New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology

New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology

New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6)

Study Architectural Technology and learn essential theoretical knowledge, technology and practical skills that are needed in the architecture and construction industry.

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Key Details
Invercargill
Qualification:
Diploma
Level:
6
Credits:
240
Duration:

Two years, full-time

Study Modes:
On Campus
Dates:

2025 Semester 1: 17 February to 21 November

Fees:

This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.

This qualification provides the construction industry with qualified people who have the essential knowledge and skills required to enter employment as architectural technicians who will be able to work independently on small and medium scale building projects of limited complexity through all stages to completion.

Graduates of this programme will be able to:

  • Apply comprehensive industry knowledge to evaluate design principles for small, medium and large building projects in a design, building or construction related environment
  • Carry out feasibility studies for small, medium and large buildings
  • Establish the client's requirements, develop and communicate a concept and building design, and prepare approval documentation for a building project in accordance with a client's brief
  • Evaluate the performance of and select materials and finishes to be used in the building process
  • Prepare, organise and present architectural working drawings for small and medium buildings using manual and digital technologies in accordance with the statutory and regulatory environment
  • Understand the roles, documentation and administrative requirements of the construction industry, apply this knowledge and assist senior personnel through the tender process 

Year 1

DART510 Architectural Design 1

DART520 Architectural Drawing 1

DCON540 Construction Technology 1

DART550 Environmental Impact and Site Feasibility

DCON560 Information Communication

DCON570 Legislation and the Construction Industry

DCON580 Materials Science

Year 2 

DART600 Architectural Design and Drawing 2 

DART610 Architectural Documentation

DCON620 Building Services

DCON630 Construction Technology 2

DART660 Structural Building Systems

DART680 History and Development of Architecture

Graduates of the New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6) will be able to work as a:

  • Architectural Technician

With further training and/or experience graduates of this Diploma may be able to work as a:

  • Architectural designer
  • Senior architectural designer
  • Architect
  • Interior designer
  • Urban designer
  • Landscape architect
  • Design manager
  • Consultant design practice
  • or in another field related to Construction, Planning or Design.

School Leavers

Applicants should have one or more of the following:

  • NCEA, with a minimum of 50 credits at Level 2 including 12 credits in Mathematics and a minimum of 12 Literacy credits
  • NZ Trade Certificate in Carpentry, or National Certificate in Carpentry
  • Be able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills
  • Four years secondary education preferred
  • Applicants whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, must meet the English Proficiency Outcomes in accordance with the NZQF Programme Approval and Accreditation Rules 2017 as below.

Mature Applicants

Applicants over the age of 20 years at the time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. Examples of demonstration of ability to succeed are the provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at Level 3 or above in a related discipline and/or employment in the related sector for one or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager as appropriate.  Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment


IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE)
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18)
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill.
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42
Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band

* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6) , and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:

  • A minimum of 240 credits in accordance with the Programme schedule for the New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6).
  • The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6), full-time over 2 years or part-time over four years.

Please Note: Students failing to attend for 80% of the timetabled programme hours will forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.

This Diploma is suitable for candidates from a variety of educational backgrounds including school leavers. There are no specific qualification pathways leading to this Diploma, however achievement of NCEA Level 2 standards from the Construction and Infrastructure Vocational Pathways may be useful and is recommended.

This Diploma may also build on from trade-level qualifications in any construction related trade, or the New Zealand Certificate in Construction Related Trades (Supervisor) (Level 4) or the New Zealand Certificate in Construction Related Trades (Main Contract Supervision) (Level 5).

Graduates of this qualification may wish to undertake further tertiary study at degree level in the field of Architectural Studies, Design, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying.

Advised at the start of the programme, however expect between two and five days per week.

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