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Course Outline

ENG401 Engineering Project 1

Course Coordinator:Christophe Gerber (cgerber@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering

2026Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

The final year project represents the capstone and culmination of your four-year engineering degree. It allows you to demonstrate that you can put engineering theory into practice and operate at a professional level.  The overall aim of this course is to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in engineering research and design.  This will be done through an approved research or design project and the production of a report that clearly presents the results in such a way as to allow repetition of the work by others.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Online workshop 2hrs Week 1 4 times
Independent Study/Research – Independent work is expected every week. Hours/duration will depend on the individual project. Minimum expected hours is 10 hours per week. Students need to complete tasks on campus or in the field as required by their projects. Students will regularly meet with their supervisors on campus. 10hrs Week 1 12 times

Course Topics

Planning and execution of final year engineering project
Conducting of research relevant to the engineering discipline
Roles and responsibilities in an engineering project
Collaborative work with an Advisor and project team
Communication of project information in various forms

What level is this course?

400 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards
1 Apply the Engineering Process to conduct an engineering project. Empowered 
1, 2
2 Challenge engineering practice and contribute to new developments in your engineering discipline. Empowered
Engaged 
1, 2
3 Define a problem and formulate a problem statement. Empowered 
1, 2, 3
4 Review, engage and challenge the (research) literature in a specialist domain / an engineering discipline. Ethical
Engaged 
1, 2, 3
5 Develop and design concepts, solutions and procedures in your engineering discipline. Creative and critical thinker
Engaged 
1, 2
6 Test and evaluate your concepts, solutions and procedures to reach informed decisions. Empowered
Sustainability-focussed 
1, 2
7 Reflect on and evaluate the project impacts for the community (e.g. engineering discipline) and environment. Ethical
Sustainability-focussed 
2, 3
8 Manage your project incl. planning, organising and managing resources and prioritising competing demands. Empowered
Engaged 
2, 3
9 Communicate about your project, its development and outcomes to a professional audience in several media. Engaged 
3
10 Work collaboratively in a project team. Engaged 
3

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards
1 Elements of competency: Knowledge and Skill Base
2 Elements of competency: Engineering Application Ability
3 Elements of competency: Professional and Personal Attributes

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

(MEC221 OR ELC200) AND (228 units completed) AND (Enrolled in Programs SC404, SC405, SC410, SC411 OR SC425)

Co-requisites

(ENG302 OR ENG305) AND (ENG304 OR ENG403)

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Limited Grading (PNP)

Pass (PU), Fail (UF). All assessment tasks are required to be passed for successful completion of the course.

Details of early feedback on progress

You will receive feedback on your Project proposal (due in Week 2) from your Advisor(s).

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Written Piece Individual or Group 
Up to 100 words.
 Week 1 To be Negotiated
All 2 Activity Participation Individual or Group 
15 to 30 minutes meeting (face to face or online).
 Refer to Format Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 4 Report Individual or Group 
5000 words.
 Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Project Registration
Goal: 
The purpose of your registration is to formalise your project topic and your Academic Advisor with the Course Coordinator.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You email your Project registration to the Course Coordinator accurately and clearly stating your project title, Academic Advisor(s) and, if applicable, Industry Advisor(s). Note your Academic Advisor must be copied in your email.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Registration compliant with ENG401 requirements
 9
Generic Skills: 
Communication
All - Assessment Task 2:Checkpoints
Goal: 
The purpose of the Checkpoints are to keep record and review your progress (to your Research plan), and to give you critical and timely feedback about the execution of your project.
Product: Activity Participation
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will meet with your Advisor (face to face or online) to present and review your progress. You will receive feedback about your progress and the execution of your project. You will also plan the subsequent phase/activities of your project incl. your submissions. Your Advisor signs off your logbook at the end of each meeting.
These reviews are supported by the records of your logbook, noting you are required to maintain a logbook for the entire duration of your project (ENG406 and ENG407). You will record the minutes of your meeting in your logbook. 
You will complete checkpoints in Weeks 1, 3, 5, 8, 11 and 15 (subject to changes). Check the LMS for details of each checkpoints.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Quality of written piece pertinent to the engineering discipline,
 8 9
2 
Accuracy, reliability, and authenticity of information,
 9
3 
Appropriateness of project proposal, objectives, and methodology
 3 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 4:Intermediate report
Goal: 
The purpose of your Intermediate report is to give you critical feedback about the execution of your project at the end of ENG401 and assess your progress.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You prepare an intermediate report to a professional engineering standard that reflects your progress at the end of ENG401. You report will be concisely worded, well-organised, and understandable to any engineers in the relevant field. The word count reflects and includes any previous documents of ENG401.
Check the LMS for details about your Intermediate report.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Application of advanced knowledge and skills
 1
2 
Evaluation and consolidation of knowledge through literature review practices about a complex engineering problem and with intellectual independence.
 2 3 4 5 6
3 
Identification of factors likely to influence engineering project outcomes
 7
4 
Preparation of high quality written documents pertinent to the engineering discipline
 8 9
5 
Organisation, presentation, and communication of project information
 8 9
6 
Appropriate format and use of report structure, grammar and syntax, referencing
 9
7 
If you are in a group, you are awarded an individual grade for this task. Your grade may be determined by an algorithm that uses the reviewers’ marks, and/or peer ratings from your group. Furthermore, a benchmarking approach may be used and an inte
 10
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

You will be required to discuss with your Advisor(s) any specific requirements and needs, e.g. laboratory equipment, software, that you believe your project may have.

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all studio and laboratory classes and a low level of health and safety risk exists. Some risk concerns may include equipment, instruments, and tools; as well as manual handling items within the laboratory. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

This course will be graded as Pass in a Limited Grade Course (PU) or Fail in a Limited Grade Course (UF) as per clause 5.1.1.3 and 5.1.1.4 of the Grades and Grade Point Average (GPA) - Academic Policy.

In a course eligible to use Limited Grades, all assessment items in that course are marked on a Pass/Fail basis and all assessment tasks are required to be passed for a student to successfully complete the course. Supplementary assessment is not available in courses using Limited Grades.

Assessment: Submission penalties

You must contact your Course Coordinator and provide the required documentation if you require an extension or alternate assessment.

Refer to the Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs – Procedures.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

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