Civil engineering lies in every element of today’s infrastructure. They design, construct, manage, maintain, and assess sustainability. Structural engineering ensures that structures are safe, long-lasting, appealing, and cost-effective. Surveying aids in all construction and infrastructure engineering aspects in urban and rural settings. Surveyors work alongside engineers, architects, and land developers.
An undergraduate degree in civil engineering in Australia will build your foundation of knowledge by covering the fundamentals and the more complex theoretical and practical aspects of the field. A postgraduate degree will allow you to specialize in a variety of fields.
The fields of specialization include Construction Management, Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering, and Water Resources Engineering.
We are all aware that Australia is aiming to invest in larger and better infrastructure projects as a result of the ongoing growth of the world's population. Australia requires a lot of civil engineers for these projects, and local civil engineers and graduates open the doors to many opportunities.
Civil engineers are one of the highest-paid occupations in the world. The average salary of engineering graduates in Australia is around AUD 81,000 annually.
Global ranking of some of the top universities in Australia for Civil Engineering courses
The top civil engineering universities in Australia are listed below based on the "Best Global Universities for Civil Engineering in Australia" by USnews.
World Ranking |
Universities/Colleges |
Location |
15 |
University of New South Wales |
Kensington |
22 |
Monash University |
Clayton |
32 |
Curtin University |
Bentley |
40 |
University of Sydney |
Sydney |
43 |
RMIT University |
Melbourne (Australia) |
52 |
University of Technology Sydney |
Ultimo |
61 |
Swinburne University of Technology |
Hawthorn |
62 |
Western Sydney University |
Penrith |
66 |
University of Melbourne |
Parkville |
69 |
University of Adelaide |
Adelaide |
72 |
University of Western Australia |
Crawley |
Programs for Bachelors in Civil Engineering with tuition fees in Australia
A Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering is a 3–5 year course in Australia. The tuition fee for international students ranges from $33,000 to $52,000 per annum.
Your foundational knowledge will be built upon by an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from one of Australia's leading universities, covering the field's fundamental and complex theoretical and practical aspects.
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One can apply for a professional engineer's license in Australia with a bachelor's degree in engineering, research papers, and professional experience.
In Australia, a civil engineer earns around $80,000 a year.
The following table provides a list of some of the universities and the tuition fees for overseas students offering a bachelor's program in civil engineering.
Universities/Colleges |
Courses |
Tuition fees per annum in AUD |
Duration/Credit hours |
University of New South Wales |
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil) |
$49,600 |
4 years |
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering with Architecture) (Honours) |
$48,295 |
||
Monash University |
Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) |
$48,300 |
4 years |
Curtin University |
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Construction Engineering)(Hons)) |
$35,700 |
4 years |
University of Sydney |
Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Civil Engineering) |
$52,000 |
4 years |
RMIT University |
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Infrastructure) (Honours) |
$41,280 |
4 years |
University of Technology Sydney |
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil) |
$24,280 (Per Session for 24 credit points.) |
4 years |
Bachelor of Engineering Science (Civil) |
$139,968 (Total Course fee) |
3 years |
|
Swinburne University of Technology |
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) with a major in Civil |
$38600 |
4 years |
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Professional) with a major in Civil |
$38600 |
5 Year/s |
|
Western Sydney University |
Bachelor of Engineering Advanced (Honours) Major in civil engineering |
$33,040 |
4 years |
University of Melbourne |
Bachelor of Science (Civil Engineering) |
$45,848-$45,944 |
3 years |
Bachelor of Design (Civil Engineering) |
$37,264-$49,048 |
||
University of Adelaide |
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)(Civil) |
$46,000 |
5 years |
Academic Requirement:
- Completion of higher secondary education equivalent to Australian year 12
- Applicants are generally required to have a strong mathematics and science background in their high school education to enter an engineering program.
- A minimum score of 65% to 80% is required.
Suppose the applicant does not meet the entry requirement to the course. In that case, the possible pathway could be completing a year of university-level courses in the home country and then applying for a bachelor's program.
English Language Requirement:
- A TOEFL score of 64 overall, with at least 12 in listening, 13 in reading, 18 in speaking, and 21 in writing.
- A PTE score of 50 overall with no section below 50.
- An IELTS score of 6.0 overall, with at least 6.0 in each section.
Programs for Masters in Civil Engineering with tuition fees in Australia
In Australia, a master's degree in civil engineering takes one to two years to complete. Tuition for international students ranges from $27,000 to $64,000 per year.
The design and construction of buildings, bridges and other structural infrastructure elements are this degree's main topics. On a significant civil engineering design project with clients from the industry, students will acquire sophisticated skills in engineering research methodologies and project management.
Graduates from Australia in Civil Engineering can pursue careers as civil engineers, structural engineers, engineering project managers, or engineering operations managers.
The table below lists some universities that offer master's programs in civil engineering and the tuition fees for international students.
