Bachelors of Engineering (Honours) / Economics

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Queensland

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Economics at The University of Queensland is a great choice if you enjoy understanding how things work — both technically and economically. Over 5½ years, you’ll learn how to design and build real engineering solutions while also gaining a strong grasp of the economic forces that shape industries, markets, and public decisions. It’s an ideal fit for curious, analytical thinkers who want flexibility and impact in their future careers.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
Your first year is all about building strong foundations. On the engineering side, you’ll develop core skills through subjects like Professional Engineering and Statics and Materials, while economics introduces you to how individuals, businesses, and governments make decisions through introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics. With maths and physics alongside economic thinking, you’ll start learning how technical systems and human behaviour intersect.

Year 2
This is where things start to connect. You’ll move into more applied engineering topics such as thermodynamics or programming for engineers, while economics sharpens your analytical toolkit with subjects like Tools of Economic Analysis and early econometrics. You’ll begin using data, models, and logic to solve problems — whether that’s improving a design or understanding how markets respond to change.

Year 3
By third year, you’ll dive deeper into your chosen engineering specialisation, whether that’s civil, mechanical, electrical, software, or another stream. At the same time, intermediate economics subjects help you think more critically about markets, incentives, and policy. The combination really comes into its own here, as you learn to tackle complex challenges from both a technical and economic perspective.

Year 4
Your fourth year focuses on integration and application. Engineering studies become more design-led and project-based, pushing you to apply everything you’ve learned to realistic scenarios. In economics, you’ll explore electives such as strategy, behaviour, or international and financial economics, giving you insight into how organisations and economies make decisions in the real world.

Year 5–5.5 (Honours)
The final stage is about depth and confidence. You’ll complete honours-level engineering work and advanced economics studies, bringing together analysis, research, and technical design in a major capstone project. By the time you graduate, you’ll have a clear sense of how to approach complex problems thoughtfully, rigorously, and creatively.

What You’ll Focus On

Throughout the degree, you’ll build strong engineering fundamentals alongside economic theory, analytical modelling, and real-world problem solving. You’ll learn how to weigh technical possibilities against economic realities — a skill that’s highly valued across industries.

What You’ll Graduate With

By the end of the program, you’ll be able to combine engineering design with economic analysis, explain complex ideas clearly, and make well-informed decisions that consider cost, impact, and feasibility. It’s a powerful skill set that opens doors well beyond traditional engineering roles.

Professional Recognition

The engineering component of the degree is accredited by Engineers Australia, ensuring your qualification meets professional standards and is recognised by employers in Australia and internationally.

Reputation and Career Readiness

Studying at UQ means joining a university known for strength in engineering, economics, and econometrics. Graduates are respected for their analytical thinking, adaptability, and readiness to work at the intersection of technology, business, and policy — whether that’s in engineering practice, consulting, finance, or leadership roles.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Economics at the University of Queensland is designed for students who want to do more than just learn theory. This dual degree brings together hands-on engineering practice and real economic thinking, so you graduate knowing not only how things work, but why decisions matter in the real world.

From early on, you’ll be applying what you learn. Engineering labs and experiments let you test ideas, build solutions, and see designs succeed (or fail) in real conditions. Fieldwork takes learning beyond the classroom, giving you first-hand experience of how systems, structures, and technologies operate in practice. Alongside this, economics sharpens your ability to analyse data, understand markets, and think critically about complex problems.

The program also places a strong focus on real-world experience. Through industry placements and work-integrated learning, you’ll step into professional environments, work alongside practitioners, and gain insight into how engineering and economic decisions are made on the job. Research opportunities are built into your studies too, allowing you to explore real engineering and economic challenges and contribute to meaningful investigations.

Workshops and seminars help you develop practical skills — from problem-solving and communication to teamwork and decision-making — while peer-assisted study sessions encourage collaboration and mirror how professionals work together in industry.

If you’re looking for a degree that prepares you for more than exams — one that helps you design systems, analyse markets, and make informed, real-world decisions — this combined engineering and economics pathway gives you the confidence, experience, and skills to step straight into complex, high-impact careers.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from UQ’s Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Economics gives you a genuinely powerful edge in the job market. You’re not just an engineer, and you’re not just an economics graduate — you’re someone who understands how complex systems work and how decisions, markets, and policy shape the real world. That combination is incredibly attractive to employers, because it means you can design solutions and understand the bigger picture they sit within.

Graduates from this dual degree go on to a wide range of roles, from civil or systems engineer to economic consultant, investment or policy analyst, energy and resources specialist, and many others — often shaped by your chosen engineering discipline and the economic areas you’re most drawn to.

Support that actually helps you get hired
From early in your degree, UQ’s careers support is there to help you think clearly about where you’re headed and how to get there. You’ll get guidance on career planning, practical help with resumes and interviews, and access to skill-building programs that focus on what employers are really looking for. Mentoring and recruitment initiatives also give you the chance to connect with industry professionals while you’re still studying — not just after you graduate.

Real experience before you graduate
Engineering at UQ is built around practical, real-world experience. You’ll complete structured industry placements and professional practice components that let you apply what you’ve learned in real workplaces. These experiences don’t just build confidence — they often lead directly to graduate job offers, because employers already know what you can do.

Strong industry connections
Both sides of the degree — engineering and economics — are closely connected to industry. Through networking events, industry talks, panels, and mentoring programs, you’ll regularly interact with professionals and organisations that hire graduates. It’s a great way to build relationships, explore career paths, and understand how your skills translate into real roles.

Accreditation that adds long-term value
Your engineering qualification is accredited by Engineers Australia, which is a big deal when it comes to professional recognition. It’s a credential employers trust, and it supports your ability to work as a professional engineer in Australia and internationally over the long term.

Strong salary prospects
Engineering and economics graduates are consistently in demand, and that demand is reflected in competitive starting salaries. With skills that span technical problem-solving and economic analysis, you’ll be well positioned in industries that value both.

Clear pathways for further study
If you decide to keep studying, this degree opens plenty of doors. Many graduates move into honours or postgraduate research in engineering or economics, leading to careers in research, policy, or advanced technical roles. Others step into master’s programs in areas like engineering specialisations, economics, finance, or data science. Your strong analytical foundation makes it easier to meet entry requirements and succeed at the next level.

Whether your goal is industry leadership, research, policy influence, or even entrepreneurship, the blend of engineering and economics gives you flexibility, depth, and confidence to shape a career that grows with you — not one that boxes you in.