No exams? No worries! Deakin to introduce new Bachelor of Engineering degree in 2024
Media release
Once upon a time, in a land of inflexible higher education facilities, becoming an engineer was not an option for students with a keen intellect but perhaps more suited to practical learning.
Deakin University has taken that fixed mindset and flipped it on its head, introducing the Bachelor of Engineering degree for the first time at the Burwood campus, which will not require school leavers to have studied maths methods or specialist maths, nor to have to undergo exams – at any time during their four (Honours) or five-year (Industry) (Honours) degree.
Instead, the introduction of the Engineering course at Deakin's Burwood campus from 2024 will be in line with the current course offering at Waurn Ponds and online, with design-based learning the focus of assessment.
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Professor Nick Birbilis said:
"The world needs different engineers to build our modern societies, and our unique design-based Engineering program is the place for diverse students of all backgrounds and aspirations to make their impact.
We are excited to be able to expand our unique Engineering program more broadly. It is unique in that it is delivered through design-based learning and novel assessment with no traditional exams."
Head of the School of Engineering, Professor Ben Horan said:
"Engineering can be an immensely rewarding career and one where you can make a real difference. One of the challenges we have is that unlike many other careers, pop culture doesn't provide enough examples of what being an Engineer does – sometimes making it difficult for students to identify Engineering as a potential career path.
It's important to realise that Engineers come in all shapes and sizes, and from all backgrounds, and diversity in our Engineering workforce is so important.
At Deakin we have long valued being an inclusive provider of Engineering education. The current shortage of qualified engineers in the workforce means the 100,000 required by 2030 to service government initiatives in energy, transport, built infrastructure, manufacturing and minerals, will be a long way short. It is crucial the Higher Education sector acknowledge this and work to be more inclusive."
"Engineers Australia has identified a significant shortage of engineers in Australia," said Professor Birbilis. "Deakin has a long tradition of making quality education available to as many as possible, and Engineering education could not be timelier in terms of societal need."
Deakin is ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide for engineering, and the 2020-2022 Graduate Outcomes Survey shows 92.4% of Deakin engineering graduates are employed full time within four months of completing their course. This is above the national average of 83.9%.
Also above the national average is Deakin graduate median full-time salaries. One year out they are paid $66,600 and after five years in the industry, their median salary is $91,300.
The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) is a four-year degree with three majors offered in 2024 – environmental, mechatronics and mechanical. In 2025, two additional majors, civil engineering and electrical and electronics, will be added.
The Bachelor of Engineering (Industry) (Honours) is a five-year full-time course, to include a compulsory year-long work integrated industry placement.
"Our students learn by solving real-world industry challenges," said Professor Horan. "We offer a hands-on approach to learning where students work in smaller sized classes to design solutions to Engineering problems. We are introducing a pathway for students that haven't completed VCE maths methods, and with no exams to worry about, we really feel Deakin has the most inclusive engineering degree on offer."
For more information, the Burwood campus Open Day will be held on August 27. To discover more about a career in engineering, visit: https://www.deakin.edu.au/study/find-a-course/engineering
