Master of Mining Engineering

Master degrees from the likes of James Cook University and others take two years of full time study to complete, or up to four years part time. They provide units in mining resources and law, mine feasibility, hazard identification and the myriad options contained within graduate diplomas and certificates. Some of these include:

• Exploration seismology
• The industrial applications of exploration geophysics
• Applied geomechanics
• Mine design

There are a huge array of options to choose from, in addition to a large research project that allows students to contribute to the field in a meaningful way. The topic is at their discretion.

Employment options

Working for large companies like BHP is a solid choice of employment for a mining engineering graduate. These companies provide on-the-job training and skills that can be applied across the whole of the mining industry, which can then be taken through the remainder of a career in the field.

Scholarships and funding

There are a variety of scholarships available to Master of Mining Engineering students. Some of these include but are not limited to:

• The APPEA Tony Noon Scholarship is worth $3,000. It’s primarily designed for students wishing to enter the oil and gas industry, but students of mining engineering are welcome to apply.
• The UQ Women in Action Fund provides female engineering students with $1,000. It requires them to have completed at least one year of their postgraduate study beforehand, automatically excluding graduate certificates and diplomas.
• The FA Kernot Bequest provides $3,000 to engineering students in the final year of their master degree.
• The Dean’s Scholarship for Scientific Excellence provides $9,000 to Murdoch University students who’ve obtained a high distinction GPA in prior study (at least 85%).

An abundance of general scholarship opportunities are available across all disciplines. The full list can be browsed here, but some of the best include:

• Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships from ANU. These are merit based programs worth nearly $70,000
• General Sir John Monash Scholarships, offering $65,000. These are for students planning to study overseas.
• The Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship provides $120,000. Students must argue for why their line of study is relevant to one or more of the following innovation areas:
  • Technology and innovation
  • Strengthening Australia-Asia ties
  • Enabling positive social change

Mining engineering students can make a case for all of these, particularly the first option. New and improved mining practices and technologies are always in demand by corporations around the world.

Prerequisites and selection process

Students are required to have completed a bachelor degree in a cognate discipline with a credit GPA (65%) to enter. A ‘cognate’ discipline is generally defined as engineering, geophysics or geology, but most of the time other similar disciplines can be considered acceptable for entry. It’s also possible to circumvent the GPA requirement by completing a graduate certificate or diploma beforehand. Doing this also allows students to take time off their master degree, making it an equally effective entry method.