Construction Management for England (Construction Design and Build Technician) Level 4 Apprenticeship Higher National Certificate
- Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
- Typical Offer: 64 UCAS tariff points
- Start Date(s): September 2024
- Duration: Two years part-time
- Study Mode(s): Part-time
- Campus: NTU in Mansfield
Introduction:
Taught at NTU in Mansfield, we are providing access to alternative routes in higher education. We've built qualifications with the local job market in mind. Each of our higher education courses is relevant, hands-on and work focused.
To achieve the UK's target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, it will be essential to transform existing housing with insulation, low carbon heating, and renewable energy generation. This shift is already producing increasing employment opportunities in emerging low-carbon sectors and zero-carbon homes. We'll provide you with the knowledge and skills to take advantage of these new spaces, and make a positive impact in the built environment.
This course will enable you to meet the demands of employers in the construction and the built environment sector and adapt to a constantly changing world; with specific emphases on the design, manufacture, and installation of housing, using off-site, factory-built and new digital technologies such as BIM and construction management programmes.
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You'll study at our NTU in Mansfield University Hub, where you'll have access to fantastic buildings, and all of the tools and technology you need for studying on this course. -
The course is delivered part-time, enabling you to fit learning around your work and other commitments. -
This course prepares you to progress to a range of roles in the construction industry and the opportunity to continue your studies on a university degree course. -
Developed in collaboration with a range of employers, students and subject experts, this course is designed to meet the changing needs of industry.
What you’ll study
The course is made up of 120 credits, which are represented by 15 credit modules.
The modules will help you develop a broad knowledge and awareness of key aspects of the construction and built environment sector. With a specialist focus on the design and delivery of homes, you'll gain an understanding of off-site construction techniques, manufacturing processes and new technologies.
Employment in the construction industry will require you to be flexible in your approach, resilient under pressure and meet challenging targets. We'll support you in developing these traits, and other key transferable skills highly sought after by companies. From the ability to communicate accurately and take personal responsibility, to team working and problem-solving, this course will prepare you for the demands of industry.
Digital Applications for Construction Information
- On this module, you'll develop the skills to needed produce accurate and consistent construction information using industry-standard software.
Construction Technology
- This module will introduce you to the different technological concepts used to enable the construction of building elements, and the functional characteristics and design considerations when selecting the most suitable technological solution.
Legal and Statutory Requirements in Construction
- This module introduces the different areas of law that are relevant to the construction industry throughout the development process. This includes applying for planning approval to undertake construction activities and using building control regulations to evaluate building design and alterations at the preconstruction stage.
Financial Management & Business Practices in Construction
- You'll be introduced to the concepts of business management and financial control. They will examine a range of factors that influence the ways in which companies grow, raise finance and control their costs and resources.
Construction Environment
- On this module you'll explore the make-up and the impact of the construction industry on the environment and society. You will gain an overview of the organisational and the personal ways in which the sector works to continue to improve the built environment and limit its impact on the environment.
Building Information Modelling
- You'll develop background knowledge and understanding of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the context of the construction industry.
- This module will allow you to explore the relationship between design, construction, and operation, and the relevance of information management in regards to BIM.
Construction Design Project (Individual Project)
- This module will support you in using and applying the knowledge and skills developed through other areas of your study, to complete and present an individual construction design project.
- Through your project, you'll learn how to formulate and manage a project within agreed timescales, evaluate potential project management solutions, and produce and present a project report with your final project outcomes.
Tender & Procurement
- This module will develop the knowledge needed to select a procurement route and an appropriate tendering method in the awarding of a project to a main contractor. You will learn how to prepare a tender package in procuring a contractor for a client’s work.
End Point Assessment April- August
- Assessment 1: Online test
- Assessment 2: Project
- Assessment Method 3: Professional discussion
Completing your Apprenticeship
To achieve the apprenticeship, all apprentices must complete an End-Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA is an independent assessment that ascertains whether an apprentice is competent in their occupation.
Gateway
Gateway is the period of time between the end of the off-the-job training (practical period) and the beginning of the assessment period when EPA will take place.
At Gateway, the apprentice, employer and training provider will review the apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours to determine whether they are ready to take their EPA. This is normally done at a Gateway review meeting which takes place near the end of the apprenticeship. At this meeting, all three parties will check that the mandatory aspects of the apprenticeship have been completed and that the apprentice is ready to take their final assessment(s).
Apprentices must meet the Gateway requirement set out in the assessment plan before taking their EPA.
End-Point Assessment
This apprenticeship is non-integrated. This means that the end-point assessment is administered and assessed by an external organisation. For this apprenticeship standard there are three End-Point Assessment Organisations (EPAO), the preferred EPAO is the Chartered Institute of Building but employers may choose to select an alternative.
Details of the assessment elements can be found in the assessment plan.
There are three elements to this end-point assessment:
- Online test
- Project
- Professional discussion
How you’re taught
The course is delivered part-time, delivered one day a week over two years. This enables you to fit learning around your work and other commitments.
