Major overview
You’ll focus on computer-based measurement and control and the computing technologies used to operate modern industrial and autonomous systems.
You’ll explore industrial control systems and their components and learn how to effectively design and plan smart power systems to increase reliability and stability of power supply. The major is industry-oriented to deliver the practical understanding and knowledge suitable for effective design, prototyping, and controlling the industrial control systems applied for various industry sectors, so you’ll be job-ready when you graduate.
3 reasons to study Industrial Control and Automation Engineering at Murdoch
- Five-star rating and #1 university in Australia for overall educational experience, skills development and teaching quality for Engineering and Technology by the Good Universities Guide 2026.*
- Make use of our $10.1 million Bayer Pilot Plant – a real-world engineering plant with a dedicated control room, the only one of its kind in WA.
- Gain 300 hours of real work experience as part of your degree.
What you’ll learn
- Microcontroller hardware and computer-based engineering tools, commonly used in Engineering
- Analysis of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) electrical circuits and systems and digital electronics
- Modelling & systems engineering
- Motion, energy and mass transfer in simple systems
- Complex dynamic systems and control
- Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) systems
- Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Instrumentation Systems
- Fundamentals of embedded system design
Your future career
Graduating with a major in Industrial Control and Automation Engineering will open the doors to a wide range of career opportunities across the engineering and power industry sectors. Careers could include:
- Control Systems Technician
- Automation Technician
- Instrumentation Technician
Professional recognition
This major can be used to meet the continuing professional education requirements of engineering technologists in the areas related to electrical engineering.
Start dates
| Starting period | Location | Face to Face | Online |
Mixed mode
In this attendance mode, teaching and learning activities are delivered both face-to-face and online, with scheduled or flexible learning times. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1, 2026 | Murdoch | Yes | No | No |
| Semester 2, 2026 | Murdoch | Yes | No | No |
| Semester 1, 2027 | Murdoch | Yes | No | No |
| Semester 2, 2027 | Murdoch | Yes | No | No |
View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.
| Starting period | Location | Face to Face | Online |
Mixed mode
In this attendance mode, teaching and learning activities are delivered both face-to-face and online, with scheduled or flexible learning times. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1, 2026 | Murdoch | Yes | No | No |
| Semester 2, 2026 | Murdoch | Yes | No | No |
| Semester 1, 2027 | Murdoch | Yes | No | No |
| Semester 2, 2027 | Murdoch | Yes | No | No |
View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.
Major Structure
Visit the Course Handbook - Get detailed information on units, prerequisites, and pathways.
To help plan the structure of your course, search for our suggested course plans.
| Unit code | Unit name | Credit points |
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How to Apply
Majors are part of a degree and can't be applied on their own. Apply for a related degree first, then choose your major once enrolled.