Handbook - Materials Science and Engineering (Honours)

There is a more recent version of this academic item available.

Overview

The field of Materials Science and Engineering offers unlimited possibilities for innovation and development. Attention is being focused on developing and processing metals, ceramics, polymers and composites with improved properties. The activities of the materials engineer range from materials production, including their extraction from ores and their refining, to the … For more content click the Read More button below. Advanced materials can provide a major competitive advantage in virtually every part of a country's manufacturing industry. Because Australia is a country rich in minerals, materials science has been designated as a priority area for research and development. Examples of recent and significant developments include the emergence of environmentally friendly and economical metal processing methods, advanced surface coatings, biomedical materials, electrical ceramics, engineering polymers, and advanced composites. The School of Materials Science and Engineering is in a good position to provide the increased numbers of graduates necessary for development of these new initiatives in materials. It is the only school in Australia that offers professional courses in ceramic engineering, metallurgical engineering and materials engineering as well as providing postgraduate specialisation in these fields. The School is extremely well equipped with a wide range of advanced computing, thermal analysis, mechanical testing, X-ray and optical and electron microscopy facilities. Students are provided with education and industrial training to prepare them for a significant and important professional career.

The activities of the materials engineer range from materials production, including their extraction from ores and their refining, to the design, development, processing and recycling of materials for use in aerospace, transportation, electronics, energy conversion and biomedical systems.

Advanced materials can provide a major competitive advantage in virtually every part of a country's manufacturing industry. Because Australia is a country rich in minerals, materials science has been designated as a priority area for research and development. Examples of recent and significant developments include the emergence of environmentally friendly and economical metal processing methods, advanced surface coatings, biomedical materials, electrical ceramics, engineering polymers, and advanced composites.

The School of Materials Science and Engineering is in a good position to provide the increased numbers of graduates necessary for development of these new initiatives in materials. It is the only school in Australia that offers professional courses in ceramic engineering, metallurgical engineering and materials engineering as well as providing postgraduate specialisation in these fields.

The School is extremely well equipped with a wide range of advanced computing, thermal analysis, mechanical testing, X-ray and optical and electron microscopy facilities. Students are provided with education and industrial training to prepare them for a significant and important professional career.

Learning Outcomes

Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline.

Scholars

Comprehensive, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline.

Scholars

Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline.

Scholars

In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.

Scholars

Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline.

Scholars
Global citizens
Professionals

Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline

Global citizens
Scholars
Professionals

Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving.

Scholars
Global citizens
Professionals

Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.

Scholars
Professionals

Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes.

Scholars
Global citizens
Professionals

10.

Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects.

Leaders
Scholars
Professionals
Global citizens

11.

Ethical conduct and professional accountability.

Professionals
Global citizens

12.

Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.

Leaders
Scholars
Global citizens

13.

Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour.

Scholars
Professionals
Leaders

14.

Professional use and management of information.

Scholars
Leaders

15.

Orderly management of self, and professional conduct.

Leaders
Scholars
Professionals

16.

Effective team membership and team leadership.

Scholars
Professionals
Global citizens
Leaders

Graduate Capabilities

For more information on Graduate Capabilities please click on this link

Program Structure

Students must complete 192 UOC when taken as a standalone program.

Disciplinary Component168 Units of Credit:

Students must complete 168 UOC of the following to satisfy the core requirements of this degree

Specialisation Requirements

Students must complete at least one of the specialisations below.

Level 1 Core Courses42 Units of Credit:

Students must take 42 UOC of the following courses.

Level 1 Core Courses

One of the following:

Level 2 Core Courses48 Units of Credit:

Students must take 48 UOC of the following courses.

Level 3 Core Courses36 Units of Credit:

Students must take 36 UOC of the following courses.

Level 1 Electives6 Units of Credit:

Students must take at least 6 UOC of the following courses.

Level 1 Electives

One of the following:

Maximum Level 1 UOC

Recommended Level 1 Electives

Professional Electives12 Units of Credit:

Students must take at least 12 UOC of the following courses.

General Education12 Units of Credit:

Excluded General Education Courses

Program Constraints

Maturity Rule

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Sample Programs

To access sample program(s), please visit:

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

Limitations on Recognition of Prior Learning

UNSW Students may be granted Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL) which may or may not reduce the amount of learning required to achieve a degree at UNSW. Generally, RPL is only granted based on the completion of tertiary-level studies, but in exceptional circumstances may also include non-formal or informal learning such as professional experience. RPL will not be granted based on partly completed tertiary courses. All applications for RPL at UNSW are subject to UNSW Recognition of Prior Learning (Coursework Programs) Policy and Procedures. Students seeking credit for courses completed at another university are required to submit documentary evidence (course outlines, academic transcripts) to support their application, and to nominate the course(s) for which they seek credit. In addition, the following conditions apply for all UNSW Science programs (including the Science component of dual award programs): Specified course credit, i.e. credit granted for an exact or near exact equivalence to a course at UNSW, will not be granted when more than 7 years has elapsed from the successful completion of the course (or other learning) and the student’s commencement in the Science program. Where this time period is shorter it will be stipulated in the individual rules for the relevant program. Unspecified course credit (e.g. General Education or free electives) will not be granted when more than 10 years has elapsed from the successful completion of the course (or other learning) and the student’s commencement in the Science program. Students may only receive credit of up to a maximum of 50% of the coursework component of their Science program, excluding Honours. For most undergraduate programs this will be 72 UOC. For dual award programs that include a Science component, it will be a maximum of 50% of the Science component of the dual degree, excluding Honours. Credit for the other program will be assessed by the Faculty that administers that program. Applications for RPL will only be assessed for students who have accepted a place to study in a UNSW Science program. Students must formally apply for RPL unless they become a UNSW student as part of a formal Articulation Agreement. Applications for RPL should be made as early as possible in the student’s program. Students who are readmitted into a Science program after a period of unapproved absence or deferment, or after exclusion, will not necessarily retain credit for all units completed at UNSW prior to the absence if the date of completion of the units of study is greater than the 7 and 10-year rules outlined in points 1 and 2 above. In these cases, the credit retained will be decided by the Associate Dean (Academic Programs) in consultation (when necessary) with the Program and/or Course Authority.

