New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 3)

Programme highlights

The manufacturing, maintenance, and technology industries are in need of skilled tradespeople. This qualification will prepare you for an apprenticeship in your chosen field such as a fabricator, sheet-metal worker, steel construction, or fitter-welder.

It provides a solid foundation in engineering and fabrication skills such as measurement, tools, materials and metals, engineering sketching and drawing, trade calculations, welding processes, fitting, assembly, scaffolding, basic fabrication operations, forces and stresses, pressure vessels, pattern development, computer numerical control, job costing and first aid, occupational health and safety. 

You will cover heavy fabrication, light fabrication, or steel construction and building services. 

Heavy Fabrication is intended for fabricators working with heavier gauge plate, sections and pipes, to produce a wide variety of products including pressure vessels.

Light Fabrication is for fabricators working with sheet metals and lighter gauge plate, sections and pipes to produce a large variety of metal products.

Steel Construction is similar to the Heavy Fabrication strand, but is specifically for fabricators who manufacture and install structural steel components for building and civil engineering projects.

This programme includes a minimum of 40 hours' industry experience.

Key facts

Start Month(s) February and July
Study Location(s) MIT Otara
Level 3
Domestic fees Free* or $6,800 (approx.)
Youth Guarantee Available
Programme Code NZ2715
Duration

One year
Study Method Full-time
Credits 120
International Fees NZD$23,000 (approx.)
Māori and Pasifika Trades Training Scholarship Available
Qualification New Zealand Certificate
*Recently analysed government data shows that MIT degree holders have the highest employment rates and among the highest median earnings in the country five years after finishing their degrees.
Apply now

Need help applying?

We're here to support you to succeed.

If you need help with applying or advice on choosing a programme, our Information and Application Centre is here to give you guidance.

Send us a message, call us on 0800 62 62 52 or come in and see us.

Information is correct at September 2018. Programme fees may vary depending on your final selection of courses that make up your programme. To provide you with an indication of costs, the approximate fees quoted in this publication are based on the indicative 2019 fee structure. The indicative programme fees for 2019 do not include the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF). The CSSF is an additional levy to your 2019 programme or course fees. Further information about the CSSF can be found here manukau.ac.nz/study/apply-and-enrol/fees-and-study-costs. Programmes stated as eligible for free study in 2019 are based on the 2018 fee structure and subject to funding confirmation for 2019. All fees are in New Zealand Dollars. You will be advised of the current fees at the time of enrolment. All courses and programmes will proceed subject to numbers and academic approval. Manukau Institute of Technology is accredited under the provisions of the Education Act 1989. International students must study in class and will not be able to enrol for online study options.

Entry requirements

General

Open entry for Domestic students

There are no academic requirements that need to be met to enter this programme.

International students: English Language Entry Requirements

For the minimum English language requirements refer to the requirements set out in the NZQF Programme and Accreditation Rules

https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers-partners/qa-system-for-teos/english-international-students/

International students will generally be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency, for this programme an IELTS General or Academic score of 5 with no band score lower than 5 is required. Equivalent acceptable evidence can be seen at the following NZQA link:  https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/our-role/legislation/nzqa-rules/nzqf-related-rules/the-table/

International students

Test your English level to help you plan.

Take our free online English test to get a basic indication of your English level. This will help you understand what programmes you can apply for and what preparation you may require before you start your programme of study.

Find out now.

Career opportunities

This qualification is to provide the mechanical engineering, construction, manufacturing, and fabrication industries with people who have sufficient underpinning knowledge, understanding, and practical skill to work under limited supervision as operators or trade assistants within their chosen discipline.

It is designed for people already working in the industry or people intending to complete a pre-trade qualification before entering the industry.

Graduates of this qualification will be able to work (under limited supervision) in an operator or trade assistant role in their area of specialisation, in the mechanical engineering, construction, mechanical building services, manufacturing, or fabrication industries.

