Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Environmental)

This is a three-year bachelor degree for people who want to work in environmental engineering but with a hands-on, technology-focused edge. You'll study the science behind water, air, soil and waste, and learn how engineering systems are designed, built and operated to protect them. Expect core subjects in environmental chemistry, hydrology, fluid mechanics, surveying, materials and engineering mathematics. Later years move into water and wastewater treatment, air quality control, contaminated site remediation, environmental impact assessment and sustainability in engineering practice. You also learn to use monitoring instruments, GIS and modelling software that environmental engineers rely on day to day.

The degree is structured the Australian way: full-time study over three years, usually two semesters a year, with each unit worth a set number of credit points. You need to pass the required units and accumulate the credit points for the award. Many engineering technology degrees include a final-year capstone project where you tackle a real environmental problem, often with an industry partner, and a period of work-integrated learning, such as a placement with a water utility, council, environmental consultancy or mine site. That placement is where you see how regulations, budgets and community expectations shape the technical work.

Skills you build include environmental monitoring and sampling, data analysis, water and waste system design, preparing environmental assessments, and communicating technical findings to non-engineers. You also get practice working in teams and managing projects, which is what most environmental engineering jobs actually involve. The degree sits at bachelor level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, so it's a three-year qualification with the option of adding an honours year if you want to go further into research.

This course suits school leavers with an interest in science and the environment, and also people already working in environmental management, local government or mining who want to formalise their skills. It's a good fit if you like the idea of solving practical problems, cleaning up a contaminated site, improving a treatment plant, designing a stormwater system, rather than pure research. Adelaide and South Australia have strong environmental engineering links through water utilities, the wine and agriculture sectors, mining and government agencies, so there are local examples to work with throughout your study. International students should check the official CRICOS page for the current tuition figure and confirm English requirements, which are typically IELTS 6.0–6.5 overall for undergraduate engineering, or an accepted equivalent. While studying in Australia, a student visa generally allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight during term, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream.

• Environmental engineer or engineering technologist in environmental consultancies, water utilities, local councils and state agencies.
• Water and wastewater treatment operator or designer with water corporations and municipal treatment plants.
• Environmental officer or compliance officer in mining, manufacturing, construction and government regulators.
• Contaminated land and remediation specialist working on site assessments and clean-up projects.
• Sustainability or environmental coordinator in infrastructure, agriculture, wine and food processing.
• Air and water quality monitoring technician for environmental laboratories and monitoring programs.
• Environmental consultant preparing impact assessments, management plans and approvals documentation.