Most modules involve a series of different methods to explain and develop the subject concepts. These include seminars, tutorials, laboratory sessions, and workshops. You'll also be involved in self-directed project work with the support of NOW, our virtual learning environment.
Outside of timetabled sessions, you'll need to undertake self-directed independent study. This will include preparing for seminars, researching, completing coursework, developing a portfolio, and directed reading to expand your knowledge.
How you’re assessed
You'll be assessed through a mix of diverse methods, including practical and written types. These may include reports, presentations, portfolios, and collaborative group projects. Some modules involve an element of seminar contribution through online or in-person interaction, and some others will provide employer-set themes for the coursework which will enable you to apply the knowledge to real-world scenarios as you will be expected to do in employment.
The range of assessment methods will provide a variety of ways in which you can demonstrate achievement and develop the communication skills valued by employers. You'll receive feedback throughout each module.
Careers and employability
Further study
Students who successfully complete the HNC Construction Management for England (Construction Design and Build Technician) Level 4 Apprenticeship course will have the opportunity to progress to one of the following courses:
- BSc (Hons) Construction Management full-time, part-time or sandwich routes (Year Two entry)
- BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management full-time, part-time or sandwich routes (Year Two entry)
- BSc (Hons) Building Surveying full-time, part-time or sandwich routes (Year One entry)
- Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship Pathways:
- Level 6 Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship (Quantity Surveyor Pathway) (Year Two entry)
- Level 6 Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship (Building Surveyor Pathway) (Year One entry)
- Level 6 Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship (Real Estate Pathway) (Year One entry)
Employment opportunities
The course's focus on specialist technical skills and knowledge provides students with a clear set of skills and goals for entering employment. Typical jobs related to this course may include:
- Housing Design Technician
- Housing Project Manager
- Off-site Construction Manager
- BIM Technician
- Digital Design Technician
- Architectural Technologist
- Planning Officer
- Building Control Officer
Employability team
Our expert Employability team will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice. You can benefit from this service at any time during your studies and for up to three years after completing your course.
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.
Campus and facilities
We are continually investing in our facilities and transforming our learning and teaching environment to create an inspiring and innovative atmosphere. Teaching will take place at the University Hub's £6.5 million University Centre, which opened in 2016 and which is equipped with the latest facilities and state-of-the-art technology. Facilities include:
- On-site Café
- Teaching and Learning Centre
- Library
- Social spaces
- Student support services
- Dedicated study zones including PC suites
Entry requirements
What are we looking for?
- 64 UCAS Tariff points or equivalent; or
- BTEC Level 3 qualification in construction or a related subject - MPP; or
- A Levels - DDE; or
- Level 3 T Level in one of the following:
- Craft and Design
- Design and development for engineering and manufacturing
- Design, surveying and planning for construction
- On-site construction
- Science
and
- GCSEs – English and Maths grade C / 4.
The following qualifications will also be considered:
- Other related Level 3 qualifications
- Access to Higher Education Diploma from an approved further education institution
- Relevant work experience, or an international equivalent to the above qualifications.
Other qualifications and experience
We consider equivalent qualifications and combinations, please see UCAS course search for details and use our calculator to help you work out how many UCAS points your qualifications relate to.
If you don't have enough UCAS points, you'll need to demonstrate over two years of work experience in a relevant profession. You can detail this in your personal statement when applying.
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for Year One entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into Year Two. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Contextual offers
As well as assessing your application and qualifications, we use contextual data and information to make offers for this course. Depending on your circumstances, we may make you an offer up to two grades below the standard entry criteria. Find out how we assess your application.
Getting in touch
If you need any more help or information, please email our Admissions and Enquiries Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS tariff points attached to specific grades, including A levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
This course is not suitable for tier 4 visa applicants.
We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please visit our international qualifications page.
We have undergraduate Architecture courses which are suitable for tier 4 visa applicants. Here is a list of all the undergraduate courses we offer.
Fees and funding
To undertake an apprenticeship you must be employed - as such, your employer will pay your tuition fees.
If you or your employer have any questions regarding the fees and funding available for this apprenticeship, please see our Apprenticeships pages, contact our Apprenticeships team at apprenticeships@ntu.ac.uk, or call +44 (0)115 848 2589.
Unfortunately English apprenticeships are not available for EU or international students.
How to apply
Applications to this course can be made through NTU Applicant Portal.
To apply for this course you must have secured your employer's agreement to support you through the degree apprenticeship course and have been allocated an architecturally qualified Employment Mentor from your place of work.
Firstly, your employer should contact our Apprenticeships team to discuss next steps in the applications process, and support available.
As part of your application, you’ll submit a personal statement. Tell us about your ambitions, skills and experience. You have 4,000 characters to impress us – here’s how to make your words count.
Writing your application
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. Make sure you include as much information as possible, including uploading evidence of results already achieved, as well as a personal statement.
Keeping up to date
After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or support, you can call our Apprenticeship team on +44 (0)115 848 2589, or email apprenticeships@ntu.ac.uk.
Good luck with your application!