Diploma of Civil Construction Design

The Diploma of Civil Construction Design at Australian Technical College Western Australia is a practical qualification for people who want to work on the design side of civil projects. You learn to produce detailed drawings and documentation for roads, drainage, retaining walls, subdivisions and other civil infrastructure. The focus is on the technical skills employers actually ask for: interpreting survey data, using CAD software, applying Australian Standards, estimating materials and preparing drawings that construction teams can build from.

This is a diploma, so it sits below a bachelor degree on the Australian Qualifications Framework. A bachelor degree is normally three years, an honours year adds one, a master's is one to two years and a doctorate three or more. The diploma takes 1.5 years and is made up of units of study, each with a set number of credit points. You complete units one at a time or in small groups, with assessment based on assignments, drawings and practical tasks rather than long written exams. There is no research thesis at this level. Instead, you build a portfolio of civil design work. Many diplomas in this field include a work placement or a simulated project where you respond to a real brief, so you finish with examples you can show an employer.

Skills you gain include reading and producing civil drawings, using design software, understanding soil and drainage basics, measuring and estimating, and working to Australian Standards and project specifications. You also learn to check your own work and coordinate with engineers, surveyors and site teams. The course suits school leavers who want a hands-on start, tradespeople moving into drafting or design, and people already working in construction who need formal qualifications to move into a technician or design role.

English requirements for international applicants are typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall for courses at this level, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge C1 Advanced accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While studying, a student visa allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 118352G. Check the official page for current unit lists, intake dates and fees.

• Civil design drafter
• Civil engineering technician
• Structural drafting officer
• Road and drainage design assistant
• Estimator in civil construction
• Site technician
• Project support officer
• CAD operator in engineering consultancies

These roles are found in engineering consultancies, local government, civil contractors, mining and resources companies, and land development firms across Australia. The qualification can also lead into further study, such as a bachelor degree in civil engineering, with credit for completed units.