Roles may include: Light Fabrication Engineer, Heavy Fabrication Engineering, Steel Construction Construction Engineer, Sheet Metal Engineer, Engineering Machinist, Metal Machine Setter, Metal Turner, Fitter and Turner, CNC Operator, Maintenance Engineer, General Engineer, Toolmaker, Machinist, Metal Former or Fabricator/Welder.

Programme structure

  • Awareness of own responsibilities in the workplace under relevant current Acts and Regulations
  • Emergency procedures; employee participation, incident and hazard reporting/management
  • Awareness of machine guarding principles and requirements
  • Working safely and contributing to a safe environment
  • Cultural Safety and Awareness
  • Hazard identification, assessment and control, machine isolation, reporting, audit and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirement
  • Welding principles, oxyacetylene, manual metal arc, GMAW, GTAW, quality assurance, safety
  • Tools machinery, electrical chemical, gas, fumes, confined spaces, height
  • Safety of person (clothing, hair, jewellery)
  • Workshop cleanliness
  • Worksite procedures in event of incident/accident
  • Avoid OOS; lifting; ladders
  • Dangers of drug/alcohol in presence of machinery
  • Material Safety Data Sheets
  • Emergency shutdown procedures
  • Assessment and management of injured persons condition
  • Provide basic life support
  • Knowledge of trade-related terminology
  • Production and interpretation of basic engineering sketches
  • Basic knowledge of trade calculations and units of measurement for mechanical engineering
  • Area, volume, speed, acceleration, force and pressure - calculations
  • Simple machines ie levers, planes, wedges, pulleys
  • HVAC system drawing - concepts
HVAC system components
  • Understanding of basic tolerances
  • Application of calculations and measurements knowledge
  • Understanding job ergonomics and risk assessment
  • Basic understanding of engineering materials
  • Ability to correctly and safely use relevant tools and equipment including care of hand/power tools
  • General understanding of marking out equipment, conversion, and calibration
  • Measuring devices: selection, use and care
  • Engineering dimensional measuring equipment: selection, use, care
  • Marking out equipment: selection, use and care
  • Engineering metals: types, properties, characteristics; selection, use and processing
  • Production, characteristics, selection and application of engineering materials

Key dates

To find the start date of your programme intake listed above, please view the Academic year and key dates.

Further training or study

Graduates will be capable of performing a defined range of engineering tasks under limited supervision.

During the course of this programme students will gain an exposure to a range of options available to them in the discipline of mechanical engineering.  These include machining, engineering fabrication both light and heavy, mechanical building services and welding.  

On completion students will be able to make an informed decision as to the strand of mechanical engineering they wish to pursue in their apprenticeship.  Students will enter into the second year of their apprenticeship with the ITO Competenz, having already completed the year one pre-requisites of an apprenticeship.

Competenz offer an apprenticeship programmes including National Certificate in:Engineering, Fabrication (heavy, light or steel construction strand), and National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering, with strands in Fitting & Machining, General Engineering, Machining, Maintenance Engineering, or Tookmaking.

Offered by

School of Engineering and Trades

*Recently analysed government data shows that MIT degree holders have the highest employment rates and among the highest median earnings in the country five years after finishing their degrees.
Apply now

Need help applying?

We're here to support you to succeed.

If you need help with applying or advice on choosing a programme, our Information and Application Centre is here to give you guidance.

Send us a message, call us on 0800 62 62 52 or come in and see us.

Information is correct at September 2018. Programme fees may vary depending on your final selection of courses that make up your programme. To provide you with an indication of costs, the approximate fees quoted in this publication are based on the indicative 2019 fee structure. The indicative programme fees for 2019 do not include the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF). The CSSF is an additional levy to your 2019 programme or course fees. Further information about the CSSF can be found here manukau.ac.nz/study/apply-and-enrol/fees-and-study-costs. Programmes stated as eligible for free study in 2019 are based on the 2018 fee structure and subject to funding confirmation for 2019. All fees are in New Zealand Dollars. You will be advised of the current fees at the time of enrolment. All courses and programmes will proceed subject to numbers and academic approval. Manukau Institute of Technology is accredited under the provisions of the Education Act 1989. International students must study in class and will not be able to enrol for online study options.