MCivilEng - Master of Civil Engineering

Overview
Entry Requirements, Fees and Dates
Regulations
Schedule
Graduate Profile and Programme Capabilities

Civil engineers are responsible for the design and construction of infrastructure like buildings, transportation systems, water and wastewater facilities, ports, bridges and urban environments. This programme will teach you discipline-specific knowledge that will enable you to solve problems and improve people’s standard of living.

Graduates from the programme will have advanced knowledge and be competent civil engineers. They will be able to undertake design solutions for complex civil engineering problems and design systems, components or processes. The focus will be on meeting specified needs with appropriate consideration for public health and safety along with cultural, societal and environmental considerations. Graduates will be able to evaluate the sustainability and impact of civil engineering work when solving complex civil engineering problems.

Civil Engineer
Construction Engineer
Construction Project Manager
Environmental Engineer
Project Manager
Site Engineer

PhD - Doctor of Philosophy

Once you become a student at the University, you can get help with planning and developing your career from Career Development and Employability Services.

Key Information for Students

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Other qualifications

If your highest qualification was gained from another tertiary institution, view our entry requirements.

University of Auckland minimum programme requirements

Minimum requirements listed here are the likely grades required and do not guarantee entry. We assess each application individually and applicants may require a higher grade to be offered a place.

Taught (120-point) - 4.0 Grade Point Average

Research (120-point) - 4.0 Grade Point Average

Taught (180-point) - 4.0 Grade Point Average

Research (180-point) - 4.0 Grade Point Average

You'll also need to meet other requirements, including time limits and total points limits. See Postgraduate enrolment.

Depending on the type of programme you are pursuing, you may have the opportunity to complete a unique research project. To find out more about the research carried out at the University of Auckland and to identify potential supervisors, check out our researcher profiles.

Taught and Research (120 points)

You must have completed either:

A BE or BE(Hons) and passed with a GPA of 4.0 in at least 60 points at Stage III.

A relevant Bachelors degree with a GPA of 4.0 or higher in 60 points above Stage II and at least three years of relevant professional experience approved by the Programme Director

A BE or BE(Hons) and passed 60 points toward a relevant postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma with a GPA of 4.0 or higher.

A relevant Bachelors degree and a relevant Postgraduate Diploma (or equivalent) with a GPA of 4.0 or higher

Taught and Research (180 points)

You must have completed either:

A relevant Bachelors degree with a GPA of 4.0 or higher in 60 points above Stage II.

A relevant Bachelors degree and a relevant Postgraduate Diploma (or equivalent) with a GPA of 4.0 or higher

Completed the requirements for a relevant Bachelors degree from this University and passed 60 points towards a relevant postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma from this University with a Grade Point Average of 4.0 or higher.

Whether a qualification is considered relevant will depend on the courses passed and the applicant’s intended specialisation. Qualifications in applied science, engineering or technology may be considered relevant.

If you do not meet the entry requirements, you can still gain entry by passing 60 points in the Postgraduate Certificate in Civil Engineering or the Postgraduate Diploma in Civil Engineering with a GPA of 4.0 or higher, provided that the postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma has not been awarded.

If you do not meet the above entry requirements, but have other relevant experience and think you would be successful in postgraduate study, please contact us to discuss alternative pathways into our programmes.

Year Fees Applicable

Domestic Student Annual Fees

International Student Annual Fees

Fees are set in advance of each calendar year and will be updated on this website. Fees are inclusive of 15% GST, but do not include the Student Services Fee, course books, travel and health insurance, or living costs. Fees will be confirmed upon completion of enrolment into courses. For more information, please see Fees and Money Matters.

*Please note: amounts shown are indicative and estimates only.

Scholarships and awards

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Student loans and allowances

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Cost of living

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This is a limited entry programme: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. For more information, please see the Programme and Course Limitations section of the University Academic and General Statutes and Regulations.

Please note: we will consider late applications if places are still available. International students should start the application process as early as possible to allow sufficient time to apply for a visa.

Semester	Application Closing Date	Semester Start Date	Semester End Date
2026 Semester One	08 December 2025	02 March 2026	29 June 2026
2026 Semester Two	08 June 2026	20 July 2026	16 November 2026

1 - 2

See important dates for the academic year, including orientation, enrolment, study breaks, exams, and graduation.

The regulations for this degree are to be read in conjunction with all other relevant statutes and regulations including the Academic Statutes and Regulations.

