Major Undergraduate

Industrial Control and Automation Engineering


Study mode
Full Time Part Time
Study mode
Full Time
Murdoch code
MJ-ICAE
What is a Major?
A major is your primary area of focus within a degree. It determines the core subjects you'll study and the skills you'll master.

Major overview

Study automation engineering in a real plant and control room on campus

Major in industrial control and automation engineering within our Bachelor of Engineering Technology and learn in a real-world engineering plant with a dedicated control room – the only facility of its kind in a Western Australian university. You’ll gain hands-on experience working with the systems that power industry and infrastructure, learning how modern industries run and how to control them. 

As part of your industrial automation studies, you’ll develop expertise in control systems engineering, automation technologies and computer-based measurement systems used to operate modern industrial and autonomous environments. You’ll explore how sensors, controllers and software work together to monitor, manage and optimise complex systems across industries. 

You’ll also complete 300 hours of practical learning, which may include industry projects or placements, applying your knowledge in real-world environments and gaining valuable industry experience before you graduate. 

You can combine your Industrial Control and Automation Engineering major with other majors including Electrical and Renewable Energy Engineering or Environmental Engineering to develop expertise across automation, energy systems and sustainable engineering solutions.  

Supported by industry-informed teaching and practical learning environments, you’ll graduate from your engineering technology degree ready for an engineering career where you design, implement and manage automation systems in a wide range of contexts.
Engineering students inspecting electrical switchgear on campus

3 reasons to study engineering at Murdoch University

  1. Learn in a real engineering plant and control room, the only facility of its kind on a WA university campus, and gain hands-on experience with industry-standard systems. 
  2. Complete 300 hours of practical experience, applying your learning to industry projects and building professional connections. 
  3. 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.

What you’ll learn

  • Understand embedded systems, sensors and real-time data communication. 
  • Design and analyse control systems used in industrial and automated environments. 
  • Work with programmable logic controllers (PLC), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and instrumentation systems. 
  • Apply modelling and systems engineering to optimise performance and reliability. 
  • Develop solutions for automation across manufacturing, energy and infrastructure systems.

I use what I learned at Murdoch University every day. The field visits taught us how the industry really works – not just the technology, but what employers look or in people.

Rohit Bomma, Master of Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Read full student story

Murdoch student standing next to solar panels
Engineering and energy student in plant

Your future career in engineering

With an Industrial Control and Automation Engineering major, you’ll graduate with the skills to design, operate and optimise automated systems across a wide range of industries. Your hands-on experience with control systems, instrumentation and industrial technologies prepares you to contribute to projects involving automation, process control and intelligent systems from the outset of your engineering career. 

Potential roles include: 

  • Control systems technician 
  • Automation technician 
  • Instrumentation technician 
  • Process control specialist 
  • Automation and systems engineer 
For more details about our Industrial Control and Automation Engineering major, download our information pack.

Start dates

Starting period Location Face to Face Online Mixed mode
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

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.

Undergraduate Course

Bachelor of Engineering Technology

Study a Bachelor of Engineering Technology at Murdoch University and gain hands-on, industry-relevant experience in a real engineering plant. Apply today.

Have a question? Get in touch.

1300 687 3624

1300 687 3624

1300 687 3624

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