The Master of Engineering (by Research) is a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) qualification at AQF Level 9, designed for engineers who wish to deepen their expertise through original, supervised research rather than coursework. Unlike its coursework-based counterpart, this degree is predominantly or entirely research-focused — students work closely with academic supervisors to design, execute, and report on a substantial engineering research project, culminating in a thesis typically between 20,000 and 50,000 words. Disciplines covered span the full breadth of engineering, including civil and structural, mechanical and aerospace, electrical and electronic, chemical and materials, biomedical, environmental, mechatronic, software, mining, petroleum, and renewable energy engineering. The degree typically takes one to two years full-time to complete, though part-time enrolment options are available at many institutions.

This qualification suits practising engineers seeking to solve an advanced technical problem relevant to their industry, as well as graduates who wish to develop rigorous research skills as a pathway to a PhD, academic career, or senior R&D role. Research topics are often co-developed with industry partners, government bodies, cooperative research centres, and CSIRO, meaning findings have real-world application. Employers of graduates include engineering consulting firms, major infrastructure and mining companies, defence and aerospace organisations, energy utilities, biomedical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, government agencies, and universities. The degree is recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework and, in many cases, aligns with Engineers Australia's professional accreditation standards.

Most Australian universities require applicants to hold a bachelor's degree at AQF Level 7 (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering or applied science discipline, with a minimum academic performance — typically an overall average of 65% or above in the final year of study, though some institutions require a first-class or upper second-class honours result (70%+). Many programs also accept applicants with a four-year honours bachelor's degree or a graduate diploma in a cognate field. Applicants are generally expected to submit a research proposal outlining their intended topic and methodology, and they must secure the support of a qualified academic supervisor before their application can be formally assessed. Relevant industry experience may be considered as part of the application, particularly for candidates whose undergraduate degree was completed more than two years prior.

For international applicants and domestic applicants from non-English-speaking backgrounds, English language proficiency must be demonstrated. The standard benchmark across Australian universities is an IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no individual band below 6.0, though research-intensive programs may require a higher overall band of 7.0 given the demands of scholarly writing and academic communication. Equivalent scores from PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, and other approved tests are also accepted. Domestic students who receive an offer are typically automatically considered for a Government-funded Research Training Program (RTP) place, which may fully offset tuition fees. Prospective students should note that meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an offer — competition for supervisory capacity and research resources also plays a role in final selection.