Universities/Colleges |
Courses |
Tuition fees per annum in AUD |
Duration/Credit hours |
University of New South Wales |
Master of Engineering Science (Civil Engineering) |
$49,205 |
2 years |
Master of Engineering (Civil Engineering) |
$36,395 |
||
Monash University |
Civil Engineering |
$50,400 |
1 year |
Curtin University |
Master of Professional Engineering (Civil Engineering) |
$38,500 |
2 years |
University of Sydney |
Master of Engineering (Civil Engineering) |
$49,000 |
1.5 years |
Master of Professional Engineering (Civil) |
3 years |
||
RMIT University |
Master of Engineering (Civil Engineering) |
$42,240 |
2 years |
University of Technology Sydney |
Master of Engineering (Civil Engineering) |
$64,440 (Total Course fee) |
1 year |
Master of Professional Engineering (Civil) |
$85,920 (Total Course fee) |
2 years |
|
Swinburne University of Technology |
Master of Engineering Practice (Civil) |
$35,400 |
1 year |
Master of Engineering Science (Civil) |
$38600 |
2 years |
|
Master of Professional Engineering (Civil) |
$42600 |
2 years |
|
Western Sydney University |
Master of Engineering (Civil) |
$33,280 |
2 years |
University of Melbourne |
Master of Civil Engineering |
$48,320 |
3 years |
University of Adelaide |
Master of Engineering (Civil and Environmental) |
$46,000 |
2 years |
Academic Requirement:
- Completion of a four-year Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or equivalent.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.
English Language Requirement:
- A TOEFL score of 79 overall, with at least 12 in listening, 13 in reading, 18 in speaking, and 21 in writing.
- A PTE score of 58 overall with no section below 50.
- An IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 in each section.
Programs for PhD in Civil Engineering with tuition fees in Australia
Doctoral programs in civil engineering typically focus on cutting-edge, practical principles or philosophical understandings of what civil engineering means for society.
A few universities in Australia provide graduate research degrees in civil engineering. A civil engineering doctorate qualifies students for positions in academia. This degree proves your expertise and enthusiasm for your chosen field.
Your industry-specific study may make a strong addition to your resume and create many opportunities in the engineering field in Australia's reputed companies.
The table below lists some of the universities that offer PhD programs in civil engineering and the tuition fees for international students.
Universities/Colleges |
Courses |
Tuition fees per annum in AUD |
Duration/Credit hours |
Monash University |
PhD in Civil Engineering |
$48,300 |
3-4 years |
University of Sydney |
Doctor of Philosophy (Civil Engineering) |
$50,000 |
3 to 4 years |
RMIT University |
PhD (Civil Engineering) |
$37,440 |
3-4 years |
Swinburne University of Technology |
Doctor of Philosophy (Civil Engineering) |
$38960 |
4 years |
University of Melbourne |
PhD in Infrastructure engineering (civil engineering) |
$49,632 |
4 years |
Academic Requirement:
- A bachelor's degree requiring at least four years of full-time study in a relevant field, and which normally includes a research component in the fourth year, leading to honours in a relevant field
OR
- A master's degree that includes a research component comprised of at least 25% of a full-time academic year (or part-time equivalent) with an overall distinction average or a master's degree without a research component with at least a high distinction average;
English Language Requirement:
- A TOEFL score of 79 overall, with at least 12 in listening, 13 in reading, 18 in speaking, and 21 in writing.
- A PTE score of 58 overall with no section below 50.
- An IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 in each section.
Top Civil Engineering University in Australia: Scholarships
Financial support is usually available in doctorate-level programs. Scholarships are important for an international student as it helps to ease the financial burden. Studying abroad requires a lot of investment in terms of finance, irrespective of the programme, course, university, or country in Australia.
The following table lists some scholarships awarded to international students in Australia.
Universities/Colleges |
Scholarships |
Amount in AUD |
Monash University |
Monash Scholarship |
Up to $280,000 |
Engineering International Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship |
A$ 40,000 |
|
Curtin University |
Curtin International Scholarships |
25% of the first-year tuition fee |
University of Sydney |
Sydney Scholars India Scholarship Program |
Up to A$ 40,000 |
Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarships Scheme |
Up to A$ 40,000 |
|
RMIT University |
RMIT Foundation Studies Bursary |
20% of tuition fee |
University of Melbourne |
Mann Scholarship |
Up to $20,000 |
Paterson Scholarship |
$12,000 - $20,000 |
|
University of Adelaide |
The University of Adelaide Global Citizens Scholarship |
Up to 30% of tuition |
Top Civil Engineering University in Australia: Scope
Engineers in civil and construction engineering earn among the highest salaries in the country. Civil engineers work in construction, design, specialized consulting, scientific and technical services, transportation, and government at all levels.
By accepting a variety of roles, graduates of civil engineering have the chance to work in both engineering and non-engineering fields in Australia. Top Employers in Australia include enterprises in building and mining, engineering and infrastructure consulting, harbour and airport authorities, municipal councils, public works agencies, and project management consultants.
For a successful career in various sectors, you will gain skills in engineering and technology, building and construction, sustainable design, and project management. Career options include:
- Surveying
- Engineering consulting
- Construction
- Financial and management consultancies
- Government
Job Title |
Range |
Average |
Civil Engineer |
AU$56k - AU$105k |
AU$74,126 |
Structural Engineer |
AU$59k - AU$108k |
AU$78,528 |
Geotechnical Engineer |
AU$60k - AU$115k |
AU$82,165 |
Project Engineer |
AU$58k - AU$97k |
AU$73,673 |
Project Manager |
AU$69k - AU$158k |
AU$102,737 |
Contract Administrator |
AU$60k - AU$130k |
AU$86,603 |
Design Engineer |
AU$57k - AU$135k |
AU$82,687 |
Project Coordinator |
AU$54k - AU$99k |
AU$70,437 |