Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

The course resolutions detailed in this page apply to all courses included in the table below under section 1 (course codes). 

These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2021 (the 'Coursework Policy'), the Learning and Teaching Policy 2019, the Resolutions of the Faculty, University of Sydney (Student Academic Appeals) Rule 2021, the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 and the Academic Integrity Procedures 2022. Current versions of all policies are available from the Policy Register: http://www.sydney.edu.au/policies

The Bachelor of Engineering Honours provides students with advanced knowledge and special proficiency in the professional work of engineering.

1 Course codes

2 Attendance pattern

(1) The attendance pattern for this course is full-time or part-time. Part-time students must still satisfy appropriate enrolment progression and are subject to the same degree time limits as full-time students. International students are required to follow the enrolment pattern as specified by their visa. The Faculty strongly recommends full-time enrolment as the preferred option for all undergraduate students unless exceptional circumstances exist.

3 Streams

(1) The Bachelor of Engineering Honours is available in the following streams:

(a) Aeronautical Engineering

(b) Biomedical Engineering

(c) Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

(d) Civil Engineering

(e) Electrical Engineering

(f) Environmental Engineering 

(g) Mechanical Engineering

(h) Mechatronic Engineering

(i) Software Engineering

(j) Space Engineering

(k) Dalyell

(2) Completion of a stream is a requirement of the course. The requirements for the completion of each stream are as specified in the relevant degree tables and, in the case of the Dalyell stream, in Table D of the Shared Pool for Undergraduate Degrees.

(a) Candidates who qualify for the Dalyell stream must complete another stream in conjunction with the Dalyell stream.

(b) Candidates who qualify for Space Engineering must complete another stream in conjunction with Space Engineering, chosen from Aeronautical, Mechanical, or Mechatronic.

(3) Students may apply to change streams by direct application to the Student Centre. Approval is required from the relevant Associate Dean.

(4) Students are eligible to attempt Space Engineering based on:

(a) the admission pathway; or

(b) on application at the end of two full-time-equivalent semesters having achieved an Annual Average Mark (AAM) approved by the Dean or Associate Dean.

(5) Flexible First Year

(a) Undergraduate students entering first year in Semester 1 may apply to undertake the Flexible First Year pathway, instead of choosing a particular stream.

(b) The Flexible First Year pathway is listed in the Flexible First Year Table.

(c) The Flexible First Year pathway is not available to students who enter the degree with credit for previous study.

(d) At the end of Semester 1 students in the Flexible First Year pathway must transfer into approved streams.

(i) Those students who have met the requirements for first year entry (ATAR cut-off or equivalent) into a particular stream will be guaranteed approval to transfer into that stream even though they chose the Flexible First Year pathway.

(ii) Students who did not meet the first year entry requirements for specific streams, but subsequently attained average marks in the Flexible First Year pathway that met or surpassed the requirements for those streams will also be eligible to apply for transfer into those streams.

(iii) The transfer requirements will be approved by the Dean or Associate Dean.

4 Admission to candidature

(1) Admission to this course is on the basis of a secondary school leaving qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including national and international equivalents), tertiary study or an approved preparation program. English language requirements must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English. Special admission pathways are open for mature aged applicants who do not possess a school leaving qualification, for educationally disadvantaged applicants and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Applicants are ranked by merit and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking. Details of admission requirements are found in the Coursework Rule and Coursework Policy.

(2) Admission to the Dalyell Stream requires achievement of a minimum tertiary admission rank (ATAR) set by joint agreement of the Deans and Heads of School and Deans of University schools of all the faculties and University schools administering degrees offering the Dalyell Stream, or equivalent.

5 Requirements for award

(1) The units of study that may be taken for the course are set out in the following Tables:

(a) the Engineering Flexible First Year Table

(b) the Engineering Foundations Table

(c) the Engineering Projects Table

(d) the Professional Engagement Program Table

(e) the Engineering Stream Tables

(f) the Engineering Specialisations Tables

(g) Table S of the Shared Pool for Undergraduate Degrees

(h) for students in the Dalyell Stream, Table D of the Shared Pool for Undergraduate Degrees.

(2) To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Engineering Honours degree, a candidate must:

(a) successfully complete 192 credit points comprising:

(i) a minimum of 18 credit points from the Engineering Foundations Table, including all required units;

(ii) a minimum of 30 credit points from the Engineering Projects Table, including all required units;

(iii) a minimum of 120 credit points from the Engineering Stream Table for the stream being undertaken, including all required units;

(iv) for students enrolled in the Dalyell Stream, a minimum of 12 credit points of Dalyell units of study as specified in Table D; 

(v) a maximum of 24 credit points from Table S or any unit from within the Faculty of Engineering which are available to undergraduate students; and 

(b) successfully complete the requirements of the Professional Engagement Program.

