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Diploma · national qualification

Diploma of Civil Construction Design

This diploma is for people who want to produce the technical designs that sit behind civil projects such as roads, subdivisions, drainage and retaining structures.

Compare 6 providers
Illustration of a person working as civil Drafter
How long it takes
12 to 18 months
full time at TAFE NSW
How you can study
On campus
Main job
Civil Drafter
$88,400 (estimate) median pay, In demand
Taught by
6 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

What the Diploma of Civil Construction Design asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in how civil projects are designed
  • comfort with drawing and design software
  • an eye for detail and accuracy
  • the confidence to make design decisions

Before you start

The qualification has no set entry requirements, but each provider can add its own.

Where this course can take you

Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.

Jobs you can do with it

  • Civil Drafter

    Civil drafters turn engineers' designs for roads, drainage and structures into the detailed drawings and 3D models that guide construction on site.

    What else you need

    This diploma leads to civil and structural draftsperson roles. The award alone does not confer any licence, and employers may expect experience. Check the provider's course details.

    Median pay$88,400 (estimate)

    In demand

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

Where you can study this course

There are 6 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

What you’ll learn

The main topics covered in the Diploma of Civil Construction Design.

  • Reading civil engineering drawings
  • Site and drainage design
  • Road and pavement design
  • Computer-aided drafting
  • Estimating civil works
  • Geotechnical and survey data

Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

It is for people who want to produce technical designs for civil projects such as roads, subdivisions, drainage and retaining structures. You will turn client site requirements into detailed drawings and specifications, often coordinating a small team or a package of drawings.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

The qualification itself has no entry requirements. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.

Related courses

The national training register, training.gov.au. TAFE course pages, read 20 September 2026. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.