Master of Engineering (Electrical Systems)

Course at a Glance

• Code: MEE
• Course Length: 2 Years (part-time)
• Course taught in English

Programme Details

The rapid development of the renewable field has led to a shortage of fully skilled electrical engineers who are competent in both classic power system operation and renewable system integration.

The programme presents the widely used wind and solar energy as centralized and distributed power sources as well as the effects of renewable integration on classic power issues. You will also learn energy storage as an integral part of a microgrid or at a larger utility level. You will get the opportunity to understand the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning as data-driven approaches in smart grids with the application of smart meters. The section on project management provides the skills required for the effective management of power generation, transmission, and distribution projects.

The Project Thesis, the capstone of the programme, requires a high level of personal autonomy and accountability, as it reinforces the knowledge and skill base developed in the previous units. As a significant research component of the programme, this project will facilitate research, critical evaluation, and the application of knowledge and skills with creativity and initiative, enabling you to critique current professional practice in the electrical engineering industry.

Accreditation

Like all Australian higher education providers and universities, EIT programmes are accredited by the exacting standards of the Australian Government’s Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). This master’s degree is provisionally accredited by Engineers Australia under the Washington Accord. It is internationally recognized under the International Engineering Alliance (IEA) accords and the various signatories.

• Investigate, analyse and present technical ideas, information and solutions on electrical system problems and projects.
• Identify, critically analyse and creatively solve intellectually complex, specialised professional engineering problems in power generation, power transmission system design and analysis, substation automation, power system safety, renewable energy systems, and power system quality and mitigation.
• Source, analyse, synthesize, design and communicate projects and information.
• Apply complex problem-solving methods to power transmission systems, power system safety and power quality systems as professional electrical system engineers in a practical, independent, sustainable and ethical manner with a socially, environmentally and economically accountable ethos.
• Apply fundamental power generation and power system design principles; evaluate power system safety and protection; assess smart grids, power stability, and operational analysis; validate knowledge of substation automation; conduct systematic project management.
• Execute applied research projects with independent scholarship, advanced research, planning, and leadership with accountability and sound research ethos.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate sound fundamental understanding of the scientific and engineering principles and apply underpinning natural, physical and engineering sciences, mathematics, statistics, computer and information sciences to solve problems in electrical systems engineering.
2. Apply in-depth as well as broad understanding of the relevant specialist body of knowledge within the electrical systems engineering discipline including: fundamental power generation and power system design principles; evaluation power system safety and protection; assessing smart grids; power stability and operational analysis; substation automation and systematic project management.
3. Reflect critically on a broad body of engineering knowledge to plan and execute an electrical systems engineering research based project, with awareness to knowledge development and research direction within the engineering discipline.
4. Draw on the knowledge of engineering design practice and understand the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the electrical systems engineering discipline.
5. Apply systematic approaches, design processes and established engineering methods, tools, techniques and resources, underpinned by hazard and risk framework considerations to conduct and manage electrical systems engineering projects.
6. Communicate effectively technical ideas, design concepts or research results to a diverse audience.
7. Ability to recognise and pro-actively engage in ongoing professional development and lifelong learning, as well as develop creative and innovative solutions to engineering problems.
8. Demonstrate professional use and management of information.
9. Apply discipline and professional knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, adaptability and responsibility as a professional engineer.
10. Ability to work as a member of a cross disciplinary team in a manner consistent with ethical and professional standards.

Potential Job Outcomes

Potential job roles include engineering and management positions in the following areas of expertise:

• Electrical and electronics system design
• Instrumentation, control systems & automation
• Oil & gas
• Systems engineering
• Communication systems
• Embedded systems
• Mining
• Manufacturing
• Building
• Electric vehicles
• Power generation & distribution
• Renewable and energy storage systems

Programme Structure

You must complete 48 credit points comprising twelve core units and one capstone thesis. There are no electives in this programme. The programme duration is two years, and we deliver units over four terms per year, so you will take two units per term. There will be a short break between years.

Year One

Year Two

Additional Mandatory Units

*Applicable to students gaining entry under option 1) or 4) of the Entry Requirements.

Graduate Diploma of Engineering (Electrical Systems)

Students who elect to exit the programme after successfully completing all of the first-year units, as outlined above, can opt to receive EIT’s Graduate Diploma of Engineering (Electrical Systems). If students wish to finalize the Master qualification after exiting at the Graduate Diploma level, they will need to re-enrol in the programme and relinquish the Graduate Diploma testamur.

Rules of Progression

You can only attempt the Project Thesis once you have successfully completed all other units. All engineering disciplines are built up of individual bodies of knowledge that together target a specific application. It not only relies on the combined body of knowledge from the undergraduate degree, specifically mathematics, physics, and discipline knowledge but also on the various units that form this programme.

The Year-1 level units are designed at the Australian Qualifications Framework level eight (Graduate Diploma). The knowledge from each unit allows you to be able to investigate challenging problems, analyse and synthesize complex solutions, and communicate your solutions and ideas.

This will enable successful progress to the Year-2 level units at the Australian Qualifications Framework level nine (master’s degree). All this knowledge is brought together as you tackle complex application problems in your final thesis.

The content of each unit is designed to provide a graduated increase in knowledge and skills from the Year-1 level units to the Year-2 level units culminating in a Project Thesis. All units must be passed, or have exemptions, to achieve the qualification.

The Graduate Diploma of Engineering is nestled within the master’s degree as an exit point only after the successful completion of all the Year-1 level units of the programme. Both qualifications have the same entry requirements. The second year of the master’s degree does not serve as an entry point.

Work-Integrated Learning

EIT’s Master of Engineering programmes require students to undertake 240 hours of paid or unpaid professional work-integrated learning. This can incorporate paid or unpaid internships, site visits, contributing to industry projects, and networking activities.

In undertaking an internship, students will interact with employees and become exposed to organizational policy and culture. You will familiarise yourself with organizational communication procedures, a variety of engineering disciplines, and obtain insight and practical aptitude in projects from the planning phase to completion.

If you already have some work experience in the relevant engineering field, you may apply to have credit granted by completing the associated recognition of prior learning form.

Time Commitment & Duration

Our master’s degrees take two years to complete. We deliver our online master’s degrees on a part-time intensive basis. Part-time students are expected to spend approximately 20 hours per week learning the programme material and completing assessments. This includes attending tutorials.

Our master’s degrees take two years to complete. We deliver our online master’s degrees on a part-time intensive basis. Part-time students are expected to spend approximately 20 hours per week learning the program material and completing assessments. This includes attending tutorials.