Master of Digital Engineering (Canberra)
- Commencing Terms
- Term 1
- Duration
- 4 years (P/T)
- Delivery Mode
- Distance (online with some face-to-face)
- Campus
-
Canberra
- Codes
- Program code 8478
- CRICOS code -
-
2026 Indicative first year full fee
- $42,960*
-
2026 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $85,920*
-
2026 Indicative first year full fee
- $63,840*
-
2026 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $127,680*
Entry Requirements
Fees
Fees
-
Industry-led capstone
-
AI-enabled engineering
-
Real-world learning
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
Digital engineering is changing how complex systems are designed, managed and improved. By connecting engineering data and digital models, it helps organisations make better-informed decisions throughout a system’s lifecycle. Artificial intelligence now makes that practical at scale, keeping models current at a cost organisations can sustain, while AI-enabled systems bring learned behaviour that engineers must be able to test and defend. This degree will build your understanding of areas including mission engineering, data engineering, modelling and simulation and the use and assurance of AI across the lifecycle.
You’ll apply your learning to real-world engineering challenges through industry collaboration and hands-on projects. Develop skills relevant across technology-driven sectors including defence, infrastructure, health and advanced manufacturing and prepare to contribute to digital transformation in engineering practice.
Key features
Apply your skills to real-world challenges
Put your digital engineering knowledge into practice through applied learning, industry collaboration and hands-on projects. In your second year, you’ll complete a capstone project co-designed with industry partners, giving you the opportunity to apply your skills to a real-world engineering problem.
Build skills in AI and emerging technologies
Develop knowledge across digital engineering areas that are shaping modern engineering practice. Your studies cover mission engineering, data engineering, modelling and simulation and complex data visualisation. Across these, you’ll use AI to build and maintain engineering models, analyse complex data and learn how to test and assure systems that include AI. You’ll have opportunities to explore areas such as cybersecurity, project management and leadership through electives.
Connect technical and strategic thinking
Learn to consider both the technical and business impact of complex engineering problems. You’ll develop skills to evaluate digital engineering approaches, work across multidisciplinary challenges and understand how organisational processes and governance can support the integration of data and systems.
Why study at UNSW Canberra?
Learn where academia, government and industry connect
Study at UNSW Canberra, where connections across academia, government and industry bring real-world perspectives to your learning. Benefit from defence-related research, experienced academics and industry partnerships while developing knowledge relevant to public and private technology-driven sectors.
Prepare for digital engineering across industries
Build expertise that can be applied across sectors including defence, aerospace, infrastructure, health and advanced manufacturing. You’ll develop the technical knowledge and strategic capabilities to address multidisciplinary challenges and contribute to digital transformation across complex engineering environments.
Put your learning into practice
Connect theory with practice through real-world case studies, industry collaboration and hands-on projects. You’ll explore how digital engineering and AI can help improve operational efficiency, manage risk and support innovation, preparing you to apply your knowledge to complex engineering challenges.
Want to see more from UNSW Canberra at ADFA?
Entry requirements
There are several pathways into the Master of Digital Engineering. To be eligible, you must meet one of the following requirements:
- Complete a bachelor's degree or higher qualification in a cognate discipline with a minimum WAM of 65
- Complete a bachelor's degree or higher qualification in any discipline with a minimum WAM of 65, plus at least two years of relevant work experience
Cognate disciplines
Cognate disciplines include communications engineering, electrical and telecommunications engineering, electrical engineering, automation and control, electronic information, optoelectronics/electronics engineering, photonic engineering, power electronics, power engineering, telecommunications, computer science, information systems and software engineering.
Relevant work experience
Relevant work experience includes responsibility for tasks in digital engineering-related technical or governance roles. This can include managing a small team, working as a team leader or managing a relevant project.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) based on previous study. Up to 24 UOC may be granted for a cognate AQF Level 7 bachelor’s degree. Up to 48 UOC may be granted for a cognate AQF Level 8 qualification, such as a bachelor’s degree with honours, graduate certificate or graduate diploma.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
For more details, visit the English Language Requirements page.
International applicants must meet one of the following academic requirements:
- Complete a bachelor's degree or higher qualification in a cognate discipline with a minimum WAM of 65
- Complete a bachelor's degree or higher qualification in any discipline with a minimum WAM of 65 and at least two years of relevant work experience
Cognate disciplines
Cognate disciplines include communications engineering, electrical and telecommunications engineering, electrical engineering, automation and control, electronic information, optoelectronics/electronics engineering, photonic engineering, power electronics, power engineering, telecommunications, computer science, information systems and software engineering.
