Diploma in Engineering
Want a career in engineering, but not sure what to expect from uni or from doing an engineering degree? Our Diploma in Engineering is another way into AUT and your dream degree.
Start your university studies with our Diploma in Engineering. You’ll take the same courses as our first-year bachelor’s degree students, and study in a supportive environment with additional academic and student support.
It’s a great way to try university, explore different engineering subjects and gain a qualification in one year. Once you’ve completed your diploma you can then move into Year 2 of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or Bachelor of Engineering Technology.
Download programme guides
Minimum entry requirements
If you have New Zealand qualifications
- University Entrance OR
- 42 NCEA level 3 credits, including UE literacy and numeracy, with:
- 10 credits in each of three approved subjects OR
- 12 credits in each of two approved subjects and 14 credits across two further subjects
If you don’t have University Entrance, we will work with you to help you identify which diploma courses match your interests and make sure you have the support to succeed in this programme.
If you have qualifications from another country
See entry requirements for students from other countries. Select your country from the dropdown menu.
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in Writing and a minimum of 5.0 in other bands, or equivalent
You’ll become familiar with fundamental engineering concepts, sustainable engineering design and the mathematics to solve engineering problems. You’ll also develop your academic knowledge and study skills to give you the confidence for further study.
The courses you study are from the first year of the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or Bachelor of Engineering Technology. After you’ve completed this diploma, you can then cross-credit your courses and transfer to the second year of one of our engineering degrees*. Your diploma courses can also help you decide which subjects you might like to focus on later once you move into our bachelor’s degree.
We'll work with you to help you identify where you want to go and what courses will help you get there.
Complete the following courses
In your first semester you study
- ENGE401 Introductory Engineering Mathematics
- DIGD507 Mahitahi | Collaborative Practices
- ENGE500 Introduction to Sustainable Engineering Design
- ENGE504 Electrical Engineering Fundamentals
In your second semester you study
- COMP500 Programming Concepts and Techniques
- ENGE501 Engineering Mathematics I
- ENME502 Engineering Materials I
And one of:
- ENEL503 Digital Devices and Systems
- ENGE503 Mechanical Engineering Fundamentals
- ENME500 Introduction to Thermofluids and Energy
We can help you with choosing the course that best fits you and your study goals.
*You need to take some Summer School courses to still complete your engineering degree in three years (or four years for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)).
Because you study the same first-year courses as our bachelor’s degree students, you can move into the second year of our engineering degrees once you’ve completed this diploma.
- Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
- International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.
- Fees-free study may be available for domestic students
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.