The first year of the degree is common to all engineering disciplines. This enables students to compare engineering disciplines before making their selection. Selection and enrolment into a particular branch of the engineering does not occur until the end of the first year of the course. Specialisation in the discipline of Mechatronics engineering begins in the second year of the course. A feature of the Monash Mechatronics course throughout all year levels is the strong emphasis on project work.
Considerable importance is placed on design and implementation through teamwork.
The mechatronics projects at each year level allow students to work on real world problems for immediate application in industry. This enables students to consolidate their learning. In addition students will also be required to complete 12 weeks of engineering work experience prior to graduation. Most students complete this requirement in the vacation period at the end of years 3 and 4 of their course. Students choose the Mechatronics discipline of engineering after successful completion of the common first year of the Bachelor of Engineering program at any of the Monash engineering campuses.