Bachelor of Engineering students are required to complete 60 days of engineering professional practice ("practice") approved by the Executive Dean. The purpose of the engineering professional practice component of the Bachelor of Engineering program is to provide you with work experience which will complement your formal studies and contribute to your development as a professional engineer. Engineering professional practice is an important part of the Bachelor of Engineering program; it is not an optional extra. The requirements for engineering professional practice are set out in Rule 6.1 of the Bachelor of Engineering Rules. Further information on the engineering professional practice requirement is contained in the Engineering Professional Practice Guidelines
Out of the 60 days engineering experience which is required, no less than 30 days should be carried out assisting, or under the immediate direction of a professional engineer. This period of employment will provide you with an insight into professional practice and is best carried out after the second or third year of the course. The other 30 days of engineering experience may be any work, including work of a manual or trade nature, carried out in an engineering environment.
If you are having difficulty in obtaining suitable vacation employment, you are strongly advised to keep copies of your correspondence. The engineering professional practice requirement can be met in branches of engineering other than that being studied.
Your professional practice may not be undertaken in a business owned or managed by a close family member. If you are in doubt about the suitability of positions, you can discuss them in advance with the Head of your relevant Engineering School (School of Chemical Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering or School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering) or with the Engineering Programs Director in the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, as appropriate.
Within 4 weeks of the start of the semester following the period of practice, you must deliver a 1000-1500 word written report to the Executive Dean, by handing it in at the Academic Office. The report should:
- be in a form approved by the Executive Dean as described in the Engineering Professional Practice Report Guidelines; and
- be accompanied by a Professional Practice Certificate, which contains the comments of the owner or manager of the place where the practice was undertaken.
Students undertaking professional engineering practice to satisfy the Bachelor of Engineering requirements are covered by the University's insurance policy.
Please note that the engineering professional practice requirements must be fully satisfied no later than the start of the examination period in the semester in which you hope to graduate. If these requirements are not met, you will not be eligible to graduate.