Relevant work experience
Relevant work experience includes responsibility for tasks in digital engineering-related technical or governance roles. This can include managing a small team, working as a team leader or managing a relevant project.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
For more details, visit the English Language Requirements page.
Check the specific English language requirements for this program
What will I study?
Program structure
The Master of Digital Engineering is a 96 UOC program. In 2027, the program is available part-time and can be completed in four years. From 2028, full-time study will also be available, allowing you to complete the program in two years.
You’ll complete foundational and advanced core courses, disciplinary electives and an 18 UOC research and capstone component. The program combines digital engineering foundations, including the use of AI across the engineering lifecycle, with advanced study and opportunities to apply your learning to industry challenges.
Full program structure
The program comprises 96 UOC across foundational and advanced core courses, disciplinary electives and a research and capstone component.
Foundational Core (24 UOC)
Students complete four foundational courses, including:
- Mission Engineering Foundation and Practice
- Digital Engineering Foundation, Theory and Practice
- Digital Engineering Governance
- Data Engineering
Advanced Core (12 UOC)
Complete two advanced courses:
- Modelling and Simulation
- Visualisation of Complex Data
Research and Capstone (18 UOC)
Develop your research skills and apply your digital engineering knowledge through:
- Engineering Postgraduate Coursework Research Skills
- Digital Engineering Masters Capstone Part 1
- Digital Engineering Masters Capstone Part 2
This capstone is completed in the second year and co-designed with industry-partners, giving you the opportunity to apply your digital engineering skills to a real-world problem.
Disciplinary Electives (42 UOC)
Complete 42 UOC from the following electives:
- Life Cycle Engineering
- Engineering Project Management
- Adaptive Leadership
- Foundations of Organisational Cyber Security
- Cyber Security Data Governance and Privacy
- Cyber Security Leadership and Strategy
- Governance in Policy Systems
Future careers
Digital engineering skills are increasingly relevant across technology-driven sectors that rely on complex systems, data, AI and digital technologies. The Master of Digital Engineering prepares you to apply your expertise across sectors including defence, aerospace, infrastructure, health and advanced manufacturing.
You’ll graduate with technical knowledge and strategic capabilities across mission engineering, data engineering, modelling and simulation, digital engineering governance and the use and assurance of AI. This combination can prepare you to address multidisciplinary challenges, integrate digital engineering approaches and contribute to digital transformation across public and private sectors.
Potential careers
- AI Assurance and Test and Evaluation Engineer
- Capability Architect
- Data & AI Integration Engineer
- Defence Acquisition & Sustainment Engineer
- Digital Engineering Analyst / Practitioner
- Digital Twin Developer / Engineer
- Systems Engineer (Model-Based / MBSE)
How to apply
Apply for this degree through the UNSW Applicant Portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term. Some high-demand programs and faculties with limited places may have earlier application deadlines or commencement dates.
Application closing dates vary by program and intake. Please refer to our application closing dates page for current deadlines and program-specific information before submitting your application.
Ready to start your application?
For most international students, applications are submitted via our UNSW Applicant Portal service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Offers to international students are issued through offer rounds. You can find the offer release schedules, application deadlines and frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the international admissions information page.
Ready to start your application?
Fees & Scholarships
*Fees are subject to annual review (or when required) by the University and may vary accordingly.
Indicative fees are a guide only and have been calculated based on the typical enrolment patterns of students undertaking the degree/program. The indicative fees listed here is an estimate for tuition only and excludes non-tuition fees and charges. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year of enrolment, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (48 units of credit (UOC) per year).
You should not rely on indicative fees as fee increases are assessed when required and may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Actual fees are calculated on enrolment. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
*Fees are subject to annual review (or when required) by the University and may vary accordingly.
The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average using historical student enrolment patterns for each program, which may change every year. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year you enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative first year fees are for tuition only. Indicative fees to complete the degree/program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year and have been calculated based on percentage increase for every year of the degree/program, noting that actual fee increase may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Other fees and charges are not included. To find out more about other costs for international students, visit UNSW International.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
Progress starts here – at a world-leading university
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Most Employable Graduates
Winner of the AFR Most Employable University Award seven years in a row
AFR Top100 Future Leaders & Graduate Employers Awards, 2020–2026
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Highest number of startups and spinouts from university-developed tech
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