¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ

Flexible Engineering

Explore the broad range of engineering specialisations

Personalise
Electrical Engineering students

What is Flexible Engineering?

With so many exciting and innovative areas of engineering to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which area of engineering is right for you and your career aspirations. Our Flexible First YearÌýis an option when you study the UNSW Bachelor of Engineering. If you're uncertain which of our 19 specialisations to choose the Flexible First Year gives you the opportunity to explore the broad range of engineering specialisations on offer before choosing a discipline that is right for you at the end of your first year.

Why study this study area?

If you’re certain you want to be an engineer but aren’t sure which direction to take, this study area will let you explore a range of engineering specialisations so you can see what you enjoy and what you’re good at before deciding on your final specialisation.

Flexible First Year students enrol in five core subjects that are part of all our Engineering disciplines (two maths courses, as well as courses in physics, computing, and engineering design). You’re then encouraged to select electives from the options listed in the handbook, focusing on those required in the disciplines you’re considering for your degree. After completing the Flexible First Year, you can transfer into the engineering discipline of your choice.ÌýThe electives you have taken will either count towards your chosen discipline, or count as your first year engineering electives.

Why choose UNSW?

We're ranked #1 in Australia for Engineering and Technology and 31st globally according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024. With a wide range of student projects, an award winning ChallEng program that connects you with academics and industry mentors as part of your learning and a continued focus on hands-on learning, your education will ensure you hit the ground running when you graduate.

What about careers?

As long as you choose your first-year electives carefully, you should complete your degree in the same time as those who chose that path from year one. You will also graduate fully qualified and with the exact same knowledge in your area of choice. From your second year you can specialise in a particular field of engineering, which opens up a huge range of career options.

What are my study options?

Sample Enrolment Options

We offer such a wide range of disciplines there are many possible combinationsn for your Flexible First Year. As an example of how to choose your courses for your first year, we've listed possible enrolment sequences for several sets of disciplines below. These sequences include courses that will count towards the listed disciplines as well as giving you a taste of those areas of study so that you can make a more informed choice between them:Ìý

    • Term 1 Term 2 Term 3

      Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation DESN1000
      Ìý
      Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241 Computing for Engineers ENGG1811

      Mathematics 1A or Higher Mathematics 1A MATH1131 or MATH1141
      Ìý
      Physics 1A or Higher Physics 1A PHYS1121 or PHYS1131 General Education

      Engineering Chemistry 1A CHEM1811
      Ìý
      Engineering Chemistry 1B CHEM1821 Ìý
    • Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications Engineering students can choose COMP1911 instead of COMP1511, but students intending to take Quantum or Computer Engineering must take COMP1511

      Term 1 Term 2 Term 3

      Ìý

      Electrical Circuit Fundamentals ELEC1111

      Ìý

      Ìý

      Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241

      Ìý

      Computer System Fundamentals COMP1521

      Ìý

      Mathematics 1A or Higher Mathematics 1A MATH1131 or MATH1141

      Ìý

      Physics 1A or Higher Physics 1A PHYS1121 or PHYS1131 Physics 1B or Higher Physics 1B PHYS1231


      Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation DESN1000

      Ìý

      Programming Fundamentals COMP1511 Ìý
    • Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering and Mechatronics students can choose ENGG1811 or COMP1911 instead of COMP1511, but students intending to take Mechatronics must take COMP1511

      Term 1 Term 2 Term 3



      Electrical Circuit Fundamentals ELEC1111

      Ìý

      Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241 Programming Fundamentals COMP1511


      Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation DESN1000

      Ìý

      Physics 1A or Higher Physics 1A PHYS1121 or PHYS1131 Engineering Mechanics ENGG1300



      Mathematics 1A or Higher Mathematics 1A MATH1131 or MATH1141

      Ìý

      Design & Manufacturing MMAN1130 Ìý
    • Term 1 Term 2 Term 3



      Computing for Engineers ENGG1811

      Ìý

      Mineral Resource Engineering or Surveying & Geospatial Engineering MINE1010 or GMAT1110 Engineering Materials & Chemistry MATS1101


      Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation DESN1000

      Ìý

      Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241 Engineering Mechanics ENGG1300


      Mathematics 1A or Higher Mathematics 1A MATH1131 or MATH1141

      Ìý

      Physics 1A or Higher Physics 1A PHYS1121 or PHYS1131 Ìý
    • Term 1 Term 2 Term 3



      Computing 1A or Computing for Engineers COMP1911 or ENGG1811

      Ìý

      Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241 Engineering Materials & Chemistry MATS1101



      Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation DESN1000

      Ìý

      Physics 1A or Higher Physics 1A PHYS1121 or PHYS1131 Physics 1B or Higher Physics 1B PHYS1221 or PHYS1231


      Mathematics 1A or Higher Mathematics 1A MATH1131 or MATH1141

      Ìý

      Sustainable Energy SOLA1070 Ìý
    • Term 1 Term 2 Term 3


      Molecules, Cells and GenesBABS1201

      Ìý

      Mathematics 1B or Higher Mathematics 1B MATH1231 or MATH1241Ìý Computer System Fundamentals COMP1521Ìý


      Mathematics 1A or Higher Mathematics 1A MATH1131 or MATH1141Ìý

      Ìý

      Discrete Mathematics MATH1081 Software Engineering Fundamentals COMP1531



      Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation DESN1000Ìý

      Ìý

      Programming Fundamentals COMP1511Ìý Ìý

    Want advice on course selections?

    You can reach out for advice by getting in touch with the Student Services team.