Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical Engineering), Bachelor of Business

This double degree pairs a four-year engineering honours sequence in mechanical engineering with a business degree, so you graduate with two qualifications: a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and a Bachelor of Business. Mechanical engineering covers how things move, hold together and transfer energy, statics and dynamics, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, materials, machine design, manufacturing and control. The business side covers accounting, economics, marketing, management and organisational behaviour. Because it is an honours degree, the engineering component includes a research or design project in your later years, which is where you pull the technical threads together on a real problem.

How the degree is structured

Expect four years of full-time study, usually split into semesters or trimesters depending on how Southern Cross timetables its units. You accumulate credit points unit by unit, with each unit worth a set number of points and a set number of credit points contributing to the 384 or so credit points typical of a four-year Australian double degree. The first two years build the maths, physics, mechanics and business fundamentals. Later years move into specialist mechanical units, business majors and electives, and the honours project. Engineering degrees in Australia normally include a substantial work-integrated learning component, often 12 weeks or more of approved industry experience, because Engineers Australia expects graduates to have seen engineering practised outside a classroom. Confirm the exact placement requirement and unit sequence on the official course page.

What you actually learn

On the engineering side you learn to model and analyse mechanical systems, run experiments, use CAD and simulation software, and design components and machines that meet safety, cost and performance constraints. You also learn to write technical reports and present to clients and managers. The business half teaches you to read a balance sheet, cost a project, understand markets and lead a team. Put together, the combination suits graduates who want to work at the interface of engineering and commercial decision-making, project engineering, operations, manufacturing management, technical sales or starting their own firm. The degree is not accredited automatically; mechanical engineering programs in Australia are assessed by Engineers Australia for the Washington Accord, so check the current accreditation status before you enrol.

Who it suits and what to know

This is for school leavers and mature students who like maths and physics but also want the business vocabulary to run projects and businesses. It is a heavier load than a single degree, so time management matters. International students should note the English requirement: IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common undergraduate standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programs accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While studying, a student visa generally allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight during term. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 117746H. Check the official page for current fees, intakes and English details.

• Mechanical engineer, design, testing and maintenance roles in manufacturing, mining, energy, utilities and defence.
• Project engineer, coordinating technical work, budgets and schedules on construction, infrastructure and resources projects.
• Operations or production manager, running plant, improving processes and managing teams in food, automotive, mining and advanced manufacturing.
• Product development engineer, turning concepts into manufacturable products, often in medical devices, consumer goods or industrial equipment.
• Management consultant or business analyst, applying technical and commercial skills in professional services firms.
• Technical sales or business development engineer, selling and supporting engineered equipment and systems.
• Entrepreneur or startup founder, commercialising an engineering idea with the business skills to run the company.

Australian employers in these areas include engineering consultancies, mining and resources companies, manufacturers, utilities, government agencies and construction contractors. Professional recognition as an engineer generally follows from Engineers Australia accreditation and, for some roles, membership of a relevant business or management body.