Environmental engineering is a multidisciplinary branch of engineering which combines the practice of engineering with the principles of sustainable development.

The aim of environmental engineering is to enhance our standard of living by ensuring engineering activities are planned, designed, implemented and managed in a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable manner.

Environmental engineers bridge the gap between core engineering skills and environmental issues. For example, a major transport project such as a freeway requires environmental engineers to consider ground conditions, noise barriers in sensitive areas, air pollution and the social and environmental impacts as well as the engineering design.

Environmental engineers design wetlands and systems to improve water quality and conservation. They work with the chemicals industry to minimise the toxic impacts of industrial processes and by products. Other examples include the development of cleaner production technologies in farming, rehabilitation of mining sites, cleaning up contaminated land, working on land salinity problems, preparation of environmental impact studies, design of modern landfill sites and water resource studies.

Environmental Engineering at RMIT

At RMIT we focus on solving real-life problems and you can work on projects with community groups and companies as part of your studies. You may further your environmental engineering skills by specialising in groundwater, chemical engineering or civil and infrastructure engineering.

Clubs or mentoring programs at RMIT

The Environmental Engineering Students Association (EESA) organises social and professional activities and welcomes new students involvement. EESA members are also involved in meeting with academic staff to work together to continuously improve the program.

Work Experience

A 12-week professional engineering work experience is required, usually between years three and four, allowing you to develop skills in preparing a profile, applying for work and negotiating work arrangements. Work experience also gives you a better understanding of practices in the workplace which enhances your understanding of the relevance of your learning at RMIT. It is a great opportunity to identify specific areas of Environmental Engineering which excite you.

Duration

Four years full-time or eight years part-time.

Pathways

Students in environmental engineering include recent school-leavers, former students of TAFE or higher education programs and people with a wide range of employment experience. Previous studies such as a science degree may allow entry with advanced standing.

Gaining credit for previous study or experience
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and credit transfer are ways that RMIT recognises applicants’ skills and knowledge gained through formal and informal education and training, work experience, and/or life experience (including volunteer work; committee responsibilities; family duties, hobbies).

Further information about gaining credit for previous study or experience

Further information about pathways

Career Prospects

Environmental engineering is a vital profession and employment opportunities are strong. Environmental engineers can look forward to a wide variety of careers within the corporate and industry sectors as well as government. Many environmental engineers also work as consultants moving from project to project. Their work involves designing environmental quality into all stages of engineering projects and processes to minimise environmental problems, as well as resolving existing environmental problems through the application of engineering skills.

Professional Recognition

Engineers Australia provides professional direction through its Environmental Engineering Branch, by policy formulation on matters such as sustainable development, and by issuing guidelines for environmental engineering.

The Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental Engineering) degree is accredited by Engineers Australia. Graduates are eligible for graduate membership of Engineers Australia as a Professional Engineer.

Entrance Requirements

Current Year 12 prerequisite units 3 & 4—English (any) and Mathematical Methods (either).

Non-Year 12 applicants are encouraged to apply and may be required to have relevant employment or evidence of experience and/or ability to meet the demands of the program.

Equity admissions schemes
RMIT understands that people’s backgrounds and circumstances can affect their access to education and training. RMIT’s equity admissions schemes allow applicants to explain the circumstances that have adversely affected their education, and demonstrate their capacity for future academic success.

Further information is available at equity admissions schemes

Click here for further information.

Application Procedures

Semester one

Full-time/part-time applicants—VTAC application
Note: All applicants must comply with any extra requirements listed.

VTAC application
Applicants must apply through Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) and are advised to check detailed information on entrance requirements, application procedures and closing dates. Applicants must meet all extra requirements and selection procedures listed through VTAC.

Application closing date: Late September
Further information:
Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC)
40 Park Street, South Melbourne
Tel. 1300 364 133
www.vtac.edu.au
Note: RMIT program codes listed on this page should not be used when applying through VTAC.

Semester two (midyear intake)

RMIT University has places available for the midyear intake in many TAFE and degree (bachelor and postgraduate) programs. From 1 May check to see if this program offers a midyear intake
Note: Applicants must confirm availability of program offered at midyear prior to applying. All applicants must comply with any extra requirements listed.

RMIT direct application
Applicants must apply directly to RMIT University using an RMIT direct application form.

Application closing date: 31 May
Further Information:
Info Corner
330 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Tel. 03 9925 2260
Email: study@rmit.edu.au
www.rmit.edu.au/programs/enquiries

Click here for further information.

Fees

Degree

Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
A CSP is jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government and the student. In 2009, the fees ranged between $4,162 and $8,677 per year for a standard full-time program. The exact cost varies according to each course.

Changes to fee paying undergraduate places in 2009
The Australian Government has announced that it will phase out fee paying domestic undergraduate places from 1 January 2009 in public universities. However, the Government has announced that it will replace fee paying places with up to 11,000 new Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) by 2011. Therefore, expectations are that there will be more HECS (Higher Education Contribution Scheme) places on offer at RMIT University in 2009.

