Master of Engineering in Australia: Which Route Fits Your First Degree
TL;DR: Which Master of Engineering in Australia fits you depends on your first degree. Graduates with a three-year engineering bachelor's or a non-accredited four-year degree usually take a two-year professional engineering master's, such as UTS's Master of Professional Engineering. Graduates with an accredited four-year engineering degree can often take a shorter course: UTS's Master of Engineering runs one year for a recognised engineering bachelor's. Check that your chosen specialisation is fully accredited by Engineers Australia, because only full accreditation brings recognition under the Washington Accord.
"Master of Engineering" in Australia covers courses built for very different graduates. Some are designed to take you to professional engineer level from a three-year degree. Others assume you already hold an accredited engineering degree and add depth. Choosing the wrong type can add a year of study, or leave you with a specialisation that is not yet fully accredited.
This guide sets out the two main course types, compares three courses from UNSW Sydney and UTS using their own pages, explains what accreditation means for your choice, and ends with the checks to make before you apply. If you are applying from Sri Lanka, the local points are near the end.
Not sure which entry route your degree qualifies for? Check your eligibility with Prosper.
What are the two types of engineering master's in Australia?
- Professional engineering master's. Built to reach the level of Professional Engineer, usually in two years. UTS says its Master of Professional Engineering is for graduates with "either a three-year Bachelor of Technology or a non-accredited four-year Bachelor of Engineering".
- Advanced or specialist Master of Engineering. Shorter for graduates who already hold an accredited engineering degree. UTS says holders of an accredited Bachelor of Engineering "should apply for the Master of Engineering or Master of Engineering (Extension)" instead of the professional course.
Some universities combine both in one course. UNSW's Master of Engineering is a two-year degree that accepts a four-year engineering bachelor's completed outside Australia or a three-year engineering science degree.
How do three courses compare?
From each course page today.
| Course | Length | Who it is for | English | CRICOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNSW Master of Engineering (8621) | 2 years | 4-year Bachelor of Engineering (or equivalent) in a related field, not completed in Australia, or a 3-year Bachelor of Engineering Science; minimum 65% average | See UNSW's English requirements page | 067604G |
| UTS Master of Professional Engineering (C04309) | 2 years full time | 3-year Bachelor of Technology or non-accredited 4-year Bachelor of Engineering | IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, writing 6.0 | 088084G |
| UTS Master of Engineering (C04271) | 1 year with a UTS-recognised engineering bachelor's; 1.5 years without | Graduates with a bachelor's degree, graduate diploma or graduate certificate, with at least 75% of subjects passed | IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, writing 6.0 | 081087F |
UNSW takes students in Terms 1, 2 and 3. UTS lists Autumn and Spring sessions for 2027. Neither page showed a 2027 international fee when we checked, so confirm the fee on the course page or with the university before you apply. Run any course through the CRICOS course search too.
Want to check which of these routes your degree fits?
Why does accreditation matter for your choice?
Accreditation is decided specialisation by specialisation, not just course by course.
- UNSW. Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical and Telecommunications specialisations "are fully accredited with Engineers Australia at the level of Professional Engineer. Graduates are recognised internationally through the Washington Accord." Mining, Renewable Energy and Biomedical are provisionally accredited, and UNSW says they are not recognised under the Washington Accord until they move to full accreditation.
- UTS. The Master of Professional Engineering majors in Biomedical, Civil, Cybersecurity and Mechanical Engineering are fully accredited and "recognised internationally by signatories to the Washington Accord." Electrical Energy Systems, Robotics, and Telecommunications and Electronics are provisionally accredited.
Engineers Australia states the same principle for qualifications it recognises through the Accords: "Your program is listed as fully accredited, provisional accreditation isn't sufficient."
Which route fits your first degree?
| Your first degree | Course type that usually fits | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 3-year engineering or technology degree | 2-year professional engineering master's | Whether your subjects count as a related field |
| 4-year engineering degree, not accredited | 2-year professional engineering master's | The minimum average, such as UNSW's 65% |
| 4-year accredited engineering degree | 1-year to 1.5-year Master of Engineering | Whether the university recognises your degree for the shorter version |
| Science or maths degree | Ask the university | Some courses accept only engineering-related degrees |
Comparing destinations? Our guides to the Master of Engineering in New Zealand and MSc Engineering Management in the UK cover the same choice elsewhere. For the English side, see Australia student visa English requirements.
Applying from Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka became a full signatory of the Washington Accord in 2014, through the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL). Engineers Australia recognises Accord degrees only when the program was fully accredited at the time you completed it, so check your degree on the International Engineering Alliance qualification checker before you apply for a shorter course.
- A three-year engineering technology degree from a Sri Lankan institute generally points to the two-year professional route. Ask the university to confirm in writing how it assesses your degree.
- Request transcripts showing every subject and grade. Universities use them to decide your entry route and any credit.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a Master of Engineering in Australia?
Usually one to two years. UTS's Master of Engineering is one year with a recognised engineering bachelor's; two-year courses such as UNSW's Master of Engineering and UTS's Master of Professional Engineering suit other backgrounds.
Can I do a Master of Engineering in Australia with a three-year degree?
Yes, on professional engineering courses. UTS's Master of Professional Engineering accepts a three-year Bachelor of Technology, and UNSW accepts a three-year Bachelor of Engineering Science.
What IELTS score do I need?
UTS asks for IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6.0 in writing for both its engineering master's. Check each university's own requirement.
PS: Start with your transcript, not the course list. The length and type of your first degree decide your route before anything else. Check your eligibility with Prosper and we will tell you which route fits.
Lasantha Jayawardena
References
- Master of Engineering, UNSW Sydney. https://www.unsw.edu.au/study/postgraduate/master-of-engineering (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Master of Professional Engineering, University of Technology Sydney. https://www.uts.edu.au/courses/master-of-professional-engineering (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Master of Engineering, University of Technology Sydney. https://www.uts.edu.au/courses/master-of-engineering (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Migration skills assessment, Engineers Australia. https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/migration-skills-assessment (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Welcome to the newest Washington Accord signatories, India and Sri Lanka (20 June 2014), Engineers Australia. https://portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/node/903 (accessed 21 October 2026)