(3) The class of honours will be determined by the Engineering Integrated Honours Weighted Average Mark (EIHWAM).

6 Progression rules

(1) Progression within the Dalyell stream

(a) With the permission of the Dalyell coordinator, candidates in the Dalyell stream may attempt units at higher levels than the usual sequence.

(b) Candidates must achieve a Cross-Semester Average Mark (CSAM) at a level determined by joint agreement of the Deans and Heads of School and Deans of University schools of all the faculties and University schools administering degrees offering the Dalyell Stream in each year of study or over each 48 credit point block to continue in the Dalyell Stream. Candidates who do not maintain a CSAM at the level determined by joint agreement of the Deans and Heads of School and Deans of University schools of all the faculties and University schools administering degrees offering the Dalyell Stream may continue in any other major, minor, program or stream into which they were admitted, but will not remain in the Dalyell Stream.

(c) Candidates enrolled in the Dalyell stream who do not satisfy requirements for the Dalyell stream but who otherwise meet requirements for the award course in which they are enrolled will graduate from the award course without the Dalyell stream. Students may not study units additional to the maximum credit points for their award course except with approval of the Associate Dean.

(2) Progression within Space Engineering

(a) In order to remain in Space Engineering, candidates must maintain an Annual Average Mark (AAM) at a level determined by the Associate Dean and published in the handbook.

(b) Subject to subclause 6(2)(c), candidates enrolled in Space Engineering who do not satisfy the AAM requirement but who otherwise satisfy the requirements of the course in which they are enrolled may continue in their primary stream, but will not continue in Space Engineering.

(c) In well attested exceptional circumstances the Associate Dean, on the advice of the Head of the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, may allow a student who has not met the required AAM, to remain in Space Engineering.

7 Level of Honours Awarded

(1) The grade of honours is determined by the Engineering Integrated Honours Weighted Average Mark (EIHWAM) which is calculated by the formula:

Where

(a) Wi is the weighting given by 0 for 1000 level units of study, 2 for 2000 level units, 3 for 3000 level units and 4 for 4000 level or above units. Units listed as Thesis units of study in the Engineering Projects Table are given a double weighting of 8.

(b) CPi is the number of credit points for the unit of study. 

(c) Mi is the mark achieved for the unit of study. 

When calculating the EIHWAM:

(a) All attempts at units of study which receive a grade listed in the Coursework Policy to be used in WAM are included.

(b) In the following circumstances a unit of study will not be included in the calculation:

(i) units of study assessed on a pass/fail basis;

(ii) units of study with a grade of CN, DC or DF;

(iii) and credited units of study from other institutions.

(c) For combined degree students, units of study taken as part of the second degree are included in the calculation.

(2) The Bachelor of Engineering Honours degree is awarded in classes ranging from First Class to Third Class as set out in the Coursework Policy. The class of Honours awarded is based on a candidate's EIHWAM. Third class honours is awarded to all students who have met graduation requirements with EIHWAM below the cutoff for Honours Class II (Division 2). 

8 University medal

A student who has qualified for the award with first class honours and has an EIHWAM of 85 or above, and who has demonstrated excellence in their honours thesis will be considered for the award of a University Medal. The Medal is awarded at the discretion of the relevant delegate, after the recommendation of the relevant Head of School, to the highest achieving students who in the opinion of the Faculty have an outstanding academic record, in accordance with the Coursework Rule and Coursework Policy

9 Engineering specialisations

(1) There is no requirement to complete an Engineering specialisation.

(2) Two types of Engineering specialisations are available:

(a) Stream specialisations, which are specific to a stream and comprise units from the stream electives for that stream; and

(b) Breadth specialisations, which are available across multiple streams. Breadth specialisations are available in most single-degree streams, but not all breadth specialisations are available to all single-degree streams because units in a breadth specialisation may be stream core or elective units.

(3) An Engineering specialisation requires the completion of the stipulated number of units chosen from those listed in the Table for that Engineering Specialisation including all required units.

(4) The available specialisations for each stream are:

(5) Maximum limits for specialisations

(a) The maximum number of Engineering Specialisations which may be completed is specific to the stream.

(b) Students may not select or change specialisations if this will require them to exceed their degree credit point limit.

10 Transitional provisions

(1) These resolutions will take effect from 1 January 2025.

(2) Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January, 2025 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions governing their candidature immediately prior to these changes.