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FAQ - Frequently Ask Questions
Mining Engineering
Mining at UNSW
Degree options
Assumed knowledge and prerequisites
How to apply
What is Mining Engineering?
Mining Engineering is a multi-faceted discipline that offers a broad range of career paths including mine design and evaluation, operations management, corporate management, financial and analysis and the equities market, merchant banking and consulting.
As a profession, Mining Engineering is concerned with the safe, economic and environmentally responsible recovery, processing, marketing and financial management of mineral resources to meet the ever expanding demand from the global community for mineral commodities.
The undergraduate degree program includes elements common to many engineering programs and also because of a business focus it encompasses aspects of commerce and management. This means that during their careers, mining graduates should have sufficient grounding to allow them to move between different industry sectors.
To get some idea of what our graduates do, see the various roles of some of our graduates.
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What does a Mining Engineer do?
Mining Engineering offers a diverse range of career paths, very high salary levels and excellent opportunities for career progression. This is because it is a truly global profession with opportunities to work around Australia or around the world in a diverse range of activities involving technology, people, business, equipment, financial resources, community and government.
Graduates with a degree in mining engineering tend to be very versatile and can progress rapidly both within the mining industry and in industries affiliated to the industry. They have contributed to the continual growth and development of the minerals industry, making it one of the most efficient and productive in the world.
Within the mining and quarrying industries, opportunities exist to work in
- technical roles such as planning and design engineers
- production roles such as supervisors and mine managers
- business development roles such as project managers and marketing
Because of the scale and efficiency of the mining industry in Australia, there are strong links with ancillary industries which offer important career opportunities. These industries include:
- Engineering design and technology
- Consulting in mine design, corporate management, risk management, financial evaluation, feasibility studies, geotechnical design, and environmental assessment
- Geotechnical engineering
- Tunnelling and infrastructure development
- Computer software development
- Environmental engineering
- Merchant banking, finance industry and the equities market
- Risk management
- Project management
- Mining suppliers such as explosives and equipment manufacturers
- Government policy planners, administrators and regulators
- Education and training
- Research
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Who studies Mining Engineering?
The program tends to attracts students from a diverse range of backgrounds, many with a strong interest in engineering and having a solid academic background as illustrated in the graph shown below.
in recent years, the student intake has typically seen 50% of students with a UAI in the mid to high 90's.
While the industry used to have the perception of being male dominated the actual situation has changed especially over the past ten years with mining companies wanting to achieve a balance in their workforce. This change is reflected in the student intake with on average around 16% of students being female and who have no more difficulty in gaining graduate employment than the rest of the student cohort.
Interestingly, the program attracts a significant number of people with an interest in music and the arts.
While many students live in the Sydney urban region, a significant proportion of students come from country areas, particularly from the NSW Central and North coast and from the Western districts of NSW. Each year there are also several students who come from other States and parts and of south eastern Australia.
And of course, there are students who join us each year from overseas universities on International Exchange.
Students like to gain a degree that offers a host of career path options - working in the city, in the country, in technical roles, in line-management and also having the chance to change their careers path as they progress through life.
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Why study mining at UNSW?
The School of Mining Engineering was established in 1948 and is one of the three foundation disciplines at UNSW.
The School rates as one of the largest and most vibrant centre's of tertiary mining education in the western world. Consider these other facts:
- A significant proportion of Australia’s top Mining Engineers graduate each year from UNSW.
- The School was described by the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) as “one of the best centre's of mining engineering education in Australia”. Since 2000, UNSW has been working with MCA to improve the quality of professionals entering the mining industry.
- Engineers Australia in reviewing the engineering programs at UNSW singled out the Mining Engineering program as ‘exemplary’.
- The School has a strong, well established research base with strong links to industry. The academic staff are drawn from the industry sector and have strong practical, educational and research experience that is integrated into the program.
Unlike some other disciplines at university, the School of Mining Engineering has a relatively modest student population of approximately 200 students enrolled in the undergraduate program and a near equal amount in the various postgraduate programs. This size makes for a more collegiate learning environment where education and social activities are easier to combine.
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How much does a Mining Engineer earn?
Graduates with a degree in mining engineering are consistently ranked in the top ten percentile of salaries for new graduates.
The statistics for UNSW Mining Engineering graduates is even better still with recent annual surveys consistently indicating a median starting salary package exceeding $90k.
The Graduate Careers Australia (GCA) is a body representing employers, universities and the government. Amongst other services, CGA produces information for prospective university students related to the employment prospect of graduates and their earnings. This information is collated from the Graduate Destination Survey and published as The Grad Files. The publication is released in December each year.
So when combined with the diverse range of whole of life career and lifestyle options, shouldn't you consider Mining Engineering as one of your university degree options?
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What are some of your graduates doing now?