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):

Program Requirements

Compulsory Training Component

Industrial Experience Requirement
All students are required to have gained at least 12 weeks of approved industrial experience before graduation and to have submitted satisfactory reports on such work. Industrial experience is usually obtained during a long vacation at the end of Stages 2 and 3.

Progression Requirements

Students are not permitted to continue in Program 3131 and will be transferred to Program 3970 BSc (Materials Science Major), with such transfer subject to appeal, if any of the following apply:

2 fails in any given core course
Less than 50% of program courses have been passed after half or more of the BE program (>84 UOC) has been attempted
A WAM of less than 55% prior to the final 48 UOC of the BE program (ie., after 120 UOC of the BE program completed)

The School of Materials Science and Engineering Education Committee will consider appeals against transfer out of the BE Program and will take into account academic, medical, and personal issues in accordance with the UNSW Special Consideration Policy and the Re-Enrolment Appeal Committee process.

For more information on university policy on progression requirements please visit Academic Progression

Associated Programs

Similar Program

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - BE (Hons)3707 - Engineering (Honours)

Bachelor of Science - BSc3970 - Science

Related Double Degree

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - BE(Hons)
Bachelor of Engineering Science - BEngSc3132 - Materials Science and Engineering (Honours) / Engineering Science

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - BE(Hons)
Master of Biomedical Engineering - MBiomedE3133 - Materials Science and Engineering (Honours) / Biomedical Engineering

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - BE(Hons)
Bachelor of Commerce - BCom3134 - Materials Science and Engineering (Honours) / Commerce

Professional Outcomes

Accreditations

Engineers Australia

Professional Recognition

Engineers Australia recognises the degree of BE in 4 of the 5 undergraduate streams (Ceramic Engineering, Materials Engineering. Physical Metallurgy, and Process Metallurgy) as meeting the examination requirements for admission to graduate and corporate membership, with the Functional Materials specialisation undergoing formal accreditation in 2021. Similarly, substantial or complete recognition is accorded to the BE degree programs by overseas engineering institutions. Graduates in Ceramic Engineering are also eligible for membership of the Institute of Ceramics of Great Britain, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and the National Institute of Ceramic Engineers USA.

Recognition of Achievement

University Medal

Honours Classes

Recognition of achievement for Honours in the program is as follows:

Class 1: Honours WAM >80 and Thesis mark of >65
Class 2 Division 1: Honours WAM >75 and Thesis mark of >65
Class 2 Division 2: Honours WAM >65 and Thesis mark of >65

The Honours WAM is calculated to one decimal place as a weighting of courses according to UOC and the particular level, the latter being:

General Education = 1
Level 1 Courses = 1
Level 2 Courses = 2
Level 3 Courses = 3
Level 4 Courses = 4

Only the first attempt at a course counts.

The above weighing reflects the embedded Honours model of the program and a significant research project (18 or 24 UOC) is included in the final year of study.

Additional Information

University Medal

Medalists will be determined in accordance with UNSW Policy and Procedure. However, to be considered for a university medal students will need to have achieved at a minimum an Honours WAM greater than or equal to 85 and a thesis mark greater than 65.

Science Handbook Rules and Editions

Students must follow the program rules and requirements in the UNSW Handbook published in the year they commence their studies with the Faculty of Science.

Students who transfer from another UNSW Faculty into Science (for example, from a Bachelor of Arts into a Bachelor of Science) must follow the program rules and requirements in the UNSW Handbook published in the year of their transfer.

Students, who are readmitted to UNSW after a period of unapproved absence or deferment, or after exclusion, must satisfy the program rules in the Handbook published in the year of their readmission. In addition, these students may be subject to restrictions on which courses taken at UNSW may be counted on their return. In some cases, students returning from an unapproved absence may be required to repeat courses. See the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Advanced Standing section below for more details. Students who take approved leave or deferment will follow the Handbook for the year of their original commencement unless otherwise approved by the Associate Dean (Academic Programs).

Faculty of Science Rules

The Faculty of Science has some rules that relate to all students enrolled in programs offered by the Faculty in relation to recognition for prior learning, general education, course exclusions, study load, and cross-institutional study. All students should read the information contained on the Faculty General Rules and Requirements page.

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)

Faculty
Faculty: The primary academic unit in which related disciplines of teaching and research are conducted.

Campus

Sydney

Study Level
Study Level refers to the academic level of a program, specialisation or course.

Undergraduate

Typical duration:

4 Year(s)

Delivery Mode

Face-to-face (includes blended)

Intake Period

Term 1, Term 2, Term 3

Academic Calendar

Minimum Units of Credit

192

AQF Level

Level 8

Award Type

Bachelor (Honours) (Embedded)

Award(s)
Award(s): Qualification upon completion (all awards offered by UNSW are accredited by UNSW and align with the Australian Qualifications Framework).

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - BE(Hons)

UAC Code

429600

CRICOS Code

088873A