The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Bachelor of Innovation and Design is a combined dual degree that integrates accredited professional engineering training with design thinking, innovation management, and entrepreneurship. Typically spanning five years of full-time study, the degree equips students with deep technical expertise in an engineering discipline of their choice — such as Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Software, Biomedical, Robotics and Mechatronics, or Product Design — while simultaneously building capability in design strategy, human-centred design, systems thinking, and innovation practice. The Engineering component is accredited by Engineers Australia at the Professional Engineer level and is recognised internationally through the Washington Accord, meaning graduates are eligible to practise as engineers in numerous countries around the world.

The degree is designed for students who want more than a traditional engineering qualification — it suits those who are equally passionate about creativity, entrepreneurship, and the human dimension of technology. The Innovation and Design component covers design management, product and service design, design research, entrepreneurship, and future-oriented thinking, equipping graduates to not only build solutions but to identify problems worth solving and bring ideas to market. Students develop an unusually broad skill set that bridges the gap between technical engineering and strategic innovation, making them highly attractive to employers across both established industries and emerging sectors.

Graduates are employed across a wide spectrum of Australian and global industries, including advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, technology, defence, energy, automotive, biomedical devices, consultancy, and the public sector. Employers include engineering consultancies, government agencies such as the Department of Defence and state transport authorities, major construction and resource companies, technology firms, design studios, and innovation-driven start-ups. The combination of an accredited engineering degree with a design and innovation credential gives graduates a unique competitive advantage in a job market that increasingly demands professionals who can lead change, manage complexity, and deliver human-centred technological solutions.

Domestic applicants are typically required to have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification (or equivalent interstate or international secondary qualification) and achieve a competitive ATAR or selection rank. For combined Engineering and Design/Innovation degrees, ATAR thresholds typically range from approximately 70 to 85+, depending on the institution and engineering specialisation chosen. Prerequisite subjects almost universally include Mathematics (typically Mathematical Methods or equivalent) at a strong level, and Physics is either required or highly recommended. Chemistry may also be recommended depending on the engineering major selected (e.g., Chemical or Biomedical Engineering). Some institutions offer guaranteed entry at lower ATARs for eligible students, and many accept applications from mature-age students, TAFE/VET graduates, and applicants with prior university study, with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) potentially available.

For international students, English language proficiency must be demonstrated through accepted tests such as IELTS (typically an overall band of 6.5 with no sub-band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT (overall around 87), or PTE Academic (overall around 64). Some institutions provide foundation or bridging programs for students who do not meet English or mathematics prerequisites directly. Where a portfolio or creative aptitude component is required for the Design element of the degree, applicants may need to submit design folios, demonstrate relevant creative or technical work, or attend an interview — though this varies by institution.

Alternative entry pathways exist for students who do not meet the standard ATAR requirements, including completion of an approved Diploma or Advanced Diploma through a TAFE or registered provider, enabling or bridging courses, and consideration of relevant work experience and adjustment factors such as socioeconomic background, school location, and high achievement in relevant senior secondary subjects. All domestic undergraduate places in accredited engineering degrees at Australian universities are Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs), meaning the Australian Government subsidises a significant portion of tuition costs.