UON's civil and structural engineering subjects in world top 100
Our pioneering scientific approaches to geotechnical engineering design underpins the development of energy and transport infrastructure.
Admission to our undergraduate degree programs usually requires successful completion of a senior secondary school qualification similar to the Higher School Certificate (HSC), the highest educational award in New South Wales schools.
Civil engineering. A firm foundation for your career.
At the University of Newcastle we educate our engineers to meet the global challenges of the future. You'll learn to engineer energy-efficient buildings using the latest nano-materials and, help develop sustainable and resilient infrastructure in developing countries. Perhaps your study will lead you to design Australia’s first high-speed train network to connect communities and reduce carbon emissions. Your degree could even build a revolutionary water recycling plant to tackle water security issues.
What is civil engineering? Civil engineers are responsible for the physical infrastructure that enables modern societies to function. As a civil engineering student you will study buildings, highways and railways, tunnels, airports, power generation facilities and harbour facilities. Your courses will focus on preparing you to design, build and manage these structures as a fully qualified civil engineer.
Why combine civil engineering and surveying? Broaden your engineering expertise to open up a wider range of career opportunities. The surveying courses will allow you to specialise in the measurement, management, analysis and display of spatial information describing the Earth and its physical features.
Build critical technical engineering skills by studying courses in:
Connect with industry through guest lectures and interdisciplinary projects solving real world problems. Gain invaluable practical experience through your industry placement.
Become job-ready through our professional practice courses. You'll learn to tackle ‘wicked problems’ and develop essential workplace skills in finance, project management, sustainability, communication and entrepreneurism.
Develop your surveying skills in:
Download a program plan for further details on your degree's structure and what courses you will study.
These program plans are applicable to new students. Current students should refer to the program handbook to access the plan relevant to the year they commenced.
Civil engineers work for construction companies, consulting firms, project management companies, transport companies and governments. You could specialise in:
Civil engineering is flexible and diverse. You might prefer to work onsite, in design and development, or a leadership role managing people and projects. Typical positions include:
Remarkably, engineering is the most commonly held degree among the highest performing Fortune 500 CEOs – the CEOs of companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Tesla Motors are all engineers.
The combined degree advantage: Surveyors work on a local as well as a global scale, working on projects as diverse as the planning of local facilities, to the prediction of earthquakes and mapping of the ocean floor. A shortage of surveyors in Australia will make finding a job easy.
Professional recognition through Engineers Australia and the Washington Accord qualifies you as a professional engineer. You can work in places such as:
This degree program is accredited by the Board of Surveying and Spatial Information of NSW (BOSSI) and meets the requirements of the Council of Reciprocating Board of Surveyors of Australia and New Zealand (CRBANZ). This degree program is also accredited and recognised by the Malaysian Land Surveyors Board.
All University of Newcastle engineering students have the opportunity to complete 12 weeks of industrial experience during their degree. This can be completed in one block or as shorter placements of no less than two weeks. Through your work placement you’ll build important professional networks and put your learning into practice.
Engineers use everyday problems as their canvas for creative inventions that will help change the world. The Art of Problem Solving showcases some of our most exciting engineering and computing innovations.
Featured at our first ever engineering exhibition in the heart of Newcastle, Civil engineering student Brianna Dorrough, talks about her engineering project - which aims to improve the design of protective structures, such as government buildings, embassies, and military structures, in relation to ballistic impact.
Civil Engineering Graduate Peter supports developing communities with the Red Cross
For his final-year project, Stuart Morgan set out to solve the mystery of why the piers on the Hornibrook Bridge didn’t corrode.
Listen to our students talk about their degree and life at the University of Newcastle.
Pick your situation from the list below for more information.
If you are an international student, read the information below before completing an application.
As someone who recently completed secondary education, either at high school, TAFE or another VET provider, you will generally be considered for entry based on your Selection Rank (SR). Some degrees have additional entry requirements such as auditions or interviews and where required you will find these listed on the relevant degree page.
