Studying Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Without electricity, our world would probably come to a standstill. Electricity drives our vehicles, powers our computers and machines in factories. Electrical and electronic engineering professionals design chips and circuits to have computers and machines running and also generate electricity in power plants, enabling us to go about our lives seamlessly and efficiently. With the sheer diversity in the machines, devices and power sources we use, electrical and electronic engineering has many sub-disciplines.

In Australia, you can either pursue a degree in electrical and electronic engineering or choose a specialisation. Universities guide students in choosing one best suited to their education background and career aspirations.

Some of the specialisations offered are:

• Electrical Power
• Electrical and Renewable Energy
• Micro electronics

Australian universities deliver well-organised, industry-relevant programmes that are valued by employers. In fact, most of the programmes are embedded with a work experience option, which involves either undertaking a work placement or completing a suitable project at an external organisation or company.

Most of Australia’s 37 universities offer programmes in electrical and electronic engineering.

Some of the universities where you could study are:

• Monash University
• RMIT
• University of Wollongong
• Latrobe

Salary and Career Prospects

Electrical and electronic engineers are employed by electricity and power companies (Power Direct), transport companies (Airbus Group Australia), utilities (Water Utilities Australia), mining companies (BHP Billiton), manufacturing (ABB Grain), the government and academia.

Some of the roles graduates take up are Electrical Engineer, Signalling Engineer, Control Systems Engineer and Instrumentation and Controls Engineer.

Salaries vary depending on qualifications, job role, location and experience. As a guide, electrical and electronic engineering professionals earn around an average of $76,000 a year (52 lakhs INR approx).

Why study in Australia?

Australia has cemented its place as one of the best study destinations for international students. There are 37 universities in Australia; with 7 featuring in top 100 and 15 in top 250 in QS World Rankings 2019.

Tourism, financial services, education, mining and agriculture are the largest sectors in Australia. Prominent IT and technology companies like Google, Microsoft, Apple, in addition to home-grown brands like Atlassian, Gridware, Aconex operate in Australia. Cities of Melbourne and Sydney have a thriving start-up and innovation landscape.

Australians enjoy year-round good weather, high salaries, access to spectacular beaches and a healthy work-life balance. The country is vast and beautiful and has something to offer for everybody, be that opera, music concerts, films, outdoor activities or beaches and surfing.

International graduates are typically offered post-study work visas of up to 3 years upon graduation.