Our rankings
Ranked 65th globally for engineering and technology by the 2021 QS University Rankings by Subject.
Our graduates are ranked 1st in Australia and 4th globally for employability by the 2022 QS Graduate Employability Rankings.
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 whilst the Australian border remains closed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Please note that some units of study that are not essential to completing the degree may not be available to be studied remotely.
About this course
Revolutionise the next generation of space exploration with our Bachelor of Engineering with Space Engineering . This innovative program covers all space-related activities, from ground operations to the design and construction of orbital bodies and explorative spacecraft. You will learn to tackle nature's most unforgiving environment in a dynamic and continually evolving industry.
Available to students in aeronautical, mechanical and mechatronic engineering streams in the Bachelor of Engineering Honours, space engineering is taught by leading experts in aerospace design and development. You will study all facets of space engineering, including orbital mechanics, space vehicles, groundstation infrastructure, space avionics and space robotics.
Complementing the knowledge and experience of your primary engineering stream, you will develop an extensive understanding of the space environment through four specialised units of study. In these units you will learn to generate solutions to diverse space engineering challenges, including designing optimal satellite orbits and spacecraft mechanics. You will also build technical and teamwork skills through the construction of a mock satellite, and can choose to compete internationally in rocket-building and satellite-launching competitions.
As a rapidly advancing and innovative field, the knowledge and experiences you gain will equip you for a career across the aerospace, defence, environmental and research industries. This program offers global opportunities to design and build the interplanetary spacecraft that don't exist yet.
As part of your 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.
The engineering streams that best align with studying space engineering are:
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.
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 Bachelor of Engineering Honours with Space Engineering you must undertake 192 credit points (cp) worth of units (ie, subjects), which will take 4 years of full-time study.
Your detailed course structure will depend on which stream you choose to study in conjunction with Space Engineering:
A typical unit of study has a value of 6cp. Full-time students normally enrol in 48 cp worth of units each year.
All engineering streams include mandatory completion of the 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
This course has a mandatory work component totalling 200 hours that must be completed as part of the award requirements for the degree. The work compoment is undertaken as part of the Professional Engagement Program (PEP).
| Year | Sem | Unit of study | |||
| The Professional Engagement Program (PEP) is embedded throughout each semester of the degree. | |||||
| 1 | 1 | Mathematics | Project 1 | Computing | Free elective |
| 2 | Mathematics | Stream unit | Stream unit | Stream unit | |
| 2 | 1 | Project 2 | Stream unit | Stream unit | Stream unit |
| 2 | Stream unit | Stream unit | Stream unit | Space Engineering 1 | |
| 3 | 1 | Project 3 | Stream unit | Stream unit | Stream unit |
| 2 | Stream unit | Stream unit | Stream unit | Space Engineering 2 | |
| 4 | 1 | Thesis | Stream unit | Stream unit | Space Engineering 3 |
| 2 | Thesis | Stream unit | Stream unit | Space Engineering elective | |
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.
This course has an integrated Honours program, with all students undertaking a 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 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.
