Study Engineering in New Zealand

New Zealand offers engineering aspirants programs in different fields of study. The country has six public universities offering engineering programs apart from which the sixteen polytechnic institutions also offer engineering programs. This ensures that both domestic and international students who wish to take up this field of study will find the program and specialization they are most interested in.

The country offers high-quality education especially in the sciences and also focuses on research thereby providing candidates with knowledge regarding the latest developments in the field. The universities also offer diploma programs in engineering apart from bachelor’s and master’s degrees making candidates advance quickly into fields like civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering. Candidates who are applying for engineering programs in the country will have to have a basic knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, and physics since it is considered to be a prerequisite by most universities.

Benefits of Studying Engineering in New Zealand

The benefits of studying engineering in New Zealand include the exposure the students will receive while studying in a multicultural environment. The country offers high-quality education to both domestic and international candidates with the degrees that are offered to have international value, especially within the job market. A few of the other benefits candidates will get in pursuing an engineering program in New Zealand are-

The engineering programs offered in the country have a practical and hands-on approach to learning which will benefit students by making them think independently and critically.
The country offers career opportunities in a wide range of areas ranging from construction to developing computer parts and even making smartphone applications. There is an estimated requirement of engineers for the next 20 years in the country due to the rebuilding of Christchurch.
The programs offered in the country are internationally acclaimed with over 35 engineering courses being accredited by the IPENZ.

Eligibility Requirements for Engineering in New Zealand

The eligibility criteria for engineering programs differ from university to university according to the field of study the candidate has chosen. It is also dependent on the level of the degree the candidate is planning to do. Students should enquire about the eligibility requirements directly from the university they are planning to apply to. They will be able to get the general requirements of most institutions without much hassle. Most institutions require candidates to have a set number of credits in mathematics, chemistry, physics, science, and technology before they can apply for engineering programs.

The general eligibility requirements for engineering programs include-

Educational/Academic Transcripts
Proof of English Language Proficiency
Statement of Purpose
Letters of Recommendation
Resume, if required

Cost of Engineering Programs in New Zealand

The cost of studying an engineering program in New Zealand is dependent on the kind of university the student has been admitted to and the field of study they have chosen. The tuition fee varies from university to university but when compared to public universities, it is higher in private universities. The tuition fee is also subject to change depending on whether the student is doing a bachelor’s program or a master’s program.

The cost can be estimated to be anywhere between NZ$ 20,000 to NZ$ 40,000 depending on the factors mentioned. But at the same time, the country offers both domestic and international students plenty of scholarship options they can benefit from.

Duration of Engineering Programs in New Zealand

The duration of engineering programs is different according to the level of study the student has chosen. The universities in New Zealand offer diploma programs, bachelor’s programs, and master’s programs in engineering. The duration of a diploma program is generally 2 years in most universities. A bachelor’s degree with honors has a duration of 4 years whereas a bachelor’s degree in technology will only have a duration of 3 years. A master’s degree often has a duration between 1 to 2 years depending on the university the student is in.

Popular Engineering Specializations in New Zealand

Since engineering is a vast field of study, taking a specialization in the field is done by students even in their undergraduate program. A few of the most popular engineering specializations that universities in New Zealand provide are-

Civil Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Computer Systems Engineering
Engineering Science
Mechatronics
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Structural Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Software Engineering

Top Universities for Engineering in New Zealand

Engineering is one of the most sought-after programs in New Zealand by domestic and international candidates. While most public universities in the country offer engineering programs, a few of them are internationally well-acclaimed. These universities are-

University of Otago

This university was established in the year 1869 and is a public research university that is known for its quality of research output. This university offers engineering intermediate programs along with a master’s in applied sciences program, and doctoral programs in the subject. The engineering intermediate programs offered at Otago will allow students to choose the engineering discipline they are interested in. This discipline should also be the field they wish to specialize in, in their second year. The engineering intermediate/BSc program in Otago is considered to be equivalent to the 1st year of BE Honors at the University of Canterbury. The programs that candidates will be able to take up are BAppSc, MAppSc, and Ph.D.

The specializations that are offered include-

Computational Modeling
Computer Science
Information Science
Software Engineering
Bioengineering

University of Waikato

This university was established in the year 1964 and is known for its quality of education in social sciences, management, engineering, and education. In engineering, they offer comprehensive BE Honors programs along with master’s programs in the subject. They also offer different specializations that students can choose from based on their interests. The campus is located in an industrial area and hence students who take up BE honors programs in the university will be able to take up paid work placements while doing the course. Sometimes they are even made permanent employees when they complete the course. Students here are provided with the option of taking a dual qualification in engineering and management. The duration of a BE honors program is 4 years.

The specializations they offer include-

Civil Engineering
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Materials and Process Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Mechatronics Engineering
Software Engineering

Auckland University of Technology

Auckland University of Technology offers programs in Engineering, Computer, and Mathematical Sciences which are often clubbed together making the programs interdisciplinary in nature. They offer undergraduate, postgraduate, certification courses, and diploma programs in these fields. This technical institute has dedicated departments for mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, and computer science and software engineering. They offer BE Honors, BE Technology, postgraduate certificate in engineering, postgraduate diploma in engineering, ME, and ME Project Management.

The specializations they provide include-

Mechanical Engineering
Maritime Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electronic Engineering
Architectural Engineering/Construction Engineering
Computer Engineering
Power/Energy system Engineering
Telecommunications Engineering

University of Canterbury

This is one of the best universities in the world for engineering with the university having a separate college dedicated to engineering. While studying engineering at Canterbury, students will be able to take an engineering intermediate year where they can choose multiple options. They will then be able to focus on the specialization of their choice from the second year of study. The programs offered have a duration of 4 years and the university offers nine different disciplines that candidates can choose from.

These specializations are-

Chemical and Process Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Forest Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Mechatronics Engineering
Natural Resources Engineering
Software Engineering

Victoria University of Wellington

This university was established in the year 1897 and has a student population of over 23,000. The university is known for the high-quality education they provide in fields like law, humanities, engineering, etc. The Victoria University of Wellington has a faculty of engineering where they offer BE Honors, ME by Thesis, ME by Practice, ME by Thesis and Coursework, and even Ph.D. programs. Most of the programs offered in engineering are a blend of digital engineering and sciences that caters to the latest trends in the field of engineering. The specializations they offer include-

Mechatronics Engineering
Software Engineering
Electronical Engineering
Renewable Energy
Networked Applications

University of Auckland

This university has a faculty of engineering which provides undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in the field of engineering. It is one of the 8 faculties in the university and is one that is constantly ranked high internationally for its research. The engineering faculty has a student population of over 3,500Students will be able to do postgraduate certifications, ME, BE Honors, Ph.D., etc. in the different specializations they offer. The specializations they offer include-

Aerospace Engineering
Bioengineering
Chemical and Materials Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Systems Engineering
Construction Management
Disaster Management
Earthquake Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Career Options for Engineering Graduates in New Zealand

Students who have completed their education will be able to find plenty of career opportunities within their field of specialization. Civil engineering is considered to be the field of study which is most sought-after in the job market especially in New Zealand. At the same time, technician-level engineers are also in demand in the country. Practical skills are valued over theoretical knowledge especially in the engineering field and hence the programs in New Zealand are considered to be the best for international students who wish to travel to other countries to find better career prospects.

Apart from being an engineering, graduates will have multiple career options in front of them from which they will be able to choose what suits them best. A few of these career options are-

Engineering Consultant
Draughting Professional
Computer Network Engineering
Product Development
Technician
Land Surveyor
Structural Engineer
Geometric Designer