Engineering and Surveying
Career-ready placements are an integral part of all engineering and surveying degrees.
Industrial Experience (IE) provides an opportunity to gain valuable hands-on training and experience in real world situations. Additionally, through exposure to current practice, you can reflect on and appreciate the link between curriculum and practice. IE is a compulsory requirement for graduation.
IE is a requirement for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), Bachelor of Surveying (Honours), and Master of Professional Engineering* degrees which are accredited by Engineers Australia (EA).
Please refer to the College of Engineering, Science and Environment Professional Experience website for more information regarding the placement requirements of your degree.
Callaghan Students
You will complete a total of 12 weeks of career-ready placement experiences before you graduate from your degree.
| Cohort | Industrial Experience Requirements |
|---|---|
| Pre-2023 students | 12 weeks Industrial Experience |
| 2023 commencing students | Students will complete 12 weeks in total comprising of 8 weeks Industrial Experience, plus 4 weeks as part of the course ENGG3000 Engineering Career-ready placements |
Singapore NAIHE Students
Please refer to the College of Engineering, Science and Environment Professional Experience website for more information regarding the IE component and placement requirements of the degree programs at the Newcastle Australia Institute of Higher Education (NAIHE).
*Master of Professional Engineering students in the one-year program are not required to undertake IE.
What you need to do
It is your responsibility to find appropriate Industrial Experience (IE) opportunities in a field related to your studies. You should look for ways to meet your requirements from the first year of your studies and explore different opportunities that will contribute towards your total IE hours required to graduate.
You can complete all or some of your IE in an industry placement (paid or unpaid) or through relevant employment.
Please note: Under the Fair Work Act (2009), the University cannot allow any student to complete more than the requisite 12 weeks of unpaid experience for Engineering (Honours) & Surveying (Honours). Students completing IE in countries other than Australia would need to ensure compliance with local Fair Work laws, if applicable.
Application and approval
All IE applications must be submitted for pre-approval in SONIA before the IE commences. This is to ensure that your IE will satisfy the compulsory requirement of your degree and that you will be covered by the appropriate insurance. As a part of this process, you will also need to work with your host organisation to complete the Industrial Experience Application form located in SONIA.
SONIA
SONIA is The University of Newcastle’s placement management system. The software supports you in managing your placement quickly and easily. For any enquiries related to SONIA, contact the Professional Experience Unit for the College of Engineering, Science and Environment (CESE-PEU@newcastle.edu.au).
Student Manuals and Policy Information
The student manuals contain all the information regarding placement and must be read thoroughly. Please refer to the College of Engineering, Science and Environment Professional Experience website for more information regarding the placement requirements of your degree.
You must also read the Student Professional Experience Policy, Student Conduct Rule and Code of Conduct to understand your responsibilities while completing your placement.
It is important to note that some placement host organisations (particularly those in clinical settings) may require additional checks before you are able to begin your placement. Appropriate time should be allocated to complete those checks to prevent delays in your placement commencement.
Insurance
If you are undertaking approved, unpaid Industrial Experience, you are under the University of Newcastle Student Insurance coverage. For further clarification, please contact the University’s Insurance Team (insurance@newcastle.edu.au).
Medical Engineering (NSW Health Placements)
If you are studying the Bachelor of Medical Engineering (Honours) and you wish to undertake a placement with NSW Health (for example, at the John Hunter Hospital), you are required to meet NSW Health verification requirements. NSW Health will not accept students who are not fully verified, and the process can take 6 weeks or more.
Please take care to review the Health Verification Requirements thoroughly. The placement cannot be arranged with NSW Health until you are fully verified.
Sourcing your experience
Now you understand the requirements of a career-ready placement experience, the next step is to prepare yourself to connect with employers. To do so, you will need to put together a strong application to ensure you stand out in a competitive job market.
CareerHub is the university's online job board that links you with industry and provides you with resources to help you with job-seeking.
On CareerHub you can find resources and tools to help you:
- Refine your job search
- Write a job application
- Prepare for an interview
- Develop a LinkedIn profile
- Learn more about an industry
Being confident and well prepared is essential when approaching a potential employer.
As a student, you aren’t expected to know everything. However, doing preliminary research, going in with a positive attitude, and taking initiative will go a long way. Try to find the best contact person in the organisation and approach them directly.
Here are our top tips for approaching employers:
- Use LinkedIn: Complete a search on LinkedIn, using the organisation name and browsing the listed employee with a title that mentions ‘Human Resources’, ‘Hiring Manager’, ‘Recruitment Specialist’, ‘Talent Acquisition' or other similar titles related to the Human Resources function.
- Find the right contact: If you are unable to find the most appropriate person, call the general contact phone number. In the call, ask if there is a specific contact you can speak with about a work placement opportunity within the organisation.
- Contacting via email: Keep your email concise, direct, courteous, and professional. You may find this resource helpful as a guide.
- Contacting via phone: Make sure you look and sound professional. Prepare your spiel ahead of time and be sure to show your passion and interest for the organisation. A Zoom or Skype call can be a great alternative to a phone call and can add a level of personalisation.
- Keep a record: It’s essential to keep yourself organised by keeping track of who you contacted and the status of the conversation. This will be particularly helpful if you’re asked to call back or follow up via email. This Prospective Host Communication Tracker (EXCEL, 21KB)
can help you stay on track.
When sourcing your career-ready placement experience, you may be asked some questions from your host supervisor about their requirements, roles, and responsibilities. You can refer employers to the Career-ready placement for Industry page to aid those discussions and ensure they understand their commitment.
The Application Pack (CESE) (PDF, 191KB)
As an international student, you may find it tricky to navigate the Australian work environment. However, you have access to information and resources that have been developed specifically to help support you in sourcing and preparing for career-ready placement experiences.
Support and resources
While it is your responsibility to organise your Industrial Experience, the Careers Service is available to provide guidance. Some of the services that they provide include:
- Access to CareerHub, an online portal with discipline-related work and work experience opportunities
- Information about job and placement searching strategies
- Assistance aligning your studies and interests with industry opportunities
- Drop-in and appointment-based resume and application checking, plus an interview preparation service
Professional Bodies
To increase your chances of finding the right opportunity, you should consider joining the accrediting professional bodies for your degree (many of which offer free student memberships). Take the opportunity to network at professional events, attend career fairs, and most importantly, seek help if and when you need it!
- Consult Australia
- Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia (APESMA)
- Australian Institute of Energy
- Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association
- Engineers Australia
- Institute of Instrumentation Control and Automation Australia
- Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia
- Institution of Chemical Engineers
- Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
- National Engineering Registration Board
- Society of Automotive Engineers Australasia
- The Institution of Engineering and Technology
- Institution of Surveyors, New South Wales
Engineers Australia also has a list of technical societies that provide a vital link between the profession and specific areas of technical practice. These societies serve many functions related to the establishment and maintenance of engineering qualifications. They also provide a forum for engineers, teams, and industry practitioners to participate in professional technical development and networking opportunities.
Contact us
If you are unable to obtain, or finding it difficult to source an industrial experience opportunity, you are encouraged to seek advice from your IE Coordinator.
For all other enquiries, including SONIA enquiries, please contact:
Professional Experience Unit - College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Email: CESE-PEU@newcastle.edu.au
Phone: (02) 4921 7302
Location: W357, Callaghan Campus (interactive campus map)
If you would like to meet one of our team face-to-face, please email CESE-PEU@newcastle.edu.au to arrange your appointment. Appointments are available at both Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses.
Need extra help?
The Careers Service offers free support to all current and past students of the University of Newcastle. Visit Careers to learn more and to get in touch.
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.