Civil and infrastructure engineers plan, design, construct, supervise, manage and maintain the essential infrastructure of our modern community. The modern professional civil and infrastructure engineer is capable of working on multidisciplinary projects in order to maximise the social, economic and environmental benefits.

Civil and infrastructure engineering adapts the environment and uses nature’s resources for the benefit of the community. As the community pays for infrastructure projects, it is necessary for the civil and infrastructure engineering profession to be responsive to wider community needs and values, particularly in relation to the economic, environmental and social impacts of these projects.

Sub-disciplines include:

Construction/project management: civil infrastructure projects
Geotechnical: earthworks, tunnels, dams and ground improvement
Structural: bridges, buildings, factories, power stations, sports stadiums and towers
Transport: roads, railways, airports, canals and harbours
Water resources: water supply, waste water treatment schemes and protection of coasts and river banks

Civil and Infrastructure Engineering at RMIT

The civil and infrastructure degrees at RMIT are at the forefront of engineering education and they are attuned to current industry demands.

RMIT Civil and Infrastructure Engineering is committed to innovation in teaching and learning, ensuring you obtain interpersonal skills, a sound base of engineering theory and the ability to apply your learning and knowledge to a wide range of contemporary situations.

In particular, the program:

has a strong emphasis on communication, team work and leadership-key requirements for the modern engineer;
incorporates project-based learning;
maintains an environmental sustainability focus, in line with continuing trends in the global engineering profession;
is committed to encouraging diversity in the engineering profession;
provides you with a broad range of electives so you can customise the program to suit your interests;
maintains a strong work experience emphasis and flexible program structure.

Clubs or mentoring programs at RMIT

The Civil Engineering Students Association organises social events. A Peer Tutoring scheme is offered by senior students from second year upwards to first year students.

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 civil engineering which excite individuals. Students have been placed in a wide range of workplaces including Vic Roads, Maunsell, Ove Arup and Local Councils.

Between the second and third year of the program you may spend an optional period of up to one year in industry and return to University to complete your third and fourth years of the program.

Duration

Four years full-time.

Pathways

Graduates of the Advanced Diploma of Civil Engineering (Structural Design) who are successful in gaining a place in the Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Infrastructure Engineering) may be eligible to apply for exemptions of up to two years leaving an additional two to three years to complete the degree program.

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

Civil and Infrastructure Engineering graduates find employment as civil engineering professionals, engineering professionals, managers and administrators, building and engineering technicians. In 2007, 97.8% of Civil and Infrastructure Engineering graduates were in full-time employment and had a median starting salary of $50,000 per year. Source: Annual Graduate Survey, Graduate Careers Australia, Gradfiles 2007 (April 2008)

A degree in Civil and Infrastructure Engineering provides a rewarding career for graduates with technical ability and social and environmental concerns. Young graduates are usually employed in basic design and investigation, supervised by more experienced engineers. As they obtain more experience, engineers move into management roles in their organisation where their work requires high-level interpersonal and business management skills in addition to their technical expertise. Employment is available as design engineers, project managers, construction managers, environmental engineers and engineering asset managers.

Civil engineers are also part of the national skill shortage identified by the Australian government. In Australia there has been a massive increase in spending on road infrastructure. This is also evident in other developed economies such as in Europe and North America. China and SE Asia have seen huge expansions due to rapidly growing demands for more modern and efficient infrastructure.

Professional Recognition

The Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Infrastructure 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 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 (formerly Office for Prospective Students)
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 .

Program Structure

What will you study?

The program is structured around four themes. These themes integrate to provide a sequence of professional development.

The four themes are:

Theme one — Connecting to engineering
In first year, you are encouraged to connect with your colleagues (staff and students), and develop a sustainable approach to engineering. Becoming a self-directed, self evaluating learner is a key step in this process. Semester One extends your mathematical skills to engineering applications in differential equations. Courses in chemistry and physics establish some basic concepts around engineering applications, for example, corrosion.

In statics, you begin to learn basic structural engineering and apply their knowledge to a project that will require them to design, document, build and test to destruction, a small model truss structure.

Semester Two introduces Engineering Practice with a focus on sustainable design and environmental principles.

The concept of triple bottom line is introduced through a small design project. Structural analysis takes you through the theoretical concepts of bending, shear and stress, plus design of basic beam and column structures via a small project. Mathematics introduces numerical methods and statistics, in preparation for mathematical modelling in second year. Chemistry and physics address engineering applications such as electricity, fluid flow, adhesives and timber properties.

Theme two — The big ideas
Year two will introduce you to basic engineering principles. The year concentrates on the big theoretical ideas, built around practical applications. These include site investigation, geotechnical engineering, water engineering and transport engineering, as well as further structural engineering and mathematical modelling.

Theme three — Professional applications
In third year you will work on typical engineering problems within their discipline and within their social and environmental context.

By the end of the year, you should be useful to an employer during vacation experience.

Theme four — Connecting to the workplace
Fourth year studies encourage specialisation and development of professional skills. Studies may include workplace learning and negotiated learning contracts.

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. 03 9925 2208
Fax: 03 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.