Engineering First Year 

Check with the Science Kaitoko (First Year student advisors) for this major and appropriate courses.

If you have taken STAR MATH199: Advancing in Mathematical Sciences, or equivalent course(s) at another tertiary institution and you achieve excellent NCEA, IB, or CIE results in relevant subjects at a NZ high school, you may be considered for Direct Entry to the 2nd Year of the BE(Hons).

If you have not taken STAR MATH199 and achieve excellent NCEA, IB, or CIE results in relevant subjects at a NZ high school, you may be eligible to apply for a Modified Engineering First Year. A Modified Engineering First Year involves taking some alternative (more advanced or interest) courses in place of some of the standard Engineering First Year course(s). This can be a good option for those still deciding which engineering discipline they wish to study in the Specialist (2nd - 4th) Years or for those who have achieved good results in one or two relevant subjects, but not all three.

To be considered for Direct Entry or a Modified Engineering First Year, you should be expecting to achieve at the following level: 

STAR MATH199 - Advancing in Mathematical Sciences at University of Canterbury (or equivalent courses at another tertiary institution);

AND EITHER:

1. NCEA: You must have achieved at least 20 credits, with at least 15 but ideally 20 with 'excellence' endorsement in each of Physics and Chemistry (for disciplines that require Chemistry*), plus other Level 3 credits to give a total of at least 80 Level 3 credits; OR
2. International Baccalaureate:  Scores of 7 HL in each of Physics and Chemistry (for disciplines that require Chemistry*); OR
3. Cambridge International Examination: An A grade in A Level in each of Physics and Chemistry (for disciplines that require Chemistry*).

*Disciplines that require Chemistry: Chemical and Process Engineering, Civil Engineering, Forest Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Natural Resources Engineering. 

Expression of Interest 2023

If you think you may be eligible for studying a Modified First Year or Direct Entry to Second Year, submit an expression of interest form (see below) to the Faculty of Engineering Student Advisors. When your results become available in January, the Associate Dean (Academic: Engineering First Year) will consider the best study path for you and inform you of your options. 

Direct entry to Second Year or Modified First Year - Expression of interest form

You may be required to complete your Engineering First Year over two years of study if you do not have the required background knowledge or if you fail some courses in your first attempt.

If you do not have the entrance requirements for BE(Hons) in Maths, Physics, and/or Chemistry, you may be required to take one or more introductory courses to build up your knowledge before attempting the following courses:

• CHEM114
• MATH101
• PHYS111

Introductory courses are all offered in the first semester of the year so it is possible to complete your Engineering First Year in one year of study. However, you may have to complete your Engineering First Year over summer school or over two years because:

• The introductory course MATH101 must be taken IN ADDITION to the eight required Engineering First Year courses for your chosen discipline(s).
• Summer school options vary from year to year. Find out more about what is offered during the Summer Programme.
• If you need to take all three introductory courses, you are advised to spread your learning over two years of study. You will need to take some additional courses to make your coursework full-time. Contact the Future Student Advisors for advice.

Science Headstart courses can be taken during the summer before Semester One starts.

It is possible to take an equivalent Engineering First Year year at another NZ university for some engineering disciplines. Your application for entry to the 2nd Year at UC Engineering is considered in the same way as students who have completed their Engineering First Year. Contact a Student Advisor if you have questions.

BEngTech

If you have completed a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Civil, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering from a NZ tertiary institution, you can apply for entry to the BE(Hons) in Civil, Natural Resources, Mechanical or Electrical and Electronic Engineering as appropriate. You will be considered for 2nd Year if you:

• have a B+ average, or better, in your BEngTech
• pass EMTH119 and ENGR102 (Civil, Natural Resources or Mechanical) or PHYS102 (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) with a B average, or better, during the summer prior to beginning the 2nd Year

If you are granted entry to the 2nd Year, you may be considered for exemption from individual courses depending on your background and experience. Note, this is at the discretion of the relevant department and is considered on a case-by-case basis only after admission to the programme.

NZDE

If you have completed a New Zealand Diploma in Engineering in Civil, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering from a NZ tertiary institution with a B+ average across all courses and an A- or better in a Level 5 Mathematics paper, you will be considered for a Modified Engineering First Year for Civil, Natural Resources, Mechanical or Electrical and Electronic Engineering as appropriate, as follows:

Semester 2

• EMTH118
• COSC131
• PHYS101
• CHEM111 (Civil, Natural Resources or Mechanical) or an elective course (Mechatronics or Electrical and Electronic only)

Summer School

• EMTH119
• ENGR102 (Civil, Natural Resources, Mechanical or Mechantronics) or PHYS 102 (Electrical and Electronic only)

On completion of the above courses, you will be considered for entry to the 2nd Year in the same manner as all other 2nd Year applicants, ie ranked by Grade Point Average (GPA).

If you are granted entry to the 2nd Year, you may be considered for exemption from individual courses depending on your background and experience. Note, this is at the discretion of the relevant department and is considered on a case-by-case basis only after admission to the programme.

Chemical and Process Engineering - Direct Entry to 3rd Year

Subject to the approval of the Associate Dean (Academic: Engineering and Forestry), in order to be considered for entry to the 3rd Year, a student applying with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) is expected to have:

• an appropriate major for the specialisation they wish to study (an appropriate major for Chemical and Process Engineering would be Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Physics).
• a B grade average, and
• at least 200-level Mathematics 

With this option, a student has the opportunity to gain a double degree (BSc and BE(Hons)) in five years.  

For more information, contact:

Ken Morison

Associate Professor

Link Rm 408

Phone: +6433693818

Internal Phone: 93818

ken.morison@canterbury.ac.nz

Electrical and Electronic Engineering - direct entry to 3rd Year

Subject to the approval of the Associate Dean (Academic: Engineering and Forestry), in order to be considered for entry to the 3rd Year, a student applying with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) is expected to have:

• an appropriate major for the specialisation they wish to study (an appropriate major for Electrical and Electronic Engineering would be Mathematics, Physics, or Computer Science).
• a B grade average
• at least 200-level Mathematics

Additional papers at the 200 or 300 level in Management or Accounting and Information Systems would enhance your application.

With this option, a student has the opportunity to gain a double degree (BSc and BE(Hons)) in five years. 

For more information, contact:

Alan Wood

Associate Professor

Acting Head of Department

Link Rm 507

Phone: +6433694433

Internal Phone: 94433

alan.wood@canterbury.ac.nz