The Melbourne Model
From 2008 the University will introduce a landmark educational reform known as the 'Melbourne Model'. It is designed to create an outstanding and distinctive Melbourne Experience for all students. Find out more about the Melbourne Model and what it means for Engineering here. Read answers below to the most frequently asked questions on how the Melbourne Model will impact Engineering at Melbourne. Engineering: Frequently Asked Questions
What if I do not meet the entrance requirements for any of the engineering courses?Some students may be assisted by the Access Melbourne program at the University. Access Melbourne is a combined special entry and scholarship program designed to increase participation of students from diverse backgrounds. This includes students from educationally, financially or socially disadvantaged backgrounds who want to go to university. For more information see here.
Will the Bachelor of Engineering and the five-year combination of a new generation Bachelor degree and a Master of Engineering have the same type of accreditation?Both the Bachelor of Engineering and five-year combination (of a new generation Bachelor degree and a Master of Engineering) will be accredited by Engineers Australia. This means graduates can work as professional engineers. Both will be recognised internationally.
What is the difference between an ‘accredited' course and one that is not?A graduate from a professionally accredited engineering course may work as a professional engineer both in Australia and in countries overseas which are party to the Washington Accord. Graduates from non-accredited courses cannot practice/work as a professional engineer. The term 'engineer' is sometimes loosely applied to people working in engineering-related roles but who do not have an accredited engineering qualification.
How do I apply for the Bachelor of Engineering or one of the new Melbourne Model degrees?The usual method of application for undergraduate courses for Australian students is through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). Full details regarding the VTAC on the web or by purchasing the VTAC Guide from a newsagent. Go to the VTAC website for details and check the information on the University website. International students should see here.
How much will my course cost me?Tuition fees are based on the particular subjects you choose to study. The amount you are charged is the sum of the fees for all subjects in which you enrol, and the fees are regulated by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training. Australian students pay in one of two ways:
For more information about fees for Australian students see here. A subject fee calculator is available here International students pay direct tuition fees. See here
How many CSP (Commonwealth Supported) places are available in the engineering courses?The number of CSP places is subject to change – please refer to the most current information on the Future Students website.
Are CSP (Commonwealth Supported) places available for the new professional Master of Engineering?Yes. The University is currently negotiating the specific numbers of places in the professional masters program. Please check the websites for up-to-date information.
Can I still apply for the Bachelor of Engineering as a four year degree? Will it disappear?The Faculty will continue to offer a four year Bachelor of Engineering in 2008, but continuation of the course longer-term will depend on student demand.
How long is the engineering course?Engineering can be taken as either a four-year Bachelor of Engineering or through a Melbourne Model degree (three years: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Environments, Bachelor of Science) leading to a two-year masters degree.
Why do a professionally accredited engineering masters degree?A masters degree signifies a higher level of professional ability and these students will graduate with a range of specialist skills that will equip them to become the leaders of teams of professionals. Market research with large international engineering firms has shown an overwhelmingly positive response to the idea of our graduates having masters degrees. There will be a suite of masters degrees, including professional Master of Engineering, Masters by Research and Masters by Coursework. The latter two are usually studied as post-professional degrees for students who already have accreditation. The new professional Master of Engineering will also include a significant component of research and design, often as part of an industry based project.
What about 'double degrees'? Will they still be available?From 2008 'double degrees' will be phased out. However, under the Melbourne Model structures, students can graduate twice in five years with qualifications in two areas, with a bachelor's/master's combination. This will be a a cut above the standard double degree level. All Melbourne Model degrees will require students to take 75 points (or one quarter of their three year program) from outside their major area of study. Some ‘breadth' subjects will focus on new skill sets, some will be interdisciplinary and others will provide the opportunity for study in a field unrelated to a student's core program. This will allow students to learn about alternative areas of knowledge as well as different methods of enquiry and interpretation. In addition, the University's concurrent diplomas in Arts, Modern Languages, Music (Practical), Geographic Information Systems and Information Systems will continue to provide students with the opportunity to study different areas of interest without undertaking two degrees. Diploma subjects are studied alongside the main course. Alternatively, students might choose to undertake sequential undergraduate degrees. This means completing one undergraduate course before commencing the second. In most cases, credit for studies completed in the first degree will allow students to finish two three-year degrees in five years (the same time it takes to complete most double degrees).
What commonality is there between the Melbourne Model bachelor degrees with Engineering Systems majors, and the Bachelor of Engineering?The first and second years of the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering are the same for common engineering majors and this gives students the option of transferring between the two programs until the end of second year.
Is the Melbourne Model 3 year undergraduate degree plus 2 year masters program professionally accredited?Yes, students who have completed either the four-year Bachelor of Engineering degree or the New Generation undergraduate degree and Master of Engineering sequence will graduate with programs accredited by Engineers Australia. This will allow them to practice as professional engineers.
Can I study a Bachelor of Computer Science in 2008?The current Bachelor of Computer Science will be offered for final admission in its current form in 2008. The Computer Science major in the Bachelor of Science degree will be available in 2008 and beyond. A software systems major will also be available through the Bachelor of Science, matching the Bachelor of Engineering program in Software Engineering for the first two years.
What is the entry requirement for the professional Master of Engineering after completing an engineering pathway in a Melbourne Model degree?To be qualified for admission into the Master of Engineering professionally accredited programs, students must apply as for all masters programs where entrance requirements will be based on a minimum average. Other forms of assessment may also be required.
All Melbourne Model degrees have a ‘breadth' component. What does that mean?All Melbourne Model degrees will require students to take a proportion of their undergraduate studies from outside their major area of study, this equates to one quarter of their three-year undergraduate program. This will be known as the breadth component. Some breadth subjects will focus on new skill sets, some will be interdisciplinary and others will provide the opportunity for study in a field unrelated to a student's core program. This will give students exposure to alternative areas of knowledge as well as different methods of enquiry and interpretation.
What are the English Language Requirements for the Master of Engineering professionally accredited programs?All applicants must meet the English language requirements of the University in order to be eligible to be offered a place. See the Future Students website.
Why spend an extra year at Melbourne when other universities offer a four-year engineering degree?A number of external pressures on the profession of engineering have prompted global changes in engineering education to better prepare students for a changing world and changing employment prospects where the demands on them are much greater than ever before.
The Melbourne School of Engineering promotes and supports the international trend that 21st century engineers must assist society in living more sustainably. This means that they will need to engage communities with their problem solving, evaluate the effect of their work on the environment, weigh up the economic benefits and have a mastery of the technology that can make things work. The Bachelor of Engineering and Melbourne Model pathways to engineering offer students greater flexibility, choice and a higher quality education experience. This incorporates a philosophical shift towards the strategic objectives of the Melbourne Model, acknowledging that future engineers require both breadth and depth to enhance their portfolio of skills.
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