1 In order to be admitted to this degree, an applicant intending to complete 120 points must have:

a completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) from this University with a Grade Point Average of 4.0 or higher, or have equivalent prior study

b completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) from this University with a Grade Point Average of 4.0 or higher in 60 points above Stage III

c (i) completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) from this University, or have equivalent prior study

and

(ii) passed 60 points towards a relevant postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma from this University with a Grade Point Average of 4.0 or higher

d (i) (a) completed the requirements for a relevant Bachelors degree from this University with a Grade Point Average of 4.0 or higher, or have equivalent prior study

(b) completed the requirements for a relevant Bachelors degree from this University with a Grade Point Average of 4.0 or higher in 60 points above Stage II

and

(ii) at least three years of relevant professional experience approved by the Programme Director

e (i) completed the requirements for a relevant Bachelors degree, or have equivalent prior study

and

(ii) completed the requirements for a relevant postgraduate diploma from this University with a Grade Point Average of 4.0 or higher, or have equivalent prior study.

2 In order to be admitted to this degree, an applicant intending to complete 180 points must have:

a completed the requirements for a relevant Bachelors degree from this University with a Grade Point Average of 4.0 or higher, or have equivalent prior study

b completed the requirements for a relevant Bachelors degree from this University with a Grade Point Average of 4.0 or higher in 60 points above Stage II

c (ii) completed the requirements for a relevant Bachelors degree from this University, or have equivalent prior study

and

(ii) passed 60 points towards a relevant postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma from this University with a Grade Point Average of 4.0 or higher.

3 Equivalence and relevance in Regulations 1 and 2 will be determined by the University. Equivalence pertains to the standard as well as nature and level of study.

4 In order to be admitted to this degree, applicants must have completed courses relevant to their intended study, passed any prerequisite courses prior to enrolment in this degree, and satisfied any prerequisites specified in the Master of Civil Engineering Schedule for their intended study.

5 a In exceptional circumstances the requirements in Regulation 1 may be waived by the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research or nominee if they determine that an applicant has a Bachelors degree and relevant practical, professional or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind that is equivalent to one year of postgraduate study.

b In exceptional circumstances the requirements in Regulation 2 may be waived by the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research or nominee if they determine that an applicant has at least three years of relevant practical, professional or scholarly experience that provides an equivalent level of preparation.

Notes:

(i) Whether a qualification is considered relevant will depend on the courses passed and the applicant’s intended specialisation. Qualifications in applied science, engineering or technology may be considered relevant.

(ii) This is a limited entry programme as per the Limitation of Entry Statute 1991 and selection criteria apply. Selection criteria are available from the Faculty of Engineering and Design.

6 A student admitted to this degree under Regulation 1 or 5a must:

a pass courses with a total value of 120 points

and

b complete within the time limit specified in the General Regulations – Masters Degrees

and

c not exceed 160 points for the total enrolment for this degree.

7 A student admitted to this degree under Regulation 2 or 5b must:

a pass courses with a total value of 180 points

and

b complete within the time limit specified in the General Regulations – Masters Degrees

and

c not exceed 220 points for the total enrolment for this degree.

8 A student enrolled for this degree must complete the requirements as listed in the Master of Civil Engineering Schedule, which may include the requirements for one of the specialisations listed.

9 A student who has previously passed any course the same as, or similar to, the courses required for this degree must substitute an alternative course as approved by the Programme Director or nominee.

10 A student who has to complete 180 points for this degree must achieve a Grade Point Average of 3.5 or higher in their first 60 points of taught courses taken for this degree. If this Grade Point Average is not achieved, enrolment in the Master of Civil Engineering cannot continue.

11 A student who has to complete 180 points for this degree must achieve a Grade Point Average of 5.0 or higher in their first 60 points of taught courses taken for this degree to enrol in a thesis for this degree.

12 A student must complete the University of Auckland Academic Integrity course as specified in the Enrolment and Programme Regulations, Academic Integrity, of the University Calendar.

13 a The research project or thesis is to be carried out under the guidance of a supervisor appointed by the Academic Head.

b The topic of the research project or thesis must be approved by the Programme Director or nominee prior to enrolment.

c The research project or thesis is to be completed and submitted in accordance with the General Regulations – Masters Degrees.

14 A student may apply to reassign courses passed for this degree to the Postgraduate Certificate in Engineering or Postgraduate Certificate in Civil Engineering or Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering or Postgraduate Diploma in Civil Engineering, providing this degree has not been awarded.

15 A student who has passed courses towards the Postgraduate Certificate in Engineering or Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering that are available in this degree may apply to reassign those courses to this degree provided that the postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma has not been awarded.

16 A student who has passed courses towards a Postgraduate Certificate in Civil Engineering or Postgraduate Diploma in Civil Engineering that are available in this degree may apply to reassign those courses to this degree provided that the postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma has not been awarded

17 This degree may be awarded with either Honours, Distinction or Merit in accordance with the General Regulations – Masters Degrees.

18 In exceptional circumstances the Programme Director may approve a variation to a student’s programme of study in accordance with the Enrolment and Programme Regulations.

19 These regulations and/or schedule have been amended with effect from 1 January 2025.

The MCivilEng Research Masters (120-pt) has a prerequisite requiring a Grade Point Average of 5.0 or higher over 60 points from the most recently passed 700 level courses.