University of Auckland

What you'll study

The programme blends taught coursework with a substantial capstone research or applied project, focusing on the planning, delivery and governance of engineering projects. You study technical project management methods alongside leadership, commercial and risk management topics so you can manage multidisciplinary teams and budgets while meeting regulatory and sustainability requirements.

• Project management fundamentals – project lifecycle, scope, scheduling techniques (CPM/PERT), and earned value management.
• Risk and quality management – identification, assessment and mitigation of technical, commercial and safety risks; quality assurance and control in engineering projects.
• Contracts, procurement and commercial management – procurement strategies, contract types, claims and dispute avoidance.
• Engineering economics and finance – cost estimation, budgeting, cashflow and economic appraisal of projects.
• Systems and integration – systems thinking, integration of multidisciplinary engineering subsystems and interface management.
• Leadership and people management – team leadership, stakeholder engagement, negotiation and organisational change in project contexts.
• Sustainability and regulatory considerations – environmental management, social impact assessment and compliance in infrastructure and built environment projects.
• Research methods and project dissertation/capstone – methods for applied research and delivery of an industry-relevant project or thesis demonstrating synthesis of technical and managerial skills.

Course delivery typically uses a mix of lectures, case studies, group work, industry guest seminars and a supervised project that applies learning to a real engineering challenge.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally required to hold a recognised bachelor’s degree in engineering or a closely related technical discipline. Candidates with substantial relevant professional experience in engineering, project delivery or construction may also be considered. Typical application materials include an academic transcript, curriculum vitae, references and a statement of purpose outlining professional goals.

International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency to the University’s required standard. Specific prerequisites or bridging courses may be required where an applicant’s undergraduate preparation does not cover core engineering or quantitative topics.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a broad range of roles that require both engineering insight and project leadership. Common careers include:

• Project manager or programme manager for construction, infrastructure, energy and manufacturing projects
• Client-side project director, project controls or asset owner roles
• Consultant in engineering project delivery, risk and claims management, or procurement
• Construction manager, site manager or delivery manager for large capital projects
• Roles in infrastructure planning, transport agencies and utilities involving technical project oversight
• Further research or academic pathways, including doctoral study in project management, engineering management or related fields

Graduates are prepared for roles in both the private and public sectors and often progress into senior leadership positions where they coordinate multi-million-dollar programmes and multidisciplinary teams.

Why study at University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s largest research university and its Faculty of Engineering has strong links with industry, government and professional bodies across the region. The programme draws on academic staff with applied research and consultancy experience in infrastructure, construction, systems engineering and project governance.

Studying in Auckland provides proximity to a major economic and infrastructure hub, offering opportunities for industry projects, field visits and professional networking. The School’s emphasis on applied learning means students typically work on real-world project briefs and benefit from guest lectures and supervision from practising project professionals.

The degree is designed to develop the technical judgement, commercial awareness and leadership skills demanded by contemporary engineering projects, supporting graduates’ transition into senior delivery and management roles.