If you are seeking a career as a civil engineer and would like to develop your skills in building design to broaden your career opportunities, then our combined course of Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)(Civil Design) and Diploma of Building Design is ideal for you.
Study the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil Design) and Diploma of Building Design dual qualification and become qualified for a career as a civil engineer skilled in high-level engineering design and building design. If you take advantage of the units offered in all three terms, you can fast-track your studies and complete this course in four years.
This course equips you with skills and knowledge in building design factors such as codes and statutes, building sustainability, and contracts together with foundational technical content in civil engineering.
This course has a strong focus on learning in context, so you will apply theory to authentic scenarios throughout your course, including industry projects. As part of your studies, you will complete a major individual project that integrates both civil engineering skills and building design skills to confirm your ability to work as a civil engineer and a building design specialist.
As a professional engineer you can be a driver of change in society and be not only responsible for the technological change, but also the impact it has on communities, society and the environment in general. This course provides a unique opportunity to become a civil engineer with high-level engineering planning and design skills complemented by architectural planning and designs skills required for the approval and construction of a range of building types. Civil engineers are typically involved in planning design and maintenance of physical infrastructure systems including the construction of buildings and bridges, transport and water resource. Building designers provide design solutions for residential and commercial buildings and work for design, architecture, planning, building or engineering firms, government departments and corporations with a large building portfolio.
The course structure and available locations can change depending on when you want to study. You can choose the intake that best suits you in the drop-down menu below.
You must complete 32 units (216 credits):
In this course, you will study a total of 32 units, consisting of 30 core units, one professional practice unit, and one elective unit.
From the unit list below, the first 30 units are core units.
The professional practice unit you'll study is ENEP14004 Engineering Practice Experience.
You will choose one elective from the following options:
To help you plan your studies and see which unit comes first, if one unit should be completed before another and when you will study each unit, check out our course planners.
Completion of this award satisfies the educational requirements for a Building Design - Open Licence issued by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC).
The CL76 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil Design) and Diploma of Building Design course is provisionally accredited by Engineers Australia.
As a recently introduced course, it will not be eligible for full accreditation until there are sufficient graduates to be reviewed by EA. Graduates will be recognised as professional engineers and be eligible for Graduate membership with EA.
Students are required to complete 480 hours (including a minimum of 240 hours of industry experience) of Engineering Professional Practice prior to graduation. Once the students have completed the professional practice requirements, they must enrol in this unit and provide evidence of how they have attained the professional engineering practice exposure required by Engineers Australia.
If you have completed prior study relevant to units within this course, you may be eligible for credit for your past studies. Learn more about credit and recognition of prior learning.
For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.
View the student and course profiles for this course and learn about CQU's Undergraduate Profile for Term 1, 2024 via our Institute Profile.
While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies.
The Indicative First-Year Fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one full-time academic year (eight units over two terms) for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and should be used as a guide only. Your actual fees may vary, depending on the units you select to study and your study load. Check the cost-per-unit spreadsheet available on our fees webpage for the approved unit fees. Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change. Understanding your fees.
This course has Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available, and as a domestic student, you'll be offered a CSP, provided you meet CSP eligibility requirements. CSPs are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees.
You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan if you are offered a CSP. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees.
Part of your course costs will include Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). SSAF is charged in addition to your student contribution or tuition fees and is used to help enhance your study experience. There may also be other costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, uniforms, or vaccinations. Explore other study costs.
We believe a quality education can be for everyone – regardless of background, location, or life circumstances. That's why we offer a variety of scholarships and bursaries that can give you a helping hand with a range of expenses and enhance your employability.
Check what you need to do to apply to study this course.
Prior to applying, take a look at important application dates and learn about our admission considerations, such as information for domestic students with overseas qualifications, indigenous support, and elite athlete, coach and performer support. You should also check out the adjustment schemes that might be available to you and how to access them. You can also explore our offer information to learn more about what happens after you've submitted an application and how to respond to an offer to study with CQU.
Applications for 2026 via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) open in April 2025.
More information will be available soon.
CQUniversity acknowledges Traditional Owners and Custodians and pays respect to the Elders of all First Nations peoples of Australia.CQUniversity Australia is a trading name of Central Queensland University
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