Engineering Professional Practice

Industry placement requirements

As part of your EPP requirement, you must complete an industry placement. For your industry placement hours to count towards your EPP, the placement must be in an engineering environment, and you must be supervised by a degree-qualified engineer.

Supervisors who do not hold an engineering qualification but have an equivalent or related qualification may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Faculty. Complete this form to request approval.
You cannot be supervised by a near relative or close associate, such as a parent, partner, sibling, friend or neighbour, as this presents a conflict of interest.

The EPP supervision requirement is separate from any level of supervision required to provide professional engineering services in the jurisdiction you are working in or providing services to. It is your responsibility, and the responsibility of your supervisor, to ensure you are meeting professional engineering requirements where you are working.   

For example:

• If you are providing professional engineering services in Queensland, or to a project in Queensland, you must be supervised by a RPEQ in compliance with the Professional Engineers Act of Queensland.
• Other jurisdictions will have different requirements. If you are working outside Queensland, you must check the relevant supervision requirements for that jurisdiction.

More information can be found in the Professional Engineering in Australia module and via the Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland website.

How to find an industry placement

It is your responsibility to find an industry placement and to ensure it meets EPP requirements.  

For ideas and guidance, visit the How to find opportunities page, which outlines where to search and advice on how to apply. You can also access support via the EAIT Employability website, including online career development tools , upcoming industry events, and the option to book a consultation with an advisor.

If you are unsure whether a placement is suitable, first check the industry placement requirements listed above. You can also contact EAIT Employability for further advice.

Before starting your industry placement

You must submit your placement for approval to InPlace before it begins. This applies to both paid and unpaid placements.

Follow the steps below to submit your placement via InPlace:

1. Complete the EPP Module Packages (accessed via your EPP Hub).
2. Download and fill out the relevant placement form:
   • Paid Placements: Paid Placement Notification form
   • Unpaid Placements: Unpaid Engineering Professional Practice Approval form
3. Log in to the UQ InPlace dashboard
4. In your ‘To Do’ section, select the Self Placement submission for EAIT Engineering Professional Practice. Self Placement submission instructions.
5. Enter the required placement information
6. Attach your completed placement form
7. Review and submit your placement for approval

For detailed instructions see videos below.

Once submitted, your placement will be reviewed and you will receive notification of your placement approval status.

Insurance for Unpaid Placements

If your unpaid placement is approved you will be covered by UQ’s insurance, including travel insurance if relevant. UQ’s insurance does not cover placements that have not received formal approval.

Certificates of Currency are available here.

If your unpaid placement requires you to travel more than 50 km from your usual place of residence and includes an overnight stay, you must complete the relevant EAIT Travel Approval Form below to be covered by UQ’s travel insurance. This form is not required if you are employed by the placement provider.

• Domestic Travel Form
• International Travel Form

Changes to your placement and further support

• If your placement details change after it has been approved, submit a change request via InPlace.
  • Click on the ‘confirmed’ tab
  • Select the placement you wish to change
  • Click on ‘change request’ on the top right.
• If you require support during your placement, contact EAIT Employability as soon as possible employability@eait.uq.edu.au.

After your industry placement

To verify your placement and claim your hours, both you and your industry supervisor must complete the Placement Verification Survey. This step is essential for verifying your industry placement hours and is required before you can claim your hours in your EPP Hub.

Verification process

• On the last day of your placement, you will receive an email with a link to complete your part of the survey.
• After you submit your survey, your supervisor will receive an email to complete theirs.
• Your supervisor can view your survey responses, so ensure all details are accurate.
• You will have 7 days from the end of your placement to complete the survey.
• Your supervisor will have 14 days from your submission to complete theirs.
• You will not be able to claim your industry placement hours in your EPP Hub until the surveys are completed.
• Once the surveys are completed, log in to your EPP Hub and claim your hours under the industry placement component. See instructional video here

If you or your supervisor do not receive the survey email, or if you encounter any issues, contact EAIT Employability at employability@eait.uq.edu.au.