Overview

The Associate Degree of Engineering gives you the skills and qualification to pathway into the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours). 

You’ll have access to leading labs and facilities and be taught by teachers who are working in the industry.

View the Associate Degree of Engineering course handbook
Change of Preference Expo

Looking for your #1 VTAC preference? Explore your options and get personalised advice from course experts, based on your Year 12 results. Friday 13 December, Hawthorn campus.

Your major

Your industry experience

Build up your CV with real industry experience while you study through our Work Integrated Learning programs, which are a guaranteed part of all our engineering degrees and can include placements, internships or industry-linked projects. In this degree, you'll apply your learning in eight professionally focused, industry-linked projects.

Skills you’ll learn

  • Problem solving
  • Engineering principles
  • Analytical problem solving
  • Programming

Your career opportunities

  • Engineering officer
  • Associate engineer
  • Junior engineer

Key codes

CRICOS course code
108893E
VTAC Code (CSP)
3400234111
International student visa

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Professional accreditations

Why Swinburne?

Top 175 for engineering and technology

Times Higher Education World University Ranking by Subject 2023

86.1% of graduates found employment within 4 months of completing their course

Ranked Top 300 in Engineering

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023

Qualifications

Successful completion of one of the following:

  • Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.
  • Completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including Certificates, Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas, Associate Degrees and Degrees).
  • Applicants without a formal qualification may be considered for entry upon completion of the STAT test.

Course prerequisites

These prerequisites have been updated for Semester 1 2025 entry
  • VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in any English (except EAL) or 25 English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent
  • VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in any Mathematics


Applicants who do not meet the mathematics prerequisites for this course will be required to successfully complete Swinburne’s MathsLink Methods bridging program.

  • VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in any English (except EAL) or 25 English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent
  • VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in any Mathematics
Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. Check admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Finding your fit

At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.

How credit points work

To qualify for the award of Associate Degree of Engineering, students must complete 200 credit points comprising of:

  • Twelve (12) Core Engineering units (150 credit points)
  • One (1) Core Professional Practice in Engineering (Compulsory no-credit unit)
  • Four (4) Specialisation Core units (50 credit points) for the award in either Associate Degree of Engineering (Civil) or Associate Degree of Engineering (Mechanical) or Associate Degree of Engineering (Mechatronics).
12
Core units
+
1
Professional Practice in Engineering unit
+
4
Major units
=
2-year Associate Degree

Your units

Units of study Unit code
Core units
Technology in an Indigenous Context Project
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
COS10027
Introduction to Programming
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
COS10028
Engineering Mechanics
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EAT10002
Engineering Materials
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EAT10003
Energy and Motion
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EAT10005
Humanitarian Engineering Design Project
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EAT10027
Computer Aided Drafting and Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EAT20001
Project Management Practice and 3D Design Applications
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EAT20005
Professional Practice in Engineering
Core unit
EAT20024
Engineering Capstone Project
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
EAT20035
Applied Engineering Mathematics
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MTH00005
Calculus and Applications
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MTH10015
Linear Algebra and Applications
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MTH10016

Your major units

Select one of the following options

Units of study Unit code
Mandatory units
Object Oriented Programming
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
COS20007
Digital Electronics Design
Major unit
EEE20001
Select two of the following units
Circuits and Electronics 1
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points
EEE20006
Engineering Technology Inquiry Project
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points
ENG20009
Engineering Technology Design Project
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points
ENG20010
Internet and Cybersecurity for Engineering Applications
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points
TNE20003
Units of study Unit code
Mandatory units
Digital Electronics Design
Major unit
EEE20001
Engineering Dynamics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MEE20006
Select two of the following units
Object Oriented Programming
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points
COS20007
Circuits and Electronics 1
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points
EEE20006
Engineering Technology Inquiry Project
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points
ENG20009
Technical Software Development
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points
SWE20004
Want to see the full range of electives?

Learn about all the electives you can take in the course handbook.

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$9,314

Total fee* ($AUD)

$18,628

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$38,760.00

Fees are estimates only

Published student tuition fees for 2025 unit enrolments in HE Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and Undergraduate Full Fee Paying (FFP) are subject to change based on individual circumstances at enrolment. Fees may vary for units studied in future years, with part-time fees being proportionally lower depending on the number of units taken per semester. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.

Fees are estimates only

The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.

How do I pay my fees?

HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme available to you if you are eligible and enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of your contribution amount. You can also choose to pay your fees up front. 

International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.

To pay your fees:

  • log in to My Financials
  • check your Australian bank account details are correct 
  • check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe 
  • pay using your preferred payment method.

Eligibility for HECS-HELP

You are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan if you have been offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for an undergraduate degree at Swinburne or a UniLink course, and you:

  • are an Australian citizen and doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
  • hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
  • hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens.

Student services and amenities fee

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

The fee shown in the capped amount for 2025.

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.

Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$365

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$365

Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals. 

Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.

When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.

Apply through an agent

Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.

Representatives and agents
AB-ENG
Search for agents

Apply directly

Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! 

Course code
AB-ENG
Apply directly
Course code
AB-ENG
CRICOS code
108893E
Apply directly

Apply through VTAC

International students currently studying Year 12 in Australia must apply through VTAC. VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria. 

VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.

Start dates
Location
Last date to apply
Start dates
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
26-February-2025
Start dates
03-March-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
30-July-2025
Start dates
04-August-2025
Start dates
Location
Start dates
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
03-March-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
04-August-2025
Upcoming events
Change of Preference Expo 2024
13-December-2024