Bachelor of Engineering (Instrumentation Control and Automation) Honours

About this Course

Instrumentation control and automation engineering is the integration of electrical, electronic and computing engineering with control engineering.

This integrated discipline includes the development of intelligent systems to automate monitoring, processing, and production in different engineering industries. The course is designed to provide graduates with a strong background to enter into a range of career pathways related to automation and control application in the mining and mineral processing, oil and gas, and agriculture industries that are strongly represented in the economy of Western Australia.

Graduates of the course will be conversant in electrical and electronic engineering; have specialist skills in design, development and management of advanced control and automation systems; and have the ability to participate in, and lead, complex multidisciplinary projects.

The program focuses on the development of knowledge and skills relevant to professional engineering practice along with a sound theoretical base, and includes strong elements of practical problem solving, team work and project development. As a result, graduates will have strong analytical skills, in addition to multiple technical and transferable competencies.

The course covers topics in process control algorithms, computer interfacing and communications of industrial controllers, as well as computer automation, including the use of PLCs, SCADA, and PC-based systems to control systems and processes. Topics such as advanced PLC control and SCADA systems, and manufacturing execution systems are introduced in the advanced years of the program, after students have gained proficiency in the theory of modern control and dynamic systems.

The first year of this course includes a set of eight units that are common across all engineering honours courses. This allows students the opportunity to develop a better understanding of the various engineering disciplines on offer and the flexibility, if desired, to switch to another engineering discipline/course without penalty after the first year of study.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 8 Bachelor Honours Degree Award.

Course Entry

Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.

• Academic Admission requirements (Band 4)

  The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below.

  All applicants are required to have Mathematics: Methods ATAR, with equivalents considered, and Physics ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR or Chemistry ATAR or Mathematics: Specialist ATAR, with equivalents considered.

  It is desirable that all applicants have Physics ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR, with equivalents considered, students without Physics ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR may need to take a bridging unit in the first year of their studies.

  All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

  • AQF Diploma or equivalent;
  • Undergraduate Certificate;
  • Successfully completed 0.5 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
  • Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test;*
  • University Preparation Course;*
  • Indigenous University Orientation Course; or*

  * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

  For international students, requirements include your secondary school results.

Applications for this course are not accepted through ECU's Experience Based Entry Scheme.

Career Opportunities

Instrumentation control and automation engineers have diverse employment opportunities in most sectors of industry, including product design and development, manufacturing, mining and resource, agriculture, public utilities, road and transport, defence, aerospace, chemical, pharmaceutical, and consulting.

Possible future job titles

Control and Automation Engineer, Process Control Engineer, Instrumentation Engineer