The UNSW Master of Engineering Science (Sustainable Systems) postgraduate degree is designed to help you specialise and gain a deeper knowledge across a broad range of disciplines. You’ll examine how engineers discover holistic and effective solutions to unsustainable practices in the modern world.
The degree features a range of exciting topics including sustainable systems engineering, industrial ecology, sustainability and environmental sciences, and sustainability management. It also includes a number of targeted courses in renewable energy engineering and energy efficiency and promotes flexible learning as a keystone of the program.
The typical two-year degree, sitting within the UNSW School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, comprises 16 courses. It features complex, open-ended enquiry-based projects as well as many other opportunities to help you become a leader in the field. You’ll develop a systematic approach to problem-solving and learn to plan projects effectively, as well as gaining key skills in order to analyse, interpret and communicate results proficiently.
UNSW Engineering is committed to advancing a more prosperous, safe and just society, with emphasis on sustainability and consideration of engineering impacts. We're ranked #1 in Australia and #33 globally for Engineering and Technology. As well as this, 7 of UNSW's Engineering schools are ranked in the global top 50 with one school ranked in the global top 10 for Engineering subjects (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2026).
On top of this, we're known as the leading Civil and Environmental Engineering school ranked #1 in Australia for Civil and Structural Engineering (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2026).
UNSW is known for its graduate employability, with UNSW awarded the Most Employable students for seven years in a row (AFR Top 100 Future Leaders & Graduate Employers Awards, 2020–2026).
Our centres and discipline groups provide focal points for our 80 researchers to contribute to global efforts in innovative civil, environmental and geospatial engineering research. By studying at UNSW School of Civil and Environmental Engineering you’ll gain access to world-class facilities, including a water research laboratory, heavy structures laboratory and geotechnical engineering laboratory.
The school has six research hubs working across the full range of civil engineering disciplines and we provide research and consulting services to industry and government that focus on environmental footprint analysis, life cycle assessment and sustainable consumption and production.
This Master of Engineering Science specialisation accepts students from any engineering discipline.
Entry into the Master’s program requires completion of a 4-year Bachelor of Engineering degree (or equivalent) or 3-year Engineering Science degree in any engineering discipline. A minimum 65% average, or its equivalent, throughout the qualifying bachelor’s degree is mandatory.*
Qualifications from non-211 Chinese Universities will require a 70% average
Recognition of Prior Learning is the transfer of credit towards your program from previous study. If you have relevant previous study experience, you may be eligible for credit points that would enable you to complete your Master of Engineering Science in as little as one year, or another accelerated option listed below dependent on your previous study.
Apply for this degree through the UNSW Applicant Portal . We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term. Some high-demand programs and faculties with limited places may have earlier application deadlines or commencement dates.
Application closing dates vary by program and intake. Please refer to our application closing dates page for current deadlines and program-specific information before submitting your application.