BE(Hons) Application & Selection Process

All eligible applicants are ranked based on their Grade Point Average (GPA). The GPA used for entry to the BE(Hons) is calculated from Schedule C and Schedule S courses only. 

Where demand for a discipline exceeds the number of available places, offers are made according to GPA ranking. Results from Summer School are included in GPA calculations, and places are held for students completing EFY that includes Summer School.

Learn more about how discipline places are allocated.

When applying, you must rank all engineering disciplines from your first to last preference.

If you are not offered a place in your first‑choice discipline, the faculty will endeavour to offer you a place in another discipline, subject to availability, eligibility, and your GPA ranking.

Ranking your discipline preferences.

BE(Hons) conjoint programmes

A BE(Hons) conjoint programme typically takes five years to complete and requires enrolment in 135 points per year (compared to the standard 120‑point enrolment). To be permitted to enrol in this workload, students must maintain an overall GPA of 6.0*. There is flexibility to extend a conjoint programme beyond five years, in which case students would enrol in a standard workload each year. Students applying to enter a BE(Hons) conjoint in Second Year must meet a higher admission threshold, with a minimum GPA of 6.0 across their programme of study.

Conjoint students must apply for the 2^nd year of their programme by 1 November, the same as all other students. Students who exit the conjoint within 12 months of entering the professional years and transfer to the BE(Hons) are assessed on their 100-level BE(Hons) First Year Schedule S and C courses and may stay in their discipline only if they meet that discipline’s GPA threshold; otherwise, they may be placed in another discipline if space allows.

* Students in a BE(Hons) conjoint must maintain a minimum GPA of 5.0 to remain in the programme and to be guaranteed entry into their first‑choice engineering discipline. If a student’s GPA drops below 5.0, their application will be considered through the competitive selection process, where placement is subject to GPA cut‑offs for each discipline.

Offers of Place for entry into BE(Hons) disciplines are made in rounds. Most students will receive an outcome by mid‑December, while some applications may remain conditional (or pending in MyUC) until additional information (such as Summer School results) becomes available.

Understanding offer timelines and what a “pending” status means can help you plan next steps.

How Offers of Place work.

You may update your ranked discipline preferences up until 1 November.

If you wish to change discipline after receiving an official offer, you must submit a Change of Discipline request. Approval is not guaranteed. Requests are considered only if places become available after the release of Summer School results, just prior to the start of Semester 1.

Changing your discipline choice - what you need to know.

In limited circumstances, some engineering disciplines may consider a small number of applicants through an additional entry pathway when a discipline is oversubscribed. This pathway is discretionary, and available only for selected disciplines.

Head of Department recommended entry (limited places). 

Students are encouraged to plan their EFY programme in a way that keeps multiple BE(Hons) discipline options open. Early planning and informed course selection can improve flexibility and reduce limitations when applying for Year 2 disciplines.

Support is available to help you understand discipline requirements, review course selections, and plan ahead.

How to plan EFY and maximise your discipline options.

Students are encouraged to plan their EFY programme to keep multiple discipline options open.

Student Advisors and Kaitoko can assist with course selection, degree planning, and understanding discipline pathways.

For advice or questions, contact: engdegreeadvice@canterbury.ac.nz