Engineering Pathway: UWA vs Curtin

Engineering is one of the most popular ATAR pathways in WA. UWA, Curtin and Murdoch all offer Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) programs, with specialisations in mechanical, civil, electrical, mining, software, chemical, and several others. The prerequisites differ subtly. The course expectations differ a lot.

UWA Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

UWA's BH011 program runs four years, with the final year a research-focused honours project. Specialisations include Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic, Chemical, Software, Mining, and Environmental Engineering.

Prerequisites (per the UWA 2026 Handbook): a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Mathematics Methods, plus at least one of ATAR Mathematics Specialist, ATAR Chemistry, or ATAR Physics. All four are recommended.

For the engineering and commerce double degree (CB006) and the engineering and science double degree (CB004), the same prerequisites apply.

ATAR cutoff: typically 80 to 85 for Engineering Honours direct entry, with adjustment factors potentially lowering the equivalent ATAR. Specific specialisations have higher demand.

Curtin Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

Curtin offers Engineering Honours across Civil, Mechanical, Mining, Mechatronic, Chemical, Software and Electrical specialisations.

Prerequisites: a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Mathematics Methods is required for most specialisations. Chemical Engineering also requires ATAR Chemistry. Mining requires Mathematics Methods. Software Engineering may accept Methods plus a relevant elective.

ATAR cutoff: lower than UWA on average, typically 70 to 80 ATAR for direct entry depending on specialisation. The lower cutoff makes Curtin a popular choice for students whose ATAR sits in the upper-second-tier range.

What first-year engineering actually expects

This is the part the prerequisites do not tell you. First-year engineering is hard for students whose Year 12 preparation was minimum prereq. Here is what the courses actually assume:

• Calculus. First-semester engineering maths uses differentiation, integration, vectors, matrices and basic differential equations. Methods covers most. Specialist makes it easier.
• Mechanics. First-semester engineering physics covers F=ma, energy conservation, statics, fluids. Year 12 Physics covers ~80% of this content. Without Physics, the ramp-up is steep.
• Chemistry (for chemical, civil and environmental). First-semester chemistry covers stoichiometry, redox, organic basics. Year 12 Chemistry covers most. Without Chemistry, you take a bridging unit.
• Programming. Most engineering courses require a first-year programming unit (typically Python or MATLAB). No prior coding experience is required, but having any helps.

The ATAR-subject combinations that actually work

For students aiming at UWA Engineering, the strongest school-leaver subject combination is:

1. Mathematics Methods
2. Mathematics Specialist (highest scaling, makes Year 1 easier)
3. Physics (covers the mechanics and electromagnetism of first year)
4. Chemistry (covers the chemistry of chemical, civil, environmental engineering)
5. English (or English Literature)

This 5-subject load is heavy but pays off. Your top 4 scaled marks would typically include Methods, Specialist, Physics, and Chemistry, all top-three scaling subjects.

If 5 subjects is too heavy, drop Specialist (you can pick up the calculus in your engineering bridging weeks) or drop Chemistry (only essential for chemical/civil engineering).

What if your ATAR is below cutoff?

Three pathways:

1. Adjustment factors. UWA and Curtin both apply adjustment factors for low-SES schools, regional schools, and underrepresented backgrounds. Your effective ATAR can be 5 to 10 points higher than your raw ATAR.
2. Curtin transition pathway. Curtin offers UniReady (a free pre-bachelor program) for students whose ATAR falls just below cutoff.
3. Bachelor of Science -> transfer. Enrol in a Bachelor of Science with mathematics and physics units. Apply to transfer to engineering after first year if your university GPA is sufficient.

What to actually do this week

1. Open the UWA 2026 Handbook (handbooks.uwa.edu.au) and the Curtin Engineering admissions page. Read the prerequisite section in full. They are 5 minutes each.
2. Use our ATAR calculator with the recommended subject combination above. Note your projected ATAR.
3. If you are in Year 10 and undecided, take Methods + Physics + Chemistry in Year 11 to keep the engineering option open. You can drop Chemistry in Year 12 if needed.

If you want a 30-minute call to map out a subject combination for engineering, including target ATARs, book a free consultation. Our students aiming for engineering at UWA and Curtin run through the subject combinations with us in their first lesson.