The Bachelor of Engineering (Maritime) (Honours) is a four-year undergraduate degree that equips students with specialist engineering knowledge and skills to design, build, operate, and maintain maritime vessels and ocean systems. The program typically covers a broad foundation of engineering science in the first two years — including mathematics, physics, mechanics, and fluid dynamics — before transitioning into specialised maritime disciplines such as naval architecture, ocean engineering, and marine and offshore engineering. Students gain expertise in ship design and construction, hydrodynamics, structural analysis, marine propulsion systems, offshore platform engineering, and maritime safety regulations, making this one of Australia's most technically demanding and career-focused engineering qualifications.

This degree suits students who are passionate about ships, the ocean, the defence sector, or offshore energy systems. Graduates are prepared to work across a remarkably diverse range of industries: commercial shipping and port operations, defence and naval shipbuilding, offshore oil and gas, marine renewable energy, coastal infrastructure, maritime research, and government regulatory agencies. In Australia, the degree is accredited by Engineers Australia, meaning graduates can pursue membership as a professional engineer upon graduation. The program is often delivered through a 2+2 partnership structure, where students begin at one institution and complete their specialisation at Australia's premier maritime training and research facility.

Employers of graduates include major defence contractors such as ASC, BAE Systems Australia, Austal, and Thales; global engineering consultancies including AECOM, WSP, and KBR; offshore oil and gas operators; state and federal government maritime agencies; the Royal Australian Navy; shipping and port authorities; and marine technology firms. The degree's close ties to industry — through co-operative education programs, industry placements, and access to world-class testing and simulation facilities — give graduates an immediate competitive advantage in a sector experiencing unprecedented growth driven by Australia's national defence strategy.

Domestic applicants are generally required to complete Year 12 or an equivalent Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification. Entry is competitive and based primarily on an ATAR, with recent cut-offs typically ranging from approximately 70 to 85 depending on the institution and intake year. Most programs require prerequisite subjects in Mathematics (at the highest available level, such as Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics) and at least one of Physics, Chemistry, or Engineering Studies. Some institutions offer alternative admission pathways for mature-age applicants, TAFE/vocational graduates, or students with prior university study, including credit transfer arrangements. Applicants who do not initially meet ATAR requirements may also be considered based on individual subject results or through preparatory bridging programs.

For international applicants, proof of English language proficiency is required. A typical minimum is an IELTS Academic score of 6.0 with no individual band below 5.5, or equivalent scores in PTE Academic (minimum 50), TOEFL iBT, or Cambridge English assessments. Evidence of the test must generally have been obtained within the last two years. Applicants from countries where English is the primary language of instruction may be exempt from this requirement if their prior studies were conducted in English.

Some programs, particularly those with a co-operative education stream, may involve additional selection processes such as interviews or aptitude assessments to ensure suitability for industry placements. Students already working in the maritime sector — for example, those holding a Chief Engineer Class 1 STCW management-level certification or an Advanced Diploma of Maritime Operations — may be eligible for recognised prior learning (RPL) or accelerated credit pathways into the degree. Completion of the degree makes graduates eligible to apply for membership with Engineers Australia as a professional engineer, subject to any additional requirements set by the institution.