Why study Civil Engineering?
Civil engineers design, build, operate and maintain all sorts of physical infrastructure like roads, bridges, dams, airports, sewage systems, waterworks, pipelines, railways, and communications infrastructure. This is the kind of public infrastructure that supports people’s basic needs while also driving economic development. Reliable, well-designed, and well-built public infrastructure is a crucial part of the economic well-being of any society. This is a vast field of study with thousands of areas of specialisation, and many job opportunities.
Career opportunities
With a civil engineering degree you can become, amongst many other options, a bridge engineer, earthquake design engineer, consulting engineer, construction manager, environmental engineer, geotechnical engineer, hydrological, structural engineer, water resource manager. Within each of these careers there are many specialities. It is a vast field.
About this course
Note: The National Diploma programmes were phased out from January 2018 and replaced by the new Diploma programmes. In future, returning and pipeline students will have to migrate to the Diploma programmes.
Diploma in Civil Engineering
SAQA ID Number: 96855
NQF Level: 6
SAQA Credits: 360
Duration: 3 years
Mission
The mission of the department of Civil Engineering and Surveying is to provide superior quality, technologically advanced instructional programmes and services in the field of civil engineering and surveying, which respond to local, regional and national industry for which we produce competent graduates.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the Diploma: Engineering: Civil is to prepare a civil engineering technician, who will satisfy the criteria for registration as a professional technician (by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), for articulated advanced study in civil engineering and/or to gain employment by function as a competent member of an engineering team in the execution of technical tasks, under supervision, by applying his/her knowledge, skills and techniques necessary for civil engineering practice.
Minimum Admission Requirements
i) National Senior Certificate with rating codes:
- English Home Language (4)
- Or English First Additional Language (4)
- Mathematics (4)
- Physical Science (4)
ii) A minimum of 130 total credits, with a maximum of 60 credits with “Partial Achievement”, at NQF Level 4.
iii) Adequate achievement rating code 3: 40%-49% in the relevant subject in the Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology learning field will be an advantage.
iv) Pass all the Pre-Tech subjects with a minimum of 50%.
v) National Senior Certificate / Standard 10 / Matric Certificate with a minimum:
- Maths D (HG)
- Physical Science D (HG)
- English E (SG)
vi) An appropriate N4 Certificate with minimum 50% pass in all subjects and a minimum of 50% for Maths at the N4 level and an E (SG) Symbol for English.
vii) An appropriate GCE, GCSE, IGSCE or Cambridge School Certificate with at least five subjects (Including Mathematics, Science and English) passed with an A, B or C symbol. Three of the five subjects must have been passed at the same examination sitting.
Duration of Study
Four semesters of attendance at the University together with two semesters of appropriate work integrated learning.
Diploma in Surveying
SAQA ID Number: 96867
NQF Level: 6
SAQA Credits: 360
Rationale for Qualification
To be able to survey, collect and present spatial data in different forms, and set out and control positions of structures on the ground of basic engineering works.
Statement of Purpose
The Diploma in Surveying qualifies the technician for employment with contractors, consultants, government departments and municipalities where he/ she could form part of the team headed usually by a professional engineer or professional surveyor. He/ She would be involved in the measurement for the production of maps, the setting out and monitoring of civil engineering structures and the relocation of property boundaries.
Admission Requirements
i) National Senior Certificate with rating codes:
- English Home Language (4)
- Or English First Additional Language (4)
- Mathematics (4)
- Physical Science (4)
ii) A minimum of 130 total credits; with a maximum of 60 credits with “Partial Achievement”, at NQF Level 4
iii) Pass all Pre-Tech subjects with a minimum of 50%
iv) National Senior Certificate/Standard 10 / Matric Certificate with a minimum:
- Maths D (HG)
- Physical Science D (HG)
- English E (SG)
v) An appropriate N4 Certificate with minimum 50% passes in all subjects and a minimum of 50% for Maths at the N4 level and an E (SG) symbol for English
vi) An appropriate GCE, GCSE, IGCSE or Cambridge School Certificate with at least five subjects (including Mathematics, Science and English) passed at the same examination sitting.
Duration of Study
Four semesters of attendance at the University together with two semesters of appropriate work integrated learning.
Access Courses:
(Pre Tech) – Civil Engineering
(Pre-Tech) – Surveying
Admission Requirements
i) National Senior Certificate with rating codes:
- English Home Language (3)
- Or English First Additional Language (3)
- Mathematics (3)
- Physical Science (3)
- Satisfactory achievement in Home Language (4)
ii) A minimum of 130 total credits, with a maximum of 60 credits with “Partial Achievement” at NQF Level 4
iii) Senior Certificate or equivalent qualification with a pass in:
- Mathematics SG (D)
- Physical Science SG (D)
iii) N3 certificate and a minimum E (SG) symbol in English
Duration of Study
Study will be for a period of six months.
