Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) is an elective course which extends project-based learning over the course of a year. Where VIP students work in multi-disciplinary teams on cutting-edge research projects or design competitions that drive innovation to tackle real-world problems.
From artificial hearts, space-age mining to solar-vehicles, there is an exciting project for every degree and interest!
Project-based course - did somebody say ‘No Final Exam’? VIP is assessment based.
Build strong technical skills
In these projects VIP students get to design, prototype, research, and perform experiments and also, have access to technology and labs they would not get access to in normal course work.
Develop sought-after professional skills
By working in multi-disciplinary teams, students develop sought-after professional skills and learn to effectively communicate and deliver project mile-stones.
Get industry ready
Led by world leading UNSW researchers, VIP projects are an opportunity for students to gain in-depth knowledge into a specific industry or field of knowledge, and also interact with industry partners (potential employers).
Elective and multi-term course
VIP is a elective multi-term course (ENGG2600, ENGG3600, ENGG4600) available to students from their second year onwards, which runs from Term 1 to Term 3 in a single year. Students must complete all three terms to receive course credit (Total of 6UoC). There are three course codes for different degree stages i.e. ENGG2600 is for second year students.
Project-based assessments
Generally, in each team the VIP academic lead sets mile-stones and project goals, which students contribute towards and are also assessed on. These goals are project specific, view each VIP team's page to get an idea.
There is a general term-by-term assessment structure available in the course outlines. See the 2022 Course Outline: ENGG2600, ENGG3600, ENGG4600 (subject to change).
Multi-disciplinary
VIP projects are multi-disciplinary and teams are made up of both academics and students from different streams of engineering but also can be from other faculties. Students are able to rejoin a VIP team by enroling in a second year.
All students must make an application to join a VIP team.
Note: Applications close for individual VIP teams as they fill their positions. The average team has 5 - 10 members and most team will fill by end of each year.
For more information on eligibility and where VIP fits within your degree, please visit the following links if you are:
UNSW expects students to spend a minimum of 150 hours to complete a 6 UOC course like VIP. You will have at least 1 contact hour per week of team meetings with your lead academic/s. It is suggested to use at least 4 hours per week devoted to collaborative working time, assessments, and working on your assigned deliverables.
VIP students in general will work in teams on cutting-edge research projects or competitions that drive innovation. Under supervision VIP students will learn knowledge in specific field of research and work independently to research, design, prototype and perform experiments.
Remember the courses are assessment based ... NO EXAMS!
Please visit the UNSW handbook for more course details:
VIP is available to all UNSW undergraduate students from the beginning of their second year, who have completed a minimum of the following Units of Credit (UoC) by T1 2023:
ENGG2600 | Second-year - Completed 42 UoC
ENGG3600 | Third-year - Completed 72 UoC
ENGG4600 | Fourth-year - Completed 114 UoC
Engineering students must have completed ENGG1000/DESN1000 to apply. This does NOT apply for Comp/Sci, Food/Sci or any student outside the Engineering Faculty.
VIP courses are weighted the same as other Engineering courses for Honours calculations (2x for Level 2, 3x for Level 3, and 4x for Level 4).
VIP is 2 UoC per term.
| Engineering Students | Engineering students can enrol for up to 20 UoC per term if they wish without having to apply for overload approval. |
| Other Faculties | Students from other faculties who wish to overload may need to seek approval from their Faculty. Students may need to apply for an Overload Request here of 20UoC per term, to enrol in a VIP Project as their General Education elective. |
Subject to approval from the VIP academic, you may be able to utilise a VIP Project as your undergraduate thesis project.
To do your Thesis with a VIP Project, you MUST have completed 120 UoC by the end of the academic year, before starting your thesis the following year. Plus, standard school and faculty thesis course codes, prerequisites and rules apply.
The thesis project would be structured according to the UNSW Engineering undergraduate thesis structure NOT the ChallENG VIP course codes. For more information, please visit the links below:
Masters of Engineering Science (program 8338 only) can apply to participate in The Vertically Integrated Project Course ENGG4600 with approval from their engineering schools postgraduate coursework coordinator. Engineering school contacts
Masters of Engineering (program 8621) and Masters of Information Technology (program 8543) cannot participate in VIP.
See how VIP fits within your degree HERE.
The VIP Program is an assessment-based elective course. You MUST complete assessment tasks set by your VIP academics each term to maintain your position on the team and for successful completion of the course. You will receive a numerical mark and grade on your transcript upon successful completion of the course.
See 2022 VIP course outlines:
At the end of T1 and T2, the grade for VIP in those terms will be listed as EC, which stands for Enrolment Continuing. This does not have a mark but counts as a pass in terms of academic standing.
At the end of term 3 after all assessments are completed, a final mark is calculated and added to the VIP course in Term 3. The enrolments in Term 1 and 2 are also updated with the final mark as well (the EC grade will remain).
Overall, the assessments are equal to a standard 6 UoC course which has a mark and counts towards your WAM.
Partial credits will not be given.
As a year-long course, working out the relevant census date can be tricky. VIP has three parts to enrol in, one for each term that the project runs across. Your progression through the course, and the census dates for the course, are determined separately for each of those terms. This means that if e.g. you decide to withdraw from VIP in T2, you will not be able to drop your T1 enrolment.
Please contact us for further advice on census dates if required.
UNSW charges tuition fees on a unit of credit (UOC) basis by individual units of study in a course. You will be charged 2 UOC in each term for each of the VIP courses.
Important note: To successfully unenroll from the VIP Course you must get permission from the ChallENG program to unenroll via the challeng@unsw.edu.au email address.
1. Communicate with your lead academic that you intend to drop the course.
2. Officially withdraw from the Apply ChallENG Site. (See image)
3. To gain permission, email challeng@unsw.edu.au communicating you have contacted your academic and confirm you wish to drop the course.
4. After, you will be contacted by student services giving you permission to unenroll on MYUNSW from ALL three terms. (or all remaining terms you are enrolled in the course)
Note: You must unenroll from ALL remaining terms of your VIP course on myUNSW to have successfully drop the VIP Course, NOT just the current term.
If you need to apply for special consideration you should do the same as you would for any other UNSW course. If your application for special consideration is approved, the nature of the substitute assessment or extension will depend upon the project you are enrolled in.
