Bachelor of Engineering Technology

Bachelor of Engineering Technology

Bachelor of Engineering Technology

If you excelled in Physics and Mathematics during your school years, pursuing a degree in Engineering could be the start of a highly fulfilling career. Potential job opportunities span various fields, including structural, geotechnical, water resources, automotive, mechanical design, manufacturing technology, thermodynamics, and energy systems.

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Key Details
Invercargill
Qualification:
Degree
Level:
7
Credits:
360
Duration:

Three years full-time

Study Modes:
On Campus
Dates:

2026 Semester 1: 16 February to 20 November
Fees:

This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.

  • NO tuition fees
  • Direct material costs of $2,000.00 per year under Zero Fees Scheme (GST inclusive)

International Fees can be found here.

Learn how to deal with complex systems and manage large-scale projects and solve real life problems. This degree offers comprehensive preparation using the most appropriate emerging technologies.

The first year of engineering study at the SIT has a core of five compulsory papers, plus a choice of electives. This allows you to study two strands without making a formal commitment to one specifically.  You are then encouraged to select electives from the options listed, focusing on those required in the strand you are considering majoring in, for years two and three.

Civil Strand
Ethics, Law and Professional Conduct, Environmental Engineering, Mechanics and Structures, Project Management, Risk Management, Traffic and Highway Engineering, Water and Wastewater Engineering.

Mechanical Strand
Ethics, Law and Professional Conduct, Machines, Manufacturing, Mechanics, Product Design, Project Management, Risk Management.

The Bachelor of Engineering Technology is aimed at secondary students who have achieved the requisite entrance qualifications (including NCEA Level 3), at recent New Zealand Diploma in Engineering graduates wishing to undertake a degree programme of study in order to enter the engineering profession, and at existing practitioners (in fields such as roading and transportation, water and wastewater engineering, infrastructure, mechanical engineering and design) wishing to obtain a more senior position.

Compulsory all Strands
BENG500 Mathematics for Engineers

Students will gain a working knowledge of mathematical principles appropriate to solve theoretical and applied engineering problems. 

BENG510 Mechanics for Engineers

Students will gain an understanding of general principles of mechanics in order to solve applied engineering problems.

BENG530 Communication for Engineers

Students will develop oral, written and interpersonal communication skills that are focused on delivering effective engineering advice and recommendations.

BENG540 Management for Engineers

Students will develop an understanding of the functions and structures of engineering organisations and apply fundamental principles and practice of management to a wide range of engineering situations.

BENG550 Computer Skills for Engineers

Students will gain an understanding of concepts and principles of computer systems and their applications to engineering analysis and practice.

Compulsory for Mechanical Strand

BENG555 Materials Fundamentals (Mechanical)

Students will develop an understanding of the characteristics and properties of metal, ceramic, polymer and composite engineering materials relevant to mechanical and process engineering and investigate methods for protecting materials and altering their properties.   

BENG565 Electrical Engineering

Students will apply electrical and electronic principles to mechanical engineering systems. 

BENG525 Mechanical Design and Drawing

Students will develop the understanding and skills required to effectively communicate an engineering design solution using engineering design, models and drawing practice.

Compulsory for Civil Strand

BENG560 Materials Fundamentals (Civil)

The student will develop knowledge and skills in the properties and uses of materials across a range of applications in civil engineering contexts. 

BENG570 Surveying

The student will develop knowledge and skills in the theory and practice of land surveying.

BENG520 Civil and Structural Drawing

Students will apply the principles and practice of drawing, detailing and modelling in civil engineering.

 

Year Two

Compulsory for Mechanical Strand

BENG605 Manufacturing Technology

Students will learn fundamentals principles associated with production processes and their application to the manufacture of products, including quality control, inventory control, scheduling and queuing.  

BENG615 Thermodynamics 1

Students will gain basic knowledge of thermodynamic principles including gas laws, measurement of pressure and temperature, mass and energy conservation and the mechanisms of heat transfer including the uses of heat exchangers.

BENG625 Mechanics of Materials 1

Students will gain an understanding the properties of engineering materials and how those materials act under load.

BENG635 Mechanics of Fluids (Mechanical)

Students will apply the fundamentals of fluid mechanics, including fluid statics and fluid dynamics in solving engineering problems. 

BENG645 Mechanics of Machines

Students will solve complex problems involving dynamics of machines which include power transmission systems, balancing, noise, and lubrication systems.

BENG655 Product Design

Students will learn how designs are developed from initial concepts to final working products capable of being manufactured and sold.                  

Compulsory for Civil Strand
BENG600 Structures

Students will develop analytical and evaluation skills for use in structural analysis and design.

BENG620 Mechanics of Fluids (Civil)

Students will apply the principles of fluid mechanics to engineering hydraulic situations, water balances and catchment runoff.

BENG630 Traffic and Highway Engineering

Students will gain knowledge of road construction and design principles including construction materials, construction techniques, traffic engineering design principles, safety management and maintenance processes, supporting systems for roading.

BENG640 Water and Wastewater Engineering

Students will develop an understanding of efficient water supply and distribution systems, reliable supplies of potable water, and appropriate systems for wastewater collection, treatment and disposal.

BENG650 Construction Methods and Practices

Students will apply the principles, standards and methodologies used in civil engineering construction.

