Industrial Experience and Career-Ready Placements
Engineering
Industrial Experience is a compulsory program requirement of the Engineering (Honours), Surveying (Honours) and Master of Professional Engineering degrees. For students who commence from 2023 onwards it will include a career-ready placement experience. Please refer to the compulsory program requirements as outlined in the relevant program handbook for your degree.
Note: For Software Engineering, please refer to the information under the School of Information and Physical Sciences.
Industrial experience and career-ready placements provide an opportunity to gain valuable hands-on training and experience in real world situations. Additionally, through exposure to current practice, students can reflect on, and appreciate the link between curriculum and practice. IE is a core requirement for graduation.
It can be challenging and rewarding to find an appropriate placement. While the University is unable to organise your Industrial Experience, the Careers Service can provide some guidance for students looking for placement opportunities. Some of the services that they provide are:
- The CareerHub - an online portal with discipline-related work and work experience opportunities
- Information about job searching strategies
- Drop-in and appointment-based resume and application checking and an interview preparation service.
To increase your chances of finding the right placement you should also join the accrediting professional bodies of your degree (many of which offer free student memberships), go to professional networking events and build relationships with the contacts you make, attend career fairs and most importantly, don't give up!
You can find a list of the companies that may be able to assist with your Industrial Experience at Engineers Australia - The Engineering Directory
To assist companies to gain an understanding of the requirements of hosting a student, we recommend that you provide them with a copy of the Prospective Host Factsheet.
Industrial Experience is managed within the online program SONIA. Everything you need to know including log in information can be found in the Student Manual below.
Degree Requirements
| Callaghan Cohorts | Industrial Experience |
|---|---|
| Pre-2023 students | 12 weeks Industrial Experience |
| 2023 commencing students | Students will complete 8 weeks Industrial Experience, plus 4 weeks as part of ENGG3000 Engineering Work Integrated Learning (first time of offer 2025) Total - 12 weeks |
Student Manuals and Policy Information
- Students commenced Pre-2023 Engineering & Surveying IE Student Manual (Callaghan)
- Students commencing 2023 Engineering & Surveying IE Student Manual (Callaghan)
- NAIHE Singapore IE Student Manual
Log into SONIA online here
You must also read the Student Professional Experience Policy, Student Conduct Rule and Code of Conduct to understand your responsibilities while completing your Industrial Experience and career-ready placement.
Medical Engineering (NSW Health Placements)
Students wishing to undertake placements with NSW Health (for example, John Hunter Hospital) are required to meet NSW Health verification requirements. NSW Health will not accept students who are not fully verified. Do not delay starting the verification process your immunisation schedule can take 1 month, and a minimum of 8 weeks for NSW Health to process documentation.
Students should follow the steps outlined below:
- Complete the application process as described in the IE Student Manual
- Apply for NSW Health verification. The submission process is described below under NSW Health Verification.
- Email CESE-PEU@newcastle.edu.au with the following information:
- full name;
- student ID;
- date of birth;
- NSW Health site;
- proposed placement dates.
- Students will be notified via email when the placement has been accepted.
The placement cannot be arranged with NSW Health until you are fully verified.
Students wishing to undertake placements with NSW Health please also refer to additional information regarding NSW Health Verification.
Industrial Experience and Course Coordinators
| Degree | Coordinator |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Systems Engineering | Dr Joel Ferguson T: +61 2 4921 7848 E: joel.ferguson@newcastle.edu.au |
| Chemical Engineering | A/Prof Tom Honeyands T: +61 2 4033 9216 E: tom.a.honeyands@newcastle.edu.au |
| Civil Engineering | A/Prof Igor Chaves T: +61 2 4921 2006 E: igor.chaves@newcastle.edu.au |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering | Prof Zhiyong Chen T: +61 2 4921 6352 E: zhiyong.chen@newcastle.edu.au |
| Environmental Engineering | A/Prof In-Young Yeo T: +61 2 4921 6055 E: in-young.yeo@newcastle.edu.au |
| Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering | Dr Joel Ferguson T: +61 2 4921 7848 E: joel.ferguson@newcastle.edu.au |
| Medical Engineering | Prof Zhiyong Chen T: +61 2 4921 6352 E: zhiyong.chen@newcastle.edu.au |
| Renewable Energy Engineering | A/Prof Tom Honeyands T: +61 2 4033 9216 E: tom.a.honeyands@newcastle.edu.au |
| Surveying | Prof Shin-Chan Han T: +61 2 4921 5432 E: shin-chan.han@newcastle.edu.au |
| ENGG3000 Engineering Work Integrated Learning | Refer to the Course Coordinator information on the ENGG3000 CANVAS site. First time of offer 2025. |
PSB Academy Singapore
| Mechanical Engineering | Dr. Yit Yan Koh E: yityan.koh@newcastle.edu.au |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering | Dr. Chiang Liang Kok E: chiangliang.kok@newcastle.edu.au |
BCA Academy Singapore
| Civil Engineering | Dr Adnan Anwar Malik E: adnananwar.malik@newcastle.edu.au |
College contacts
General enquiries
-
AskUON
Phone: +61 2 4921 5000
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.