Faculty of Engineering : Guide to courses
3. General information for students in the Engineering Faculty

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3. General information for students in the Engineering Faculty
    3.1. Computer facilities
    3.2. Part-time study options
    3.3. Overload/high achievers
    3.4. Additional subjects
    3.5. Honours degrees
    3.6. Credit for previous study
    3.7. Exemption
    3.8. Community Access Program (CAP) subjects
    3.9. MUPHAS (Melbourne University Program for High-Achieving Students) credit
    3.10. Lateral entry
    3.11. Professional recognition
    3.12. Student support schemes
        3.12.1. First year communications workshops
        3.12.2. International students mentor scheme
        3.12.3. Diversity in engineering mentor scheme
        3.12.4. Study groups
        3.12.5. Students at risk program
        3.12.6. Students with a number of failures

3. General information for students in the Engineering Faculty

3.1. Computer facilities

Engineering Computer Resources (ECR) is a Faculty of Engineering facility providing computer laboratories for access to electronic mail, the University intranet, the wider internet, generic software and specialised engineering software. The primary focus of ECR is support for undergraduate teaching through tutorial and practical classes held in the laboratories as well as casual access for all students and staff of the faculty.

ECR has six laboratories and a full-time staff of five. The six laboratories contain 107 PCs operating under Windows NT and 62 Silicon Graphics Unix work stations. Two PC laboratories with a total of 56 work stations and a small multimedia laboratory containing three PCs and four Unix workstations, are available 24 hours a day, seven days per week. In peak usage periods all laboratories are available for extended hours in the evenings and on weekends. The full-time staff includes three systems managers/programmers and two help desk and support staff.

All students and staff within the faculty can base their primary email access at ECR, with suitable forwarding or redirection to other mail systems on or off campus. Internet browsing to any web sites specifically associated with course-related, engineering material is available in all laboratories.

3.2. Part-time study options

Engineering, geomatic engineering and associated combined programs have been designated as full-time courses. Students wishing to undertake part-time study should apply at the Engineering Faculty office, where each case will be considered on an individual basis.

The Bachelor of Computer Science is available as a part-time course (six years part time). It should be noted, however, that there are no evening classes available.

3.3. Overload/high achievers

A full-time course load normally consists of 100 credit points per year or 50 points per semester. Generally, first year course plans of more than 50 points per semester will not be approved. Any application to overload must satisfy the overload policy guidelines as stated at http://www.eng.unimelb.edu.au/courses/current/courseplan/overloadspolicy.html.

High-achieving students in later years who wish to accelerate their progress by taking an overload must satisfy the overload policy guidelines as stated at the above mentioned URL.

3.4. Additional subjects

Students may be permitted to enrol in a maximum of 25 points above and beyond the requirements of their course. Any student wishing to take further additional subjects may do so on an upfront full fee paying basis only.

3.5. Honours degrees

Honours degrees in engineering and geomatic engineering are awarded on the basis of performance in the course. Honours degrees in the Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts require an additional year of study. Please refer to the Faculty of Law section of the Handbook, Honours degrees, for information about the Bachelor of Laws with honours.

3.6. Credit for previous study

Please see Credit for previous study.

Please note that studies undertaken more than 10 years ago, may not be considered for credit.

3.7. Exemption

Students who are not eligible for credit for a prerequisite subject but have completed work considered equivalent, may be granted exemption from that subject. In consequence, students will be eligible to enrol for the second or third year subjects that require the subject as a prerequisite. Students will however, still be required to complete the normal degree requirements including making up the required number of points.

3.8. Community Access Program (CAP) subjects

Please see Community Access Program (for enrolled students).

3.9. MUPHAS (Melbourne University Program for High-Achieving Students) credit

Students may be eligible for credit towards their degree if they have completed subjects in Year 12 through MUPHAS. They may also be awarded credit for approved subjects taken in Year 12 as part of another university's extension program. A maximum of 50 points credit at first year level will be awarded for MUPHAS or other extension program subjects. For information about the MUPHAS program students should consult their school's career library or ring the MUPHAS office at the University on 8344 5538.

3.10. Lateral entry

Other than overseas students, all applicants for selection into second or later years of the course(s) must lodge an application with VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre). Overseas students should apply direct to the International Centre at the University of Melbourne.