Diploma in Civil Engineering: (4-Year Programme – ECP)
NQF Level: 6
SAQA Credits: 360
Duration: 4 years
The minimum study period for the Diploma: Engineering Civil is usually three years. However, students are usually under-prepared and some complete the programme in 4, 5 or 6 years. A 4-year programme (also known as the Extended Curriculum programme) has been designed to provide structured support to students over a period of four years. A range of additional interventions are offered to students who are accepted to this programme. This programme has been a response to the well-known inequalities in the South African society and to cater for varying levels of student preparedness. It ensures that sufficient support is provided during the initial years of study while guaranteeing the same exit standards as the 3-year programme.
The 4-year programme addresses gaps and disparities in students’ educational and life experience so that they can be better equipped to manage the diploma programme. It also provides students with broad educational and life skills, including Mathematics, language literacy and subject knowledge. While students are mostly tutored separately in small classes in the first year, they undertake their studies and lectures as integral members of the Diploma student group. This programme in Civil Engineering is further unique and designed in such a way that after the first semester, students may transfer to similar programmes in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering without sacrificing time or quality of training.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the Diploma: Engineering: Civil is to prepare a civil engineering technician, who will satisfy the criteria for registration as a professional technician (by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), for advanced study in civil engineering and/or to gain employment by function as a competent member of an engineering team in the execution of technical tasks, under supervision, by applying his/her knowledge, skills and techniques necessary for civil engineering practice.
Minimum Admission Requirements
Admission for selection to the 4-year programme is granted to those applicants who meet the minimum admission requirements for the corresponding regular programme. Candidates shall have obtained a valid National Senior Certificate or Senior Certificate or NQF Level 4 with the following minimum rating codes:
Table 1: Minimum admission requirements for applicants with a National Senior Certificate
| Programme | English Home Language or English Additional Language | Mathematics | Physical Science | Home Language |
| ECP | 4 or 5 | 4 | 4 | – |
| RP | 4 or 5 | 4 | 4 | – |
In addition, the minimum total points must be 20.
Table 2: Minimum admission requirements for applicants with a Senior Certificate
| Programme | English | Mathematics | Physical Science | Technical Drawing |
| ECP | D(HG) or C(SG) | D(HG) or C(SG) | D(HG) or C(SG) | D(HG) or C(SG) |
| RP | D(HG) or C(SG) | D(HG) or C(SG) | D(HG) or C(SG) | D(HG) or C(SG) |
In addition, the minimum total points must be 20.
Table 3: Minimum admission requirements for applicants with NQF Level 4
| Programme | Credits Required |
| ECP | A minimum of 130 total credits, with a maximum of 60 credits with “Partial Achievement”, at NQF Level 4 . |
| RP | A minimum of 130 total credits, with a maximum of 60 credits with “Partial Achievement”, at NQF Level 4 . |
ECP: Extended Curriculum Programme; RP: Regular Programme HG: Higher Grade SG: Standard Grade NQF: National Qualifications Framework
Note: Even if a candidate satisfies the stated admission requirements, he/she will not automatically be accepted. Admission is based on applicants passing an entrance test, on merit and the number of available spaces.
Diploma in Surveying: (4-Year Programme – ECP)
NQF Level: 6
SAQA Credits: 360
Duration: 4 years
The Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) for Surveying is a four-year course. The first year of study is foundational and is split into two semesters. From the second year the courses are identical to the diploma programme.
Minimum Admission Requirements
Admission for selection to the 4-year programme is granted to those applicants who meet the minimum admission requirements for the corresponding regular programme. Candidates shall have obtained a valid National Senior Certificate or Senior Certificate or NQF Level 4 with the following minimum rating codes:
Table 1: Minimum admission requirements for applicants with a National Senior Certificate
| Programme | English Home Language or English Additional Language | Mathematics | Physical Science | Home Language |
| ECP | 4 or 5 | 4 | 4 | – |
| RP | 4 or 5 | 4 | 4 | – |
In addition, the minimum total points must be 20.
Table 2: Minimum admission requirements for applicants with a Senior Certificate
| Programme | English | Mathematics | Physical Science | Technical Drawing |
| ECP | D(HG) or C(SG) | D(HG) or C(SG) | D(HG) or C(SG) | D(HG) or C(SG) |
| RP | D(HG) or C(SG) | D(HG) or C(SG) | D(HG) or C(SG) | D(HG) or C(SG) |
In addition, the minimum total points must be 20.
Table 3: Minimum admission requirements for applicants with NQF Level 4
| Programme | Credits Required |
| ECP | A minimum of 130 total credits, with a maximum of 60 credits with “Partial Achievement”, at NQF Level 4 . |
| RP | A minimum of 130 total credits, with a maximum of 60 credits with “Partial Achievement”, at NQF Level 4 . |
ECP: Extended Curriculum Programme; RP: Regular Programme HG: Higher Grade SG: Standard Grade NQF: National Qualifications Framework
Note: Even if a candidate satisfies the stated admission requirements, he/she will not automatically be accepted. Admission is based on applicants passing an entrance test, on merit and the number of available spaces.