Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineers design and build electrical and electronic devices on all scales, from transmitters smaller than the head of a pin, to large-scale projects, such as building a national power grid.
What is Electrical Engineering?
Electrical engineers design electrical systems for high technology applications such as spacecraft and satellites. In addition to being the central discipline involved in communications, electrical engineering also has an ongoing impact in the medical field, developing systems and instrumentation for such developments as the ‘bionic ear’, heart pacemakers and life support systems.
What You Study
Core engineering studies include mathematics, engineering mechanics and systems design. Electrical Engineering study areas include electrical networks, communication systems, signal processing and electronic circuit design.
Career Outcomes
Electrical engineering students are taught by staff who work in research with collaborative partners such as NASA, IBM and Bionic Vision Australia. Each subject offered includes a practical laboratory component, combined with theory and practice. On completion, graduates may practice as electrical engineers with companies such as Telstra, Siemens, Australian Aerospace, Holden and BHP Billiton.
Career Outcomes
Graduates may also work in research and development-related roles. Equally, they may apply their strengths in analysis and mathematics to fields such as management, finance and banking.
How to Become an Electrical Engineer
Step 1: Electrical Systems
The Electrical Systems major may be taken as a part of the following degree. You can find out more about the degree on the following website:
Bachelor of Commerce students may choose the Electrical Systems sequence, and study between eight and ten engineering subjects as the breadth component of their degree. You can find out more about the degree on the following website:
Duration
300 credit points / 3 years full-time
Fees
Domestic Students
Commonwealth Supported Places: Fees per 100 credit points (depending on subjects taken) $4547–$7262 (with 10% up-front discount)
Commonwealth Supported Places are guaranteed until 2019 for the duration of the undergraduate degree and Master of Engineering course.
International Students
Typical yearly fee range per 100 credit points (depending on subjects taken) $28,788–$33,004
For more information please refer to the Fees page on the University’s Future Students website.
Course Structure
Sample Course Plan — Bachelor of Science (Electrical Systems)
This example is provided as a guide only. Subject availability will vary from year to year and there is no guarantee that the listed subjects will be available in future years. This information is for students with VCE Units 3 and 4 Specialist Mathematics.| Year 1 | Semester 1 | Engineering Systems Design 1 | Calculus 2 | Physics 1 | Breadth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Semester 2 | Engineering Systems Design 2 | Linear Algebra | Physics 2: Physical Science & Technology | Breadth |
| Year 2 | Semester 1 | Engineering Computation | Engineering Mathematics | Science elective | Breadth |
| Year 2 | Semester 2 | Foundations of Electrical Networks | Engineering Mechanics | Science elective | Breadth |
| Year 3 | Semester 1 | Digital Systems Design | Electrical Network Analysis & Design | Science elective | Breadth |
| Year 3 | Semester 2 | Electrical Device Modelling | Signals & Systems | Science elective | Breadth |
Step 2: Master of Engineering (Electrical)
Graduates with a Civil Systems major (with a 65% average) are eligible for a two-year Master of Engineering (Electrical).
Find out more about the Master of Engineering (Electrical)
| Year 4 | Semester 1 | Probability and Random Models | Control Systems | Electronic Circuit Design | Approved elective |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 4 | Semester 2 | Communication Systems | Signal Processing | Embedded System Design | Electronic System Implementation |
| Year 5 | Semester 1 | Electrical Engineering elective | Electrical Engineering elective | Electrical engineering capstone project | Approved elective |
| Year 5 | Semester 2 | Electrical Engineering elective | Electrical Engineering elective | Electrical engineering capstone project | Approved elective |
| Electrical Systems subjects | Electives | Breadth subjects |
Make an Enquiry
Please call or email Eastern Precinct Student Centre:
13 MELB (13 6352)
+61 3 9035 5511 (overseas)
Apply Now
Engineering Study Guide
Download Engineering Study Guide [PDF 2.9MB]
Nigel Ang
After completing his Bachelor of Science (Electrical Systems), third year student Nigel Ang plans to specialise in electrical engineering at the Master of Engineering level. Along the way he’s made use of the flexibility within the Bachelor of Science program structure to change from one specialisation to another in his second year of study.
A lot of people come out of year 12, thinking they know what they want to do, and then discover it’s actually not what they want to do, after all. I’ve had friends who’ve changed from one course to something completely different.
At first I wasn’t sure if I would do mechanical or electrical. As I progressed I decided to switch to electrical. It was pretty easy transitioning because the things we learnt in the first year applied completely, so it was no problem changing.