Master of Systems Engineering

Help shape complex systems for the future.

For domestic and international students.

As the world becomes more interconnected, and the systems on which we depend become increasingly complex, systems engineers will be highly sought after. The systems engineering process coordinates and leads the translation of operational needs into a system designed to meet that need. It is a forward-thinking process that transcends software, electrical, and mechanical engineering. It focuses on how to design, integrate, and manage complex systems throughout their life cycles, coordinating performance, cost, and schedule goals.

Degree type

Postgraduate coursework

Duration

1 year full-time

Commencing terms

Semester 1, Semester 2

Program code

8567

Delivery mode

Online

Overview

The Master of Systems Engineering at UNSW Canberra is designed for postgraduate students who wish to develop a high-level understanding of the principles that shape systems engineering and their implementation through the design, development and application phases. This course will provide you with in-demand skills and experience in analysing, designing and managing complex projects with the opportunity to specialise in a specific engineering discipline.

Design your degree

As part of the Master of Systems Engineering, you can choose from a variety of specialisations including:  

Electronic Warfare 
Networking 
Space Systems 
Test and Evaluation 
Weapons and Ordnance 
Marine Engineering 
Simulation
Reliability Engineering

To complete a specialisation, you must complete the four core courses, two courses from the chosen specialisation, and two electives from anywhere else in the program.

With the approval of the Program Coordinator, students with a high credit average or better in four courses may complete a research project in lieu of two elective courses.

The project is recommended for those with a strong interest in pursuing original research in a particular area or intending to undertake a higher-level research qualification.

We help you balance study with work, family and other important parts of your life by offering this degree under a mixture of online and intensive delivery modes.

What our students say

“The calibre of UNSW Canberra’s staff, the breadth and quality of its programs, the flexibility offered in its various course delivery mediums and the support for its students, are all simply first class.”

Anthony Barnes, Master of Systems Engineering student

Find out more

For more information on this degree, see the UNSW Handbook.

Find out more

Students undertaking the Master of Systems Engineering are required to complete 48 Units of Credit (UOC) by completing eight 6-UOC courses from the list in the Handbook entry for the program (see the list in Course Availability below).

In the Master of Systems Engineering program, students must complete four core courses and four elective courses (from the general electives or any of the specialisations). Not all elective courses will be available in a particular year.

Students may choose to complete the generalist Master of Systems Engineering program or may choose to complete the Master of Systems Engineering with a specialisation (options include Test & Evaluation, Space Systems, Electronic Warfare, Weapons and Ordnance, Networking, Reliability Engineering, Simulation and Marine Engineering). To complete a specialisation, students must complete the four core courses, two courses from the chosen specialisation, and two electives from anywhere else in the program.

The courses in the program may be taken in any order but it is recommended that the four core courses are completed first, followed by the four elective courses.

With the approval of the Program Coordinator, students with an average mark of 65% or higher in four courses may complete a 12-UOC research project in lieu of two elective courses. The project is recommended for those with a strong interest in pursuing original research in a particular area or intending to undertake a higher-level research qualification.

With the approval of the Program Coordinator, students may take up to two elective courses (12 UOC) from other coursework programs.
The option of undertaking a research project worth 12 UOC is available to master's students who obtain a high credit average or better in four courses and is subject to approval by the Program Coordinator.

The research project can be completed within one semester through enrolment in ZEIT8297 Project Report - Systems Engineering (full-time) or spread across two semesters through enrolment in ZEIT8296 Project Report - Systems Engineering (part-time). Completion of either course results in the achievement of 12 UOC.

The project is recommended for those with a strong interest in pursuing original research in a particular area or intending to undertake a higher research degree qualification. Students undertaking the research project (ZEIT8297 or ZEIT8296) are unable to enrol in elective courses from other coursework programs.

Course availability

*Please Note: Program rules are subject to change, students need to follow the program rules set out in the UNSW Handbook of the year they were admitted into the program.

