Our rankings
Ranked 65th globally for engineering and technology by the 2021 QS University Rankings by Subject.
Ranked 23rd globally for for arts and humanities by the 2021 QS University Rankings by Subject.
In response to COVID-19, the University of Sydney has reviewed the availability of courses to be delivered remotely.
This course will be available for students to study remotely during 2022 if they are unable to undertake face-to-face study. Please note that some units of study that are not essential to completing the degree may not be available to be studied remotely. For the latest updates on course availability, visit the COVID-19 information page.
About this course
Our Bachelor of Engineering Honours and Bachelor of Arts combined degree allows you to study engineering while pursuing your interests in the humanities, social sciences or languages. You can combine any of the Bachelor of Engineering Honours streams with a Bachelor of Arts.
In this program you can combine any of the engineering streams (Aeronautical, Biomedical, Chemical and Biomolecular, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronic, Software and Space) with studies in arts. In addition to your engineering stream, you will complete one major in any area of arts.
As part of your engineering degree you will undertake the award-winning Professional Engagement Program enabling you to change your approach to learning through self-reflection and extra-curricular activities throughout your degree.
Complementing your engineering studies, the Bachelor of Arts develops the invaluable critical thinking, creativity and analytical skills needed to tackle the world's most pressing challenges. You can explore your interests while developing all-round professional capabilities.
The University offers more than 15 languages at beginner or advanced level, along with choices in 45 other areas of study. You can delve into archaeology, gender and culture, financial economics, politics and international relations, literature, social policy and Asian, European or Indigenous studies among many other subjects.
You can complete this combined degree program in five years of full-time study, after which you will graduate with two qualifications. With diverse opportunities across the commercial, government and not-for-profit sectors, you will be ready for a career at the forefront of innovation, design and development.
Bachelor of Arts majors include:
Important information for students commencing in 2021
As part of our continual effort to improve our academic offering, we are making some exciting changes to the Bachelor of Engineering Honours.
What’s changing?
Taking effect Semester 1, 2021, students in the Bachelor Engineering Honours will undertake enhanced foundation studies in data and computation, and a sequence of real-world project units throughout their degree, which will enable them to apply technical knowledge in practice.
Why are we changing?
The future of work is increasingly dynamic and digital. These changes have been made in response to the rapid advancements in computational tools and the utilisation of rich data in engineering practice. They will ensure our students continue to graduate job-ready and at the forefront of engineering innovation.
What does this mean in practice?
Degree and stream names will remain unchanged, however, from 2021, specialisations will replace majors. We have created a number of new exciting specialisations to choose from. There is however, no change to the graduate outcomes or to the duration of the degree.
You are required to choose one major from the faculty majors listing for the Bachelor of Arts.
Depends on your qualification, citizenship status
Prospective domestic students apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) for a Commonwealth supported place . Refer to the UAC website for key dates. Separate scholarship deadlines apply, visit the scholarships website for details.
For other useful information, visit our How to apply page.
Current University of Sydney students applying to transfer from one bachelor's degree to another apply directly to the University. The exact process will depend on the course you are currently in and the course to which you wish to transfer. For more information visit the Change your course page.
Current students applying to transfer from a diploma to a bachelor's degree must apply through UAC.
Refer to the UAC website . Separate Scholarship deadlines apply - visit the scholarships webpage for details.
Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (August)
Visit the How to apply page for detailed information on if you need to apply directly to the University or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). If you are a direct applicant, when you are ready to apply select the `Apply’ button on this course page.
Current University of Sydney students applying to transfer from one bachelor's degree to another apply directly to the University. The exact process will depend on the course you are currently in and the course to which you wish to transfer. For more information visit the Change your course page.
Closing dates
Direct applicants:
Semester 1 - 15 January of the commencing year.
Semester 2 - 25 June of the commencing year.
We strongly encourage international applicants to apply as early as possible to allow time for visa and travel arrangements. Separate scholarship deadlines apply - visit the scholarships webpage for details.
UAC Applicants: Refer to the UAC website
Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (August)
To complete the combined Bachelor of Engineering Honours and Bachelor of Arts you must undertake 240 credit points (cp) worth of units (ie, subjects), which will take 5 years of full-time study.
A typical unit of study has a value of 6cp. Full-time students normally enrol in 48 cp worth of units each year.
Your detailed course structure will depend on which stream of engineering you choose to study.
All engineering streams include mandatory completion of the Professional Engagement Program (PEP) - see Work Component section.
Mandatory work component = 200 hours.
The work component must be completed as part of the award requirements and is undertaken as part of the Professional Engagement Program (PEP).
Professional Engagement Program (PEP)
The program requires completion of 600 hours of professional engagement experiences integrated continuously throughout the degree. It is designed to allow students to contextualise their learning, enhance their own professional development, and build the foundations of a strong professional engineering career. The professional engagement activities are spread over 3 flexible stages. This involves
| Year | Sem | Unit of study | |||
| The Professional Engagement Program (PEP) is embedded throughout each semester of the degree. | |||||
| 1 | 1 | Mathematics | Engineering Project | Computing | Arts major unit |
| 2 | Mathematics | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Arts major unit | |
| 2 | 1 | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Arts major unit |
| 2 | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Arts major unit | |
| 3 | 1 | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Elective (Arts Table A or Table S)) | OLE |
| 2 | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Arts major unit | OLE | |
| 4 | 1 | Engineering Project | Engineering Stream unit | Arts major unit | Elective (Arts Table A or Table S) |
| 2 | Engineering Stream unit | Engineering Stream unit | Arts major unit | Elective (Arts Table A or Table S) | |
| 5 | 1 | Thesis | Engineering Stream unit | Arts major: Industry and Community Project | Elective (Arts Table A or Table S) |
| 2 | Thesis | Engineering Stream unit | Elective (Arts Table A or Table S) | Elective (Arts Table A or Table S) | |
HSC Mathematics Extension 1 and Physics. If you attempt engineering without this prior level of knowledge of Mathematics you may experience difficulty, so you are strongly advised to undertake an appropriate bridging course.
Other assumed knowledge depends on the Arts subject areas chosen. Most Arts subject areas require no previous knowledge.
This course has an integrated Honours program, with all students undertaking an Engineering research thesis in the final year.
Admission this course is on the basis of the following criteria:
Admission pathways are open to domestic applicants on the basis of equity or other adjustment factors, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. For details, visit admission pathways.
This course has a mathematics course prerequisite. For details on the prerequisite, and how it applies to you, visit: Mathematics course prerequisites.
For more information about the University’s credit policy, please see the Credit for Previous Studies page.
The Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences offers one-year exchange programs with partner universities in Europe, Asia and North America.
In addition to your Professional Engagement Program (PEP) commitments, there are opportunities to join a diverse range of engineering student societies and engage in outreach activities, industry placements and competitions throughout your degree.
This course is accredited by Engineers Australia and by other major professional engineering institutions. Our graduates are also recognised internationally through the Washington Accord of the International Engineering Alliance.
Arts students are encouraged to become members of professional associations concerned with their areas of study. Association membership for students is often heavily discounted and provides rewarding benefits including networking opportunities and event information.
