AusIMM Recognised Geoscience Courses

One of the core values of AusIMM is to support the professional development and knowledge enhancement of future mineral industry professionals.

The AusIMM Geoscience Committee provides input on relevant geoscience programs at Australian universities to identify Recognised Courses programs for the AusIMM Accreditation Committee. The last review was for 2018, and is valid for up to 5 years, wherein another review will be undertaken in 2023 to maintain this initiative.

AusIMM reviews programs leading to the award of professional degrees for mineral industry professionals and recognises academically credible programs that can demonstrate a significant exposure to relevant mineral industry practice and/or a significant uptake of graduates into the mineral industry. The AusIMM is not an official body and cannot accredit degrees, however it can recognise them, and the accreditation program is centred around university degrees rather than other professional courses.

The normal discipline areas for which programs are recognised are metallurgy, mining, geosciences, geotechnical (mining), social performance and environment. However, credible programs in other disciplines may be recognised provided they meet the core requirement of primarily educating future mineral industry professionals.

Criteria for recognition looks at the university environment including: Identifiable Structure, Staff, Facilities, Resources, Advisory Mechanism Involving Industry.  
Program criteria includes: Title, Philosophy and Objectives’ Program Duration, Admission and Retention, Personal Skills of Graduates, Personal Attributes of Graduates, Field of Specialisation, Program Structure and Content and Exposure along with Mineral Industry Practice, Graduate Uptake by the Mineral Industry, Quality Systems and Processes.

Having achieved AusIMM recognition, such programs will be clearly identifiable to prospective students, employers, educators and the wider community.

AusIMM recognition provides:

• A Certificate of Recognition from AusIMM and the right to identify the program as Recognised by the AusIMM in all advertising.
• Eligibility to apply to prestigious undergraduate scholarships from the AusIMM Education Endowment Funds to support study in Australia.
• Listing on the AusIMM website with a link to the university home page.
• Possibility of promotion of recognised programs within The AusIMM Bulletin and other AusIMM advertising material directed to prospective students and employers.
• Access to future benefits that will arise as the AusIMM seeks to support and enhance educational programs that lead to careers in the mineral industry, and which provide future members of the institute.

A list of recognised university geoscience courses can be found here.