Try to choose what you are most interested in and then research some back up options with lower Selection Ranks (SR) to put as your later choices. A good tip is to look at degrees that may have similar first year subjects. This will help you reduce your overall study time if you want to apply to transfer to your degree of choice after the first year. We also recommend choosing one of our free pathway programs as a backup option as your fifth preference on your UAC application. Selection Ranks (SR) requirements for our degrees do change from year to year so only use the Selection Rank (SR) as a guide.
You should start planning your way into uni from Year 10 onwards. Think about:
Secondary results don’t have a use-by date, so even if you completed high school 20 years ago, these results may be used to apply to the University of Newcastle. You can use your ATAR or equivalent (UAI, TER etc) to apply irrespective of when you completed Year 12.
It can be complicated to calculate your Selection Rank (SR) based on high school results prior to the introduction of the ATAR in 2009. Contact us at 1300 275 866 and let us do the calculating for you.
If you don’t think you will meet the Selection Rank (SR) for admission there are other options to get in depending on your situation:
For advice on these other options please contact us by calling 1300 275 866.
If you studied vocational education and training, the type of qualification, whether or not you completed it, and if it was graded or competency-based will all be taken into consideration to assess your eligibility for admission. TAFE and private providers, as well as some universities, typically offer Certificate III, IV and Diploma Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) awards. Some also offer Advanced Diploma and Associate Degrees.
For admission purposes, and to ensure fairness and transparency among applicants with different types of qualifications, all assessable qualifications are converted to a selection rank. Selection ranks from different individual qualifications are not combined or added together to form a rank. The highest of the two numbers will be the one used to assess your eligibility for admission. Different selection ranks are assigned to VET courses with graded assessment and competency based (ungraded) assessment. The tables below provide information on how to assess your selection rank based on your AQF qualification.
Many of our students come to us after completing TAFE studies. You can gain guaranteed entry into many of our 2021 undergraduate programs if you have previously completed an accredited Certificate IV, Diploma, or Advanced Diploma at TAFE or another registered training organisation (RTO).
Complete Graded AQF Diploma or AQF Advanced Diploma
Grade Point Average | Rank - AQF Diploma | Rank - AQF Advanced Diploma |
---|---|---|
6.5+ | 95 | 96.95 |
6.25-6.49 | 93 | 95.25 |
6.00-6.24 | 90 | 93 |
5.75-5.99 | 88 | 91 |
5.50-5.74 | 86 | 89 |
5.25-5.49 | 83 | 86 |
5.00-5.24 | 81 | 83 |
4.75-4.99 | 78 | 80 |
4.00-4.74 | 75 | 76 |
Complete and Incomplete Ungraded AQF Diploma or AQF Advanced Diploma
Rank - AQF Advanced Diploma | Rank - AQF Diploma |
---|---|
76 | 75 |
Complete Graded AQF Certificate III or AQF Certificate IV
Please note: Certificate III qualifications and below are not accepted for the Bachelor of Nursing program.
Grade Point Average | Rank - AQF Certificate III | Rank - AQF Certificate IV |
---|---|---|
6.5+ | 78 | 90 |
6.25-6.49 | 78 | 88 |
6.00-6.24 | 77 | 86 |
5.75-5.99 | 76 | 84 |
5.50-5.74 | 75 | 82 |
5.25-5.49 | 73 | 80 |
5.00-5.24 | 71 | 78 |
4.75-4.99 | 69 | 75 |
4.00-4.74 | 67 | 73 |
Complete Ungraded AQF Certificate III and AQF Certificate IV
Rank - AQF Certificate III | Rank - AQF Certificate IV |
---|---|
67 | 73 |
Note: Incomplete VET studies must be AQF Diploma level or above and more than 0.2 of a full time student (FTE) to be considered for admission.
It is probably best to contact our Enquiry Centre on 1300 275 866 to discuss your qualifications and grades. Our team are happy to advise you on your options.
Your previous qualifications may also make you eligible for credit to your degree. This will cut down on your study time. You can apply for credit before you start. See our credit page for more information.
