Civil Engineering

8th in the world for Civil Engineering (ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, 2019)
Civil engineers design, construct, project manage, and commission a wide range of facilities and infrastructure such as buildings, bridges, towers, dams, roads and railways, pipe networks, and treatment plants. These facilities provide people with a reliable, safe, sustainable, and modern environment to live in.

Electric power depends on civil engineers for the design and construction of dams, canals, and transmission towers. Many towns and cities are protected against flooding or the effects of fire and earthquakes by infrastructure designed and constructed by civil engineers.

Civil engineers have responsibility for managing people, equipment, resources, time, and money. Communication skills are vital, as all professional engineers need to effectively disseminate complex information to people of diverse backgrounds by providing detailed engineering reports, presentations, and taking part in public hearings and inquiries.

This is a broad field, and students may take courses to focus on a more specific area of civil engineering during their professional years of study to suit their interests.

Career Opportunities
There are excellent career opportunities for civil engineers, with a strong demand for graduates in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world in a diverse range of fields. Most new graduates are employed by consultants, contractors, or central, regional, and local government.

Many civil engineers become experts in a specialised area of civil engineering such as structural, water, geotechnical, transportation, fire, or environmental fields.

Computer Engineering

Computers are at the heart of innumerable modern products, most of which would not be identified as computers. Computer engineering involves the development, both electronics and software, of such ’embedded’ computers. It requires a combination of technical knowledge, science, and creativity with a strong emphasis on design to develop practical solutions to real-world problems.

Applications, industries, and devices associated with computer engineering include computer systems, portable electronics, autonomous robotics, biomedical devices, household electronics, telecommunications and networks, and manufacturing and infrastructure.

Career Opportunities
With approximately 50% of the ICT industry in Aotearoa New Zealand located in the Waitaha Canterbury region, Ōtautahi Christchurch is the ideal location for such a programme, offering abundant opportunities for work experience and excellent employment opportunities for graduates.

There are plenty of exciting job opportunities locally, nationally, and internationally for computer engineers, as they are in high demand. Many find employment with companies that create devices with embedded systems such as Tait Electronics, Allied Telesis, Fisher & Paykel, Dynamic Controls, and Trimble.

Chemical and Process Engineering

Chemical and process engineers transform raw materials into processed, marketable products by chemical, physical, or biological means. They take science experiments performed in the laboratory and operate them on a commercial scale, taking into account economics, safety, and sustainability. Others are involved in the research and development of new products and processes, such as those in nanotechnology, biotechnology, or advanced materials.

Take on challenges such as:

• supplying clean, safe drinking water
• creating sustainable energy opportunities
• improving society’s health and well-being
• providing a sustainable food supply.

Career Opportunities
Chemical and process engineers work in areas such as renewable energy, biofuels, environmental control, fermentation, waste treatment, food industry, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals.

The petrochemical industry continues to grow and employs chemical engineers at oil refineries and a number of gas processing plants. Managing these and other precious resources provides excellent career opportunities for our graduates in the manufacture of aluminium, steel, and fertilisers.

Alternative career paths for our graduates include operational and asset management, finance, research, consulting, and marketing. Some of our graduates ultimately take company leadership positions.

Mechatronics Engineering

Mechatronics is the field behind the “Smart Products and Systems” that increasingly dominate many aspects of our lives. It sits at the intersection of mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering, and combines sensors, software, and motors to create innovative and amazing new devices.

These mechatronic systems can be found manipulating the smallest bits of matter, in spacecraft, as well as throughout your home and town. From smart phones and TVs, to smart energy grids to smart cars and smart medical care and devices. They are everywhere, making life better, greener, healthier, more productive, and more interesting.

Career Opportunities
Graduates with a Mechatronics Engineering degree can take up careers in a wide spectrum of industries, including the robotics, aerospace, chemical, gaming, internet/cloud/software, defence, automotive, and manufacturing industries. Mechatronics graduates also work in businesses that require extensive computer infrastructure and algorithms, such as banking and commerce.

Within these industries, Mechatronics Engineering graduates could be design engineers, software engineers, project planners, product designers, or project managers.