Flexible Engineering
What is Flexible Engineering?
With so many exciting and innovative areas of engineering to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which area of engineering is right for you and your career aspirations. Our Flexible First Year is an option when you study the UNSW Bachelor of Engineering. If you're uncertain which of our 19 specialisations to choose the Flexible First Year gives you the opportunity to explore the broad range of engineering specialisations on offer before choosing a discipline that is right for you at the end of your first year.
Why study this study area?
If you’re certain you want to be an engineer but aren’t sure which direction to take, this study area will let you explore a range of engineering specialisations so you can see what you enjoy and what you’re good at before deciding on your final specialisation.
Flexible First Year students enrol in five core subjects that are part of all our Engineering disciplines (two maths courses, as well as courses in physics, computing, and engineering design). You’re then encouraged to select electives from the options listed in the handbook, focusing on those required in the disciplines you’re considering for your degree. After completing the Flexible First Year, you can transfer into the engineering discipline of your choice. The electives you have taken will either count towards your chosen discipline, or count as your first year engineering electives.
Why choose UNSW?
We're ranked #1 in Australia and #25 globally for Engineering and Technology (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025). With a wide range of student projects, an award winning ChallEng program that connects you with academics and industry mentors as part of your learning and a continued focus on hands-on learning, your education will ensure you hit the ground running when you graduate.
What about careers?
As long as you choose your first-year electives carefully, you should complete your degree in the same time as those who chose that path from year one. You will also graduate fully qualified and with the exact same knowledge in your area of choice. From your second year you can specialise in a particular field of engineering, which opens up a huge range of career options.
What are my study options?
-
Our specialised degree, the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Flexible Engineering) will provide you with a strong foundation in engineering and broad knowledge to then choose an engineering specialisation after your first year.
We offer a range of engineering program specialisations that can be undertaken in our Engineers Australia accredited degrees.
Sample Enrolment Options
We offer such a wide range of disciplines there are many possible combinationsn for your Flexible First Year. As an example of how to choose your courses for your first year, we've listed possible enrolment sequences for several sets of disciplines below. These sequences include courses that will count towards the listed disciplines as well as giving you a taste of those areas of study so that you can make a more informed choice between them:
-
-
Term 1 Term 2 Term 3
Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation DESN1000
Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241 Computing for Engineers ENGG1811
Mathematics 1A or Higher Mathematics 1A MATH1131 or MATH1141
Physics 1A or Higher Physics 1A PHYS1121 or PHYS1131 General Education
Engineering Chemistry 1A CHEM1811
Engineering Chemistry 1B CHEM1821 -
Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications Engineering students can choose COMP1911 instead of COMP1511, but students intending to take Quantum or Computer Engineering must take COMP1511
Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Electrical Circuit Fundamentals ELEC1111
Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241
Computer System Fundamentals COMP1521 Mathematics 1A or Higher Mathematics 1A MATH1131 or MATH1141
Physics 1A or Higher Physics 1A PHYS1121 or PHYS1131 Physics 1B or Higher Physics 1B PHYS1231
Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation DESN1000Programming Fundamentals COMP1511 -
Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering and Mechatronics students can choose ENGG1811 or COMP1911 instead of COMP1511, but students intending to take Mechatronics must take COMP1511
Term 1 Term 2 Term 3
Electrical Circuit Fundamentals ELEC1111Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241 Programming Fundamentals COMP1511
Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation DESN1000Physics 1A or Higher Physics 1A PHYS1121 or PHYS1131 Engineering Mechanics ENGG1300
Mathematics 1A or Higher Mathematics 1A MATH1131 or MATH1141Design & Manufacturing MMAN1130 -
Term 1 Term 2 Term 3
Computing for Engineers ENGG1811Mineral Resource Engineering or Surveying & Geospatial Engineering MINE1010 or GMAT1110 Engineering Materials & Chemistry MATS1101
Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation DESN1000Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241 Engineering Mechanics ENGG1300
Mathematics 1A or Higher Mathematics 1A MATH1131 or MATH1141Physics 1A or Higher Physics 1A PHYS1121 or PHYS1131 -
Term 1 Term 2 Term 3
Computing 1A or Computing for Engineers COMP1911 or ENGG1811Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241 Engineering Materials & Chemistry MATS1101
Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation DESN1000Physics 1A or Higher Physics 1A PHYS1121 or PHYS1131 Physics 1B or Higher Physics 1B PHYS1221 or PHYS1231
Mathematics 1A or Higher Mathematics 1A MATH1131 or MATH1141Sustainable Energy SOLA1070 -
Term 1 Term 2 Term 3
Molecules, Cells and GenesBABS1201Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241 Computer System Fundamentals COMP1521
Mathematics 1A or Higher Mathematics 1A MATH1131 or MATH1141Discrete Mathematics MATH1081 Software Engineering Fundamentals COMP1531
Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation DESN1000Programming Fundamentals COMP1511
Want advice on course selections?
You can reach out for advice by getting in touch with the Student Services team.
-