#1 Victorian uni for graduate employment1
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#1 Victorian uni for graduate employment1
#1 in the world for sport science2
#1 Victorian uni for course satisfaction3
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When we think about engineers, it’s hard to go past the ingenuity of screen icons like Angus “Mac” MacGyver, whose ability to create world-saving contraptions from little more than a ballpoint pen and two rubber bands is somewhat legendary.
From Nikola Tesla to Thomas Edison, we idolise engineers not only for their creative genius when it comes to problem-solving, but also their immense contribution to society.
Engineers have been behind many of the most significant advancements in contemporary society and we can thank them for the transport, infrastructure, food and health care we enjoy today.
If you’re curious about studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree, we’ve got you covered. We quizzed Deakin alumni, Peter Apap, about his impressive 20-year career as an Aerospace Engineer. Peter worked for notable commercial airlines Ansett and Qantas before landing (excuse the aircraft pun) his current role.
If you’re wondering what a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree is, you’ve come to the right place!
A Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) is an undergraduate course that will help you transform big ideas into practical engineering solutions.
While you won’t necessarily be repairing a leaking radiator with an egg like MacGyver (at least not on your first day), a Bachelor of Engineering will give you the opportunity to engage in industry-informed projects and learn how to confidently design engineering systems that work.
This degree can also equip you with the skills you need to contribute to real-world projects and enter the professional engineering field in areas such as:
So, whether your thing is building a breakdancing robot in a state-of-the-art robotics lab – which you can check out at Open Day, – or flexing your skills on other innovative projects, Deakin’s Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) has you covered.
Peter completed the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree in June 2005, majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
During his studies, he took full advantage of Deakin’s flexible study options and ‘industry leading’ infrastructure, which enabled him to collaborate seamlessly with lecturers and fellow students remotely while also working full-time.
He is currently employed as a Section Manager for the Defence Aviation Safety Authority (DASA) and leads a team of Aerospace Engineers within the Royal Australian Airforce.
In his own words: ‘My role provides independent safety assurance over applications from the community, for initial certification of aircraft and modifications to existing certified aircraft to ensure structural integrity.’
‘I’m also the Chief of the Office of Airworthiness of the Directorate of Aviation Engineering, Military Design Organisation (I know, it’s a mouthful) which is the Centre of Expertise for Structural Integrity and Aeromechanical Systems for all ADF operated aircraft.’
The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree is four years full-time, after which you will graduate as a fully-fledged engineer.
If you’ve come to the degree with some engineering study or relevant work experience under your belt (like Peter), you may also be eligible for course credits, reducing your overall study time.
For more details on Recognition for prior learning (RPL for short), see our Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) course page.
While completing a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree was no easy feat, Peter tells us that the experience was intellectually enriching.
‘Studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) was a rewarding and challenging experience,’ Peter shares.
As for his favourite unit, Peter has a clear winner: ‘My favourite subject and the topic of my thesis was Finite Element Modelling. This involved using computer simulations to predict the behaviour of different materials under various conditions.’
Peter continues, ‘I also enjoyed Mechanics of Machines, which looks at how parts of a machine work together and how they handle forces (in engineering, we call this ‘stress analysis’). The skills I gained from these subjects are invaluable in my current role.’
While the learnings throughout his Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree were numerous, Peter notes that one particular discovery stood out.
‘One of the biggest takeaways was how the maths and stress analysis units built on what I already knew from school and work,’ he shares.
‘This gave me a solid base to dive into more advanced topics like fracture mechanics and crack growth modelling. Fracture mechanics, in particular, ties together a lot of different engineering disciplines, which was really cool to see in action.’
We’re so glad you asked. The Bachelor of Engineering is a three-year program, while the Honours degree requires an additional year of study to complete.
During the fourth and final year, students studying the Bachelor of Engineering Honours program complete a research project based on an area they are interested in. This is known in academic circles as a thesis. Completing a thesis is in equal parts challenging and incredibly rewarding; it’s a time-consuming project, but one that is a source of immense pride for Honours graduates.
You might have heard someone talk about their thesis in the same hushed, reverent tone they use when reminiscing about their favourite band — now you know why!
Yes, it’s possible to do a Bachelor of Engineering degree without Honours — but should you?
When making a choice between studying a Bachelor of Engineering and a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), it’s important to consider your own academic interests, goals and the impact you want to make in your chosen field.
If you’ve got a burning passion for a specific field of engineering, you might enjoy the challenge of completing a thesis and deep diving into your specific research question — something that you find fascinating and that you can sprinkle into dinner party conversations for the remainder of the foreseeable future (sorry not sorry).
In summary, both degrees are a great starting point for a career as an engineer. If you need some help deciding, check out our Career Planning resources here.
Peter says, ‘If you’re wondering how a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) can set you up for success, it really comes down to the practical side of the degree which can be a game-changer.’
‘From hands-on projects to thesis topics, everything in the degree is designed with real-world application in mind preparing graduates for the workplace.’
He continues: ‘The flexibility of Deakin University’s Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) is awesome. It gives you a solid foundation that you can use in various engineering fields. Plus, the elective options are so diverse that you can tailor your studies to fit your preferred industry.’
For Peter, the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree gave him the recognition and pre-requisite qualifications necessary to become a Chartered Professional Engineer (a requirement of his current position).
More recently, he was awarded a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Australia which is the highest membership grade for Engineers Australia. Way to go Peter!
‘Studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at Deakin was absolutely worth it.’ Peter affirms.
‘Without completing this globally recognised degree, I wouldn’t have enjoyed and continue to enjoy the career I’ve been fortunate to have.’
