Gain a competitive advantage and graduate with industry experience by combining your academic study with paid employment and on-the-job training.
Not applicable
Complete two mechanical engineering qualifications over five years, all while being employed by a leading industry partner organisation. As you undertake your studies, you will gain valuable paid workplace experience, be mentored and build industry connections with our Earn and Learn Degree Apprenticeship model.
Co-designed and delivered with leading industry partners, the Degree Apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering is a winning blend of study and work.
You'll undertake your formal training at university, learning from highly qualified teachers. At the same time you'll be employed by a leading industry partner, earning a full-time salary, working with experts in a real workplace, dealing with real-world challenges.
Through this combination of formal education in the classroom and practical experience at work, you will develop the skills needed to adapt to new situations and find new solutions; skills that are in high demand by employers across industries and professions.
Enjoy the security of paid employment throughout your studies. Plus, your employer contributes towards your fees, reducing the costs of your studies and making them more financially achievable.
Working alongside experienced professionals means you'll develop the hands-on skills needed to adapt to new situations and find new solutions; skills that are in high demand by employers across industries and professions.
RMIT's unique model combines vocational and higher education, meaning you'll graduate with both a vocational qualification and a bachelor's degree, as well as the knowledge and practical skills relevant to the needs of your industry.
Right from day one, you're employed as a trainee engineer. You'll be employed under an employment and training contract for a period of five years. Over that time, you'll spend about 40% of your time studying and 60% of your time working with your employer.
During your employment, you'll work on employer-directed projects under the supervision of experienced industry professionals as a fully integrated member of the team.
Being employed while you're studying means you're exposed to the full range of industry work experience and real-world learning on the job. You're acquiring valuable workplace skills while attaining a formal qualification, applying your theoretical knowledge by working alongside and learning from experts in the field.
By the time you complete this degree apprenticeship, you will have had with five years of work experience and graduate with two qualifications—an Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Mechanical) and a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (Honours).
Our strong relationships with leading mechanical and systems engineering industry partners ensure that your training meets industry needs and are relevant to contemporary and future workplaces.
RMIT is ranked 6th in Australia for higher education mechanical engineering*. Combine our world-class teaching with your workplace experience, and you'll be unstoppable when you graduate.
Both qualifications of this degree apprenticeship are accredited by Engineers Australia, which means you'll be able to practise as a professional engineer in many countries around the world.
*QS Ranking by Subject 2024
This degree apprenticeship runs for five years. You will initially enrol in the Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Mechanical) in years 1 and 2. You will then go on to study the Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (Industry Practice) (Honours) for the remaining three years.
You will have two days a week per semester paid time release from your employer to attend classes at RMIT and fulfil your study requirements.
By the time you graduate, you would have earned both a vocational and higher education qualification, while attaining valuable skills and experience in the workplace to become a professional and highly employable mechanical engineer, able to work anywhere in the world.
You'll be equipped with a comprehensive understanding of core engineering principles, such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and materials science. Through your practical and work experience, you'll learn to master the design, analysis, and creation of complex systems and machinery.
With extra emphasis on systems engineering built into the curriculum, you will develop advanced problem-solving skills and hone your ability to innovate and think critically, using a systems engineering approach to synthesise and apply procedures for planning, prototyping and testing to manage complex engineering projects.
You will graduate with the skills needed to practise as a mechanical engineer across a range of industries in Australia and around the world, including transport, power generation, mining, material processing, manufacturing, and air-conditioning and refrigeration systems.
The training contract is a formal agreement between you and the partner employer. This legally binding document outlines the key obligations of both parties, training and supervision requirements, duration of the training and probationary period.
The training contract includes a training plan for the two years of the advanced diploma and a degree learning plan for the three years completing the bachelor's.
These plans outline who provides the training and assessment, and how, when and where it occurs. Stipulations include the units of competency required, the hours you'll spend at university for study, and your study time release patterns.
During the five years of this degree apprenticeship, you're employed on a fixed-term contract.
In your final year, your host employer may have a discussion with you about your future plans, so ongoing employment after graduation is a very real prospect.
