
RII50520
Diploma of Civil Construction Design
The Diploma of Civil Construction Design (RII50520) equips students with comprehensive skills in planning, designing, developing civil construction projects and supporting career goals as a civil engineer draftsperson. This course is tailored to meet the growing demand for civil design professionals who possess both technical and leadership skills in a wide range of infrastructure design disciplines, including roadworks, steel and concrete structures, drainage, and geotechnical design.
Graduates will be able to work autonomously or in teams to create detailed designs, apply engineering principles, and manage project execution timelines in a construction or engineering consultancy environment.
- Duration: 78 weeks (1.5 years) including breaks
- Delivery Mode: Face-to-face (classroom based)
- Location: Perth City
- Course CRICOS Code: 118044H
Course Package
Available
Package Diploma of Civil Construction Design with Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design for double qualification and double career outcomes.
RII50520 - Diploma of Civil Construction Design
Course CRICOS Code: 118044H
Duration: 78 Weeks
RII60520 - Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design
Course CRICOS Code: 110235K
Duration: 26 Weeks
RII60520 - Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design
Course CRICOS Code: 110235K
Duration: 26 Weeks
RII50520 - Diploma of Civil Construction Design
Course CRICOS Code: 118044H
Duration: 78 Weeks
Course Package
Available
Package Diploma of Civil Construction Design with Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design for double qualification and double career outcomes.
Package Duration
The duration of both courses packaged together is 104 weeks (2 years).
Package Career Outcome
• Civil Engineering Draftsperson
• Civil Engineering Designer
Package Visa Outcome
Students are eligible for Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) Graduate Work stream.
Course Overview
Diploma of Civil Construction Design provides students with in-depth expertise in planning, designing, and managing civil construction initiatives. This program is crafted to address the increasing need for skilled civil design professionals who excel in both technical knowledge and leadership across various infrastructure domains such as road design, structural engineering (steel and concrete), drainage systems, and geotechnical engineering.
Upon completion, graduates will be equipped to work independently or collaboratively, developing detailed engineering plans, implementing core engineering concepts, and overseeing project timelines within construction or engineering consultancy environments.
This qualification is ideal for:
- Aspiring civil designers, draftspersons, and engineers.
- Engineering technicians seeking to upskill with hands-on CAD, mathematics, and structural design capabilities.
- Professionals looking to enter supervisory or project design roles in the civil construction industry.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.
Career Prospects
Upon successful completion of Diploma of Civil Construction Design- RII50520, students will be able to:
- Interpret and develop civil engineering drawings using CAD and BIM
- Apply mathematical and mechanical engineering principles in civil construction projects
- Design concrete, steel, geotechnical, and drainage structures using industry standards
- Plan and manage project timelines, resources, and team activities
Capture and use spatial data in construction design projects
Graduates may work in roles such as:
- Civil Engineer Draftsperson
- Civil Engineering Technician
- Design Coordinator
- Project Officer (Design)
- CAD/BIM Technician
- Road Design Technician
This qualification is also a strong pathway toward higher-level studies such as the Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design (RII60520) or bachelor-level engineering qualifications. To know more how this diploma can be a stepping-stone to further studies, visit Engineers Australia.
Entry Requirements
To check the academic entry requirements, refer to the Entry Requirements web page.
Course Structure
RII50520- Diploma of Civil Construction Design consists of 20 units of competency:
- MEM23004A – Apply technical mathematics
- MEM30012A – Apply mathematical techniques in a manufacturing engineering or related environment
- MEM30032A – Produce basic engineering drawings
- MEM30031A – Operate computer-aided design (CAD) system to produce basic drawing elements
- CPPCOM4001 – Manage own work, professional development and ethical behaviour
- MEM23109 – Apply engineering mechanics principles
- MEM30005A – Calculate force systems within simple beam structures
- MEM30006A – Calculate stresses in simple structures
- MEM23007A – Apply calculus to engineering tasks
- CPPSIS5032 – Capture new spatial data
- MEM30033A – Use computer-aided design (CAD) to create and display 3-D models
- CPPBDN6106 – Produce building information modelling for building design projects
- RIICWD534E – Prepare detailed design of civil steel structures
- RIICWD533E – Prepare detailed design of civil concrete structures
- BSBPMG531 – Manage project time
- RIICWD509E – Prepare detailed design of urban roads
- BSBTWK502 – Manage team effectiveness
- RIICWD530E – Prepare detailed design of surface drainage
- BSBPMG537 – Manage project procurement
- RIICWD507D – Prepare detailed geotechnical design
Fees & Intake Dates
An International Student is a person who:
- is not a Citizen or a Permanent Resident of Australia; and
- either holds a valid Australian student visa or intends to apply for an Australian student visa before the commencement of the course.
All international students who intend to study in Australia on a student visa require a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). The CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment) is an official document generated via PRISMS (Provider Registration and International Student Management System) that provides important information about your enrolment status. This document is required to be submitted to the Department of Home Affairs before applying for a student visa.
You must have a valid CoE at all times while you are studying on a student visa.
A Domestic Student is a person who is:
- a Citizen of Australia; or
- a Permanent Resident of Australia; or
- a Citizen of New Zealand; or
- a holder of an Australian Visa (other than a Student Visa) that allows them to study in Australia with no limitations on study.
Domestic students do not require a CoE (generated via PRISMS) as they do not need to apply for a student visa. They are provided with an enrolment confirmation from NIT via email, once their enrolment is finalised. Note: If you are a holder of an Australian visa, other than a student visa, you must have sufficient remaining duration on your visa to complete your studies at the National Institute of Technology from the date of your course commencement. Check course durations on the relevant course pages on the NIT’s website.
Important Information
- All students studying at NIT are required to bring their laptops that meets the minimum system requirements specified in NIT’s Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy.
- Students also must have access to a high-speed internet connection – broadband wired or wireless (5G/4G/LTE) – Minimum bandwidth requirement is 5/3 Mbps (download/upload speed).
- Students are also required to bring their own notebooks, stationery and USB storage media. NIT may lend laptops to students for on-campus use only based on a first-come-first-served basis.
This course involves a number of learning and assessment methods. Typically, the learning methods may include Presentations and discussions, Demonstrations, Individual and group activities, Skills practice, Role plays, Case studies, Simulated scenarios, and Research activities.
Assessment methods generally include Practical Observation of Tasks, Written or Oral Questioning, Case Studies, Role Plays, Reports, Research Projects, Presentations, etc.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
If you think that you have already gained the skills and experience for a unit or entire qualification, you can apply for RPL to get recognised as competent for parts or a whole nationally recognised qualification. Not everyone will get credited for their skills and knowledge. Successful applicants will need to demonstrate a reasonable amount of experience in the area their course covers. Contact us to know more about our RPL process.
Before making an application to study at National Institute of Technology, you must read the information provided for International Students in NIT Student Handbook & Policies webpage.



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