If you don’t think you will meet the requirements for admission there are other options to get in depending on your situation:
If you completed higher education or partial higher education studies your grade point average (GPA) (or Grade Average as a percentage for pathway programs like Newstep, Open Foundation or Yapug) can be converted to a selection rank to be used for admission purposes. To ensure fairness and transparency among applicants with different types of qualifications, all assessable qualifications are converted to a selection rank. The selection rank from this qualification is not added to your ATAR. The highest of the two numbers will be the one used to assess your eligibility for admission.
If you have completed a degree and want to move onto postgraduate study please see our Postgraduate website.
Bachelor degree studies
Min GPA (>0.5FTE*) | Selection Rank |
---|---|
6.5+ | 97.30 |
6 | 93.40 |
5 | 86.30 |
4 | 77.65 |
3 | 67.25 |
*Your GPA can only be calculated if you have completed at least 20 units of study. A full-time study (FTE) load is usually 80 units per year.
Completed pathway (also known as enabling or tertiary preparation) programs
Overall Grade Average | Selection Rank |
---|---|
>97 | 99.55 |
80 | 84 |
70 | 77 |
60 | 70 |
50 | 65 |
If you are currently studying a degree at the University of Newcastle and want to transfer across to another degree, please see our Internal Transfers page for current students for more information.
If you have completed or are soon to complete an Enabling Pathways program (Newstep, Open Foundation, or Yapug) you can apply with us directly for free for most degrees. Please visit the Your Next Move website for more information.
If you want to transfer or complete a tertiary preparation program at another university you will need to apply through UAC. Please contact our Enquiry Centre 1300 275 866 for information and advice.
If you think you may be eligible for credit please visit our credit section.
If you’re applying on the basis of overseas secondary qualifications, there are some that are considered as equivalent to an Australian Year 12 qualification. Note that equivalence of qualifications alone does not guarantee entry into programs. For admission purposes, and to ensure fairness and transparency among applicants with different types of qualifications, your overseas qualification will be converted to a selection rank so you can be compared to other applicants.
For advice on your options please contact us by calling 1300 275 866 or visit AskUON.
If you haven’t completed any formal secondary, VET or higher education studies we offer a range of options to get you on the pathway to your dream degree. Our recommended pathways are:
The University of Newcastle is the largest provider of pathway programs in Australia. If you haven’t studied for a while, or your high school results weren’t what you expected, you can start at university with one of our pathway programs. Our pathway programs offer guaranteed entry to over 40+ University of Newcastle degrees. When you complete this program your Grade Point Average as a percentage can be converted to a selection rank to be used for admission purposes. The programs on offer are:
The Special Tertiary Admissions Test or STAT is an aptitude test, organised through the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), that assesses a range of competencies considered important for successful tertiary study. If you are over 18 and not a current Year 12 student, results from the STAT multiple-choice test can be used for entry into some (but not all) of the degrees offered at the University of Newcastle. Make sure you look into which degrees accept STAT for entry.
If your qualification is not listed and you are unsure whether you can use it to gain entry please contact us on 1300 275 866 or AskUON.
If your qualification is not listed and you are unsure whether you can use it to gain entry please contact us on 1300 275 866 or AskUON.
If you want to do one or two subjects at the University of Newcastle but not a full degree you can apply for non-award admission. You may want to do this for preliminary work for a higher degree, professional requirements or because of an interest in the area.
Find out more and apply by visiting Non-Award Admission.
If you are currently at another university and want to do one or more subjects at the University of Newcastle for credit you can apply for Cross-Institutional Study.
Find out more and apply by visiting Cross-Institutional Study.
If you have more than one of the qualifications listed above they may all count towards your application. We are always happy to provide advice and discuss your circumstances so please contact us by calling 1300 275 866 or by submitting a question using AskUON. Otherwise check out our application FAQ.
Admission to our undergraduate degree programs usually requires successful completion of a senior secondary school qualification similar to the Higher School Certificate (HSC), the highest educational award in New South Wales schools. To check if your qualification is recognised for direct entry into the University of Newcastle, please refer to the entry requirement tables below.
