Campuses and locations
The University of Newcastle is a multi-campus institution offering programs in a number of locations.
I am a prospective
student, looking to study at
Newcastle
Duration3 years full-time or part-time equivalent up to 8 years maximum.
Accelerated options available3 years full-time.Accelerated options available
Accelerated options available3 years full-time.Accelerated options available
Mode of deliveryFace to Face
Start datesSemester 2 (19 Jul 2021), Semester 1 (21 Feb 2022),
Semester 2 (19 Jul 2021), Semester 1 (21 Feb 2022),
FeesFind information about indicative course and program fees.AUD 40,785 (indicative annual fee, 2021)
Indicative annual fees are based on a full year full time load (80 units). Find out more about fees
Indicative annual fees are based on a full year full time load (80 units). Find out more about fees
English proficiencyIELTS overall minimum - 6.5, IELTS section minimum - 6.0 Find out more about IELTS.
Program Code40183
Study Professional Civil Engineering
The Master of Professional Engineering (Civil)* is a flexible degree that will allow you to fast-track your career in civil engineering. You will develop the strategic and technical skills required to tackle ‘wicked problems’, applying design thinking and systems engineering principles to develop solutions that are both innovative and ethical.
* This program has been granted provisional accreditation through Engineers Australia.
Why study with us?
- Designed around you: choose up to four courses in an area outside of engineering. Diversify your skills in areas such as business, design, or entrepreneurship.
- Relevant in the real world: connect with business through industry-based projects, guest lectures, mentorship and case studies.
- Ready for your future, ready for the world: our professional practice and leadership courses will help you develop skills in project management, complex problem solving, innovation and communications. Choose a major project that’s linked to industry or focused on research.
- Recognised by industry and globally: take your career anywhere in the world with international recognition through Engineers Australia and the Washington Accord.[1] The Academic Ranking of World Universities ranks UON in the Top 300 for Civil Engineering.[2]
- Powerful learning: our smaller student cohort means you’ll have greater access to teaching staff and be part of a close-knit student community.
- This program has been granted provisional accreditation through Engineers Australia.
- http://www.shanghairanking.com
Imagine if ‘work’ meant engineering a megastructure! UON civil engineering grad Mark Arkinstall worked on the Beijing’s Watercube.
What you will study
You can choose to deepen your skills through advanced civil engineering courses in areas such as hydrology, land surface process and management, or geotechnical and geo-environmental engineering, or broaden your skill base with complimentary management courses in natural disasters, business and the environment as well as project planning, entrepreneurship and innovation. You will also complete a year-long advanced civil engineering project (design-based or theoretical – the choice is yours), which can potentially be linked to industry.
Core courses
- MPE Thesis A
- MPE Thesis B
- Engineering Complexity
- Managing Engineering Projects
- Reinforced Concrete Design
- Steel Design
- Theory of Structures 2
- Advanced Analysis for Design
- Geomechanics 2
- Hydrology
- Water Engineering
- Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
- MPE Thesis A
- MPE Thesis B
- Engineering Complexity
- Core Design 1
- Core Design 2
- Numerical Methods
- Engineering Probabilities
- Theory of Structures 1
- Civil Engineering Materials
- Introduction to Geomechanics
- Fluid Mechanics
- Transportation Engineering and Design
- Managing Engineering Projects
- Reinforced Concrete Design
- Steel Design
- Theory of Structures 2
- Advanced Analysis for Design
- Geomechanics 2
- Hydrology
- Water Engineering
- Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
- MPE Thesis A
- MPE Thesis B
- Engineering Complexity
- Core Design 1
- Core Design 2
Directed courses
From a list of directed courses, all students choose a minimum of five courses. Examples include:
- Infrastructure Development
- Sustainable Development
- Advanced Structural Analysis
- Computational Mechanics
- Geotechnical Risk Analysis
Elective specialisation courses
3-year students choose one elective. This can be a course from the directed courses list, but can also be chosen from other areas.
Program structure
1-year program: You will take advanced engineering courses and choose electives to broaden your skill base and enhance your employability. By gaining a highly relevant postgraduate degree you will accelerate your career, opening up opportunities to work at a more senior level.
