Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering involves understanding the design, construction, operation and maintenance of machines or practically anything with moving parts.
What is Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineers focus on turning energy into power and motion. They develop and design new products — such as mobile phones, gaming consoles, air conditioners, cars, aircraft and cameras — and the machines to make them. They manage the systems, people and technical facilities needed to produce goods and services, like power stations and manufacturing systems. They are concerned with the generation and harnessing of energy including solar heating and wind turbines.
What You Study
Core engineering studies include mathematics, systems design and engineering computation. Mechanical Engineering study areas include fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, design and manufacturing, control systems, and solid mechanics. At the Masters level, this specialisation looks at the generation, conversion and use of energy, as well as the design, construction and operation of devices and systems. Mechanical engineering students learn from staff with world-leading expertise in fluid mechanics, turbulence and biomechanics, and have the chance to undertake an industry project that combines a research and industry focus.
Career Outcomes
Group activities and site visits help to consolidate theoretical knowledge and prepare students to undertake careers in fields from automotive design and manufacturing to software programming and in non-engineering roles in organisations such as banks and consulting firms.
How to Become a Mechanical Engineer
Step 1: Mechanical Systems
The Mechanical Systems major may be taken as a part of the following degree. You can find out more on the following websites:
Bachelor of Commerce students may choose the Mechanical 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 Commerce with a sequence of subjects in Mechanical 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 | Commerce subject | Commerce subject | Commerce subject | Calculus 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Semester 2 | Commerce subject | Commerce subject | Engineering Systems Design 2 | Linear Algebra |
| Year 2 | Semester 1 | Commerce subject | Commerce subject | Commerce subject | Engineering Mathematics |
| Year 2 | Semester 2 | Commerce subject | Commerce subject | Foundation of Electrical Networks | Engineering Mechanics |
| Year 3 | Semester 1 | Commerce subject | Commerce subject | Engineering Computation | Mechanics and Materials |
| Year 3 | Semester 2 | Commerce subject | Commerce subject | Commerce subject | Mechanical Design |
Step 2: Master of Engineering (Mechanical)
Graduates with a Mechanical Systems major (with a 65% average) are eligible for a two-year Master of Engineering (Mechanical) or a Master of Engineering (Mechatronics).
- Find out more about the Master of Engineering (Mechanical)
- Find out more about the Master of Engineering (Mechatronics)
Sample Course Plan —Master of Engineering (Mechanical)
| Year 4 | Semester 1 | Materials | Design and Manufacturing 1 | Fluid Mechanics & Thermodynamics | Mechanical Dynamics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 4 | Semester 2 | Dynamics of Machines | Solid Mechanics | Fluid Dynamics | Design and Manufacturing 2 |
| Year 5 | Semester 1 | Control Systems | Major Research Project | Thermodynamics | Mechanical Engineering elective |
| Year 5 | Semester 2 | Major Research Project | Mechanical Engineering elective | Mechanical Engineering elective | Mechanical Engineering elective |
| Mechanical Systems subjects | Commerce subjects | Electives |
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]
Developing low cost prosthetics
A combination of land mines in recent war-afflicted regions, industrial and environmental accidents, terrorist attacks and poor quality public health in developing nations has resulted in a growing need for low-cost artificial limbs.
Associate Professor Peter Lee, from the Biomechanical Engineering research group in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is working on research into low-cost prosthetics, which are helping people in developing countries. Each year he takes a team of engineering students on a field trip to areas of need, such as Cambodia or Vietnam. The discoveries that are made in the field inform the next round of research and development, which are later tested back in the field. Associate Professor Lee said:
Our research teams are benefitting the people of Cambodia and beyond. Users of the prosthetics are gaining access to devices of greater durability, lower weight and less cost. The need for amputees to visit often distant rehabilitation clinics is reduced, which costs them less in time, money and anxiety.