RII50520 diploma of civil construction design

CRICOS Course Code

118286A

CRICOS Provider Code

03944E

RTO Number

41568

Study Mode

Face To Face

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Are you looking to move into a senior design or technical role in the civil construction industry? The RII50520 Diploma of Civil Construction Design at Imperial Institute of Sydney gives you the skills to work as a civil construction designer, design draftsperson, or engineering technician at a professional level.

This course is ideal for international students who want a nationally recognised qualification that opens doors across civil construction in Sydney, regional NSW, and beyond.

About This Course

The RII50520 Diploma of Civil Construction Design reflects the work of individuals who support professional engineers as design paraprofessionals. People in these roles work with a high level of independence and are responsible for making important decisions about design methods, equipment selection, and site-specific work plans.

This is not an entry-level course. It is designed for people who want to step into a senior technical role in civil construction design and lead design outcomes on real projects.

You will develop skills across a broad range of areas including:

Pavement design and traffic management systems
Foundation design and structural calculations
CAD software and engineering drawings
Project scope and quality management
Leadership of diverse work teams
Customer service and knowledge management systems

This qualification sits at AQF Diploma level and aligns with current industry expectations for design professionals in Australia’s civil construction sector.

Course Details

Detail	Information
Qualification Code	RII50520
Course Name	Diploma of Civil Construction Design
Duration	78 weeks
Total Units	20 elective units
Delivery Mode	Face to face
Tuition Fee	AUD $18,000
Non-Tuition Fee	AUD $2,000
Total Estimated Cost	AUD $20,000
Training Package	Resources and Infrastructure Industry (RII)
Cost	Please contact our Marketing Team (marketing@iis.edu.au) for the most updated pricelist.

Course Delivery and Schedule

How Is This Course Taught?

The RII50520 course is delivered face-to-face at our campus locations in NSW.

Classes combine:

Classroom theory sessions covering design principles, technical mathematics, and project management
Practical assessments using industry-standard tools and software
Simulated workplace tasks to replicate real civil construction scenarios

Re-Assessment Policy

Each task is marked as Satisfactory (S) or Not Satisfactory (NS). You have up to 3 attempts to pass each task. A third attempt incurs an additional fee as per IIS policy. If you do not pass after three attempts, you must re-enrol in that unit.

Assessment Methods

You will be assessed through a mix of:

Projects and case studies that reflect real civil design work
Reports and portfolios showing your technical skills
Role-plays and presentations for leadership and management units
Short answer questions for technical knowledge checks

All assessment tasks use real industry documentation, require you to meet standard timeframes, and must meet industry safety requirements.

Entry Requirements

Who Can Apply?

This course suits students who want to:

Work in a civil construction design or drafting role
Support professional engineers on infrastructure and construction projects
Move into a supervisory or senior technical position in the civil construction industry
Build toward an Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design

Age and Academic Requirements

To be eligible, you must:

Be at least 18 years of age
Have completed Year 12 or an equivalent qualification, OR hold a Certificate IV level qualification

English Language Requirements

You must show proof of your English ability through one of the following:

IELTS score of 6.0 or above (test must not be older than 2 years)
PTE or TOEFL equivalent to IELTS 6.0
5 years of education completed in an English-speaking country
Successful completion of our English Placement Test

Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital (LLND) Assessment

All students must complete an LLN assessment before starting the course. This helps us understand your support needs and confirm you are ready to succeed at Diploma level.

