The Certificate II in Engineering Studies provides students with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge for employment as an apprentice in various engineering trades or as a pathway to higher education programs post-secondary school.

Students will be required to plan projects, produce engineering sketches and drawings, and fabricate metal components and products.

  • Wantirna campus
  • Two years part-time
  • Year 1: Wednesday 12.30pm – 5.30pm 
  • Year 2: Wednesday 12.30pm – 5.30pm
  • Classroom/workshop based/online delivery
  • Materials fee: Year 1 = $185, Year 2 = $150
  • Required clothing and equipment: steel cap work boots, full-length cotton drill overalls or shirt and pants, pencil case with ruler, pens, pencils and erasers, and an exercise book.
  • Second year students are required to have a laptop.

Units of competency

Unit code Unit name Nominal hours Compulsory/Elective
VU23478 Perform basic machining process 40 Compulsory
VU23479 Apply basic fabrication techniques 40 Compulsory
VU23477 Interpret and prepare basic two - and three - dimensional engineering drawings 30 Compulsory
VU23481 Apply occupational health and safety principles in an engineering environment 20 Compulsory
VU23475 Safety use hand tools and hand held power tools for general engineering applications 40 Compulsory
VU23476 Report on the Sectors and Employment in the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Industries 20 Compulsory
  Total Nominal Hours 190  
Unit code Unit name Nominal hours Compulsory/Elective
VU23480 Perform intermediate engineering computations 40 Compulsory
VU23486 Configure and program a basic robotic system 60 Elective
MEMPE006 Undertake basic engineering project  80 Compulsory
  Total nominal hours 180  

Outcomes

On successful completion of this program, students will:

VCE: refer to the VCAA VCE Engineering Studies Program Booklet for information about VCE VET unit credits. This program does offer scored assessment for Year 2.

VCE VM: meets the requirement for the Industry Specific Skills strand and may also contribute to the Work-Related Skills Strand of VCE VM

Qualification: Be eligible for the award of 22632VIC Certificate II in Engineering Studies.

Complementary studies include Mathematical Methods and Physics.

Career opportunities include: Mechanical engineering tradesperson (fitter and turner), steel fabrication/welding tradesperson, certified welder, process manufacturing engineer, production engineer, marine craft construction tradesperson, competitive systems and practice engineer, mechanical engineer and civil engineer.

How to apply for VET Delivered to Secondary Students

Essentially, we’re in partnership with you and your school. You speak to your school and they coordinate your application with Swinburne. Seek out your school’s VET or careers coordinator for course recommendations and discuss your options. Then, when you’ve decided on a VDSS course that fits, your school will forward your application directly to us.

To be eligible for consideration for a VDSS program you must be currently enrolled in Year 10, 11 or 12.

You’ll receive notification from your school about the outcome of your application. Successful? More information about enrolment will follow.

If there is greater demand than course places available, you’ll be placed on a waiting list. So, take note of our key application dates to allow time for your school-endorsed application to get to us.

Please refer to Swinburne's policies and regulations for student rights and responsibilities while on campus.

Course costs

The costs associated with Swinburne VDSS programs is invoiced directly to schools. For more information on course costs, it’s best to contact your school’s VET or careers coordinator.

2026 key dates

Applications
First round applications open Monday August 18th 2025
First round applications close

Friday September 12th 2025
Schools notified Monday 6 October 2025
Late applications open Monday 13 October 2025
Late applications close Friday 7 November 2025


Note: These dates are indicative only.

Enrolment and Orientation

Orientation for courses at Wantirna campus and Croydon campus is scheduled for Wednesday 26 November 2025.

When you’ve completed your enrolment and we’ve seen you on campus for orientation, you’ll attend Swinburne one day per week for training while continuing at your secondary school.

Courses commence Wednesday 4 February 2026.

Explore other VET courses Delivered to Secondary Students

Contact the VET Delivered to Secondary Students team

Have questions? If you would like more information about Swinburne's Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students, please email VETDSS@swinburne.edu.au

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