The Graduate Diploma in Engineering Science is a 36-unit program offered by the School of Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics, within The Faculty of Science and Engineering.

While the award can be taken stand-alone, it is specifically designed as a pathway to the University's Master of Engineering awards to facilitate entry to these by graduates without an engineering degree.  The program of study and the specific entry requirements are thus predicated on nominating a target Master of Engineering on entry to the Graduate Diploma.

The available specialisations are:

Accreditation Note

The Graduate Diploma in Engineering Science itself is not accredited but the Master of Engineering programs are accredited by Engineers Australia at the level of professional engineer.

Professional engineering courses accredited by Engineers Australia are recognised internationally under the Washington Accord.  Once fully accredited graduates of a Master of Engineering combination will meet the academic requirements for attaining chartered professional engineering status.

Admission requirements

The admissions requirements for the award are one of the following:

  • an engineering degree
  • a science degree
  • a medical science degree (for later articulation to the Master of Engineering (Biomedical) which must include study in biology, chemistry/materials and human physiology
  • a computer science or information technology degree (for later articulation to the Master of Engineering (Electronics) which must include study in either programming or digital electronics
  • a chemical sciences degree (for later articulation to the Master of Engineering (Materials) which must include study in chemistry/materials
  • an Australian TAFE Diploma or Advanced Diploma (AQF Level 5) qualification in an appropriate field plus 7 years relevant work experience
  • an equivalent international qualification.

In addition, whatever qualification is held, students are expected to be able to demonstrate previous study or recognised prior learning in communication and planning skills, mathematics (equivalent to first-year university mathematics) and science (equivalent to a university undergraduate topic in chemistry and physics).  Some basic knowledge of other relevant sciences will be assumed.

The Graduate Diploma in Engineering Science is not available to graduates of the Bachelor of Engineering in the same discipline as their intended masters award. These students should instead apply for the master's degree directly.

Course aims

The course has been designed to provide graduates with:

  • additional study in both the theoretical and the practical aspects of engineering that builds on a student’s previous knowledge and experience;
  • an ability to critically analyse and evaluate information and solve problems;
  • an understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and a commitment to them;
  • well developed written and oral communication skills;
  • an understanding of the need to undertake lifelong learning and the capacity to do so;
  • preparation for future roles as a professional engineer.

The course provides the foundations that will underpin ongoing professional development, preparing graduates for further study or for a career in an engineering related field or in other areas where the range of skills and knowledge acquired is needed or desirable. 

Completion of this award enables students to enrol in Flinders University Master of Engineering awards.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the award, students will be able to:

  • use professional skills and knowledge in the systematic development of complex engineering systems;
  • communicate effectively with other engineers and the wider global community using a wide range of communication technologies;
  • understand and describe the processes through which current knowledge was developed;
  • understand the engineering fundamentals needed to generate a solution appropriate to the social, political, international, economic and environmental contexts in which they are applied.

Program of study

Student should select the specialisation according to the Masters Engineering they wish to articulate to. Four specialisations are available:

Specialisation - Biomedical Engineering

Students must complete 36 units of topics according to their entry qualifications as specified below.

Core and Elective topics – Biomedical Engineering Pathway B1

Students who have entered with a medical science qualification or biological science based degree must complete 36 units of topics comprising:

COMP8801 Computer Programming 2 GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8703
Electronics GE# (4.5 units)
ENGR8722 Analysis of Engineering Systems GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8731 Microprocessors GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8761 Engineering Mathematics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8772 Sensors and Actuators GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8800 Engineering Programming GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8812 Engineering Mechanics GE (4.5 units)

# Please note this topic starts before the normal teaching period.

Core and Elective topics – Biomedical Engineering Pathway B2

Students who have entered with an engineering degree in a different area must complete 36 units of topics comprising:

COMP8801 Computer Programming 2 GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8703
Electronics GE# (4.5 units)
ENGR8722 Analysis of Engineering Systems GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8731 Microprocessors GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8761 Engineering Mathematics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8772 Sensors and Actuators GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8800 Engineering Programming GE (4.5 units)
MMED8931 Human Physiology GE (4.5 units)

# Please note this topic starts before the normal teaching period.

Core and Elective topics – Biomedical Engineering Pathway B3

Students who have entered with an Australian TAFE Diploma or Advance Diploma electronics qualification plus 7 years work experience must complete 36 units of topics comprising:

COMP8801 Computer Programming 2 GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8722 Analysis of Engineering Systems GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8752 Engineering Physics and Materials GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8761 Engineering Mathematics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8800
Engineering Programming GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8812 Engineering Mechanics GE (4.5 units)
MMED8931 Human Physiology GE (4.5 units)

Plus 4.5 units of electives selected from ENGR topics at level 7000 and above.

