Engineering First Year

At UC, we offer a flexible Engineering First Year where you can keep a variety of discipline options open for your next three years of study. There are opportunities to further explore the engineering disciplines throughout your First Year including information evenings, lab tours, and more.

Engineering First Year students are supported by our student-led, Faculty-enabled, peer mentoring programme – ENGMe! You will be assigned a peer mentoring group, led by a current 2nd - 4th Year Engineering student who has successfully ‘been there and done that’, and is the perfect place to learn tips and tricks, ask questions, seek advice, and meet new people.

Entry to the First Year

Studying the Engineering First Year is possible for all students who meet the entry requirements. If you do not meet these requirements, there are alternative pathways, these are outlined below.

The University of Canterbury does not use NCEA rank scores.

Engineering First Year Courses

The required courses for a standard Engineering First Year depend on the engineering discipline(s) you wish to study in the Specialist (2nd – 4th) Years. 

The Engineering First Year Required Courses Chart outlines which courses are required for each of the engineering disciplines.

If you are unsure which elective course(s) to take as part of your Engineering First Year, have a look at our list of Recommended Elective Courses below. 

Recommended electives by discipline

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

Alternative Engineering First Year Options

Direct Entry and Modified Engineering First Year

If you have taken the STAR course MATH199/198, 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), or a modified Engineering first year with acceleration in mathmatics. 

To be considered for a Direct Entry to 2nd Year, you should be expecting to achieve at the following level: 

STAR MATH199/198 at University of Canterbury (or equivalent courses at another tertiary institution);

AND EITHER:

A. NCEA: You must have achieved at least 20 credits, with an 'excellence' endorsement in both Physics and Chemistry; OR

B. International Baccalaureate: Scores of 7 HL in each of Physics and Chemistry; OR

C. Cambridge International Examination: An A grade in A Level in both Physics and Chemistry.

Modified 1st Year

STAR MATH199/198 at University of Canterbury (or equivalent courses at another tertiary institution) only.

Consideration for direct entry will be on a case-by-case basis.

If you have not taken STAR MATH199/198 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. 

Expression of Interest 

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

Foundation Pathway for Engineering First Year

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
• EMTH117
• 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.

Engineering First Year at another NZ university

It is not possible to take an equivalent Engineering First Year year at another NZ university for engineering disciplines at UC. Entry will be a modified first year engineering programme in the first instance. Depending on prior academic history, a modified programme may be able to be comppleted in a single semester of study. Contact a Student Advisor if you have questions.

Pathways from a NZ Polytechnic