Master of Engineering Practice
Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
Duration
1 year full-time or equivalent part-time
Intakes
Hawthorn (Semester 1, Semester 2) - View application and start dates
Study modes
- Full-time,
- Part-time
2023 Start Dates
2024 Start Dates
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
The Master of Engineering Practice allows students to build on their existing engineering undergraduate degree knowledge by developing specialised technical knowledge in the same or related Engineering discipline. It should appeal to recent graduates from a Bachelor of Engineering looking for a deeper technical education to differentiate themselves from other engineering graduates entering the workforce. Similarly, it should appeal to early-career engineers looking to redirect their career or to move beyond junior positions. There is scope to work on industry-based research projects, which combined with the technical focus, will benefit students looking for careers in R&D, consulting, design, and testing across a variety of engineering disciplines.
Course structure
- Two [2] core engineering units (25 credit points)
- Six [6] specialisation units comprising of:
- Four [4] core specialisation units (50 credit points)
- Two [2] option units (25 credit points)
The Master of Engineering Practice consists of 100 credit points. Units normally carry 12.5 credit points. A standard annual full-time load comprises 100 credit points and a part time load comprises of 50 credit points. The volume of learning of the Master of Engineering Practice is typically 1 years full-time (or part-time equivalent).
Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Master of Engineering Practice is 25 credit points (normally two units)
Research Statement
The AQF level 9 research components are met in the Master of Engineering Practice specifically through the unit CVE80001 Research Paper, which is common to all specialisations. This unit provides students with the opportunity to undertake a minor research investigation on an engineering-related topic and prepare a research paper having potential to be published in peer-reviewed conferences or journals. Research methods and skills are taught and developed over weekly synchronous lectures and material made available online, and assessed at mid-semester prior to the development of a full paper. The unit is primarily assessed on the strength of the students’ research skills, via the following assessment pieces: - a final paper or report (70%) - an oral-based presentation (20-25%). In this way both written and oral communication skills are explicitly assessed. Conducting research on a topic specific to the student allows students to develop, and be assessed on, the following skills: - the ability to work independently - the ability to work on a problem that may be unfamiliar and open-ended - problem-solving - analysis. Weekly tutorials and meetings with an academic supervisor provide opportunities for students develop the following research skills: - create, reflect upon, and iterate the study - understand and improve their knowledge of research design principles - manage a research project - analyze and appraise the literature and the current state-of-the-art. These skills are also inherent in the production of a paper that is targeting publication.
Units of study
Complete 2 core units
Specialisations - 75 cp
Choose one specialisation and complete 6 specialisation-specific units as prescribed - 75 cp
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and graduate skills.
Career opportunities
Aims and objectives
- Demonstrate high-level advanced knowledge and skills in an area of Engineering specialisation as related to design, construction, operation and maintenance of Engineering Systems
- Reflect on managing practical issues/ complex problems and describing/ developing contemporary and sustainable Engineering trends and best practices related to design, construction, operation and maintenance of systems
- Investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, perceptions, problems, concepts and theories in area of engineering specialisation to provide rational solutions to composite problems using critical thinking and team-based/ independent judgement in the project based industries
- Demonstrate clear and coherent communication skills to articulate complex knowledge and justify propositions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences; including clients, customers, multi-disciplinary/ multi-cultural project teams and stakeholders
- Demonstrate a high level of autonomy, accountability, credibility, ethics, and responsibility for all personal work outputs
- Plan and execute an independent research project in area of engineering specialisation by applying appropriate research principles, sound methods and technical research skills

Graduate skills
The course aims to prepare students to contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of engineering strategies to solve engineering challenges.
- To provide common units for project management and research projects
- To provide a set of units with a small amount of tailoring possible, with each unit being stand-alone allowing units to be taken in a flexible order. Each unit focuses on developing students’ technical knowledge, technical skills and professional attributes assessed in a range of ways
Pathways and scholarships
- Pathways, credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
How do I pay my fees?
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.
HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme available to eligible students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of the student contribution amount.
Entry requirements
- a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree (minimum 4 years of full time study) in an approved cognate field, or
- a Graduate Certificate of Engineering degree in an approved cognate field following on from a 4-year Bachelor of Engineering degree, or
- a qualification deemed to be equivalent to any of the above.