Computer Access Requirements

You need basic computer literacy before starting
A laptop or desktop computer with internet access is required
Experience with or interest in CAD software is helpful

Access to Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel) is required

Units of Competency

CODE	Title
ELECTIVE
BSBINS501	Implement information and knowledge management systems
BSBPEF501	Manage personal and professional development
BSBOPS505	Manage organisational customer service
BSBPMG532	Manage project quality
RIICRC404E	Inspect and report on pavement condition
MEM30032A	Produce basic engineering drawings
MEM23004A	Apply technical mathematics
CPPSSI5035	Obtain and validate spatial data
RIICWD525E	Select pavement surfacing
RIICWD528E	Prepare detailed design of traffic management systems
RIICWD527E	Prepare detailed design of traffic signals
MEM30012A	Apply mathematical techniques in a manufacturing engineering or related environment
MEM30006A*	Calculate stresses in simple structures
RIICWD501E	Prepare detailed design of foundations
RIILAT402E	Provide leadership in the supervision of diverse work teams
MEM30031A	Operate computer-aided design (CAD) system to produce basic drawing elements
BSBWKT502	Manage team effectiveness
BSBPMG530	Manage project scope
RIIWED512E	Prepared detailed design of motorways and interchanges
RIICWD526E	Prepare detailed traffic analysis

Intervention and Student Support

IIS monitors the progress and attendance of all international students as required by our Course Progress and Attendance Monitoring Policy.

If you are struggling, our team will work with you on an intervention strategy to help you catch up and stay on track. This may include extra support sessions, access to additional resources, or adjusted study arrangements.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer

Have you already worked in civil construction, engineering drafting, or a related field? You may be eligible for:

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) based on your existing skills and work experience
Credit transfer for completed units from another registered training organisation

If RPL or credit transfer is granted, your course duration and fees will be adjusted accordingly. You will receive a new Confirmation of Enrolment showing the updated course length.

Exit Points

There are no formal exit qualifications within this course. However, if you need to leave before completing the full diploma, you will receive a Statement of Attainment for every unit you have successfully finished.

Please note: international students who exit without completing the full course may be reported to the Department of Home Affairs, which can affect their student visa. If you are facing difficulties, contact the IIS student support team early.

Assessment Overview

Assessments are designed to mirror real-world tasks and industry standards, helping students develop the skills needed for their careers. They take place in a simulated workplace environment and assess practical abilities, teamwork, and time management.

Assessment Arrangements

Assessment will occur through a variety of methods, including projects incorporating role-plays, presentations, reports, portfolios, case studies and short answer questions. Assessment conditions will ensure a simulated workplace environment.

Assessment tasks:

Reflect real-life work tasks.
Are required to be performed within industry standard timeframes as specified by assessors in relation to each task.
Are assessed using assessment criteria that relate to the quality of work expected by the industry.
Are performed to industry safety requirements as relevant.
Utilise authentic workplace documentation.
Require students to work with others as part of a team.
Require students to plan and prioritise competing work tasks.
Involve the use of standard workplace equipment such as computers and software.
Ensure that students are required to consider workplace constraints such as time and budgets.

Assessment Materials

Assessment materials comprise:

Student Assessment Tasks: There is one for each unit of competency that includes instructions to students about each of their assessments. It also includes an assessment plan where students can record the due dates of each task and an Assessment Task Cover Sheet that must be completed for each Assessment submission.

Other documents specific to the workplace simulation task requirements are also included with the assessment tasks. These include document templates and simulated workplace policies and procedures, and are described in the student and assessor instructions as relevant.

Re-assessment

Re-assessment criteria:

Each assessment task will be given an outcome of either Satisfactory (S) or Not Satisfactory (NS). Students must complete all tasks for a unit satisfactorily to achieve an overall outcome of Competent (C) for the unit. If one or more of the tasks are assessed as Not Satisfactory, they will be given an outcome for the unit of Not Yet Competent (NYC).

The student can have a total of 3 attempts to complete each task and achieve a ‘Satisfactory’ outcome (noting that the third attempt is chargeable as per the fees and refunds policy). If, after the third attempt, the student is still assessed as Not Satisfactory for a task, they will need to re-enrol in the unit.

Assessment Appeals

Students can make an appeal against any assessment decision by following the Complaints and Appeals Policy outlined in the Student Handbook.

Appeals will be dealt with following the Complaints and Appeals Procedure.

What Will You Learn?