2-year program: Your study program is designed to build on your prior studies and develop the core technical competencies to ensure you qualify for professional recognition from Engineers Australia* and the Washington Accord. If you are already a qualified engineer in Australia, this advanced engineering program will broaden your skill base allowing for enhanced specialisation in your field and boost your employability. You will choose to focus on areas such as:
- Water Engineering
- Steel Design
- Geomechanics
- Hydrology
- Advanced Structural Analysis
3-year program: This program provides the perfect pathway to transfer your prior knowledge in science, physics, mathematics or chemistry into an engineering context. You will gain a highly sought-after professional qualification and benefit from the high salaries and job opportunities that engineers enjoy.
* This program has been granted provisional accreditation through Engineers Australia.
Program plans
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.
- 2019-2021 Semester 1 & Semester 2 Program Plan - Pathway C 229.7 KB
- 2019-2021 Semester 1 & Semester 2 Program Plan - Pathway B 212.5 KB
- 2021 Semester 1 & Semester 2 Program Plan Pathway A 221.6 KB
Additional documents
- Transition Arrangements 2021 82.8 KB
Career
Career opportunities
Engineers work on a huge range of tasks in many different environments – industries like electronics, energy, food, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, construction, environmental health and transportation. Engineering continues to be one of the most in-demand qualifications in the world, with many countries desperate to fill a shortage of professional skills in this field.
A Master of Professional Engineering will open up even more varied career opportunities, empowering you to take on a leadership role, start your own business or manage major engineering projects.
- Salaries: As an engineer you’ll be valued and well rewarded. Starting salaries average around $80,000p.a. In 2015, 85% of our engineers had jobs when they graduated - making the University of Newcastle one of the top 2 universities in NSW for graduate employment rates.
- Flexibility: Some engineers work 9-5 in an office, others fly-in-fly out from a project site. You might prefer hands-on fieldwork, design and development, or managing people and projects.
- Global opportunities: As a qualified engineer you can travel the world and work almost anywhere you choose. Professional recognition through Engineers Australia lets you work in places such as Canada, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Turkey, the UK and the USA.
Professional recognition
This program has been granted provisional accreditation through Engineers Australia. You can work in places such as:
- Canada
- Hong Kong
- India
- Ireland
- Japan
- Korea
- Malaysia
- New Zealand
- Russia
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- USA
Study with us
Hear from our students
Listen to our students talk about their degree and life at the University of Newcastle.
How to apply
Applying for Master of Professional Engineering (Civil)
I am a prospective
student, looking to study at
Newcastle
Before you get started
To ensure that the process goes smoothly for you, you should complete the following steps before applying:
- Review the program that you wish to apply for. Note the admission criteria, admission instructions, requirements & structure and any additional information listed.
- Review the program fees and costs.
- Check whether your postgraduate program has a Semester or a Trimester closing date. Please view the application closing date.
- If you are from a non-English-speaking background, you need to satisfy the University's English language requirements and ensure that you can provide evidence of your English proficiency if required.
You will be considered for entry based on criteria such as your undergraduate studies and/or equivalent prior learning and/or relevant work experience.
Other things to consider
Make sure you double check the special entry requirements, assumed knowledge or recommended studies for the degree:
Direct admission into the 3 year MPE (Civil) Pathway A:
- Graduates from the University of Newcastle or another institution with a non-engineering Bachelor Degree with at least 20 units of study in Mathematics (especially calculus and linear algebra); and Science, as related to Civil Engineering AND a UON GPA of 4.5 or above. You may also be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- Graduates from the University of Newcastle or another institution with a Bachelor Degree (AQF 7) in Civil Engineering AND a UON GPA of 4.5 or above.
- Graduates from an institution other than University of Newcastle with a Bachelor Honours Degree (AQF 8) in Civil Engineering with a UON GPA of 4.5 or above.
- Graduates of the University of Newcastle Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) single and combined programs will automatically be approved for admission to the 80 unit or 1-year program (Pathway C) with 160 units of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
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.
Students in Pathway A and Pathway B are required to complete 12 weeks of Industrial Experience as part of the program requirement.
It is anticipated that some commencing students may have met the Industrial Experience requirement, and as such, they will be deemed to have met this requirement, provided they can submit suitable evidence, such as a statement from the employer.
As students in Pathway C will already hold a Washington Accord qualification, they are exempted from this requirement.
You can look at Uni prep for options to brush up on knowledge before you start.
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Apply to study in Australia
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.
Alternatively you may complete a paper-based application.
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.