There will be no full-fee places at RMIT University offered through VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre) for new domestic students in undergraduate programs in 2009. There are some exceptions to the Government’s prohibition on new full-fee undergraduate places which will affect a very small number of students.

Further information is available at: www.rmit.edu.au/programs/fees/highered

Or you can go to the Federal Government’s Going To Uni web site www.goingtouni.gov.au or phone the hotline: 1800 020 108.

Scholarships

RMIT University has many scholarships and funding opportunities to offer students. Many scholarships are based on the student’s financial and living circumstances, rather than academic merit. Students from regional and farming communities are particularly encouraged to apply.

For information and application procedures please refer to:
Scholarships and Finance Office
Tel. 03 9925 2811
Email: scholarships@rmit.edu.au
www.rmit.edu.au/students/scholarships

Alcoa Scholarship to support Victoria’s manufacturing edge
The Alcoa Future Leaders of Industry Engineering scholarship program was developed with four universities, including RMIT, as part of Alcoa’s continuing support for Victoria’s world-class manufacturing industry. The program promotes the vibrant career paths available in regional Victoria.

The Future Leaders of Industry engineering scholarship is offered to students in their penultimate bachelor degree year and combines a 12-week work placement at Alcoa’s operations in Anglesea, Portland and Geelong. It gives the scholarship winner an opportunity to gain practical experience in the engineering field and develop an awareness of the opportunities and challenges they will face during their engineering careers.

Alcoa Managing Director, Wayne Osborn said, ‘The scholarships are important for Alcoa as we want to attract the best employees and show emerging engineers that you can combine world-class career opportunities with a great lifestyle here in Victoria. Alcoa operates in some of the best locations in Victoria and Alcoa prides itself on the work-life balance our 2,300 Victorian employees enjoy. We are very proud of this program.’

Defence Civil Engineering ScholarshipThe Defence Civil Engineering Scholarship is open to second year civil engineering students who are Australian citizens. The program includes $9,000 per semester of study (for up to three years), and an annual work placement within Defence for 12 weeks each year.

Invergowrie Foundation Scholarships — Scholarship for Women
The Invergowrie Foundation is a public charitable trust whose primary focus is to promote and advance the education of girls and women in Victoria. RMIT University offers three scholarships sponsored by the Invergowrie Foundation for eligible Victorian female students commencing bachelor degrees offered by the University’s Science, Engineering and Technology Schools. The three scholarship categories are for women who:

are articulating from a TAFE program
are 21 years or older
gain access to RMIT through an RMIT Equity Access Scheme.

Further information: www.rmit.edu.au/set/ad/sled/scholarships/forwomen

Record spend on RMIT scholarships
RMIT University will spend more than $60 million on student scholarships over the next five years. RMIT has many scholarships and funding opportunities to offer students.

Further information is available at RMIT Scholarships

Click here for further information.

Additional Expenses

Students are required to purchase a laboratory coat, safety glasses, a pipette filler, a range of specified textbooks and lecture notes.

Program Structure

What will you study?

Few professional disciplines involve the depth and breadth of training and experience required in environmental engineering. This full-time four year program has a wide choice of courses and is structured on a major/minor basis with you selecting courses for a major in environmental engineering and a minor in the closely related fields of civil and chemical engineering. Approximately 10% of the program also comprises your own choice of elective courses from across the University.

Throughout the program, development of environmental engineering design skills is supported by training in appropriate science, mathematics, computing and communication skills.

Environmental Engineering Practice is studied in each year of the program and forms the focus for the practical application of all the other courses. Specific attention is given to the interaction of engineering systems with the environment. An understanding of the social and industrial environments in which environmental engineering functions is also incorporated into the specialist environmental courses and is enhanced by specific social science, law and ethics studies in the program.

You are encouraged to use a problem-solving and research approach in your studies and to develop strong communication and team skills. Numerous field classes, excursions and industrial visits provide you with practical hands-on experience throughout the program.

In the second and third years of the program you will participate in, and lead community-based environmental engineering projects. You are encouraged to gain engineering work experience during the program. In the final year, you will demonstrate a thorough appreciation of the engineering design process through completion of a major environmental engineering design project.

The environmental engineering discipline is also proactive in many areas of research. The research capabilities of RMIT degree students are enhanced through a final year investigation report. The environmental engineering staff and research students interests are diverse and include environmental planning and policy, water resource engineering, land degradation, mine rehabilitation, traffic calming, composting, waste auditing, management and minimisation, urban development and transportation, groundwater resource management, and catchment management.

The program draws on the environmental engineering expertise from the disciplines of chemical, civil and natural resources engineering.

The following program structure(s) are linked to this program.

Contact Details

Program Coordinator
School of Civil, Environmental and Chemical Engineering
Building 10, Level 12
372 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Tel. +61 3 9925 2208
Fax: +61 3 9639 0138

Download this information as a pdf brochure (Requires Acrobat Reader)

Owning School

Civil, Environ & Chemical Eng

Disclaimer

Although RMIT endeavours to ensure the accuracy of this information, there is no guarantee it will remain accurate all year. Applicants are advised to confirm program details with the appropriate school before making an application.