Course Structure

This diploma has a flexible structure built around 20 elective units. You select your units from four groups based on your career goals and industry needs:

Group A (minimum 2 units) for core technical design skills
Group B (minimum 2 units) for specialist design and drafting
Group C (minimum 4 units) for applied construction design
Group D (minimum 4 units) for project and management skills
Up to 3 units may be imported from other training packages where relevant

Key Skills You Will Build

Technical Design and Drafting
You will learn to produce detailed engineering drawings using CAD systems (unit MEM30031A). You will also apply technical mathematics (MEM23004A) and engineering calculations (MEM30012A, MEM30006A) to solve real design problems.
Pavement and Traffic Systems
Units like RIICWD525E (Select pavement surfacing), RIICWD528E (Prepare detailed design of traffic management systems), and RIICWD527E (Prepare detailed design of traffic signals) prepare you to design infrastructure for high-traffic environments.

Civil Engineering and Foundation Design

RIICWD501E (Prepare detailed design of foundations) and RIIWED512E (Prepare detailed design of motorways and interchanges) give you the knowledge to work on large-scale civil projects.

Spatial and Site Data

Unit CPPSSI5035 covers how to obtain and validate spatial data for construction planning, a key skill for any civil construction designer.

Project Management
Units BSBPMG530 (Manage project scope) and BSBPMG532 (Manage project quality) build your ability to manage complex civil works from start to finish.
Leadership and Team Supervision
RIILAT402E (Provide leadership in the supervision of diverse work teams) and BSBWKT502 (Manage team effectiveness) are included to develop your supervisory skills as a civil construction supervisor.
Business and Customer Service
BSBOPS505 (Manage organisational customer service) and BSBINS501 (Implement information and knowledge management systems) round out your management capabilities.

Career Outcomes and Pathways

What Jobs Can You Get?

After completing the RII50520 Diploma of Civil Construction Design, you can work in roles such as:

Civil Engineering Construction Supervisor
Civil Engineering Draftsperson
Civil Engineering Design Draftsperson
Civil Engineering Technician
Senior Civil Works Designer
Civil Construction Site Officer

These roles are in strong demand across civil construction in Sydney and major infrastructure projects across Australia.

Licensing Considerations

Licensing and regulatory requirements for civil construction design roles vary by state and territory. Before applying your qualification in a workplace setting, check with the relevant authority in your state or territory.

If you plan to work on construction sites, you may also need a White Card (General Construction Induction). Your trainer can advise you on this during the course.

Further Study Pathways

Completing this diploma can lead you toward:

RII60520 Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design (for roles in senior design and management)
BSB50820 Diploma of Project Management for broader project leadership
Diploma of Civil Construction Management for site and operations-focused careers

Why Study With Us

Imperial Institute of Sydney is a CRICOS-registered RTO with a strong track record in delivering industry-focused vocational training. Here is what sets us apart:

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Provider / Contact / Delivery Locations

FAQ

Who is this diploma designed for?

This diploma is for people who want to work as a civil construction designer, design draftsperson, or engineering technician. It is also suitable for those moving into a civil construction supervisor or senior design role in infrastructure projects.

Do I need prior civil construction experience to enrol?

No specific prior experience is required. However, you must meet the age, English language, and academic entry requirements. An LLN assessment is also required before enrolment. Some computer literacy and an interest in CAD are strongly recommended.

What is included in the assessment for this course?

Assessments include projects, case studies, portfolios, reports, presentations, and short-answer questions. All tasks are designed to simulate a real civil construction workplace. You have up to 3 attempts per task.

Can I get RPL for my existing civil construction experience?

Yes. If you have relevant work experience or prior study in civil construction design, engineering drafting, or project management, you can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This may shorten your course and reduce your fees.

Where is this course delivered?

The RII50520 course is delivered face to face at our campuses in Parramatta, Sydney CBD, and Wollongong. All campuses are CRICOS-registered and equipped for vocational training at diploma level.