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Engineering First Year

08 November 2023

UC's Engineering First Year will give you a solid foundation in engineering processes, mathematics, physics, and computer science. We offer a flexible Engineering First Year where you can keep a variety of discipline options open for your next three years of study.

HOW TO APPLY

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

 

CHCH101 - Strengthening Communities through Social Innovation

CULT114 / MAOR108 - Te Patu a Maui : The Treaty of Waitangi - facing and overcoming colonisation

ECON104 - Introduction to Microeconomics

ECON105 - Introduction to Macroeconomics

EDUC101 - Spark! The Art & Science of Learning

ENGL117 / WRIT101 - Writing for Academic Success

MAOR165 - Tuakiri: Culture and Identity

MGMT100 - Fundamentals of Management

MKTG100 - Principles of Marketing

SCIM101 - Science, Māori and Indigenous Knowledge

SENS101 - Introduction to the Principles and Concepts of Sustainability 

STAT101 - Statistics 1

TREO110 - Te Ngao Tu: Conversational Māori for Absolute Beginners

 

BIOL111 - Cellular Biology and Biochemistry

BIOL112 - Ecology, Evolution and Conservation

CHEM112 - Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry and Biochemistry

PHYS102 - Engineering Physics B: Modern Physics and Electromagnetism (2)

PROD131 - Introduction to Formulation Science

CHEM112 - Structure and Reactivity

ENVR101 - Introduction to Environmental Science

FORE105 - Forests of the World

FORE111 - Trees, Forest and the Environment

FORE131 - Trees in the Landscape

FORE141 - Forest Growth and Measurements

FORE151 - Commercial Aspects of Forestry

GEOG106 - Global Environmental Change

GEOG110 - People, Places and Environments  

GEOL101 - Building Planet Earth: Fundamentals of Earth Science

GEOL102 - Environmental Earth System Science

PHYS102 - Engineering Physics B: Modern Physics and Electromagnetism (2)

PROD131 - Introduction to Formulation Science

SPRT126 - Land Journeys and Ethics

CHEM112 - Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry and Biochemistry

ENVR101 - Introduction to Environmental Science

FORE102 - Forests and Societies

FORE105 - Forests of the World

FORE111 - Trees, Forest and the Environment

FORE131 - Trees in the Landscape

FORE141 - Forest Growth and Measurements

FORE151 - Commercial Aspects of Forestry

GEOG106 - Global Environmental Change

GEOG110 - People, Places and Environments  

GEOL101 - Building Planet Earth: Fundamentals of Earth Science

GEOL102 - Environmental Earth System Science

PHYS102 - Engineering Physics B: Modern Physics and Electromagnetism (2)

PHYS101 - Engineering Physics A: Mechanics, Waves, Electromagnetism and Thermal Physics

PROD111 - Materials Science for Design

PROD131 - Introduction to Formulation Science

COSC122 - Introduction to Computer Science

FORE105 - Forests of the World

FORE111 - Trees, Forest and the Environment

CHCH101 - Engaging Communities through Social Innovation

TREO110 - Te Ngao Tu: Conversational Māori for Absolute Beginners

BIOL116 - Human Biology

COSC122 - Introduction to Computer Science

DIGI101 / COSC101 - Working in a Digital World

DIGI102 - Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Ethics

PHYS102 - Engineering Physics B: Modern Physics and Electromagnetism (2)

PROD111 - Materials Science for Design

PROD121 - The Game Development Process

COSC122 - Introduction to Computer Science - Compulsory for Software Engineering

DIGI101 / COSC101 - Working in a Digital World

DIGI102 - Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Ethics

INFO123 - Business Information Systems and Technology

INFO125 - Introduction to Programming with Databases

MATH120 - Discrete Mathematics - Compulsory for Software Engineering

PHYS102 - Engineering Physics B: Modern Physics and Electromagnetism (2)

PROD121 - The Game Development Process

COSC101 - Working in a Digital World

COSC122 - Introduction to Computer Science

MATH120 - Discrete Mathematics

PHYS102 - Engineering Physics B: Modern Physics and Electromagnetism (2)

STAT101 - Statistics 1

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

BIOL111 - Cellular Biology and Biochemistry (Chemical Formulation Design major)

BIOL112 - Ecology, Evolution and Conservation (Chemical Formulation Design major)

CHEM112 - Structure and Reactivity (Chemical Formulation Design major or Industrial Product Design technical elective)

COSC122 - Introduction to Computer Science (Industrial Product Design technical elective)

MGMT100 - Fundamentals of Management (All BProdDesign majors)

MKTG100 - Principles of Marketing (All BProdDesign majors)

PHYS102 - Engineering Physics B: Modern Physics and Electromagnetism (2)                (Chemical Formulation Design major or Industrial Product Design technical elective)

PROD111 - Materials Science for Design (Industrial Product Design major)

PROD121 The Game Development Process

PROD131 Introduction to Formulation Science (Chemical Formulation Design major)

Alternative Engineering First Year Options

Direct Entry and Modified Engineering First Year

If you have taken the STAR course MATH199 AIMS: 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), 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 AIMS: Advancing in Mathematical Sciences 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 AIMS: Advancing in Mathematical Sciences 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 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:

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

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, 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 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.

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, Mechanical or Electrical and Electronic Engineering as appropriate, as follows:

Semester 2

Summer School

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.

Ready to start your engineering journey?

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