BENG660 Environmental Engineering 

The student will analyse environmental impacts of human activity and cultural, technical and policy frameworks that are relevant to environmental engineering in Aotearoa New Zealand.

                            

Electives Mechanical
Choose two papers from the list below:

BENG637 Thermodynamics 2

Students will apply the laws and principles of thermodynamics to energy systems and industrial processes in order to evaluate their performance and optimise the thermodynamics processes.

BENG665 Mechanics of Materials 2

Students will develop skills at predicting responses of materials to stresses and strains and determining susceptibility of materials to failure.

BENG675 Quality Assurance

Students will apply the theory and practice of quality assurance and reliability to mechanical engineering processes and production.

BENG680 Mathematics for Engineers 2

Students will apply advanced mathematical concepts to engineering problems in context.

 

Electives Civil
Choose two papers from the list below:

BENG632 Highway Construction and Maintenance

Students will apply principles of road construction, roading project evaluation and road maintenance.

BENG670 Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Mechanics

Students will learn and apply the principles of geotechnical engineering and soil mechanics.

BENG672 Hydrology

Students will gain understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of the hydrologic cycle.

BENG680 Mathematics for Engineers 2

Students will apply advanced mathematical concepts to engineering problems in context.

 

Year Three

 

Compulsory all Strands

BENG700 Ethics, Laws and Professional Conduct

Students will apply knowledge and understanding of ethics, legal frameworks and professional codes of conduct to address issues that arise in engineering practice.

BENG710 Engineering Project

The student will undertake all stages of an engineering project from concept and proposal to final concept/design drawings or prototype production as a solution to a broadly defined engineering problem.

BENG720 Assessing and Managing Risk

The student will use robust analytical processes and tools to assess and manage risk in engineering projects.

BENG730 Managing Engineering Projects  

Students will apply project management concepts, principles and techniques in engineering contexts. 

                         

Electives Civil
Choose one paper not taken in Year Two

BENG632 Highway Construction and Maintenance

Students will apply principles of road construction, roading project evaluation and road maintenance.

BENG670 Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Mechanics

Students will learn and apply the principles of geotechnical engineering and soil mechanics.

BENG672 Hydrology

Students will gain understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of the hydrologic cycle.

BENG680 Mathematics for Engineers 2

Students will apply advanced mathematical concepts to engineering problems in context.

 

Electives Mechanical 

Choose one paper not taken in Year Two 

BENG637 Thermodynamics 2

Students will apply the laws and principles of thermodynamics to energy systems and industrial processes in order to evaluate their performance and optimise the thermodynamics processes.

BENG665 Mechanics of Materials 2

Students will develop skills at predicting responses of materials to stresses and strains and determining susceptibility of materials to failure.

BENG675 Quality Assurance

Students will apply the theory and practice of quality assurance and reliability to mechanical engineering processes and production.

BENG680 Mathematics for Engineers 2

Students will apply advanced mathematical concepts to engineering problems in context.

 

Electives Civil
Choose two papers

BENG740 Transportation Planning

Students will analyse, evaluate and design urban transport networks.

BENG750 Traffic Engineering and Management

Students will analyse traffic flows and crash records, and design intersections.

BENG760 Sustainable Practice

Students will appraise the effects of engineering processes on the built and natural environments

BENG770 Wastewater and Stormwater Systems

Students will extend their understanding of urban wastewater and stormwater systems.

 

Electives Mechanical
Choose two papers

BENG745 Fluid Power Engineering

Students will develop working knowledge of fluid power systems in industrial engineering applications.

BENG755 Energy Use and Management

Students will analyse and assess energy use, management and conservation.

BENG760 Sustainable Practice

Students will appraise the effects of engineering processes on the built and natural environments.

BENG765 Power Plant and Industrial Plant Engineering

Students will gain understanding of power plant and industrial plant engineering including steam generation and electricity production.

After graduation and further work experience possible jobs in the private and public sector include:

  • Civil engineer
  • Construction manager
  • Contract manager
  • Design engineer
  • Environmental engineer
  • Geotechnical engineer
  • Materials engineer
  • Mechanical engineer
  • Roading engineer
  • Water engineer
  • Transportation engineer

 

     

School Leavers

Students will have achieved NCEA Level 3 and met New Zealand university entrance requirements including:

  • Three subjects at Level 3, each with a minimum of 14 credits; physics, calculus, and one other subject from NZQA’s list of approved subjects, and
  • Literacy - 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of five credits in reading and five credits in writing, and
  • Numeracy - 10 credits at Level 1 or above, or
  • Completed the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering, or equivalent

Mature Applicant (20 years of age and above) 

Notwithstanding the above admission criteria, mature aged applicants who can show evidence of ability to succeed in the programmes may be considered for admission, provided they have successfully completed an approved course or programme, or have relevant industry experience, which is deemed to meet the required standard for entry. 

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 be awarded the Bachelor of Engineering Technology students will have been credited with all required papers as specified in the programme schedule. The total credit value of the Bachelor of Engineering Technology is 360 credits. Graduates of the bachelors degree are entitled to use the letters BEngTech after their names.

Please note – students failing to attend for 80% of timetabled programme hours may forfeit zero fees entitlement.

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