New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Mechanical Engineering major)

Whether it’s creating infrastructure projects like bridges and roads or designing powerful machines like engines and turbines. This two-year, high-value Dublin Accord accredited programme sets you up for an exciting career in either civil or mechanical engineering. You’ll gain the skills and cutting-edge knowledge to tackle projects in your field of choice, from designing sustainable infrastructure to building the machines that power industries.

This course is the perfect foundation for advanced studies and career opportunities in public and private sectors, preparing you for roles like civil engineer, mechanical engineer, design engineer, and more.

Students who have already completed some study in this qualification may join SIT in Semester 2. 

Please contact the Programme Manager for potential study options.

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Invercargill
Campus
Invercargill
Qualification
Diploma
Level
6
Credits
240
Duration

Two years full-time

Dates
TBC
Tuition Fees

Zero tuition fees

Direct Material Costs

$2,281.00 per year (incl. GST)

International Fees

Check if this course is available to international students in our International section.

Course Outline

Do you dream of designing electric generators, internal combustion engines or steam and gas turbines?

Our two-year, high value course of study will enable you to conceive, design and build power-using machines, such as refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, elevators and escalators and more.  

The course acts as a foundational year for advanced mechanical engineering and is designed to upskill you for advanced studies, leading to career opportunities such as becoming a mechanical engineer, mechanical design engineer, mechanical field engineer, piping engineer or a mechanical project engineer.

Learn how to:

  1. Design machines
  2. Use lathes, shaping machines, milling machines, welders and more
  3. Use cutting-edge 3D modelling software including SolidWorks and AutoCAD
  4. Produce drawings to industry standards 
  5. Work collaboratively with construction workers, clients, and other industry professionals

Technology used during course:

Software

  • Adobe Suite
  • Autodesk
  • Ansys
  • DiaLux
  • EES equation Solver
  • HSM Works Ultimate 2021
  • Lumion
  • Matlab
  • MDSoliods
  • Siemans Solid Edge 2020
  • Solid Works
  • TecEquipment VDAS
  • Fusion 360
  • SAP 2000
  • Sketchbook Pro for Windows

 

Hardware

  • Lathes
  • 3D Printer
  • Robotic Arm Printer
  • Laser Cutting Machine
  • CNC Machines
  • Water Jet Cutter
  • Welding Technology
Course Content

Year One

DE3301 Engineering Practice

To develop an understanding of the skills involved in safely using engineering workshop machines and equipment and to develop an awareness of common manufacturing processes.

DE4101 Engineering fundamentals

To introduce the basic fundamentals of a range of engineering strands.

DE4102 Engineering Mathematics

To develop mathematical skills, concepts and understanding in order to perform calculations and solve problems within engineering contexts,

DE4103 Technical Literacy

To develop technical research skills along with oral, written, graphical and interpersonal communication skills.

DE4301 Engineering CAD

To provide students with the basic CAD draughting skills required for an engineering technician.

DE4302 Mechanics

To develop a sound understanding of the principles of mechanics

DE4303 Material Properties

To develop an understanding of the characteristics and properties of common engineering materials relevant to mechanical and process engineering.

DE5301 Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer

To develop a sound basic knowledge of thermodynamic principles - including gas laws, measurement of pressure and temperature, mass and energy conservation and energy sources in the New Zealand context - and the mechanisms of heat transfer including the uses of heat exchangers

 

Year Two

DE5302 Strengths of Materials 1

To develop an understanding of the essential elements of strengths of materials

DE5303 Manufacturing Processes

To apply engineering knowledge to common manufacturing processes

DE5304 Electrical Fundamentals

To develop a sound knowledge of electrical and electronic theory and how these are applied to mechanical engineering systems.

DE6101 Engineering Management

To develop the knowledge and skills required to administer and manage projects effectively in a specific strand of engineering.

DE6102 Engineering Project (Mechanical)

To apply knowledge and problem-solving skills to plan and complete an engineering project relevant to the strand studied (civil, mechanical, electrical or electronics) to accepted practice and standards from a given specification.

DE6301 Fluid Mechanics

To understand and apply the principles of fluid statics and dynamics to common engineering problems

DE6302 Mechanics of Machines

To develop understanding to solve complex problems involved with machinery dynamics such as power transmission, balancing, noise, and lubrication systems.

DE6309 Advanced Thermodynamic

To develop a sound understanding in the theory and application of thermodynamics, especially as related to heat engines, air compressors, nozzles, steam plant, and energy conservation plant/principles.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering will be able to gain employment as engineering technicians in workplaces that have a technical/engineering basis relevant to their specialist engineering strand like mechanical engineering.

For the mechanical engineering strand, roles include the design, manufacture and maintenance of tools, engines, machines and systems.

On achievement of this qualification, graduates should:

  • Be work ready and able to be employed in a relevant engineering environment to work towards the achievement of the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering Practice (NZDEP) and to meet the minimum standard of competence to practise competently to the standard expected of a reasonable Engineering Technician
  • It is expected that graduates will attain the educational underpinnings and work ready attributes defined in the IPENZ Graduate Profile for Engineering Technicians.  The graduate profile defined by IPENZ is benchmarked internationally to the exemplar graduate attributes for graduates of technician education programmes recognised under the Dublin Accord
Application Criteria

For entry to this programme, applicants are required to have:

  • A minimum total of 48 credits at Level 2 in four subjects including at least 12 credits in mathematics, or
  • Equivalent qualifications (eg. International Baccalaureate, Cambridge), or
  • Equivalent credits from appropriate trades training and/or demonstrated skills and experience
  • Minimum of eight literacy credits at Level 1 or higher including four reading and four writing

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 - 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

Qualification Pathways

Graduates of the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (NZDE) will be able to study towards a technologist degree such as a Bachelor of Engineering Technology.

 

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