The mining program attracts a wide range of students with diverse academic aptitude, skills, experience and background which is just as well as the needs of industry are equally diverse. There are a variety of technical roles that can only be filled by Mining Engineers as well as a host of other roles that they are eminently suited to such as senior management and CEO of business organisations.
The diversity of possible career paths is no better illustrated then by what some past graduates are now doing.
- Michael O'Leary (1960), Company Director on the board of various companies
- Bryan Davis (1967), Company Director on the board of various companies
- Tony Palmer (1964), Managing Director & CEO, Newcrest Mining Ltd
- Rick Stroud (1972), Manager, Argyle Diamonds
- Jonathon Barber (1973), Director, Surpac Minex Group
- Bruce Hebblewhite (1974), Professor, University of New South Wales
- Ken Talbot (1975), CEO, Macarthur Coal
- Mitch Jakeman (1977), Managing Director, Capricorn Coal
- Bob Cameron (1978), Managing Director, Centennial Coal
- Peter Tomsett (1980), CEO, Placer Dome
- Greg Combet (1981), Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
- Col Weatherstone (1982), President Emerging Businesses, Bluescope Steel
- Vicky Binns (1986), Base Metals Analyst, Merrill Lynch
- Peter O'Connor (1986), University Medallist. Director, Credit Suisse First Boston
- Tim Lehany (1988), General Manager Operations, Cadia Valley Gold mine
- Andrew Harding (1988), General Manager, Weipa Operations, Comalco
- Neil Alston (1992), Churchill Fellow. Mine Manager, Munmorah Colliery
- Rebecca Scott (1992), Rhodes Scholar. Consultant, McKinsey Management Consultants
- Bryan Quinn (1993), Manager Business Development, BHP Billiton Illawarra Coal
- Dave Oliver (1993), Mine Manager, Mandalong Mine
- Clare Larkin (1994), Churchill Fellow. Financial Analyst, Ord Minnett
- Liz Wall (1998), Rhodes Scholar. HS&E Policy Advisor - Corporate, Rio Tinto, London
- Gavin Wyatt (1999), Operations Supervisor, Penrith Lakes Scheme
- Thomas Vogt (2001), University Medallist. Consultant, Boston Consulting
- Heather Galvin (2002), University Medallist. Mine Planning Engineer, Rio Tinto Coal
- Richard Metzner (2001), Mine Planning Engineer, Boral Quarries
- Ian Coombes (2004), Site Engineer, Sydney Cross-City Tunnel Project
For a more in depth understanding of what some of our recent graduates are doing see Graduate Stories.
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Do you offer scholarships to study mining?
There is a large number of scholarships available to students in the undergraduate mining program. There are also scholarships that encourage students to undertake study in any engineering program.
Some of the major scholarships offered to students in mining engineering include:
A list of recent scholarship providers can be found at Industry Supporters.
A number of additional scholarships are also offered to students directly by companies associated with the mining industry. Many of these are offered to enrolled students in Year 2 or Year 3 in the program.
Other scholarships also available include:
- The Malcolm Chaiken Scholarship. Stipend of $15,000 and open to students entering the first year of undergraduate study in Engineering or the Sciences.
- The Alexandria Ada Lam Scholarship. A scholarship to encourage a female student to enroll in a Bachelor of Engineering program.
- The Ben Lexen Sports Scholarships. Open to students with an outstanding sporting ability.
- The Matthew James Reid Scholarship. Open to students from interstate.
- The W.S. and L.B. Robinson Scholarship. Open to students who completed their schooling in Broken Hill.
Further information on the conditions and entry requirements for each of the above scholarships as well as a comprehensive listing of all scholarships available can be found at http://www.scholarships.unsw.edu.au/
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Can I go overseas on International Exchange?
UNSW has an attractive International Exchange Program with reciprocal arrangements in place with many leading overseas universities.
Each year a number of students undertake study for one semester at one of a number of universities in Europe or North America. Often students opt for the second semester of Year 3 as it fits in best with many universities and because students need to plan up to one year in advance.
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I am an International student, do you offer Exchange or a Practicum/Internship?
Are you currently an undergraduate student interested in study for a period of up to six months at UNSW? If so then there are two possible options available to you, these being:
- Exchange Program. The International Exchange Program is for students who would like to study for one semester at UNSW and gain credit for the courses at their home university. You need to confirm with your home university whether there is a formal exchange agreement in place with UNSW and the courses that are on offer. You will need to apply through your home university.
- Practicum (or Internship). The Practicum Student Program is designed for students enrolled in an approved undergraduate program at an overseas universities who wish to obtain research experience at UNSW and/or who wish to complete a period of professional/industrial practice. Preference is given to students who have recently completed their undergraduate program and to those students who are in their final year of study so as to gain greatest benefit to the student in building on the knowledge and learning in Mining Engineering.
