5 NEW Specialisations in Engineering that you need to check out!

Keen on a career in engineering but want something other than the mainstream chemical, mechanical, industrial? Here are 5 edgy specialisations which can transform your career.

An engineering degree unlocks career options in various industry verticals. From ‘fixing things’ to understanding how and why things are the way they are, engineers are involved in almost all aspects of design and testing. 

As the world moves towards the integration of engineering with other disciplines, new engineering specialisations have emerged, which can offer fantastic opportunities in work and study. 

Here are five that are becoming more and more popular:

Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is the process of modifying genes. It uses techniques to manipulate genes through heredity and reproduction. Genetic engineering has led to famous biomedical innovations such as artificial insemination, in vitro fertilisation (e.g., “test-tube” babies), cloning, and gene manipulation.

La Trobe University, University of Sydney, Australian National University, Curtin University and                University of Tasmania offer this course, and related courses.

Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear engineers work to harness the energy from nuclear reactions. Industries such as aerospace rely heavily on nuclear engineering for the design and analysis of complex systems too large and expensive to be tested. It is concerned with the intersection of nuclear reactions with other sub-atomic processes, based on the principles of nuclear physics. Nuclear Engineering has practical applications in medical imaging, radioactive waste disposal, clean energy etc.

To explore degree options in nuclear engineering, check out courses at the University of New South Wales, University of Wollongong, Edith Cowan University, Australian National University and more.

Nanoengineering

The prefix nano indicates one-billionth of a unit of measurement. Nano-engineering is revolutionising many industries such as information technology, medicine, energy and environmental science.

To explore degree options in nano-engineering, check out courses at RMIT University, Flinders University, La Trobe University and more.

Control engineering (AR and VR engineering)

AR stands for Augmented Reality, while VR stands for Virtual Reality. Both AR and VR are up and coming disciplines of Control Engineering that apply control theory principles to design systems. AR overlays digital content onto the real world while VR creates a simulated environment. Control engineering has applications across all sectors including defence, aerospace, IT, medicine, and transportation among others.

Degree options in control engineering with specialisation in AR & VR can be explored at UNSW, Swinburne University, University of Tasmania and others.

Mechatronics Engineering

Mechatronics is a branch of engineering that combines the studies of electronics with mechanical engineering. It involves designing smart machines that analyse the environment and make informed decisions. Interestingly, mechatronics engineers study many different aspects of engineering like computer engineering, telecommunications, system engineering and control engineering, enabling them to show expertise in different specialisations.

You can study the course and related courses at Deakin University, Swinburne University, RMIT                  and others.