Architecture courses

About New Zealand Diploma In Architectural Technology in Southern Institute of Technology

• Carry out feasibility studies for small, medium and large buildings
• Establish the client's requirements, develop and communicate a concept and building design, and prepare approval documentation for a building project in accordance with a client's brief
• Evaluate the performance of and select materials and finishes to be used in the building process
• Prepare, organise and present architectural working drawings for small and medium buildings using manual and digital technologies in accordance with the statutory and regulatory environment
• Understand the roles, documentation and administrative requirements of the construction industry, apply this knowledge and assist senior personnel through the tender process 

Career Opportunities

This qualification is for people wishing to work as architectural technicians, and also provides recognition of knowledge and skills for those already working in the role.

The qualification equips graduates with the essential knowledge and skills required to enter employment as architectural technicians who will be able to work independently on small and medium scale building projects of limited complexity through all stages to completion. Additionally, graduates would be competent to work under the supervision of an experienced architectural technician, designer or architect on large and/or complex building projects.

Satisfactory Completion

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6) , and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:

A minimum of 240 credits in accordance with the Programme schedule for the New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6).

The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6), full-time over 2 years or part-time over four years.

Please Note: Students failing to attend for 80% of the timetabled programme hours will forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.

• A minimum of 240 credits in accordance with the Programme schedule for the New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6).
• The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6), full-time over 2 years or part-time over four years.

Please Note: Students failing to attend for 80% of the timetabled programme hours will forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.

School Leavers

Applicants should have one or more of the following:

• NCEA, with a minimum of 50 credits at Level 2 including 12 credits in Mathematics and a minimum of 12 Literacy credits
• NZ Trade Certificate in Carpentry, or National Certificate in Carpentry
• Be able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills
• Four years secondary education preferred
• Applicants whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, must meet the English Proficiency Outcomes in accordance with the NZQF Programme Approval and Accreditation Rules 2017 as below.

Mature Applicants

Applicants over the age of 20 years at the time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. Examples of demonstration of ability to succeed are the provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at Level 3 or above in a related discipline and/or employment in the related sector for one or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager as appropriate.  Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.

Language Requirements

Applicants from countries with an annual student visa approval rate of at least 80 per cent, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following 

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

Certificate of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA), or

Successful completion of a Bachelor ‘s Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the preceding two years

• IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5
• TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) – Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE)
• TOEFL Internet- based test (iBT) – Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18)
• University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations – FCE or FCE for schools or CAE, or CPE   with a score of 169.  No less than 162 in each skill. OET at Grade C in all sub-tests
• NZCEL - a) To be discontinued on 31 December 2019 Level 4 Academic, b) Current Level 4 Academic
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) – PToE (Academic score of 50)
• City and Guilds IESOL – B2 Communicator with a score of 66
• LanguageCert - C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with PASS

An NZQA approved English Language proficiency test, where the student has achieved an outcome that is equivalent or better than those scores listed for Internationally recognised English language proficiency tests above in relation to the level of intended programme of study, or

Completion of all primary education and at least three years’ secondary education at schools with English as the language of instruction, or

Completion of five years of secondary education at schools with English as the language of instruction.  

Applicants from countries with an annual student visa approval rate below 80 per cent, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English must provide evidence that they:

1. Have gained NCEA Level 3 and met New Zealand University Entrance requirements, or
2. Have successfully completed a Bachelors’’ Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, or
3. Have achieved a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, CELTA, or
4. Have achieved the required score and with all scores achieved in a single test in one of the internationally recognised English Proficiency tests (specified above) within the preceding two years.

Southern Institute of Technology Highlights

New Zealand Living Expenses

You'll require between $20,000 and $25,000 a year ($380–480 per week) for housing/rent, food, transportation, phone bills, internet usage, and entertainment, in addition to your tuition and insurance fees. The average living expense will be the same for everyone, regardless of their tuition or course price. Please keep in mind that these are only suggestions; the Immigration New Zealand requirement is $15,000 per year including return travel or an additional $2,000.

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