Future Students

Mining Engineering

The minerals industry is Australia's largest single exporter - contributing over 50% of the nation's total.

Australia's mining industry is also large on a world-wide scale, with Australia ranking in the top three countries for supply of commodities such as gold, iron ore, lead diamonds, nickel, mineral sands, alumina and zinc.

To remain as one of the world leaders in mining technology, the Australian industry is always looking at ways to mine 'smarter' by applying cutting-edge innovations and technologies.

By mining ''smarter'' we not only save money, but also our environment!

Mining industry professional engineers need the ability to:

• use a broad range of skills in different types of engineering
• assess and implement new technologies
• take responsibility for multi-million dollar decisions
• work outdoors, as well as in an office.

Mining Engineering is all about extracting the ore from the ground. This includes analysing and designing the:

• mining method that is the best for a specific deposit - underground or surface, large or small
• best equipment to efficiently perform the chosen mining method and cope with unexpected variations in the rock being extracted
• most appropriate blasting technique. 

Level 1

All engineering students follow a common course in Level 1, allowing you the flexibility of selecting any engineering stream at the end of the level. The subjects include mathematics, engineering fundamentals and physics, plus electives from a variety of engineering streams.

Upper levels

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Levels develop your technical skills and knowledge and your ability to apply them to solve problems. Subjects covered include geology, rock mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, surface mining, underground mining, mine design, reliability engineering and project management. Other units cover finance, resource economics, mining legislation and industry practice.

During the Bachelor of Engineering, you will also complete at least 12 weeks full time (or equivalent part time) of professional work experience.

Career opportunities

The mining industry is the major income earner for WA and Australia. Graduates are sought after and are among the highest paid of all graduates. By becoming a mining professional you join a rapidly changing, vibrant, world-leading industry. mining personnel can choose to spend part of their careers in different countries, enjoying exposure to different technical and cultural environments.

UWA graduates entering the mining industry can follow a career in many fields, and in many countries. These include (but are not limited to) working:

• as technical specialists (rock mechanics, flotation, ventilation)
• with service companies (supplying technical solutions for explosives, specialist software, trucks)
• as consultants, based in Perth, elsewhere within Australia, or overseas
• in mine management and production
• in banking, finance or stock broking
• in research and development
• in the government sector

What would my starting salary be?

Engineering graduates for the mining professions enjoy some of the highest, if not the highest, starting salaries of all UWA graduates. Your starting salary as BE graduate in Mining Engineering could be $139,000 for a site-based job and $90,000 per year for a city-based job.

For more information see: http://www.civil.uwa.edu.au/courses/careers