The duration of the Practicum is usually between two and six months. You must apply directly to UNSW International - an application from can be found at Application Procedures.
The difference between Exchange and Practicum is that Exchange involves completion of course work while the Practicum involves completion of a research activity/project.
Tuition fees and other fees may apply. Applicants will need to ensure they have sufficient funds to cover costs for travel to/from Sydney and for living expenses while at UNSW.
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What are the degree options for mining?
Broadly speaking there are two categories of degrees offered at UNSW, these being:
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Undergraduate degree - Bachelor of Engineering (Mining Engineering). This is the qualification necessary to be considered as a professional mining engineer. The degree is recognised by the two engineering professional organisations - the Institution of Engineers (Australia) (IEAust) and the Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy (AusIMM). This degree has also been required to gain the statutory qualification of Mine Manager.
As is common with most engineering programs, the undergraduate degree program is of four years duration. It is only offered for on-campus, full-time study. As is the case for most undergraduate engineering degrees, the undergraduate program does not cater for external or off-campus study.
The program is comprehensive in terms of covering the essential elements required of a mining engineer including geomechanics, ventilation, mine planning and evaluation, mineral processing as well fundamental engineering principles.
A number of combined degree and double degree options are also available - see later section on Combined Degree options.
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Postgraduate degree. A number of postgraduate research and coursework degree options are offered at UNSW. The coursework programs are designed to meet the needs of different student cohorts,such as:
- people who already have an undergraduate degree in Mining Engineering and who wish to pursue further specialisation such as in Mining Geomechanics;
- people who already have an undergraduate degree though not in Mining Engineering and who wish to obtain an understanding of some aspect of mining while also gaining a formal qualification;
- people who are employed in the mining industry and who wish to undertake studies leading to a formal qualification.
The postgraduate program has been specifically designed to meet the special requirements of persons working in the mining industry and can cater to those who are normally resident outside of Sydney. Each of the courses in the program is offered in short-course mode involving an intensive one-week block of lectures, tutorials, site visits and assignments followed by a period of off-campus study to complete a major project. This arrangement allows people to study while still engaged in full-time employment. Usually students enrol in one or two courses each semester.
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Which of these degrees would be best for me?
The essential difference between the two degree options, either undergraduate or postgraduate, comes down to whether you wish to be considered and recognised as a professional Mining Engineering, in which case you will need to complete the undergraduate degree option.
If you cannot afford to leave the workforce but want to undertake study into some aspects of mining and at the same time gain a university qualification then you should consider the postgraduate degree options.
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Does UNSW offer combined degrees?
A number of combined and double degrees programs are offered in addition to the single major in Mining Engineering. These require one or more years of additional study on top of the single degree program. The range of program options includes:
- Bachelor of Engineering (Mining Engineering) / Bachelor of Science. This is intended to provide flexibility for students who may wish to supplement their education with studies in the Sciences such as computer science, geology, environment science, metallurgy and psychology.
- Bachelor of Engineering (Mining Engineering) / Bachelor of Arts. A program that allows students to undertake additional studies in the Arts such as a language and music.
- Bachelor of Engineering (Mining Engineering) / Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering). A program that allows students to combine their studies in two related engineering disciplines.
- Bachelor of Engineering (Mining Engineering) / Bachelor of Commerce. This program provides students who wish to combine their engineering studies with business.
- Bachelor of Engineering (Mining Engineering) / Bachelor of Laws. This program is intended to combine engineering with an understanding of law.
- Bachelor of Engineering (Mining Engineering) / Master of Engineering Science. A program for high achievers to fast track combined undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
- Bachelor of Engineering (Mining Engineering) / Master of Engineering. A program for high achievers who wish to combine their undergraduate qualifications with postgraduate qualifications in research.
Note: The entry requirements for some of combined and double programs are set at a higher then for the single degree program.
The overwhelming majority of students usually opt for the single degree option and consider postgraduate study after having gained a few years of graduate experience. Many mining organisations encourage further education and will assist their graduates in further postgraduate study.
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What are your entry requirements?
The cut-off for entry into UNSW engineering programs can change from year to year but in recent times it has been a Universities Admission Index (UAI) (or its equivalent) in the high 80's. The Faculty can provide the latest indication of entry for the next entry period.
In addition to applying for admission through the Universities Admission Centre (UAC), which is the usual route for admission by domestic students living in NSW, there is also the Faculty of Engineering Admission Scheme (FEAS).
FEAS is for those students who may potentially achieve a UAI below the cut-off level but who have an aptitude and interest in engineering. It is strongly recommended that if you are interested in studying mining engineering and there is a reasonable probability you may fall below the the cut-off threshold then you should apply to FEAS. Applications are made directly on-line to the Faculty and should be lodged before the closing date in early September each year. Further details can be obtained on the Faculty of Engineering web site.
