levels = 8
International Baccalaureate (IB) minimum 6 x 4 = 24
English requirements: IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6.0)


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6. Do I need to submit a portfolio or attend an interview?

Applicants must submit the online request for Interview – Product Design Engineering (www.swinburne.edu.au/engineering/pde) by September 30. Some applicants will need to attend an interview, details will be posted to applicants by early November for interviews in late November and early December.

You are not required to submit a portfolio, however applicants with an existing collection of work in design and or making products are encouraged to bring it to their interview.


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7. How much are the fees for this course?

You can find undergraduate and postgraduate tuition fee details on the Swinburne Fees website.

International undergraduate and postgraduate student fee details are available on the Swinburne International website.


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8. What subjects will I study and how are they taught?

The major areas of study for Product Design Engineering are:

  • Aesthetic design
  • Computer graphic design
  • Computer-aided design (CAD)
  • Design
  • Design (polymer products)
  • Design (product design)
  • Design for environment
  • Design for manufacture
  • Design for nature
  • Engineering
  • Engineering (product design)
  • Ergonomics
  • Human factors
  • Machine design
  • Mechanical design
  • Medical appliance design
  • Product design and development
  • Project management
  • Quality control
  • Rapid prototyping

Design studio classes are an important part of this course. This is where students learn and apply their engineering knowledge and skills. Project briefs always include design and engineering requirements that students need to address. For example, if the project involves designing an air conditioning unit, students are required to do all the external design conceptualisation as well as the internal function of the machine.

For this reason, there are two lecturers in each class, one Industrial Designer and one Engineer. Students have the advantage of learning how the two areas of knowledge can be combined to produce the complete design of a product.


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9. How many contact hours per week am I required to do?

Full-time and Part-time undergraduate Bachelor of Engineering (Product Design Engineering) students undertake between 4 to 5.5 contact hours per unit per week. A full time load is four units per semester.


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10. What career opportunities are available to Product Design Engineering graduates?

Product Design Engineering graduates are able to find employment in:

  • Automotive design and engineering
  • Domestic product design and manufacturing
  • Furniture design
  • Industrial design consultancies
  • Product design
  • Project engineering
  • Project management
  • Research and development

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11. Will I need to study at both the Hawthorn and Prahran campuses?

The subjects studied during the Bachelor of Engineering (Product Design Engineering) course are equally shared between the Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, located at the Hawthorn campus, and the Faculty of Design, located at the Prahran campus. You will need to attend classes at both campuses with your studies at Hawthorn focussing on science, mathematics, electronics and material science while at Prahran you will concentrate on creativity, drawing, computer-aided design (CAD) and industrial design.


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12. Can I undertake industry placement as part of my course?

Industry-Based Learning (IBL) is an optional program available to local undergraduate students in which they are offered the opportunity to undertake full-time, paid employment in an area relevant to their studies.

IBL is a six- or 12-month paid work placement in the industry you’re interested in. It is an opportunity to gain real-life experience in your chosen field. IBL gives you a distinct advantage over other graduates by allowing you to combine tertiary qualifications with practical experience. This can better prepare you for the opportunities and challenges of professional life, and allow you to develop practical skills and an understanding of how your chosen industry works. IBL is not available to international students due to student visa conditions.

If IBL is not undertaken all Product Design Engineering students are required to complete a compulsory 12-week professional experience placement.

For further information visit the Industry-Based Learning website.


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13. What international study opportunities are available to Product Design Engineering students?

Study tours and exchanges organised by the Faculty of Design provide you with the opportunity to experience another culture, a different type of design education and the chance to expand your international networks.

International Exchange: International student exchange offers you the opportunity to spend a semester at one of our international exchange partners – some of the best design schools from around the world. You will receive academic credit towards your degree by studying subjects approved by your Program Coordinator. Undergraduate Product Design Engineering students are encouraged to undertake exchange in second semester of second year or first semester of third year.

Study Tours (incoming and outgoing): Typical study tours last between 3 and 5 weeks, consist of 10 to 15 students and are conducted during the Summer and Winter breaks. They are short-term programs that allow you to engage with students, lecturers and industry from another country. Previous study tour locations include: USA, Germany, UK, France, Switzerland, Denmark and Italy.

For further information visit the Swinburne Abroad website.


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14. Are there any scholarships I can apply for?

The Vice Chancellors Engineering Scholarship is offered to new enrolling undergraduate students who are Australian citizens or became permanent residents pre 1997 and have completed their VCE or interstate equivalent in the year they are applying for the scholarship, achieving an ATAR of at least 97.00. Applicants must also meet the pre-requisites for their chosen course. Swinburne Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships exempt students from paying the Student Contribution Amount.

For more information visit the Scholarships website.


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15. What facilities are available to Product Design Engineering students?

To ensure that you graduate with confidence and experience you will have access to the latest design and engineering resources. Product Design Engineering students are able to access the following facilities at the Hawthorn and Prahran campuses:

Hawthorn

Computer based prototyping room equipped with:

  • Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machines
  • Rapid prototyping machines
  • Large format laser cutting machine

ATC Building:

  • Touch screen computers
  • A3 printing
  • Adobe suite
  • Solidworks
  • 3D Studio Max
  • 3D computer/movie projection system

Product Development Lab:

  • Laser scanning machines
  • Small format laser cutting machine
  • Desktop stratasys prototyping machine
  • Vacuum forming device

Prahran

  • AO Plotter
  • A3 scanners and printers
  • Design Studios
  • High end computer labs set up with Adobe Master Collection (e.g. Adobe Master Collection e.g. Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Dreamweaver, Fireworks etc) 3D Studio Max and Solidworks
  • Faculty of Design Gallery

Prototyping Workshop:

  • 3D Scanner: Allows you to transfer physical models into CAD programs with exact surface and dimensional details
  • 3D printer: This high quality rapid prototyping machine produces detailed, durable and smooth models
  • Plaster printer: Superior inkjet printing technology produces high-definition, full-colour prototypes that allow you to evaluate physical models of design concepts in their nearly finished state
  • Laser cutter/engraver: Engraves, etches and cuts into various surfaces and materials
  • Milling machine: Work piece and cutter movement is precisely controlled to create accurate prototypes using a variety of materials
  • Woodwork facilities
  • Metalwork facilities
  • Spray painting finishing facilities
  • Sketch modelling facilities

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