Foundation Mathematics for Engineering (Micro-credential)
Course details
About the course
Foundation Mathematics for Engineering (Micro-credential) will provide you with an introduction to mathematics in an engineering context. It will enable you to prepare for a long-term career in a high demand, and highly skilled field.
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Availability
Our distance learning courses are offered throughout the year to help you fit study around your work and life commitments.
Courses are offered up to 12 times per year depending on demand and availability of academic staff.
Exact start dates are in the course information pages and in our Enrolment dates page:
Cost
- Course costscan be found on all course pages. The fees may increase annually.
- Qualification cost – to give you an idea of how much a qualification may cost in total over the duration of your studies, an approximate cost is provided for many of our qualifications. This is based on the required number of courses to complete the qualification and the average cost of those courses. It does not include annual administration fees, text books and course materials or external exam fees, and is subject to annual course fee increases.
Credits
Courses are assigned credits depending on how much time and effort is needed to complete their learning outcomes. In general, each credit represents approximately 10 hours of study time.
Delivery method
- Online – The course materials for online courses are delivered in an online format and all assignments are submitted online.
- Mixed – These courses are delivered using a mix of online and paper based course materials. This may include receiving paper course materials, submitting assignments online, or being required to participate in online forums and learning activities.
- Print Only - The course will be delivered using paper based courses materials, and assignments may need to be submitted in hard copy rather than online. This will depend on the course.
Whether courses are delivered online, on paper or a mixture of both, there may also be components such as workshops, noho marae, work experience and practicum to participate in. To find out what your course involves check the course information page.
EFTS
EFTS stands for equivalent full-time student. An EFTS is the study time required for each course and is used by the Tertiary Education Commission to decide if a course is part-time or full-time.
One year of full-time study is generally between 0.8 and 1.2 EFTS.
Level
You can tell how hard a course or qualification is by the level it is set at:
- Levels 1-4 are about the same as secondary school and basic trades training.
- Levels 5-7 are the same as university study.
Prerequisites
- Prerequisites are courses that must be completed before another course can be studied.
- Co-requisites are courses that can be studied at the same time as another course.
If a course has a specific prerequisite or co-requisite course, it will be listed on the course page under the title 'Prerequisites'. If no courses are listed, check the entry and other requirements under the qualification you are studying for. Some courses require you to have studied at a particular level prior to enrolling.
Student loans
Not all qualifications or students are eligible for student loans. You will need to meet criteria such as studying a minimum number of credits over a specific study period. It is up to you to apply for a student loan via StudyLink - Open Polytechnic does not do this for you.
Information about student loans and eligibility
Teaching weeks
Teaching weeks is the number of weeks that we teach a course. This differs from the enrolment period, which is based on the course start and end dates.
For example, a 20-week enrolment period will have 16 teaching weeks, followed by four weeks to accommodate marking, any extensions and reassessments, or exams.
Workload
The workload estimate given on a course page is calculated like this:
Number of credits x 10, divided by the number of teaching weeks for the course. The hours will be rounded up to nearest whole number.
Please note, this is a guide only. You may need more or less time for study, and you may also need to do more hours during assessment due dates or exams times.
- Level
3
- Credits
10
- Student loan This micro-credential is not eligible for course-related costs, living costs or allowances from StudyLink
This micro-credential is for you if you need to build confidence and competence in mathematics to lay the groundwork for further study in engineering in Āotearoa New Zealand or abroad. For more information you can watch the course introduction video below:
What you will learn
On successful completion of this micro-credential, you will be able to demonstrate basic mathematical skills for an engineering context.
- Solve simple arithmetic and algebraic problems set in an engineering context
- Solve simple geometric problems set in an engineering context
- Solve simple trigonometric problems set in an engineering context
- Use a spreadsheet to carry out basic statistical calculations set in an engineering context
Duration of course
20 weeks to complete this micro-credential
Maximum Programme completion time
To be awarded the micro credential , you must complete within one year of first enrolment, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
The Withdrawal Period is 28 days
You can apply to transfer or withdraw with full refund within the first 28 days of the course start date.
International learners
You can study this programme part-time if you’re an international student living in New Zealand. If you’re living in New Zealand you will need to be in paid employment with a valid work permit.
Learn more about studying as an international student.
Mathematical skills
Mathematical skills are foundational to study in engineering. Are you ready to this course? To help ensure you succeed in this course, we recommend that you first do this mathematics self-assessment. If you are not ready for level 3 study, you can contact us to talk with our student advisor
After you successfully finish this self assessment you can enrol in Introductory Mathematics for Engineering (Micro-Credential).
When you enrol in the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering you’ll need to take DE4102 Engineering Mathematics 1.
Assessment
This course is 100% internally assessed, which includes two assessments.
Online study
This course is delivered online, so you will access all of the course content and submit assessments online. For online learning you need access to a laptop or desktop computer, reliable internet and a data plan. If you are unsure if your current computer or internet access allows you to complete your online learning with us, please contact us before applying to enrol.
About the provider
Open Polytechnic is New Zealand's leader in online and distance learning.
What’s our distance learning difference? It’s the almost 30,000 students who join us each year to study and achieve their career and personal goals.
It’s Open Polytechnic being New Zealand’s specialist distance learning provider for over 70 years.
All our students study by distance.
Distance learning is what we do.
Our programmes are designed exclusively for distance learning. Our online courses include a range of rich content to engage you – readings, videos, interactive elements, case studies, quizzes and activities, and forums.
Our academic staff are experts at teaching by distance learning. It’s what they do.
They will be with you every step of the way to encourage you, and ensure you understand the course content. They will help you gain the skills and knowledge you need, so that you can succeed.
If you need other support or help, we’ve got a range of people here for you.
With Open Polytechnic, you’re not alone.