Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Postgraduate Certificate in Civil Engineering (PGCertCivilEng) is designed for students seeking advanced knowledge and practice in civil infrastructure, particularly the design and management of civil engineering projects.
• It is a relatively short postgraduate qualification: 60 points and normally six months full-time.
• Students can build specialist knowledge in areas such as construction management, earthquake engineering, transportation, geotechnical, structural, structural fire and water engineering.
• The certificate can serve as a pathway into higher postgraduate study, including the Master of Civil Engineering and several other engineering master's qualifications.
• UC describes postgraduate study as providing specialist skills, advanced knowledge, research capability and potential career progression.
• UC's Civil and Natural Resources Engineering department has research activity across areas including geotechnical, transportation, environmental, water, earthquake, structural, fire and construction-related engineering.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The certificate contains 60 points, normally four 15-point courses. Students can either complete an unendorsed certificate or specialise through an approved endorsement.

The courses are selected from the civil engineering courses contained in Schedule S and Schedule E of the Master of Civil Engineering.

The programme therefore provides scope to study advanced topics associated with areas such as:

• Construction management
• Earthquake engineering
• Geotechnical engineering
• Structural engineering
• Structural fire engineering
• Transportation engineering
• Water engineering

Disciplines / Specialisations

The PGCertCivilEng can be awarded:

• Unendorsed; or
• With an endorsement in Construction Management;
• Earthquake Engineering;
• Geotechnical Engineering;
• Structural Engineering;
• Structural Fire Engineering;
• Transportation Engineering; or
• Water Engineering.

Programme Highlights

• 60-point postgraduate qualification.
• Six-month full-time completion option.
• February and July starts.
• Seven possible specialist endorsements.
• Focus on advanced civil infrastructure knowledge.
• Study can be tailored around a particular civil engineering discipline.
• Provides a possible pathway into further postgraduate engineering study.
• Formal progression provisions allow eligible students who have completed at least 45 points with a GPA of 5.0 or higher to apply for admission to certain master's qualifications, subject to meeting the advancing qualification's requirements and receiving approval.
• UC specifically lists the Master of Civil Engineering, Master of Engineering, Master of Engineering in Fire Engineering and relevant Master of Engineering Studies options among progression pathways.

Career Outcomes

Graduates can use the qualification to strengthen specialist civil engineering knowledge for professional practice.

Potential areas include:

• Civil engineering
• Construction management
• Structural engineering
• Geotechnical engineering
• Transportation engineering
• Water engineering
• Earthquake engineering
• Structural fire engineering
• Infrastructure project work
• Advanced technical practice
• Engineering research

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current UC programme page and 2027 postgraduate materials continue to list the qualification with 60 points, February/July entry and six-month full-time duration.
• The formal PGCertCivilEng regulations currently available from UC came into force on 1 January 2024 and state that the qualification was first offered in 2019.
• A maximum completion period of 24 months applies.
• Honours, Merit or Distinction are not awarded for this qualification.
• If a student fails up to 30 points, permission may be given to repeat or substitute courses; failure of more than 30 points results in withdrawal under the qualification regulations.
• There is no separate research thesis requirement for the certificate itself.
• The programme's courses are subject to prerequisites and availability.
• The exact course combination for an endorsement should be confirmed with UC's Civil and Natural Resources Engineering department before enrolment.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student physically studying this programme in New Zealand, the usual route is the New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to Immigration New Zealand's assessment.

Current official requirements include:

• Offer of place from an approved New Zealand education provider.
• Sufficient funds to pay tuition fees or evidence of an applicable scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Genuine intention to study.
• Good health and character.
• Evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.
• Other supporting documents as required by Immigration New Zealand.