Master of Engineering in Australia: Majors & Universities

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Australian universities offer the Master of Engineering degree across dozens of specialisations, from civil, electrical and mechanical engineering to newer fields like renewable energy and smart manufacturing. Some of these programmes are accredited by Engineers Australia and recognised internationally. Admission through the Saudi scholarship has specific pathways you need to understand before applying.

What Master of Engineering specialisations are available in Australia?

Most major Australian universities offer the Master of Engineering as one flexible programme with multiple specialisations, where you choose your major at application or after the first semester. This varies between universities in the number of streams available and their naming.

Master of Engineering specialisations at the University of New South Wales (UNSW)

UNSW Sydney offers the Master of Engineering across nine specialisations, including:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mining Engineering
• Renewable Energy Engineering
• Telecommunications Engineering

Master of Engineering specialisations at Monash University

Monash University offers the Master of Engineering across eleven specialisations, one of the widest ranges among Australian universities, including: Biological Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Energy Transition Engineering, Engineering Management, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Power Systems, Quantum Engineering, Renewable Energy, and Smart Manufacturing.

This diversity means choosing the university matters as much as choosing the specialisation itself, especially if you’re targeting a niche field like power systems or smart manufacturing that isn’t available at every university. You can review a methodology for choosing your major in the article How to choose your major and university in Australia for the scholarship: a numbers-based approach.

Which are the best universities for engineering in Australia?

UNSW Sydney ranks 25th globally in the by subject for Engineering and Technology 2025 (as of 2025-03-12), the highest-ranked Australian university in this category. In the 2026 edition of the subject rankings, three Australian universities placed among the world’s top 50 in the Engineering and Technology category, according to StudyAustralia.gov.au, though the source doesn’t name the three universities specifically — check the full list on the rankings website itself.

University	Master of Engineering specialisations	Note
UNSW Sydney	9 specialisations	Ranked 25th globally in QS Engineering 2025
Monash University	11 specialisations	Widest range of specialisations among Australian universities
Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, RMIT, Macquarie	Accredited within the engineering field under the R&D PhD pathway	See pathway details below

You can follow broader details on overall university rankings in the article Australian university rankings 2027 in QS and THE: the list and what it means for the scholarship.

Are Master of Engineering programmes in Australia internationally accredited?

Yes. Engineers Australia (Engineers Australia) is the accrediting body for engineering programmes in Australia, and it is a full signatory to three international agreements: the Washington Accord (for the professional engineer), the Sydney Accord (for the engineering technologist), and the Dublin Accord (for the engineering associate). This means an engineering degree from an accredited Australian university is recognised in other countries that are signatories to the same accord.

Australia has been a full member of the Washington Accord since 1989 through Engineers Australia, according to), making it one of the accord’s oldest memberships globally. When choosing a Master of Engineering programme, confirm it is accredited by Engineers Australia if your goal is to practise the profession later or pursue professional registration.

How do you join a Master of Engineering in Australia through the Saudi scholarship?

This depends on which pathway you apply through within the King Salman Scholarship Program (برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث), as not all pathways cover Australia or engineering to the same degree.

Al-Ruwad Pathway

The Al-Ruwad pathway covers bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the top 30 institutions across only 8 countries, and no Australian university is among them, according to the Saudi Ministry of Education. If your goal is specifically an Australian university, this pathway isn’t the right option. Read the details in Al-Ruwad scholarship pathway: requirements, majors, universities and how to apply.

Research and Development Pathway

This pathway is for PhD only, and includes the field of "Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction" at five Australian universities: Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, RMIT, and Macquarie, according to the guidance manual issued by the Saudi Ministry of Education. If your goal is a PhD in engineering after your master’s, this is your pathway.

Emdad Pathway

The Emdad pathway covers bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the top 200 institutions, according to the Saudi Ministry of Education, and its lists include Australian universities across several fields such as arts, business, IT, and agriculture. The engineering and manufacturing field specifically was not listed in Emdad’s current guidance manual, so check the full guide for the current academic year on the Ministry’s website before applying, as lists are updated annually. Full details are in Emdad scholarship pathway: requirements, majors and Australian universities.

