Master of Professional Engineering (Civil)

Postgraduate | 2026

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Mode icon
Mode
On Campus
Start date icon
Start date
February, July
Campus icon
Campus
Duration icon
Duration
2 year(s) full-time
Program code icon
Program code
MAPCI
Study as icon
Study as
Full time or part time
Fees
Indicative annual fees
SATAC code icon
SATAC code
Prerequisites icon
Prerequisite
None
Assumed knowledge icon
Assumed knowledge
None
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Entry requirements

Admission criteria

To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved the following minimum entry requirement and demonstrate they fulfil any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive with ranks based on the entry criteria.

  • A completed 4-year bachelor or bachelor honours degree or higher in a field relevant to the chosen engineering specialisation from a recognised higher education institution.
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Note:

Please note that entry requirements for this degree are provisional and subject to change.

Why Master of Professional Engineering (Civil)?

The work of civil engineers is all around us - From sprawling undersea tunnels to earthquake-resistant buildings, high-speed rail networks, smart water systems and offshore wind farms.  

Industry demand for civil engineers is soaring. With major public infrastructure spend estimated to hit $230 billion, civil engineers are now the most in demand of all engineering specialists (Infrastructure Australia, 2023).  

If you’re a civil engineer looking to extend your skills, our Master of Professional Engineering (Civil) is for you. 

Combining advanced theory with opportunities to practise your skills in professional settings, you’ll graduate with the expertise to take your engineering career to the next level. 

program overview

Overview

Our Master of Professional Engineering (Civil) is designed to challenge you and extend your knowledge, so you can take your civil engineering career to the next level. 

With our elective-driven degree structure, you can tailor your studies to your specific civil engineering interests and career goals. Whether that’s advanced steel design, hydrology and flood management, structural mechanics, geotechnical engineering design – or something else entirely – you’ll find plenty of options. 

Core courses in construction project management and data analytics enable you to deepen and formalise your project management expertise. 

A deeply practical degree, you’ll put your learning into practise through a major research project and up to 450 hours of industry placement. 

All these experiences come together to ensure you’ll graduate with the advanced technical and professional skills needed to achieve your career goals. 

What you'll learn

Our degree is structured with both a foundation and extension year. Depending on your professional experience and educational qualifications, you might be eligible to receive credit for the first year and progress straight into second year.

The first year of this degree covers essential civil engineering knowledge, with courses available in:

  • Geotechnical engineering design 
  • Hydrology and flood management 
  • Reinforced concrete design 
  • Structural mechanics 
  • Structural steel design 
  • Timber and masonry design 
  • Water distribution systems. 

You’ll also complete courses in engineering data analytics and construction project management.

Complete professional industry placement in your first year. You’ll complete up to 450 hours of placement in a relevant industry setting.

In second year, you’ll complete advanced courses, tailored to your interests and career aspirations. Courses are available in a wide range of areas, including:

  • Adaptive reuse of structures 
  • Advanced reinforced concrete design 
  • Advanced steel design 
  • Constitutive modelling in geotech 
  • Finite element theory 
  • Green infrastructure 
  • Numerical methods in geotechnical design 
  • Numerical modelling of solids and structures 
  • Prestressed concrete design 
  • Soil and groundwater remediation 
  • Steel concrete composite design 
  • Structural dynamics – wind and earthquake 
  • Traffic and transport modelling 
  • Unsaturated soil mechanics and expansive soils 
  • Water and wastewater treatment  
  • Water quality modelling 
  • Water resources systems for changing climate. 

In your final year, you’ll also complete a major research project. 

You’ll be able to complete majority of first year common courses at either our Adelaide City or Mawson Lakes Campus with some potential cross-campus study required. Throughout your degree, you’ll gain access to cutting-edge facilities across both campus locations to enhance your overall learning experience.

Specialisations

The Master of Professional Engineering is also available with specialisations in the following:

  • Chemical  
  • Electrical  
  • Energy Resources  
  • Environmental and Water Resources Management 
  • Mechanical  
  • Mechatronic  
  • Mining 
  • Structural
  • Telecommunications. 

Design a study path that works for you

This degree is part of a stackable set of qualifications, meaning your study choices are flexible. If your goals shift, you can exit after six months of study with a standalone Graduate Certificate or after one year with a Graduate Diploma qualification. 

You can also begin your studies with a shorter qualification like the six-month Graduate Certificate and continue on to complete the Graduate Diploma (one year) or full master’s degree. 

