Types of Practical Work

It is mandatory to complete 800 hours of appropriate practical work to satisfy the requirements of ENGGEN 499 for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (BE(Hons)), or ENGGEN 699 for the Master of Professional Engineering (MPE). MPE students may refer to the information for Civil and Structural Engineering.

The following guidelines outline the classes of acceptable work for each department, though other options may be acceptable.

Registration of your work does not imply approval of your work.

If you are unsure whether the type of work you are undertaking is appropriate for your specialisation, please check with your departmental representative.

Work may involve tasks typically performed by skilled tradespeople or technicians, including laboratory procedures, mechanical installation, equipment maintenance, data collection and analysis, as well as support in software or website development. It may also encompass responsibilities aligned with professional engineers, medical practitioners, or medical researchers, such as product or instrument design, development and testing, medical imaging technology, CAD draughting, software engineering, database architecture, inventory management, and participation in the UOA Summer Research Scholarship projects*.

Work may involve tasks typically performed by skilled tradespeople, including machining, structures, building construction, engineering design, welding, quality control, production assembly, electronics, and engineering consultancies. It may also encompass engineering activities aligned with professional engineers, such as operating plants or laboratories in the production of metals, polymers, ceramics and glasses, composite materials, chemical compounds, fertilisers, paints, soaps, foods and food related products, petrochemicals, pulp and paper, dairy, water treatment, environmental or pollution control industries, as well as participation in Summer Research Scholarship projects*.

Engineering work associated with coastal infrastructure, transportation systems, construction, earthmoving, mining, and water and wastewater treatment. It also involves surveying, road and traffic engineering, asset condition assessment, minerals and resources, and environmental monitoring. Key responsibilities extend to contract documentation, design, draughting, borehole logging, construction supervision, engineering services related to buildings and structures, geotechnical engineering, earthworks, roading, hydrology, hydraulic works, and environmental engineering. In addition to industry practice, experience may also be gained through compensated research assistant roles and Summer Research Scholarship projects*.

Work may involve tasks associated with skilled tradespeople, including the fabrication, manufacture, installation, maintenance, and configuration of mechanical, electrical, and computer systems. It may also encompass responsibilities aligned with professional engineers, such as installing computer-based systems; designing, fabricating, and testing computer-based components; developing and maintaining software packages; applying computer-based systems to embedded and real-time problems, communication systems, and networking; configuring networks; and contributing to Summer Research Scholarship projects*.

Work may include tasks associated with skilled tradespeople, such as the use of hand and machine tools for the fabrication, manufacture, and maintenance of electrical instruments, components, or equipment. It may also involve responsibilities aligned with professional engineers, including the installation of lines, trunking systems, switchboards, and machines; the design, fabrication, and testing of electrical components; electrical draughting and computing; and the application of wiring regulations and electrical safety standards; and contributing to Summer Research Scholarship projects*.

Work may involve tasks associated with skilled tradespeople, such as laboratory work, mechanical installation and maintenance, computer or instrumentation maintenance and testing, data gathering and analysis, software or website development assistance, and surveying or construction site activities. It may also include responsibilities aligned with professional engineers, including product design, systems and applications analysis, optimisation and simulation model analysis, software development, and participation in Summer Research Scholarship projects*.

Relevant work experience should provide exposure to a range of professional engineering activities. Experience may involve engaging with skilled tradespeople and technicians in the fabrication, assembly, installation, commissioning, maintenance, and repair of mechanical components and equipment; or participation in the practical testing, performance validation, and troubleshooting of physical systems.

Activities could also include contribution to the engineering design process from concept through to documentation; the application of computer-aided tools for design (CAD), analysis (CAE), and manufacturing (CAM); the use of simulation and calculation to support engineering decisions; or the modelling and implementation of control system algorithms.

Furthermore, experience might cover professional practices such as project planning, scheduling, risk assessment, and resource coordination; the application of quality assurance processes and workplace health and safety systems; or involvement in procurement, stakeholder communication, and the preparation of technical reports, drawings, and professional documentation.

In addition to industry practice, experience may also be gained through compensated research assistant roles and Summer Research Scholarship projects*.
 

Relevant work experience should provide exposure to the integrative nature of mechatronics engineering. Experience could involve the hands-on fabrication, assembly, and integration of mechanical components with electronic systems, sensors, and actuators; the construction of electronic systems, such as the assembly of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) and control panels; or the installation, configuration, and interfacing of embedded hardware like microcontrollers and PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers).

Activities might also include contribution to the multi-domain design process, such as the use of CAD (Computer-Aided Design) for mechanical modelling; the design and simulation of electronic circuits; the development and testing of embedded software; or the modelling and implementation of control system algorithms.

Additionally, experience can cover systems engineering practices like requirements definition, subsystem integration, and validation processes; project planning and risk assessment for interdisciplinary tasks; the application of safety standards for automated systems; or the preparation of integrated technical documentation such as schematics, interface control documents, and test reports.

In addition to industry practice, experience may also be gained through compensated research assistant roles and Summer Research Scholarship projects*.
 

Work may involve tasks typically performed by skilled tradespeople, such as the fabrication, manufacture, installation, maintenance, and configuration of mechanical, electrical, and computer systems. It may also include engineering activities associated with professional engineers, including installing, designing, implementing, and testing software systems; providing helpdesk, backup, and system support; configuring networks; delivering computer security services; supporting information systems and web services; and contributing to Summer Research Scholarship projects*.

Check out the portal here.

*The total amount of practical work carried out at the university must not exceed 400 hours.

This limit includes Summer Research Scholarships, research assistance and other compensated practical work at the university. Please note that teaching assistance jobs are NOT accepted to meet the practical work requirements.

If you are unsure if a job may meet the practical work requirement after reading the information above, please check with your departmental representative.