Why Is Australia An Ideal Destination for Studying Engineering?

As future builders of waterways, railway lines, roads and space shuttles, to name some of the primary things that spring to mind, engineering students are vital to the development of society. That’s why studying engineering is an ideal choice for career-minded students. There are many technical universities in Australia offering world-class engineering degrees in different disciplines.

Every year thousands of overseas students are enrolled in engineering courses in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and other top-ranked student cities of Australia. In fact, ANET (Australian National Engineering Taskforce) reveals that overseas student enrolments in engineering have increased by around 82 percent between 2002 and 2010.

So what are those reasons that make Australia a favourite destination to study engineering? Let us find out!

Engineering Courses in Australia

Whether it’s electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical, material, computer, marine, mining, petroleum, agricultural, industrial, environmental, geological, aerospace, biomedical or automotive engineering courses, Australian institutions offer a wide range of engineering programs right across the country. This variety of courses provides you the opportunity to specialise in the field of your choice. Also, there are many VET (Vocational Education and Training) courses, which will qualify you for engineering technologist or engineering associate positions and can act as a pathway to university.

In case you are already working as an engineer, Australian universities offer a range of postgraduate courses in engineering, which will allow you to take the next important step in your career.

Employment Prospects

Australia is currently facing a widespread shortage of engineers, especially in regions that are experiencing high growth in mining and resources- Queensland and Western Australia. The high demand for engineering graduates means that overseas students studying engineering at Australian universities have strong employment prospects in Australia. They are essential to meeting Australia’s skill shortage in the engineering field, with skilled migrant engineers forming more than half of the population of newly qualified engineers in the Australian workforce, as per ANET data.

According to The Good Universities Guide 2013, recent engineering graduates make around AUD60,705 per year, one of the highest pays of any field.

High Opportunities to Migrate to Australia

Engineering field is undergoing rapid growth in the country. This is mainly because skilled migration is linked directly to Australia’s economic needs, meaning international students with an Australian engineering degree are given high priority for a permanent residency (PR) visa. Here are some migration opportunities you can choose to take up:

• You can stay in the country on a post-study work visa or a Skilled Graduate (Temporary) Visa to gain skilled work experience after completing your engineering degree.
• Your second option is to gain sponsorship with an Australian employer through the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme or Employer Nomination Scheme.
• You can apply for PR through Australia’s SkillSelect skilled migration program.

Work Experience

Work experience is an essential part of Australian engineering courses, making sure that fresh graduates have the practical skills and knowledge preferred by recruiters. Work experience may be gained through a ‘co-op’ course that involves a work placement or other compulsory and voluntary internships. You can also join Professional Year in Engineering, a professional skill development program designed for engineering graduates who have completed their degree in Australia.

Professional Year Program (PYP)

The PY program helps engineering graduates develop and enhance their employability skills. This 44-week unique program lets graduates gain insight into the Australian workplace and job market.

Program Structure

• Practical training (32 weeks): The program allows fresh engineering graduates to learn effective interview and resume writing techniques; Occupational Health, Safety & Environmental processes, Equal Employability Opportunity, and legislative requirements for working in Australia via face to face workshops and online resources.
• Internship placement (12 weeks): Through the internship program, graduates can build a network of peers and professionals and apply their practical training in the workplace. Throughout the placement, a mentor is assigned to graduates to support them along the way.

Once completed successfully, students will be eligible to apply for five migration points that can be used for all points test visa.

Professional Accreditation

Engineers Australia is the professional body for engineers in Australia and is responsible mainly for the accreditation of undergraduate engineering programs. Those who have completed an accredited program will be eligible for membership. Accreditation makes sure that Australian universities and institutes offering engineering courses meet higher standards and produce graduates with the skills required by employers in the industry. Another advantage of the accreditation is that your degrees will be accepted and recognised globally in countries such as the UK, the US, New Zealand, Canada, Hong Kong, South Africa etc.