What courses you'll study

Complete 96 units comprising:

  • 36 units for all Core courses, and
  • 12 units for all Work integrated learning, and
  • 48 units for Electives

Complete 36 units for ALL of the following:

Course name Course code Units
course icon
Course name
Civil and Environmental Design Project
Course code
ENGIX403
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Professional Engineering Management
Course code
ENGI5003
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Engineering Data Analytics
Course code
ENGI5006
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project A
Course code
ENGI6900
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project B
Course code
ENGI6901
Units
12

Course name Course code Units
Year 1
Semester 1
Course name
Professional Engineering Management
Course code
ENGI5003
Units
6
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Career Preparation
Course code
ENGI5900
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Semester 2
Course name
Engineering Data Analytics
Course code
ENGI5006
Units
6
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Engagement with Professional Practice
Course code
ENGI5901
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Year 2
Semester 1
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project A
Course code
ENGI6900
Units
6
Course name
Civil and Environmental Design Project
Course code
ENGIX403
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Semester 2
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project B
Course code
ENGI6901
Units
12
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6

Complete 12 units for ALL of the following:

Course name Course code Units
course icon
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Career Preparation
Course code
ENGI5900
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Engagement with Professional Practice
Course code
ENGI5901
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
Year 1
Semester 1
Course name
Professional Engineering Management
Course code
ENGI5003
Units
6
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Career Preparation
Course code
ENGI5900
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Semester 2
Course name
Engineering Data Analytics
Course code
ENGI5006
Units
6
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Engagement with Professional Practice
Course code
ENGI5901
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Year 2
Semester 1
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project A
Course code
ENGI6900
Units
6
Course name
Civil and Environmental Design Project
Course code
ENGIX403
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Semester 2
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project B
Course code
ENGI6901
Units
12
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6

Complete 48 units comprising:

  • 24 units from Level 5 Civil Electives, and
  • 24 units from Level 6 Civil Electives

Course name Course code Units
course icon
Course name
Geotechnical Engineering Design
Course code
ENGCX300
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Hydrology and Flood Management
Course code
ENGCX301
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Reinforced Concrete Design
Course code
ENGCX302
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Structural Mechanics
Course code
ENGCX303
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Structural Steel Design
Course code
ENGCX304
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Water Engineering Hydraulics and Modelling
Course code
ENGCX305
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Timber and Masonry Design
Course code
ENGCX407
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage
Course code
ENGPX401
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
course icon
Course name
Finite Element Modelling of Structures
Course code
ENGI6006
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Adaptive Reuse of Structures
Course code
ENGCX400
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design
Course code
ENGCX401
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Advanced Steel Design
Course code
ENGCX402
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Numerical Modelling of Solids and Structures
Course code
ENGCX403
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Prestressed Concrete Design
Course code
ENGCX404
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Steel Concrete Composite Design
Course code
ENGCX405
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Structural Dynamics - Wind and Earthquake Engineering
Course code
ENGCX406
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Traffic and Transport Modelling
Course code
ENGCX408
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Constitutive Modelling in Geotechnical Engineering
Course code
ENGCX409
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Design
Course code
ENGCX410
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Unsaturated Soil Mechanics and Expansive Soils
Course code
ENGCX411
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Water and Wastewater Engineering
Course code
ENGPX414
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Soil and Groundwater Remediation
Course code
ENGVX300
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Water Resources Planning and Management
Course code
ENGVX301
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Green Infrastructure
Course code
ENGVX402
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Finite Element Analysis
Course code
ENGMX406
Units
6
course icon
Course name
Water Treatment and Reuse Applications
Course code
ENGCX200
Units
6

Course name Course code Units
Year 1
Semester 1
Course name
Professional Engineering Management
Course code
ENGI5003
Units
6
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Career Preparation
Course code
ENGI5900
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Semester 2
Course name
Engineering Data Analytics
Course code
ENGI5006
Units
6
Course name
Masters Professional Engineer Engagement with Professional Practice
Course code
ENGI5901
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Year 2
Semester 1
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project A
Course code
ENGI6900
Units
6
Course name
Civil and Environmental Design Project
Course code
ENGIX403
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Semester 2
Course name
Masters Engineering Research Project B
Course code
ENGI6901
Units
12
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6
Course name
Course code
-
Units
6

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How to Apply

How to apply

Applications are open for Australian students to study at Adelaide University in 2026.

Your study experience and support

Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.

You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.

Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.

Student services

We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:

  • Career advice and mentoring services
  • Personal counselling
  • LGBTQIA+ support
  • Academic support
  • Fees and finance help
  • Security services
  • Accommodation services
  • Common rooms
  • Prayer rooms.

You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.

Your campus

You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.

This degree is offered at the following campus(es)

Study hours

Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week. 

 

Assessment

During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include: 

  • Case studies  
  • Essays and assignments  
  • Examinations  
  • Group projects  
  • Internships and placements  
  • Practicals  
  • Presentations  
  • Reports and project documentations 
  • Research projects 
  • Workplace and classroom contributions. 
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