Course structure at a glanceDegree Apprenticeship in Mechanical EngineeringThe degree apprenticeship is comprised of two individual mechanical engineering course plans—the Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Mechanical) and the Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (Industry Practice) (Honours). |
||||
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5 |
Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Mechanical)Two days per week on campus study per semester |
Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (Industry Practice) (Honours)Two days per week on campus study per semester |
|||
Paid employment and on-the-job training with a leading industry partner (your employer) |
||||
For full details of the course plans, including structures and subjects, please visit the individual course plan pages below:
Mechanical engineers are consistently in demand across multiple industries, including automotive, aerospace, renewable energy, and healthcare.
As technology evolves, mechanical engineers stay at the cutting edge of innovation, working on exciting advancements like automation, artificial intelligence, and sustainability initiatives, making it a future-proof career choice.
Both the advanced diploma and the bachelor's degree are accredited by Engineers Australia, the professional body responsible for the accreditation of higher education programs that prepare students to practise as professional engineers.
As Engineers Australia is a signatory to the Washington Accord, the Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (Honours) is internationally recognised, which means you'll be able to practise as a professional engineer in many countries around the world.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (Honours) are eligible for graduate and/or professional membership of Engineers Australia.
You need to satisfy all of the following academic (entry) requirements to be considered for entry into this course.
There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.
A selection task is not required for entry into this qualification.
You must meet the University's minimum English language requirements to be eligible for a place in this program.
You must be an Australian citizen and be able to clear a National Police Certificate (you will be asked to complete this as a part of the application process).
Entry to the degree apprenticeship is only through employment with one of our participating partner employers. Please note that you will still need to meet the entry requirements above.
Participating employers will be recruiting new apprentices during the last quarter of 2024.
The AI Group Centre for Education and Training is coordinating registrations of interest for this degree apprenticeship. Register your interest to be contacted when vacancies commence.
Your employer pays 50% of your fees, including tuition, materials fees and Student Services Amenity Fees (SSAF). You will pay the remaining 50%, however fee assistance may be available to you via the government's HELP-LOAN schemes.
In addition, as an apprentice you'll earn an income while you study, making your studies more achievable.
For indicative fees, see below.
You will undertake and graduate with two qualifications, the Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Mechanical) and the Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (Honours).
In 2025, the annual tuition fee for the Advanced Diplomas is:
In 2025, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study in an undergraduate degree (including the Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (Honours)) is between AU$4,627 to AU$16,992*.
*Fees shown are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at the time of enrolment.
The student tuition fees as displayed by the fee finder are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the VET Student Loans scheme, which allows eligible students in eligible programs to defer payment of their tuition fees, up to the maximum loan amount for their program.
For information on how to pay your fees or how to apply for a refund, please see Paying your fees and applying for refunds.
The tuition fees you will pay for this program will depend on whether you are offered a Victorian Government subsidised place or a full-fee place. To find out if you are eligible for a government subsidised place, follow the steps at How to check if you are eligible.
Use our fee finder to get an estimate of your fees for the Advanced Diploma.
If you are offered a Commonwealth supported place, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government.
Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set on an annual basis by the government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of your individual enrolled courses, not the overall program.
The Australian Government has introduced changes to university funding and student contribution fees under its Job-ready Graduates Package.
The fees in the table below apply to students who commence their program in 2025. Fees for continuing students are available at fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Each course (subject) falls into a band. The band determines the student contribution amount for the course.
Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all courses in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in courses (subjects) from a combination of bands.
You can learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees for units from different bands at Fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount (per EFTSL) in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Education, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, English, Mathematics, Statistics, Nursing, Indigenous and Foreign Languages, Agriculture | $4,627 per standard year $578 per standard (12 credit point) course |
| Allied Health, Other Health, Built Environment, Computing, Visual and Performing Arts, Professional Pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work, Engineering, Surveying, Environmental Studies, Science, Pathology | $9,314 per standard year $1,164 per standard (12 credit point) course |
| Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science | $13,241 per standard year $1,655 per standard (12 credit point) course |
| Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Communications, Society and Culture | $16,992 per standard year $2,124 per standard (12 credit point) course |
On 1 January 2022, the Government implemented the Student Learning Entitlement (SLE).
For more information about SLE, visit Study Assist.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2025 is $365.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your course, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from course to course.
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the HECS-HELP loan scheme, which allows eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) to defer payment of up to the full amount of their student contribution.
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
If your FEE-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to 100% of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying). The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
Use our Frequently Asked Questions to learn about the application process and its equity access schemes, find out how to accept or defer your offer or request a leave of absence, discover information about your fees, refunds and scholarships, and explore the various student support and advocacy services, as well as how to find out more about your preferred program, and more.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.