International Undergraduate Admission Requirements - Asia
International Undergraduate Admission Requirements - Rest of World
International Undergraduate Admission Requirements - South Asia
Further education like diplomas and university study can also be assessed for admission.
Some of our programs have additional requirements like an audition, or portfolio.
Applicants who do not speak English as a first language must demonstrate that they meet the University's English proficiency requirement. Further information regarding English language proficiency requirements can be found at the English Language Proficiency for Admission Policy.
The Australian Government operates a student visa program that enables people who are not Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents to undertake study in Australia. A person who wants to undertake a course of study under the student visa programme must obtain a student visa before they can commence a course of study in Australia. A successful applicant must be both a genuine temporary entrant and a genuine student.
An applicant who is a genuine temporary entrant will have circumstances that support a genuine intention to temporarily enter and remain in Australia, notwithstanding the potential for this intention to change over time to an intention to utilise lawful means to remain in Australia for an extended period of time or permanently. All Australian education providers must have strategies and arrangements in place to ensure that all students and prospective students meet the requirements with Direction 69 as a condition of admission to the institution.
When your application for admission is received, the University of Newcastle will assess this against university entrance requirements including: minimum age, English and academic entry requirements. To comply with Australian law your application will also be assessed to check that you are genuinely seeking temporary entry to Australia to study. You may be asked to provide the University of Newcastle with evidence addressing Ministerial Direction 69 as part of finalising your admission. If the University forms the opinion that you are not a Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) it may refuse to assess your application, withdraw an offer of a place, or cancel your confirmation of enrolment.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection in Australia will also assess each application for a student visa (subclass 500) against the applicant’s intention to stay temporarily in Australia as a genuine student. The criteria for this assessment are outlined in Ministerial Direction 69. Applicants that don’t satisfy the criteria under Direction 69 will not be granted a student visa.
For more information, please refer to the following areas of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection website:
Make sure you double check the special entry requirements, assumed knowledge or recommended studies for the degree:
Admission to this program is available to Australian students, residents and international students. Admission information for Australian students and residents is available online here. Admission information for international students can be found here. During the admission process adjustment factors may be applied to your Selection Rank. Please visit our website to see if you are eligible.
International student visa holder applicants are advised that they are able to enrol in this program for commencement in Semester 1 only (there will be no mid-year intake).
The UAC code for this program is 482620.
Your degree includes either compulsory or optional courses in maths. To maximise your likelihood of academic success, it is recommended that you select the course which matches your existing knowledge and understanding of maths concepts.
Answer a few questions now to find out what mathematics you should enrol in.
All Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the University’s English proficiency requirement. Further information regarding English language proficiency requirements can be found at the English Language Proficiency for Admission Policy here.
HSC Mathematics (Band 5 or above) or equivalent. One science-related subject would also be an advantage (Physics or Chemistry preferred).
Applicants who have achieved less than Mathematics Band 5 may be admitted to the program but may need to complete additional study to successfully complete the requirements of the program.
Applicants who have completed HSC Mathematics General 2 may be admitted to the program but can expect to undertake additional studies to successfully complete the requirements of the program.
HSC Mathematics Extension 1 or equivalent. Study of one science-related subject would also be an advantage (Physics or Chemistry preferred).
Requirements for qualification of this award include completion of at least 12 weeks of industrial experience of a nature acceptable to the College Board. Students are encouraged to obtain and to report on a substantial block of this experience at one time, but several shorter periods, of not less than 2 weeks duration, will be accepted. Further information on industrial experience is available here.
You can look at NUPrep for options to brush up on knowledge before you start.
You should also think about degree add-ons like combined options or a Diploma in Languages. If you would like to learn an additional language alongside your main bachelor degree, then this program is for you. Languages offered include: Australian Sign Language (Auslan), Chinese, French, German and Japanese.
Apply to study this degree through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
You can select up to five preferences in your UAC application, so have a look around and select some back-up options. Put the degree you are most interested in first.
Both students and education agents can submit applications online. This is our preferred way of application. You can save your application after you have started, and come back to it later.
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.