Top Universities to Study Mining Engineering in Australia

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Engineering as a field is very prominent in our daily lives owing to the fact that it is responsible for aspects relating to any sort of advancements to improve quality of life. In Australia, Engineering has excellent employment prospects and skilled engineers are highly sought after.

Engineering has many branches and specialisations ranging across varying industries. Engineering disciplines include Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mathematical Engineering, as well as Mining Engineering among many other specialisations.

This article will discuss Mining Engineering, along with career opportunities, pathway as a Mining Engineer, general requirements to study Mining Engineering, and Universities to Study Mining Engineering in Australia.

What is Mining Engineering?

Mining Engineering is a branch of Engineering centering on the science, technology, exploration, and all aspects revolving around mining projects, ore extraction and processing. Products, such as metal, can be formed through the collection and transformation of these minerals and raw materials.

Aside from investigations of mining sites and working out the most suitable mining method, professionals in Mining Engineering are also involved in the improvement of mining equipment and processing operations as well as the safety factors surrounding workers, environment, and regulations. As such, Mining Engineering is a very crucial aspect of manufacturing and construction.

Some of the subjects that can be included in a Mining Engineering programme include:

Mine Planning & Scheduling
Mining & Environment
Mine Ventilation
Excavation Engineering
Rock Fragmentation
Strength of Materials
Resource Estimation
Mineral Processing
Mine Safety Engineering

Skills Required for Mining Engineering

Aptitude for Mathematics

Engineering programmes, including Mining Engineering, comprises some advanced Mathematical subjects such as Numerical Methods and Statistics and Line Algebra and Application. Having a solid Mathematics foundation will greatly benefit your experience in Mining Engineering.

Problem Solving Skills

Given the complex and challenging nature of the Mining Engineering industry, finding solutions to problems is a prominent responsibility. Innovative problem solving skills are favourable to the overall success and sustainability of mining operations.

Logical Thinking

Due to risks and uncertainty in the field of Mining Engineering, logical thinking is instrumental for analysing risks, assessing situations, evaluating pros and cons, and making informed decisions based on varying factors.

Communication Skills

Communication skills are necessary in facilitating clear and effective communication to other professionals in a team. Properly conveying plans, strategies, and key design parameters, affects the success of projects in Mining Engineering.

Sustainability & Environmental Awareness

Those in the Mining Engineering field could encounter situations where heavy machinery is used around people under conditions which can be very harsh and unfavourable. Thus, sustainability and environmental awareness is a key skill to ensure safety.

Career Opportunities with Mining Engineering

Mining Engineering is an industry with broad career opportunities. The range of careers in Mining Engineering usually licence for satisfaction, job security, career progression, and feasible pay. Some of the career opportunities with Mining Engineering include:

Mining Engineer
Management Consultant
Mine Manager
Mine Planner and Designer
Mining Company Director
Operations Manager
Metallurgist
Mineral Processor
Mine Ventilation Officer
Planning Engineering

General Pathway to become a Mining Engineer

A career as a Mining Engineer in Australia is found to have an average annual salary of AU$ 165K with a projected 17.1% job growth in the next five years according to SEEK Australia. Below is a general pathway to become a Mining Engineer in Australia.

After completing examinations such as SPM, IGCSE, or O-Levels, you can enrol in programmes that qualify you into an Engineering undergraduate degree, majoring in Mining Engineering.

A Bachelor of Engineering with a major in Mining Engineering which is accredited by Engineers Australia, or the Washington Accord ensures that you become a graduate that could qualify for conducting practice and gain future certifications. The list by Engineers Australia of accredited engineering programmes can be found here.

After completion of an undergraduate degree relating to Mining Engineering, you can apply for a job as a Graduate Mining Engineer. You would typically need to work 2-3 years as a Graduate before becoming a Professional Mining Engineer.

General Requirements for Studying Mining Engineering in Australia

Academic Entry

Academic entry	Minimum Score
STPM	CGPA 3.00
Matriculation	CGPA 3.00
A-Levels	Aggregate of 8
UEC	Aggregate of 12
IB Diploma	26
Australian Matriculation (ATAR)	70
Canadian Pre-University (CPU)	60

Note: Universities may have different requirements. To learn more, get in touch with us!

English Language Entry Requirements

Entry Level	Minimum Score
IELTS	6.0
TOEFL	70
Pearson Test of English (PTE)	64

Note: Universities may have different English Language requirements. To learn more, get in touch with us!

1. Curtin University

Curtin University, founded in 1966, is a notable higher education provider in Australia. Curtin University has a total of nine local and international campuses in locations such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Dubai. According to the QS Mineral and Mining Subject Ranking 2023, Curtin has been placed in the second ranking among universities worldwide.

Curtin University’s WA School of Mines houses the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) programme where students major in Mining Engineering. The School operates in Perth and the historic mining town of Kalgoorlie where Curtin remains at the forefront of research in the mining and resources sector.

Programme Offered	Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Major in: Mining Engineering
Duration	4 Years
Intake	February, July
Indicative Fees (2024)	International Students: AU$ 150,029