Mechanical and automotive engineering

RMIT is a leader in mechanical and automotive engineering. Our students benefit from courses that are underpinned by our high-impact research and collaboration with industry.

RMIT has a long and proud history in mechanical and automotive engineering. We offered the first automotive engineering course in Australia and our staff have expertise in a wide range of mechanical and automotive fields.

In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021, RMIT is ranked in the top 150 for Mechanical Engineering in the world.

Our learning and teaching are hands-on and largely laboratory-based, where our students conduct experiments and design their own projects.

Students can join a range of interesting clubs where they can put their learnings into practice, such as our RMIT racing clubs.

Our courses focus on the latest technology and innovations in the field. Our automotive courses incorporate complete car design with a focus on new technologies that benefit society such as driverless cars, full-electric, hybrid powertrains and fuel cells. Our mechanical courses include a focus on modern solutions to today’s environmental issues including renewable energy and the latest technology in computer-aided engineering, industrial aerodynamics and mechatronics.

We heavily focus on industry connections and have strong relationships with major players in the field such as Ford, Bosch, Toyota, General Motors and Siemens.

We also have expertise in sustainable energy solutions and renewable resources.

Professor Reza Hoseinnezhad — Associate Dean, Mechanical and Automotive Engineering

What is mechanical and automotive engineering?

In mechanical and automotive engineering, you gain experience in designing devices and systems, and improving machines and vehicles used in everyday life.

Mechanical engineering involves the planning, design, improvement and development of machinery. Mechanical engineers design, analyse and improve products from food industry to textile, and from defence to the pharmaceutical industry. Mechanical engineers could cater for building energy management systems including refrigerators, air conditioning systems, boilers, and renewable energy systems.

Automotive engineering focuses on the design, manufacture and operation of engines, cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles and off-road vehicles. Automotive students develop economical and sustainable automotive designs and study vehicle power systems, vehicle noise and vibration, vehicle handling and control, and vehicle aerodynamics.

Meet Bachelor of Engineering (Automotive Engineering) (Honours) student Harrison Schipke

Studying the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in automotive engineering, you have the opportunity to engage in an international internship and gain global industry experience.

Master of Engineering (Sustainable Energy)

The Master of Engineering (Sustainable Energy) teaches the technologies and practices needed to lead the future of sustainable energy, including: energy efficiency, renewable power generation systems such as solar, wind, hydro, wave and tidal.

Our courses

Our courses prepare students to design, maintain and improve fast-moving technologies across a range of industries.

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Research

Our researchers shape the world by addressing technological challenges to provide machinery and energy for a better, safer, healthier and more efficient future.

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Beyond the classroom

RMIT student awarded European internship with industry leader

An RMIT engineering student has spent two months in the south of Spain working on an innovative solar energy project for one of the country's largest chemical groups.

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Students standing with RMIT racing racecar

RMIT Racing Team

RMIT Racing consists of a team of hard working and dedicated students, from a variety of different educational backgrounds, working towards creating the world’s best combustion powered Formula SAE vehicle.

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RMIT Electric Racing Team

RMIT Electric Racing is a multidisciplinary student team that builds an electric vehicle yearly for the Formula SAE competition.

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ATN Solar Car Team

The Australian Technology Network (ATN) Solar Car Team brings together five of the most innovative and enterprising universities in the nation and was proud to be the first official entrant of the 2019 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC).

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RMIT Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Association

MAEA is a student association to give students, whether in first, or final year the best possible opportunities and resources to begin a successful career in engineering. We aim to create a strong community of engineering students, staff, academics and professionals and regularly organise industry events.

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Sustainable development goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a common platform where organisation, civil society and government representatives can contribute to solving the world’s biggest sustainable development challenges. These are a few examples of how mechanical and automotive engineering at RMIT University are supporting these goals.

Sustainable water management system

RMIT has developed an alternative water desalination and irrigation system.

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Sustainable water desalination using waste heat and renewable energy sources

The need for freshwater is considered a critical global problem. As a result, the implementation of desalination plants is growing on a large scale.

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Controlling vibrations to reduce driver drowsiness

This project aims to reduce driver drowsiness by developing fundamental knowledge on vibration induced drowsiness and by identifying a novel active intermittent vibration regime to maintain driver alertness.

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Meet our people

Meet Ben Stylianou

Award-winning graduate Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) Benjamin Stylianou is paving the way for alternative-fuel breakthroughs in Australia.

Meet Ben

Meet Abhijit Date

Associate Professor Abhijit Date believes in a hands-on approach in mechanical engineering education, fuelled by a curiosity about things that move.

Meet Abhijit

Mechanical and automotive engineering contacts

Meet the academic and research staff in the Mechanical and Automotive Engineering discipline at the School of Engineering.

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News

Shaping whats next and beyond: a look at RMIT innovation at the Grand Prix

10 Mar 2020

An interactive RMIT exhibit will again showcase the university’s world-class technology at the Versor Innovation & Tech Hub at the Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2020.

Opening up the outdoors for Aussie wheelchair users

03 Oct 2019

An RMIT graduate has won the national James Dyson award for his invention of a portable and affordable accessory that allows manual wheelchair users to access any terrain, anywhere, anytime.

More than just pedal power

17 Sep 2019

What started as a simple idea to help special needs kids has become a transformative and collaborative engineering project to bring to market a range of wheelchair e-bikes.

Graduate research grants for smarter cars of the future

18 Apr 2019

Three RMIT research projects have been awarded grants totalling over $780,000 to modernise the Australian automotive industry.

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

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Acknowledgement of Country

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