Graduate Certificate in Engineering Science

The Graduate Certificate in Engineering Science is designed for applicants with a background in engineering:

1. Benefit from a program that offers a flexible study plan. Tailor your studies to suit your interests, your industry, or your career goals.
2. Students will develop professional engineering skills and technical expertise in their discipline through advanced and master's level courses. You'll graduate with the skills required to solve complex engineering challenges in a changing world.
3. Undertake a supervised research project relevant to your engineering field. You'll be expected to systematically plan and manage all aspects of your project, and to clearly explain your findings and what they contribute to your field.

Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:

• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Fire Safety Engineering
• Materials and Manufacturing Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronic Engineering
• Software Engineering
• Urban Water Engineering.

Please Note: Online delivery is only available in the Fire Safety field of study.

Recommended study pattern

The Graduate Certificate in Engineering Science is a 1-year course for a part-time student. Each year consists of 2 Study Periods, also known as semesters. The recommended study pattern consists of 4 core subjects, with 2 to be completed in your first study period and 2 in your second.

Award requirements

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Engineering Science (Fire Safety Engineering), students must satisfactorily complete a program of study consisting of 4 subjects.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $4,658

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

For more than a century, The University of Queensland (UQ) has delivered knowledge leadership for a better world. The most prestigious and widely recognised rankings of world universities consistently place UQ among the world's top universities. UQ has also won more national teaching awards than any other Australian university. This commitment to quality teaching empowers our 56,000 current students, who study across UQ’s three campuses, to create positive change for society.

Learn more about UQ.

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QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

6

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

5

To be eligible for entry, you'll need:

• a 4-year bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline (see below), or
• to have completed post-secondary studies and 2 years full-time equivalent relevant work experience.

Applications based on post-secondary study and/or work experience will be individually assessed.

You must have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.

Relevant disciplines for previous qualifications

Relevant disciplines depend on the field of study you intend to choose.

• For the Bioengineering field of study, relevant disciplines include Bioengineering, biochemical engineering, bioprocess engineering, chemical engineering, chemical engineering and technology, process engineering.
• For the Chemical Engineering field of study, relevant disciplines include chemical engineering, chemical engineering and technology or process engineering.
• For the Civil Engineering field of study, relevant disciplines include civil engineering, structural engineering or civil and structural engineering.
• For the Electrical Engineering field of study, relevant disciplines include electrical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, electrical power engineering, electronic engineering, telecommunication engineering, communication engineering or power engineering.
• For the Fire Safety Engineering field of study, relevant disciplines include civil engineering, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering or structural engineering.
• For the Materials and Manufacturing Engineering field of study, relevant disciplines include functional materials, materials engineering, materials science and engineering, or mechanical and manufacturing engineering.
• For the Mechatronic Engineering field of study, relevant disciplines include mechanical engineering, automation engineering, mechantronic engineering, aeronautical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical and manufacturing engineering, mechanical and industrial engineering, or mechanical and automation engineering.
• For the Software Engineering field of study, relevant disciplines include chemical engineering, civil engineering or environmental engineering.

Relevant work experience

Relevant work experience includes a professional practice or work in an engineering environment relevant to the field of study, to which you are seeking admission. This will need to be supported with evidence including:

• a letter from your employer (and/or previous employers) stating that you work (or worked) within the specified organisation.
• the nature of your work, detailing any relevant duties and responsibilities to the entry criteria above.
• the length of time you were in your role/s (i.e. demonstrating minimum length for entry) and whether this was full-time, part-time, or casual.
• any further bespoke conditions listed by the entry criteria.

All applicants must satisfy the UQ English language proficiency requirements for admission.

If you've completed previous study, you may be eligible to receive credit for – or exemption from – certain subjects in a UQ program.

Online delivery is only available in the Fire Safety field of study.