Outline

This course sits within the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree.

Software engineers create the computer-based systems that underpin the function of devices, machines and operations used in everyday life and across diverse industries. These range from mobile apps to electric vehicles, medical robotics and warehouse logistics.

In this major you will learn the principles of software systems design, measurement and analysis, to develop software-based systems.

You’ll use current and emerging technologies to develop and communicate engineering solutions to complex problems.

You’ll also gain a strong foundation in the related disciplines of computer science and electrical and computer engineering, with emphasis on topics relevant to software requirements, design, implementation, industrial and embedded systems and software testing.

In your final year you’ll apply your learning to a significant research project, using systems-thinking to devise an innovative solution to a software systems engineering challenge.

Throughout your studies, you’ll develop technical communication, interpersonal, teamwork and time-management skills.

You’ll also explore the professional responsibilities of a software engineer – including operational security, social and ethical aspects.

How this course will make you industry ready

During the course you'll apply your new knowledge to a significant research project, providing an innovative solution to a software-systems engineering challenge.

What jobs can the Software Systems Engineering course lead to?

Careers

Software engineer
Software developer
Systems architect

Industries

Telecommunications
Manufacturing
Commerce and retail
Transport
Agriculture
Banking and finance
Gaming
Healthcare
Research and development

What you'll learn

Demonstrate a conceptual understanding of fundamental science, mathematics, data analytics, information science, and computing underpinning the broad field of engineering, GC1
Make decisions related to the design and implementation of solutions to engineering problems in a safe, ethical and climate-responsible manner adhering to legal and professional standards and through respectful partnerships with local First Peoples and other diverse cultures as globally responsible citizens, GC4, GC5
Select and use current and emerging technologies to develop and communicate effective and innovative engineering solutions to complex problems, GC3
Demonstrate lifelong learning habits, teamwork and leadership abilities, and project management skills and the ability to identify opportunities for career-wide professional growth, necessary for advancing a career in engineering and beyond, GC6
Solve complex software systems engineering problems of industrial and societal significance through the application of discipline-specific and integrated bodies of knowledge, design and sustainability principles, GC1
Apply systems thinking for innovative solutions to global software systems engineering challenges, discern knowledge and undertake applied research in a discipline of software systems engineering, GC2

Why study Software Systems Engineering

Professional practice

You’ll have substantial practical experience to prepare you for the professional engineering workplace.

Double degree expertise

You can extend your expertise and career opportunities by completing a double degree with Commerce, majoring in Management, Finance, Economics or Accounting.

Career-focused facilities

Experience our purpose-designed Engineering Pavilion, studio and project rooms.

Professional recognition

Curtin's Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) is accredited by Engineers Australia (EA) and recognised internationally. Curtin proactively seeks course accreditation by EA, to ensure that our graduates have professional recognition in Australia and by international signatories to the Washington Accord. As EA accreditation is outcomes-based, when a course is new or recently established (and therefore yet to produce the threshold number of graduates), it may be granted provisional accreditation. Provisional accreditation indicates that the course meets the accreditation criteria to the extent possible at the time of evaluation and is likely to be granted full accreditation in the future.

Our Software Systems Engineering major is a recently established course that is currently seeking provisional accreditation.

Admission criteria

What you need in order to get into this course. There are different pathway options depending on your level of work and education experience.

Select an option that best suits you:

You’re considered a high school leaver if you:

Completed year 12 in Australia or overseas in the past two years, or
Completed TAFE or VET studies in the past two years.

ATAR pathway

Minimum ATAR 80
This course has a minimum ATAR of 80
Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)
Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

Subjects you must have studied in high school to be eligible for entry into a course.

Mathematics Methods ATAR and at least one of the following courses: Physics ATAR, Chemistry ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR.
Desirable WACE subjects
Desirable WACE subjects

High school subjects that aren’t essential for entry into the course, but provide a good foundation.

There are no desirable WACE subjects for this course.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

StepUp Entry

Successful StepUp Entry and StepUp Equity Adjustment Admission Pathway (StepUp Bonus) applicants will be eligible to be considered for admission into this course.

Alternative pathways

Indigenous applicant
If you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicant who hasn’t met Curtin’s minimum admissions criteria, the Centre for Aboriginal Studies offers bridging courses that are tailored to help you gain entry into this course.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.0

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

How others gained admission

View the ATAR breakdown to see the low, median and high ATAR scores of students who started studying this course recently.

