New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6) [Version 1]

Entry requirements

You need to have a minimum of 50 credits at NCEA Level 2, including:

• 12 credits in mathematics (at NCEA level 2)
• a minimum of 12 literacy credits (at NCEA Level 1).

Or, you need to show equivalent knowledge and skills.

If you do not meet these entry criteria you can get in touch to discuss your study options. Or check our foundation qualifications, which will help prepare you for further study.

Foundation and Bridging Certificates 

20 years old or over

If you are 20 years of age or over and do not hold the minimum entry requirements you will be eligible to be enrolled where your previous educational, work or life experience indicates you have a reasonable likelihood of success.

English language requirements

Domestic students for whom English or Māori is not their first language must also have an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with no band score lower than 5.5, or equivalent.

Learn more about English language requirements

Study requirements

For the following courses, you need access to a New Zealand built construction:

• CON104 Materials in Construction Projects
• CON107 Feasibility And Analytical Reports For Construction Projects.

If you don’t meet the requirements or would like to explore other options, please get in touch.

Cad software

For some courses in this qualification, you will need to learn and apply computer-aided design (CAD) software. You also need to have paper and drawing equipment for manual and computer-aided drawing (CAD) for all drawing courses.

Courses where CAD software is required are:

• DAT101 Concept Design
• DAT102 Preliminary Design
• DAT103 Developed Design
• DAT104 Detailed Design 1
• DAT105 Detailed Design 2.

Note: CAD is not taught as part of this qualification. This is so that students can choose which CAD software they want to use, as there are a variety available in the industry.

Recommended CAD software

The most well-known CAD software are:

• ArchiCAD
• Revit
• AutoCAD.

We recommend that you learn how to use ArchiCAD and/or Revit. These are the two most commonly used CAD software in the New Zealand industry.

Free CAD software for education

To download free educational versions of CAD:

• Register, using your student email address
• You will then get the activation codes so you can access the free education versions.

ArchiCAD (By Graphisoft)

Register for ArchiCAD

Download ArchiCAD

Revit (By Autodesk)

Register and download Revit

Autocad

Register and download AutoCAD

Help to learn CAD

If you need help to learn CAD Lynda is a useful website. There is a fee to use it, but you may be able to access it free at your local library.

Lynda

You can also look on YouTube for video tutorials, such as the following:

ArchiCAD basic training lesson 1

AutoCAD tutorials

Set texts

You may need to buy some set texts. These are an additional cost and are not included in your course fees.

Texts can be bought online via a link on the relevant course page on our website. Alternatively you can go to vicbooks.co.nz and click the Open Polytechnic link. 

Links to other technical texts are available online through the Open Polytechnic library, BRANZ and Standards New Zealand websites.

More information about set texts

International students

This programme is not available to international students.

Domestic students living overseas

You can study this programme if you’re a New Zealand citizen living overseas.

You need to have access to a New Zealand construction site for courses CON104 and CON107.

Learn more about studying from overseas

Computer and internet requirements

This programme is delivered online. To complete this programme you will need access to a laptop or desktop computer, reliable broadband internet connection and a data plan able to support online learning such as streaming of videos (including YouTube), downloading content, and writing and submitting online assessments. If you are unsure if your current computer or internet access allows you to complete your online learning with us, please contact us before applying to enrol.

Learn more about our online learning and study tools.