Mid-year entry is for full fee paying places only. Applicants for Australian full fee places must apply to the faculty direct. Overseas students must apply to the International Centre.

3.11. Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Engineering and the Bachelor of Geomatic Engineering are both professional degrees, that is, graduates can obtain professional recognition by joining the Institution of Engineers Australia or the Institution of Surveyors Australia Inc. These institutions will only accredit courses if certain subjects are studied, hence all engineering courses in each department will have compulsory subjects to be studied at each year level.

3.12. Student support schemes

3.12.1. First year communications workshops

A mentoring scheme in the form of communications workshops is available for first year engineering students. The workshops form part of a number of first year engineering subjects. Full details are available at time of enrolment. The academic aim of the workshops is to enhance students' skills in reading, library work and written and verbal communication. The workshops are run in small groups led by later year students and structured to encourage first year students to make friends both within their peer group and with later year students.

3.12.2. International students mentor scheme

The faculty coordinates a support scheme for international students. The scheme takes the form of workshops and in this case is led by members of the International Engineering Students Society. The aims are to provide support and information to assist international students cope with the transition to university in a foreign country.

3.12.3. Diversity in engineering mentor scheme

The faculty's diversity in engineering (DinE) mentor scheme forms a major part of the Engineering Faculty's equity and diversity strategy. This scheme provides a support network for students at all year levels, with a particular focus on the transition from secondary school to university and university to the workforce. Participants can therefore choose to be mentored by more experienced students or people working in industry, with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences.

Mentoring is primarily one-on-one, with participants matched according to discipline interest. The aim of the relationship is to provide advice, support and encouragement. While pairs are free to choose where, when and how often they meet, the faculty regularly organises events for participants.

For further information and/or registration, please contact the diversity in engineering coordinator on +61 3 8344 6869, visit the web site at http://www.eng.mu.oz.au/events/DIE/index.html or call in to the faculty office.

3.12.4. Study groups

Study groups can help you have a successful and happy first year at the University of Melbourne. Study groups are run by students for students. Each study group consists of eight to 10 students who are studying the same stream of engineering. The purpose of the study group is to provide a forum for discussion of things that arise in lectures, tutorials, pracs, exercises, essays and exams.

If you are a first year student in the Faculty of Engineering, there is an opportunity to join a study group for the stream of engineering you are in. Study groups can help to increase students' understanding of the subjects they are studying, improve their grades and provide a network of people who have similar interests.

If you are interested in joining a study group of first year students, fill in your details at the following site http://www.eng.mu.oz.au/courses/current/dfys/index.html.

You will be contacted by email.

For further information contact the Transition Officer, Faculty of Engineering, on (03) 8344 6869 or email: julieam@unimelb.edu.au.

3.12.5. Students at risk program

Students enrolled in BE, BGeomE, BCS or combined courses within the Faculty who have performed significantly below expectation in Semester 1, may be invited to attend a students at risk interview. The purpose of these interviews is to establish why students are not performing up to their ability and to give advice as to how they might repair the situation.

First year student at risk interviews are conducted within the Engineering Faculty office; later year students are interviewed by their department.

3.12.6. Students with a number of failures

Students who fail 50 per cent or more of their course in a semester or fail the same subject twice or more, will have their case examined by the Faculty Unsatisfactory Progress Committee. This committee considers each student's case individually and each student is given the chance to explain the reasons for his or her poor performance, in writing and/or in an interview with the committee. The committee is first and foremost concerned with the problems the student may have faced during the year and what he/she proposes to do about these problems to ensure that they do not recur.

The outcome of the Unsatisfactory Progress Committee's review will depend very much on the nature and degree of the 'unsatisfactory progress', the legitimacy of the problems, the submission the student makes to the committee and the extent to which the student can demonstrate that he/she can overcome the problems that have affected his/her study.

In some cases the Unsatisfactory Progress Committee will allow the student to continue with their enrolment, repeating failed subjects where appropriate. The Committee may enforce a number of restrictions on enrolment, including limiting the number of points studied in any one year and in some cases recommend to the University's Academic Board that the student be suspended from the course.

If a student is suspended from the course, he/she will not be re-admitted until he/she has demonstrated academic rehabilitation by successfully completing other tertiary studies.