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What subjects should I study at high school?
While there are no prerequisites for the Mining Engineering program, the program is designed with an Assumed Knowledge particularly in the sciences - Mathematics and Physics.
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I didn't study Maths and/or Physics at high school.
Will I still qualify to study mining?
There are several options available to students who do not meet the level of Assumed Knowledge such as:
- enrolling in one or more Bridging Courses that run for approximately four weeks early in each year before commencement of the first semester;
- electing for one of the Alternate Program Pathways in the first year that allow completion of preparatory courses in Maths and/or Physics. See the Concise Outline of the program for more details;
- first completing the Diploma in Science, Engineering and Technology. This program has been designed by the Faculties of Engineering and Science for potential students in bachelor degree programs. It is an enabling program that provides a flexible pathway for those students who generally meet Faculty of Engineering minimum entry requirements, that is, a UAI or equivalent of no less than 75, but who have a range of gaps in their Assumed Knowledge and consequently do not meet the necessary entry requirements for Engineering or Science.
These are options are intended to up-skill students so they will be better prepared when enrolling in the standard maths and physics courses in engineering programs.
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How do I apply to study at UNSW?
Details on how to apply to study at UNSW can be found at How to Apply where information is provided for both local and international students.
For the undergraduate program there are two main categories for entry.
- Local Students. In the ordinary course of events, persons who are domiciled in Australia and who wish to apply for admission to UNSW must apply to the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) which is based in Sydney. The UAC simplifies the application process with only the one application needed for most undergraduate degree programs offered at all universities in NSW and the ACT. Applicants from outside NSW and the ACT and persons from New Zealand must also apply to UAC. UAC acts an intermediary, coordinating the flow of information between the universities and applicants.
Each applicant may nominate up to nine preferences for study. These should be ranked in order of preference. UNSW and other institutions will decide on who will receive an offer based on the applicant's preferences, the number of places available in a program and admission requirements.
The UAC Code is 425504 for the mining engineering single degree program. See the UAC site for codes for the combined degree options.
Admission to degree programs in the Faculty are also made based on the Faculty of Engineering Admission Scheme (FEAS). Further details can be obtained on the Faculty of Engineering web site
The main round of applications to UAC normally close in late September for enrolment in the academic year beginning in March the following year. There is also a mid-year intake though entry is dependent on the number of available places in a program.
If an applicant is successful, an offer will be made. The applicant must formally accept the offer within a specified time period otherwise the offer will lapse and an offer to be made to another person. Offers of acceptance for programs at UNSW can be made on-line.
Once accepted the student must enroll in the range of courses specified for the mining engineering program or available in the flexible engineering program - see listing of courses in program outline. Again this can be done on-line.
The Mining Engineering program is based on an assumed level of knowledge. Supplementary courses are available to students who have not attained the assumed level.
Full details on the process of application and acceptance can be found in the UAC Guide published each year or on-line at www.uac.edu.au.
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International Students. In the case of international students, application should be made directly to UNSW. Information for prospective international students can be found at UNSW International. The UNSW Foundation Year is an optional program for those international students who do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements into degree programs at UNSW.
For further information contact the Director - Undergraduate studies.
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Do you recognise prior learning?
Students who have been accepted into the Mining Engineering program
at UNSW and who think they have completed a course at
another recognised university that may be similar to one in the Mining Engineering Program
at UNSW can apply for Advanced Standing.
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How do I apply for Advanced Standing?
Applications for Advance Standing in a program are made through the Admissions Office at time of accepting an offer from UNSW or to Student Central after commencement of study.
A student must submit an Application for Credit/Advanced Standing form. An official transcript (original or certified copy) together with course descriptions must be attached to the application form. Failure to provide all required information and documentation will delay assessment of the application.
The completed form and relevant attachments should be lodged either via post directly to the UNSW Admissions Office or to Student Central Office on campus as appropriate. Each application will then be forwarded to the program authority for consideration taking account of the UNSW Guidelines and Faculty rules.
Courses must have been completed within eight years at the time of application. In general, it will need to be demonstrated that each course was satisfactorily completed at a recognised institution and that the course is similar to a course in the Mining Engineering Program; similar in terms of course content, assessment and units of credit. Note: applications must be lodged well before the start of semester (usually one month) in order to be processed in time to allow for enrolment in courses for that semester.
Where students have enrolled in a similar engineering degree program such as Civil Engineering, this may translate to Advanced Standing equivalent to up to the first two Stages of the mining program. In the case of other engineering programs and many science degree programs, this may translate to Advance Standing equivalent up to the first year of the mining program. In any case, no less than 50% of the program must be completed at UNSW. For further information contact the Director - Undergraduate Studies.
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