Specialisation - Civil Engineering

Students must complete 36 units of topics according to their entry qualifications as specified below.

Core and Elective topics – Civil Engineering Pathway C1

Students who have entered with a physical sciences degree must complete 36 units of topics comprising:

ENGR8752 Engineering Physics and Materials GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8761 Engineering Mathematics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8791 Mechanics and Structures GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8801 Fluid Mechanics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8812 Engineering Mechanics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8851 Infrastructure Systems Engineering GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8922 Civil Engineering Design GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8932 Engineering Geology and Geomechanics GE (4.5 units)

Core and Elective topics – Civil Engineering Pathway C2

Students who have entered with an engineering degree in a different area must complete 36 units of topics comprising:

ENGR8761 Engineering Mathematics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8791 Mechanics and Structures GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8800 Engineering Programming GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8801 Fluid Mechanics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8812 Engineering Mechanics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8922 Civil Engineering Design GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8932 Engineering Geology and Geomechanics GE (4.5 units)

Plus 4.5 units of electives selected from ENGR topics at level 7000 and above.

Core and Elective topics – Civil Engineering Pathway C3

Students who have entered with a Australian TAFE Diploma or Advance Diploma (AQF Level 5) civil or construction qualification plus 7 years work experience must complete 36 units of topics comprising:

ENGR8752 Engineering Physics and Materials GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8761 Engineering Mathematics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8791 Mechanics and Structures GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8800 Engineering Programming GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8801 Fluid Mechanics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8812 Engineering Mechanics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8922 Civil Engineering Design GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8932 Engineering Geology and Geomechanics GE (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Electronic Engineering

Students must complete 36 units of topics according to their entry qualifications as specified below:

Core and Elective topics – Electronic Engineering Pathway E1

Students who have entered with a computer science degree must complete 36 units of topics comprising:

ENGR8703 Electronics GE# (4.5 units)
ENGR8712 Automation and Industrial Control GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8722 Analysis of Engineering Systems GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8731 Microprocessors GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8752 Engineering Physics and Materials GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8761 Engineering Mathematics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8812 Engineering Mechanics GE (4.5 units)

Plus 4.5 units of electives selected from ENGR topics at level 7000 and above.

# Please note this topic starts before the normal teaching period.

Core and Elective topics – Electronic Engineering Pathway E2

Students who have entered with an engineering degree or a science degree with 1st year mathematics and physics must complete 36 units of topics comprising:

COMP8801 Computer Programming 2 GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8703 Electronics GE# (4.5 units)
ENGR8712 Automation and Industrial Control GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8722 Analysis of Engineering Systems GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8731 Microprocessors GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8761 Engineering Mathematics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8800 Engineering Programming GE (4.5 units)

Plus 4.5 units of electives selected from ENGR topics at level 7000 and above.

# Please note this topic starts before the normal teaching period.

Core and Elective topics – Electronic Engineering Pathway E3

Students who have entered with an Australian TAFE Diploma or Advance Diploma electronics qualification plus 7 years work experience must complete 36 units of topics comprising:

COMP8801 Computer Programming 2 GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8722 Analysis of Engineering Systems GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8752 Engineering Physics and Materials GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8761 Engineering Mathematics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8800 Engineering Programming GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8812 Engineering Mechanics GE (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units of electives selected from ENGR topics at level 7000 and above.

Specialisation - Materials Engineering

Students must complete 36 units of topics according to their entry qualifications as specified below.

Core and Elective topics – Materials Engineering Pathway M1

Students who have entered with a chemical science based degree must complete 36 units of topics comprising:

ENGR8752 Engineering Physics and Materials GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8761 Engineering Mathematics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8791 Mechanics and Structures GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8812 Engineering Mechanics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR9811 Solid Mechanics GE (4.5 units)

Plus 13.5 units of electives selected from ENGR or CHEM topics at level 7000 and above.

Core and Elective topics – Materials Engineering Pathway M2

Students who have entered with an engineering degree in a different area plus a knowledge of 1st year chemistry must complete 36 units of topics comprising:

CHEM8801 Chemical Reactivity GE (4.5 units)
CHEM8802 Spectroscopy and Data Analysis GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8752 Engineering Physics and Materials GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8791 Mechanics and Structures GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8812 Engineering Mechanics GE (4.5 units)
ENGR9811 Solid Mechanics GE (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units of electives selected from ENGR or CHEM topics at level 7000 and above.