Core courses

Code	Course	Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8226	Systems Engineering Practice	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8230	Requirements Practice	Distance Mode	Distance Mode
ZEIT8231	Test and Evaluation	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8305	Systems Thinking and Modelling	Distance Mode	Not Offered

General electives

Code	Course	Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZBUS8302	Logistics Management	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8136	Software Project Management	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8236	System Safety	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8302	Project Administration	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8303	Project Management Body of Knowledge	Distance Mode	Distance Mode
ZEIT8403	Capability Option Analysis	Not Offered	Distance Mode

Electronic warfare stream electives

Code	Course	Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8015	Cyber Operations	Not Offered	Not Offered
ZEIT8018	Cyber Defence: Governance, Management and Acquisition	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8032	Info Assurance Principles	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8115	Information Operations	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8229	Non-Communications Electronic Warfare	Distance Mode	Distance Mode

Networking stream electives

Code	Course	Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8015	Cyber Operations	Not Offered	Not Offered
ZEIT8019	Intrusion Analysis & Response	Not Offered	Not Offered
ZEIT8026	Cyber Defence: Network Security Operations	Distance Mode	Distance Mode
ZEIT8119	Internetworking	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8219	Satellite Communications	Distance Mode	Not Offered

Space systems stream electives

Code	Course	Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8007	Space Operations	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8009	Global Navigation Satellite Systems	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8011	Space Systems Technologies	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8219	Satellite Communications	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8221	Spaceborne Imaging Technologies	Not Offered	Distance Mode

Test and evaluation

Code Course Semester 1 - 2023 Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8034 Advanced Test and Evaluation Techniques Not Offered Distance Mode
ZEIT8402 Evidence-based Decision Making Distance Mode Not Offered
ZEIT8404 Decision Analytics Distance Mode Not Offered
ZEIT8412 Simulation Not Offered Distance Mode

Code	Course	Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8034	Advanced Test and Evaluation Techniques	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8402	Evidence-based Decision Making	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8404	Decision Analytics	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8412	Simulation	Not Offered	Distance Mode

Weapons and ordnance stream electives

Code Course Semester 1 - 2023 Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8233 Explosive Ordnance Technologies Not Offered Intensive (In Person)
ZEIT8235 Technical Regulation of Ordnance Not Offered Not Offered
ZEIT8506 Weapons Engineering Not Offered
Distance Mode

ZINT8301 Lethality and Survivability* (Requires approval) Not Offered CTMC

Code	Course	Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8233	Explosive Ordnance Technologies	Not Offered	Intensive (In Person)
ZEIT8235	Technical Regulation of Ordnance	Not Offered	Not Offered
ZEIT8506	Weapons Engineering	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZINT8301	Lethality and Survivability* (Requires approval)	Not Offered	CTMC

Reliability engineering stream electives

Code Course Semester 1 - 2023 Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8031 Reliability Engineering Fundamentals Distance Mode Not Offered
ZEIT8039 Reliability Engineering Assurance Not Offered Distance Mode
ZEIT8152 Reliability Program Management Distance Mode Not Offered

Code	Course	Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8031	Reliability Engineering Fundamentals	Distance Mode	Not Offered
ZEIT8039	Reliability Engineering Assurance	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8152	Reliability Program Management	Distance Mode	Not Offered

Marine engineering stream electives

Code	Course	Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8010	Marine Technology*(requires approval)	Not Offered	CTMC

Cross Institutional Study: University of Tasmania

JEE506: Modelling & Simulation of Marine Systems
JEE503: Ship Design
JEE529: Design of Marine Machinery Systems

More information at UTAS

Cross Institutional Study: University of Adelaide

MECH ENG 7042: Intro to Submarine Design
MECH ENG 7046: Submarine Design
MECH ENG 7065: Naval Engineering

More information at the University of Adelaide

Simulation stream electives

Code	Course	Semester 1 - 2023	Semester 2 - 2023
ZEIT8200	Model Based Systems Engineering	Not Offered	Not Offered
ZEIT8307	System Dynamics Modelling	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8412	Simulation	Not Offered	Distance Mode
ZEIT8413	Simulation Applications	Not Offered	Distance Mode

Note: Courses ZEIT8010 and ZINT8301 are only available to Capability and Technology Management College (CTMC) students or other Australian Defence Organisation personnel on approval from the Director, CTMC.

For information regarding entry requirements, please refer to the UNSW Handbook.
If you have successfully completed approved professional development courses, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning towards future study.

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