Why Study / Key Benefits

• Provides a focused overview of asphalt mix design principles and the specifications used in road construction.

• Introduces design methods used in Australia and the United States, including the Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology and SHRP Superpave Mix Design.

• Explains the importance of aggregate blending and gradation, stability, air voids and workability in producing durable asphalt mixes.

• Covers New Zealand’s NZTA M/10 specification for dense-graded, stone-mastic and fine-graded asphalt paving mixtures.

• Helps engineers, supervisors and laboratory technicians understand mix selection, testing, production quality and construction considerations.

• The course is particularly useful for professionals who influence decisions about which asphalt mix should be used in particular locations.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The course provides an overview of asphalt mix design, relevant specifications, production testing and construction techniques.

The official brochure lists the following topics:

• Objectives of asphalt mix design.

• Desirable properties of asphalt mixes.

• Review of non-structural asphalt mixes.

• Different asphalt mix types and practical considerations.

• Asphalt mix design methods and procedures.

• Performance-based specifications.

• Quality assurance.

• Production testing and interpretation of test results.

• Overview of asphalt manufacture.

• Asphalt construction techniques.

The course also introduces:

• Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology.

• SHRP Superpave Mix Design.

• NZTA M/10 specification for dense-graded, stone-mastic and fine-graded asphalt paving mixtures.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The course is relevant to the following technical areas:

• Civil engineering.

• Highway and road engineering.

• Pavement engineering.

• Asphalt mix design.

• Road construction and maintenance.

• Asphalt production and manufacturing.

• Materials testing and laboratory technology.

• Quality assurance and performance-based specifications.

Programme Highlights

• Two-day specialist training course.

• Two published 2027 delivery dates in Auckland and Christchurch.

• Presented by David Jones.

• Covers asphalt mix design approaches used in Australia and the United States.

• Introduces the Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology and SHRP Superpave Mix Design.

• Includes an overview of NZTA M/10 asphalt mixture specifications.

• Explains the relationship between mix properties, quality assurance, production testing and construction.

• Designed for engineers, supervisors, contracting-company technical staff and laboratory technicians.

• Minimum participant numbers apply before the course is confirmed.

Career Outcomes

This is a professional-development course rather than a full academic qualification. It is intended to strengthen existing technical knowledge and support participants in their current engineering or infrastructure roles.

Relevant professional roles include:

• Civil or highway engineering professional.

• Pavement or asphalt engineer.

• Road construction supervisor.

• Asphalt production or plant technician.

• Materials testing laboratory technician.

• Quality assurance technician or professional.

• Technical staff member working for a road construction contractor.

• Engineering consultant involved in pavement and asphalt decisions.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The latest course brochure is dated 22 September 2026.

• The current published intakes are 8 March 2027 in Auckland and 22 March 2027 in Christchurch.

• The course fee is NZD 1,395 per person plus GST for both domestic and international participants.

• Minimum numbers apply before the course is confirmed.

• David Jones is listed as the presenter.

• No separate compulsory preparatory course is identified on the official course page.

• No formal academic qualification, professional registration or specific work-experience requirement is published.

• No course-specific post-study work visa eligibility is advertised.

International Student Visa Requirements

The course lasts two days, so it falls within New Zealand's short-course study allowance for eligible visitors.

For international participants:

• Immigration New Zealand permits people holding a valid Visitor Visa to study one or more short courses for up to three months.

• A person who needs a Visitor Visa must obtain the appropriate visa before travelling to New Zealand.

• A person who is eligible for visa-waiver travel may need an NZeTA instead; eligibility depends on nationality and travel circumstances.

• A Visitor Visa does not provide general New Zealand employment rights.

• Studying for more than three months generally requires an appropriate student visa.

For applicants travelling on an Indian passport:

• India is not on New Zealand's visa-waiver country list.

• Applicants should generally apply for a Visitor Visa before travelling.

• They should provide evidence supporting the genuine purpose of travel, their intended short stay, sufficient funds and their intention to leave New Zealand, as required by Immigration New Zealand.

• The course is only two days, so a Fee Paying Student Visa would not normally be required solely for this short course, provided the visitor-study conditions are met.