Build a career of the future at Australia’s number one university

For Sri Lankan born Viraj Abeykoon, securing a role as a civil engineer in Melbourne, Australia was a long- held dream come true. Six years ago, ambitious Viraj moved across the world to begin his studies the University of Melbourne. He now works for Cardno, a global provider of professional infrastructure and environmental services.

The University’s world-standard reputation and flexible curriculum inspired Viraj to make the move. Ranked number one in Australia and 27 in the world for engineering and technology in the QS World University Rankings, the University is globally recognised as a leader in educational excellence. “The rankings played a large role in my choice,” he says. “The opportunity to study subjects in areas outside your major was also a key factor.”

The University of Melbourne’s course structure, the Melbourne Model, is unique in Australia. Aligned with the top international universities, it has been proven to produce forward- thinking, highly employable graduates. Students wishing to become a professionally accredited engineer start by studying an undergraduate ( bachelors) degree with an engineering major, developing a deep understanding of their chosen engineering discipline from day one. They also select breadth subjects from outside their core study area, allowing them to tailor their course to fit their individual passions and career ambitions. Students then progress to the Master of Engineering – a higher- level graduate qualification providing the ideal combination of technical, analytical and interpersonal skills valued by employers.

Viraj chose to complete the Bachelor of Science with a major in Civil Systems, followed by the Master of Engineering ( Civil).“I really enjoyed learning the processes to create civil structures, as well as areas such as business and management,” he says. “Apart from the subject knowledge, my studies taught me valuable skills such as working in teams and the ability to think from other perspectives.”

The Master of Engineering at the University of Melbourne is a professionally accredited degree, and the first in Australia to provide dual accreditation. Internationally recognised by the Washington Accord through Engineers Australia and the European EUR-ACE® label, graduates can maximise their career opportunities around the world.

Students can choose to specialise in biomedical, chemical, biochemical, civil, structural, environmental, electrical, mat e r i a l s, mech a n i c a l , mechanical with aerospace, mechatronics, spatial, and software engineering. The Master of Engineering also offers ‘with business’ specialisations if students want to combine their engineering skills with business expertise.

Students are taught by worldleading researchers working on groundbreaking innovations such as intelligent transport technology for smart cities, carbon capture technology and robots with a human touch. Connection with industry is also a key feature of the curriculum. Students have access to internships, innovation challenges with industry mentors and can participate in industry projects.

Viraj completed two internships during his studies. “My first internship was with the City of Melbourne, which provided a great opportunity to gain experience in project management,” he says. Viraj then interned at civil engineering company Access Engineering, where he gained experience in monitoring construction work under the instruction of senior engineers and was able to observe rebar work, concreting and formwork on site.

Like Viraj, Master of Information Systems graduateSamodha Dharmasiri made the move to Melbourne to pursue her dream career in IT. She chose to focus on the rapidly evolving area of information systems. “Increased use of technology in organisations has led to rise in demand for skilled information management, which improves efficiency and minimises the costs and risks involved for business functions,” she says.

The industry relevance and practical applications were important to Samodha, who had the opportunity to intern with the Australian Computer Society as part of the course. “The course content was developed with the right mix of theory and practical applications of information systems and business applications in organisational functions, ensuring my qualifications are relevant to the current industry trends,” she says. “I believe this gave me an edge in a competitive job market.”

Samodha knew that graduating from the University of Melbourne, ranked seventh worldwide for graduate employability, would hold her in good stead when it came time to securing work following her studies. “There is high graduate employab i l i t y for University of Melbourne students as the well-balanced curriculum fits with what most employers look for in graduates,” she says. “All the lecturers are well experienced and make a tremendous effort to make sure that the students are well prepared to thrive in the industry as they graduate. Some of the lecturers are the best educators I ever had.”

Samodha now works as a Security Analyst for DuluxGroup. Reflecting on her time at the University of Melbourne, she credits the technical and professional skills she gained for the success she has had in the workforce. “I gained skills in business modelling, project and change management, IS governance and the latest technology trends,” she says. “I also built important soft skills such as critical thinking, problem analysis, report writing, teamwork skills and presentation skills, to prepare for industry.”