Australia offers higher education options for international students, including engineering programs across a wide range of disciplines.
Beyond the classroom, studying in Australia can give students access to vibrant cities, coastal destinations, and, depending on the program, practical and industry-connected projects.
In this article, we explore nine Australian universities that offer engineering programs and may be worth considering for your engineering education.
Top Schools Offering Engineering Programs in Australia
1. University of New South Wales
According to the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, the University of New South Wales is ranked #1 in Australia and #33 globally for Engineering and Technology. Its engineering faculty offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and research study options.
At the undergraduate level, UNSW’s Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) offers more than 20 specializations, including civil, mechanical, renewable energy, and quantum engineering. Its bachelor’s engineering programs incorporate 60 days of approved industry training.
UNSW also runs a Taste of Research program for eligible second- and third-year full-time undergraduate students in Australia or New Zealand. Participants join an academic research team for a 60-day project.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of New South Wales Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Shahriyar Safat Dipta
PhD in Electrical Engineering
February 2021–early 2025 | COVID border restrictions kept him offshore for approximately nine months, so his supervisor helped devise a research plan that allowed parts of his electrical engineering PhD to proceed remotely. After reaching Sydney, support from labmates, collaborators, academics, and school staff helped him complete his degree on time. | — |
2. University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne offers engineering education through its Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology in Melbourne, Victoria. Its study structure combines undergraduate preparation with specialized graduate qualifications. The faculty also supports engineering research through interdisciplinary centers, including opportunities connected with energy, infrastructure, and biomedical applications.
Undergraduate students begin with a relevant major within a bachelor’s degree, rather than a standalone Bachelor of Engineering. The Bachelor of Science includes engineering-related majors that provide preparation for graduate professional study. A typical pathway combines a three-year undergraduate degree with a two-year engineering master’s, although the graduate course length depends on the student’s previous studies and chosen discipline.
Graduate options include the Master of Mechanical Engineering, Master of Electrical Engineering, and Master of Mechatronics Engineering. Mechanical engineering students study areas such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and mechanical design, with opportunities for industry projects and internships. Research qualifications include the Master of Philosophy – Engineering and IT and Doctor of Philosophy – Engineering and IT, which involve supervised investigation in an approved engineering field.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Melbourne Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Maxine Chan
PhD in Engineering and Information Technology | Describes her research focus as climate policy modelling, building decarbonisation, and energy and low-carbon strategies. She chose her doctoral supervisor after a positive research collaboration during her master’s in the Philippines and recommends getting to know potential supervisors before applying. | The prospect of joining an internationally diverse cohort was part of her reason for choosing Melbourne. |
3. University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is another option for students considering engineering study in Australia. The university has more than 70,000 students and offers engineering specializations including aeronautical, biomedical, chemical and biomolecular, civil, electrical, environmental, mechanical, mechatronic, software, and space engineering.
The university is located in Sydney. Students can explore the city’s cultural venues and coastal attractions, including the Sydney Opera House and beaches.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Sydney Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Stefanus Eduard Adrian
Master of Information Technology / Master of Information Technology Management
Cybersecurity specialization; completed in 2024 | Completed a research pathway project on microservices authorisation using a knowledge graph. He also describes practical learning and collaboration on IT group projects, which strengthened his appreciation of teamwork in technical work. | He enjoyed university events and day trips, including an opportunity to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and appreciated the range of study spaces. |
4. University of Queensland
Ranked 42nd worldwide in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, the University of Queensland offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and research study options. Its Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) offers six core specializations, 12 majors, and three minors.
Students in UQ’s integrated Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Master of Engineering program have a six-month industry placement included in their degree. UQ notes that the integrated program is typically completed in five years, while international students typically complete it in six years.
UQ developed the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. It challenges higher degree by research candidates to explain their research in three minutes to a wider audience, helping them build communication skills.
5. RMIT University
RMIT University offers engineering programs across disciplines such as civil, biomedical, aerospace, and mechanical engineering. Globally, RMIT had more than 104,000 students in 2025. Its engineering page states that RMIT is ranked #9 in Australia and in the global top 150 for Engineering and Technology in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject.
For international students, RMIT’s industry-connected engineering programs can provide practical learning opportunities. Shavlin Singh from Fiji, a biomedical engineering student and Australia Awards Scholarship recipient, chose RMIT because it allowed her to pursue a passion for a biomedical field that is “not well explored in Fiji.” Her story illustrates how a specialized program can align with a student’s professional goals and home-country development needs.
6. Adelaide University
Adelaide University’s engineering study area includes bachelor’s degrees in chemical, civil, electrical, environmental, and mechanical engineering, as well as postgraduate and research pathways.
In a Global Scholarships interview, Zulfiqar Ali from Pakistan, who earned a master’s degree and PhD in mining engineering from the University of Adelaide, described his experience as “life-changing” and said it helped him develop technical, communication, networking, and research skills. He received an Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) scholarship for his PhD and emphasized the value of a “clear alignment of my research interests with the group.”
