
Explore the broad range of engineering specialisations
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.
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.
As the top ranked Engineering faculty in Australia, UNSW is the best place to launch your Engineering career. 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.
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.
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.
Given the number of disciplines available there are many possible combinations. 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 |
|
Programming 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 |
---|---|---|
|
Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241 | Programming Fundamentals COMP1511 |
|
Physics 1A or Higher Physics 1A PHYS1121 or PHYS1131 | Engineering Mechanics ENGG1300 |
|
Design & Manufacturing MMAN1130 |
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
---|---|---|
|
Mineral Resource Engineering or Surveying & Geospatial Engineering MINE1010 or GMAT1110 | Engineering Materials & Chemistry MATS1101 |
|
Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241 | Engineering Mechanics ENGG1300 |
|
Physics 1A or Higher Physics 1A PHYS1121 or PHYS1131 |
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
---|---|---|
|
Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241 | Engineering Materials & Chemistry MATS1101 |
|
Physics 1A or Higher Physics 1A PHYS1121 or PHYS1131 | Physics 1B or Higher Physics 1B PHYS1221 or PHYS1231 |
|
Sustainable Energy SOLA1070 |
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 |
---|---|---|
|
Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241 | Computer System Fundamentals COMP1521 |
|
Discrete Mathematics MATH1081 | Software Engineering Fundamentals COMP1531 |
|
Programming Fundamentals COMP1511 |
You can reach out for advice by getting in touch with the Student Services team.