Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Study the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) to prepare for a rewarding career in engineering. This engineering degree is accredited by Engineering New Zealand, a signatory of the Washington Accord, which means the programme is internationally recognised.
As an engineer you address the key issues we face today, like access to clean water, sustainable energy systems, waste management, recycling and environmental pressures. In our engineering degree you learn to formulate models and analyse, predict and monitor engineering systems – essential skills in professional engineering.
Through engineering projects and other practical courses you have plenty of opportunities to apply what you have learnt in class. Our strong industry partnerships with companies like Fisher & Paykel, Beca, Opus, Spark and Contact Energy help you gain valuable workplace experience as part of your study.
Minimum entry requirements
If you have New Zealand qualifications
- University Entrance or equivalent, including:
- NCEA: At least 14 level 3 credits in each of Calculus and Physics
- CIE: A level Mathematics and a minimum of AS in Physics OR A level in Physics and a minimum of AS in Mathematics
- IB: A grade of 4 or better in Mathematics and Physics
Applicants who qualify for entry by other means must demonstrate competency in calculus and physics at least to level 3* or equivalent. This could be:
- A completed or partially completed New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (NZDE) or National Diploma in Engineering (NDE) with a B+ GPA; or
- A completed Bachelor of Engineering Technology with a C+ GPA; or
- Any other recognised certificate or national certificate containing mathematics and physics to the required level.
1. New Zealand students under 20 must qualify for University Entrance by completing at least 120 points at level 3, or at least 60 points at level 4 and above if they have completed Year 13 at a New Zealand secondary school, or equivalent.
2. If your previous studies include study at level 5 or above you may qualify for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
Guaranteed entry
Applicants will automatically be offered a place in this programme if they have a rank score of 250 or higher, along with 14 NCEA level 3 credits in each of Calculus and Physics or CIE A levels in Mathematics and Physics.
All other applicants who have met the admission requirements will be considered on a case-by-case basis
Calculate NCEA credits
If you have qualifications from another country
See entry requirements for students from other countries. Select your country from the dropdown menu.
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 6.0 overall with all bands 5.5 or higher; or equivalent
Useful New Zealand school subjects
- Chemistry, Digital Technologies, English, Maths, Physics
Don’t meet the entry requirements?
Consider starting with:
If you’re studying the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), you’ll learn to design creative solutions for complex engineering problems, design for sustainability, and solve problems creatively and ethically.
You also need to complete 800 hours of planned, supervised work experience to graduate, in addition to completing all your courses.
To prepare for your future career as an engineer, you’ll develop strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, and apply what you’ve learnt through engineering projects and other practical courses.
Each year you study courses related to your chosen major (the main subject you want to specialise in) and develop an understanding of the wider field of engineering. If you're a full-time student, you normally study eight courses a year (120 points each year, and 480 points for the entire degree).
Refer to the web page for your chosen major for the courses you’ll study each year.
Year 1
Your first year introduces you to the different fields of engineering and helps you better imagine what your future career as an engineer could look like.
Many of your first-year courses are shared between the majors in this programme and the Bachelor of Engineering Technology, making it possible for you to switch between our engineering degrees and majors.*
*Cross-credits between different engineering majors and degrees are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and you may not be able to gain cross-credits for all your first-year courses.
Year 2, 3 and 4
You become more specialised in your chosen major and also develop more advanced engineering skills to prepare for your future career.
Maritime engineering students move to Tasmania for Year 3 and 4.
In Year 4 you complete an industry-based project, working on a piece of engineering design and analysis for organisations like Mighty River Power, Fletcher Building, BECA, SKM, Genesis Energy, Contact Energy, Fisher & Paykel Appliances, Spark or Auckland Airport.
If you started your studies in the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) before 2024, the courses you need to complete are a little different. Find out what courses you need to take to complete your qualification if you started in 2023 or earlier.
Your major is the subject area you want to specialise in. It makes up the majority of your degree, and consists of a range of courses related to your chosen engineering subject.
Choose one of these majors as part of your degree
- Architectural Engineering
- Civil Construction Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Maritime Engineering*
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Software Engineering
*The maritime engineering majors are delivered in partnership with the Australian Maritime College (AMC) in Launceston, Tasmania. Students study the first two years at AUT and the last two years at AMC. Maritime engineering students can focus on one of three areas: Marine and Offshore Engineering, Naval Architecture or Ocean Engineering.
($7,726 - $10,029 tuition fees + $1,192 student services levy)
($45,900 tuition fees + $1,192 student services levy)
- Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
- International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.
- Fees-free study may be available for domestic students
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.