To see the other pathways students have taken, see the pathway breakdown.

You’re considered someone with work and life experience if:

You have left secondary education more than two years ago (i.e. who are not classified as recent secondary education applicants) and have not undertaken vocational education training (VET) or higher education study since then.

How we define ‘experience’
‘Experience’ includes a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education such as mature-age entry, professional experience whether completion of the Special Tertiary Admission Test (STAT) is required or not, community involvement or work experience. Applicants may have undertaken non-formal programs that have helped prepare them for tertiary education or are relevant to the proposed higher education field of study.

ATAR pathway

Minimum ATAR 80
This course has a minimum ATAR of 80
Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)
Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

Subjects you must have studied in high school to be eligible for entry into a course.

Mathematics Methods ATAR and at least one of the following courses: Physics ATAR, Chemistry ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR.
Desirable WACE subjects
Desirable WACE subjects

High school subjects that aren’t essential for entry into the course, but provide a good foundation.

There are no desirable WACE subjects for this course.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.0

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

You’re considered someone who studied at TAFE or have done an apprenticeship if:

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a VET course. This includes study at a public TAFE or other VET provider, whether a qualification was completed or not. Applicants with VET study may have other qualifications such as a Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate.

ATAR pathway

Minimum ATAR 80
This course has a minimum ATAR of 80
Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)
Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

Subjects you must have studied in high school to be eligible for entry into a course.

Mathematics Methods ATAR and at least one of the following courses: Physics ATAR, Chemistry ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR.
Desirable WACE subjects
Desirable WACE subjects

High school subjects that aren’t essential for entry into the course, but provide a good foundation.

There are no desirable WACE subjects for this course.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.0

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

You’re considered someone who has recently left university if:

Applicants with higher education are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course, such as a university degree. This may include applicants who are currently studying a higher education course at another education provider and want to transfer to Curtin University, or applicants who are currently studying at Curtin but want to switch to a different course. It may also include applicants who have completed past study with university and non-university higher education providers.

ATAR pathway

Minimum ATAR 80
This course has a minimum ATAR of 80
Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)
Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

Subjects you must have studied in high school to be eligible for entry into a course.

Mathematics Methods ATAR and at least one of the following courses: Physics ATAR, Chemistry ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR.
Desirable WACE subjects
Desirable WACE subjects

High school subjects that aren’t essential for entry into the course, but provide a good foundation.

There are no desirable WACE subjects for this course.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.0

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Unsure what option suits you?

We’re here to help you navigate the complexities of university admission. Choose the support you need from the options below.

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Fees and charges

Please view the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree for indicative fees.

Looking for more detail on the course structure?

View course structure

How to apply

Please review information on how to apply for the campus of your choice

The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

The information on this page may be subject to change. In particular, Curtin University may change the content, method or location of delivery or tuition fees of courses.

While Curtin uses reasonable efforts to ensure that the information provided on this page is accurate and up to date, errors and omissions sometimes occur. Curtin makes no warranty, representation or undertaking (expressed or implied) nor does it assume any legal liability (direct or indirect) for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information.

View courses information disclaimer.
Curtin course code: MJRH-SFTEN
Last updated on: 25 April 2024

Software Systems Engineering

Undergraduate major

Check the application deadline for the parent course

Outline

Outline

How this course will make you industry ready

What jobs can the Software Systems Engineering course lead to?

What you'll learn

Why study Software Systems Engineering

Professional practice

Double degree expertise

Career-focused facilities

Get the latest Curtin updates

Professional recognition

Admission criteria

Select an option that best suits you:

You’re considered a high school leaver if you:

ATAR pathway

Alternative pathways

English requirements

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Find your pathway to Curtin

How others gained admission

You’re considered someone with work and life experience if:

ATAR pathway

English requirements

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Find your pathway to Curtin

You’re considered someone who studied at TAFE or have done an apprenticeship if:

ATAR pathway

English requirements

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Find your pathway to Curtin

You’re considered someone who has recently left university if:

ATAR pathway

English requirements

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Find your pathway to Curtin

Unsure what option suits you?

FAQs

Ask a question

Call us

Visit us

Find your pathway to Curtin

Use your experience to get credit towards your degree

Fees and charges

Looking for more detail on the course structure?

How to apply

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