What Current Students / Alumni of Adelaide University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Zulfiqar Ali
MEng in Mining Engineering; PhD in Mining Geomechanics
Studied at the University of Adelaide | Completed award-winning mine design and numerical modelling projects, researched hydraulic fracturing for block cave mining, and developed nondestructive methods for measuring in-situ stress during his PhD. He authored more than 10 journal and conference papers during his doctoral research and describes strong support from his master’s supervisor. | He considered Adelaide’s living costs relatively low when choosing where to study and describes his time at the university as personally transformative. |
7. Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology, commonly known as QUT, offers engineering education in Brisbane through its Faculty of Engineering. Its engineering courses include study at the Gardens Point campus. The faculty’s academic activities cover conventional engineering disciplines alongside areas such as robotics, advanced manufacturing, and renewable energy.
The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) normally takes four years of full-time study. Available options include Civil Engineering, Electrical and Aerospace Engineering, and Electrical and Renewable Power Engineering. The civil and electrical pathways comprise 384 credit points, with work-integrated learning supporting the development of professional competencies. QUT also offers five-year combined pathways pairing engineering honors with master’s qualifications in areas such as Advanced Manufacturing and Renewable Energy.
Graduate options include the Master of Professional Engineering (Civil and Construction), Master of Engineering Management, and specialist engineering-related master’s programs. Research study is available through the Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy. QUT explicitly offers doctoral research within its Faculty of Engineering, allowing students to develop a supervised project in an appropriate engineering discipline rather than treating the PhD as a taught specialization.
What Current Students / Alumni of Queensland University of Technology Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Marwa Abdul Wahab
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil) / Bachelor of Business (Economics) | Describes her combined civil engineering and economics degree as supporting her interests in sustainable construction and consulting. She says the teaching emphasis on real-world application helps her develop knowledge relevant to those fields. | — |
8. Flinders University
Flinders University offers engineering programs in Adelaide, South Australia, with an engineering research environment at its Tonsley innovation precinct. Relevant facilities and research organizations include the Medical Device Research Institute and the Centre for Defence Engineering Research and Training. These support work spanning medical technologies, engineering design, and defense applications.
Undergraduate options include Bachelor of Engineering honors degrees in Biomedical, Civil, Electrical and Electronic, Environmental, Mechanical, Robotics, Software, and Maritime Engineering. Students can also enter through flexible or general engineering pathways. Flinders incorporates work-integrated learning into engineering education and advertises 20-week placement opportunities involving industry or community organizations. Its engineering technology degrees are separate qualifications with different educational objectives.
Coursework master’s options include Engineering degrees in Biomedical, Civil, Electrical and Electronic, and Mechanical Engineering. These programs are accredited by Engineers Australia at the professional engineer level. Research students can pursue the Master of Engineering by research or Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering. The university lists the research master’s as two years and the engineering PhD as four years, with projects determined through supervision arrangements.
What Current Students / Alumni of Flinders University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Rahmat Khezri
PhD in Electrical Engineering | Describes doctoral research connected with sustainable energy systems and power networks, with practical industry applications. He appreciated accessible supervisors and collaboration with academics, and reports that his PhD program was conducted entirely in English. | He found the multicultural environment helpful for integration and describes social and networking events that helped international students connect and adjust to life in Australia. |
9. Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University offers engineering education at its Bathurst campus in New South Wales. Its engineering model places substantial emphasis on workplace learning, combining university study with paid industry cadetships. The current undergraduate offering extends across civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering, broadening the university’s earlier focus on civil engineering.
The four-year Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) includes two years of campus-based study followed by two years in paid cadetships. Students work on practical engineering problems while developing their technical knowledge and professional experience. The university introduced electrical and mechanical options alongside civil engineering from 2025. These are majors within the engineering honors degree, rather than separate postgraduate qualifications.
Charles Sturt’s engineering qualifications also include the Master of Engineering (Civil), which remains represented in its engineering handbook subjects and published program materials. Doctoral study is supported through a Doctor of Philosophy pathway with designated Engineering doctoral research subjects. Applicants considering the civil engineering master’s should distinguish the older articulated Bachelor of Technology/master’s pathway from the current four-year bachelor’s degree and confirm whether a new master’s intake is available.
What Current Students / Alumni of Charles Sturt University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Engineering Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Mehedi Hasan
PhD in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity
Research within the Connectivity Innovation Network | Builds machine-learning systems to detect network cyberattacks and resist adversarial attempts to fool them. He reports generous supervisory feedback, freedom to pursue his research agenda, and opportunities to publish and present his work at international conferences. | He describes student services that help with the practical aspects of settling into Australia. |
With all this in mind, we hope this information helps inform your decision. Australia has many options for students interested in studying engineering and can be a great place to begin an engineering journey.
We hope this guide to engineering schools in Australia was helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