Waad Pathway

Among the opportunities announced under the Waad pathway is a 24-month Master’s programme in Digital Architectural and Structural Engineering, and a 12-month Master of Civil Engineering, both in partnership with the National Housing Company, according to the Saudi Ministry of Education (2026). This pathway is linked to employment with a specific organisation, and its programmes are announced by name, duration, and application window, so follow its announcements closely.

There’s also the option of the Ma’aden international scholarship programme, which grants a bachelor’s degree (not a master’s) from the University of New South Wales in mining and engineering specialisations, according to; this can serve as a first step for those who want to pursue a Master’s in Mining later. Review the details in Employment-linked scholarships for beginners: Ma’aden, Ministry of Tourism, and Waad pathway programmes, and for a general comparison of all pathways see Comparing Saudi scholarship pathways: Al-Ruwad, Emdad, R&D, and Waad.

Overseas scholarship regulations require that the admitted major matches the applicant’s previous qualification or is an extension of it, and that the scholarship covers tuition fees in full until graduation, according to the Saudi Ministry of Education. The maximum applicant age for a master’s degree is 35 years, according to the same source.

What are the admission requirements for a Master of Engineering?

The University of Melbourne requires a GPA of 65% or higher in a four-year bachelor’s degree, along with an IELTS score of at least 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each band, for admission to the Master of Engineering, according to an introductory guide based on university data. This figure varies between universities, so check the current requirement on the official page of the programme you’re targeting before applying. Also see Master’s admission requirements in Australia: GPA, English, experience and conversion majors and English language requirements for the Saudi scholarship to Australia: IELTS, PTE and TOEFL scores required.

How much does a Master of Engineering cost in Australia?

Tuition fees for the Master of Engineering vary significantly between universities and specialisations, with unofficial estimates ranging between AUD 22,000 and AUD 50,000 per year, depending on the university. This is a wide range, and differences between unofficial sources are also substantial, so treat any figure as an estimate until you confirm it on the official programme page.

For the visa, the subclass 500 requires proof of financial capacity to cover living costs in addition to tuition fees and travel tickets, and the visa is granted for up to six years in line with the programme’s duration, with Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) required throughout the stay. Review full details in Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500): requirements, fees and processing time and Australian student visa fees and processing time: 2026 figures.

Steps to apply for a Master of Engineering in Australia

1. Determine the exact specialisation that matches your previous qualification, as scholarship regulations require the major to match or extend your prior field of study.
2. Review the lists of accredited universities under the pathway that suits you (R&D, Emdad, Waad) from the guidance manual issued by the Ministry of Education for the current academic year.
3. Confirm you meet the English language requirement (IELTS or equivalent) required by your target university and programme.
4. Verify that the programme is accredited by Engineers Australia if you plan to practise the profession later.
5. Prepare the documents required for university admission, and apply for the appropriate programme and pathway.
6. After receiving your offer, apply for the student visa (subclass 500), meeting the financial proof and Genuine Student requirement.

For more on practical steps, see Steps to apply to study in Australia through KD: from consultation to enrolment and the comprehensive guide University admission in Australia for Saudi students: the complete step-by-step guide.

Conclusion

Australian universities offer broad, internationally accredited Master of Engineering specialisations, but applying through the Saudi scholarship requires precise knowledge of the pathway that matches your major and degree level. If you’d like help choosing your university and specialisation and confirming the pathway that fits your situation, you can register for a consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Master of Engineering — UNSW Sydney
• Master of Engineering — Monash University
• QS Rankings by Subject 2026 Released — StudyAustralia.gov.au
• مسار الرواد — وزارة التعليم السعودية
• مسار البحث والتطوير — وزارة التعليم السعودية
• مسار إمداد — وزارة التعليم السعودية
• مسار واعد — وزارة التعليم السعودية
• شروط ومتطلبات الابتعاث الخارجي — وزارة التعليم السعودية
• Accreditation — Engineers Australia

Last updated: 11 October 2026. Fees and requirements change; always confirm with the official source before deciding.