New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 3)

Fees-free tertiary study is now available for eligible first-time tertiary students. Find out more at feesfree.govt.nz

Gain the skills required in the mechanical engineering, construction, manufacturing, and fabrication industries.

What you will learn

This programme provides a solid foundation in using workshop materials, tools and equipment, welding, engineering sketching/drawing and trade calculations, workplace communication, and workplace health and safety.

You will learn to:

Work safely, applying an understanding of relevant Health and Safety requirements and safety culture, when carrying out engineering tasks
Apply basic trade related numeracy, literacy, and visualisation skills to perform engineering tasks
Perform a defined range of engineering tasks according to instructions using relevant materials, tools, and equipment
Set up and carry out a single process engineering job according to instructions
Apply an understanding of effective and efficient processes and principles to the engineering jobs being undertaken
Take responsibility for the appropriate quality of own engineering work and make corrections as required
Participate and communicate effectively within an engineering team

Courses in this programme

A New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 3) is awarded when students have achieved 120 credits, including all compulsory courses.

	Level	Credits
5573.0002 - Mechanical Engineering Drawing and Calculations Aim: Apply basic trade related numeracy literacy and visualisation skills to perform engineering tasks Learners may be assessed against unit standards: 29397 - Demonstrate knowledge of basic trade calculations and units of measure for mechanical engineering trades. 29653 - Manually produce third angle orthographic drawings of simple engineering objects incorporating plane geometric shapes. 29654 - Demonstrate knowledge of and interpret mechanical engineering drawings and geometric tolerancing. 29655 - Manually produce engineering sketches.	3	15
5573.0003 - Mechanical Engineering Workshop Aim: Perform a defined range of engineering tasks according to instructions using relevant materials, tools and equipment Learners may be assessed against unit standards: 2395 - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of the selection, use, and care of engineering hand tools 2396 - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of the selection, use, and care of portable hand held engineering power tools 4433 - Select, use, and care for simple measuring devices used in engineering 4435 - Select, use, and care for engineering dimensional measuring equipment 4436 - Select, use, and care for engineering marking-out equipment 29671 - Demonstrate knowledge of machining equipment, tools, and principles	3	20
5573.0004 - Mechanical Engineering Materials and Machining Aim: Perform a defined range of engineering tasks according to instructions using relevant materials, tools and equipment Learners may be assessed against unit standards: 29549 - Demonstrate basic knowledge of the mechanical properties and selection of engineering materials 29550 - Demonstrate basic knowledge of common engineering metals 29650 - Demonstrate knowledge of the safe use of powered equipment in a mechanical engineering or fabrication workshop 29652 - Demonstrate knowledge of safety, health, risk assessment, and hazard ID and control on an engineering worksite 29673 - Apply good work practices when performing basic mechanical engineering machining operations under supervision 29676 - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of good work practices when servicing simple components under supervision 29674 - Demonstrate knowledge of mechanical fasteners used in mechanical engineering	3	25
5573.0005 - Fabrication Processes Aim: Set up and carry out a single process engineering job according to instructions. Learners may be assessed against unit standards: 21911 - Demonstrate knowledge of safety on engineering worksites 21912 - Apply safe working practices on an engineering worksite 21913 - Lift loads in engineering installation, maintenance, and fabrication work 29670 - Demonstrate knowledge of fabrication machinery, materials, and processes 29672 - Assemble fabricated components using mechanical connections 29675 - Demonstrate knowledge of safety when lifting loads in engineering installation, maintenance, and fabrication work 30263 - Perform fabrication operations	3	25
5573.0006 - Welding for Mechanical Engineering Aim: Set up and carry out a single process engineering job according to instructions Learners may be assessed against unit standards: 2683 - Cut metals using manual thermal processes 21907 - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of safe welding principles and quality assurance under supervision 29651 - Demonstrate knowledge of health and safety when welding and thermal cutting	3	15
5573.0007 - Mechanical Engineering Processes and Quality Aim: Apply an understanding of the effective and efficient processes and principles to the engineering jobs while taking responsibility for the quality of own engineering work Learners may be assessed against unit standards: 2672 - Weld steel in the downhand positions to a general purpose industry standard using the gas metal arc welding process 2682 - Weld steel in the downhand positions to a general purpose industry standard using the manual metal arc welding process 29560 - Demonstrate knowledge of efficient and effective workplace procedures in mechanical engineering or fabrication	3	10
5573.0008 - Mechanical Engineering Communication Aim: Participate and communicate effectively within an engineering team Learners may be assessed against unit standards: 1277 - Communicate information in a specified workplace 9681 - Contribute within a team or group which has an objective	3	10

Entry Requirements

All applicants must:

be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences
be able to read, write, and communicate in English at a basic level
be physically able to complete the programme specific outcomes

Applicants for whom English is not a first language must have and IELTS score of 5 with no band score lower than 5; or an accepted international equivalence.

Qualification gained

New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 3)

Courses and programmes may be cancelled, postponed or have their content or configuration changed from time to time (including during the academic year) at the discretion of NorthTec. Fees are an indication, include GST and apply to domestic students only. View terms and conditions