Construction Design and Build (Cert HE) | University of Bedfordshire

Why choose the School of Computing, Engineering and Creative Industries

This HTQ meets the occupational standards needed to become a qualified construction design and build technician.

We are one of the only UK universities to offer this vocational course.

Put learning into practice through a year-long, work-based project.

About the course

There is a high demand for experts in the rapidly growing construction industry and, as a result, skilled and knowledgeable subject experts are in high demand. This new hands-on qualification gives you the skills, knowledge and experience you need to confidently step into the field of construction, specialising in design and build. It also prepares you for a full degree in a related course.

Course accreditation

This Construction Design HTQ is approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. It is based on the same employer-developed occupational standards as apprenticeships but don't require employment as an apprentice.

Facilities and specialist equipment

Newly fitted-out lab designed specifically for your course, filled with state-of-the-art tools
Industry-standard equipment such as semi-automatic levels, total stations and a robotic total station as well as various building, surveying, measuring and monitoring equipment
Advanced machine workshop and product design lab with laser cutting and 3D printing for model-making
Large modern STEM building with specialist labs, bespoke teaching facilities and group study spaces, providing you with an enriching and supportive learning environment

Your student experience

Enjoy training at a University with 15-plus years of experience in delivering construction-related qualifications.

Gain the practical skills, technical knowledge and critical thinking ability needed to thrive in this industry, thanks to our focus on employability and hands-on experience including a 30-credit employment-based unit.

Our highly qualified academic team have close relationships with leading employers and active involvement in the industry, which feeds directly back into their teaching and keeps you up to date with the latest developments in the field.

On successful course completion, take advantage of our employment network or jump straight into the second year of a related degree, such as our Foundation Degree or Construction Management BSc (Hons).

Learn from industry experts at regular interactive demonstrations, expos and field trips to ground-breaking developments. Past projects include the new Thames Tunnel (Silvertown Tunnel) project; Old War Office, and Luton and Dunstable project.

Benefit from the guidance of our dedicated academic support tutors.

with Professional Practice Year

This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.

There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.

*Only available to UK/EU students.

with Foundation Year

A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.

Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.

With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.

The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.

This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.

Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?

Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees

The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.

During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.

Studying our Construction Design and Build Cert HE (HTQ) course will equip you with the practical knowledge and skills needed to become a design technician. This course will assist you to build a wide range of construction knowledge and introduce you to the key principles of architectural technology. You will develop the skills needed to produce accurate and consistent construction information using industry-standard software in Design Practice and Client Requirements. To ensure your safety in a construction environment, our unit in Academic and Computer Skills, Health and Safety will allow you to understand and use the knowledge of health and safety legislation.

You will learn to identify hazards in the workplace while developing the skills to produce reviews, evaluations and reports around current health, safety, and welfare policies. Similarly, you will also work to ensure the safety of others by learning to meet the requirements of building quality in our Project Development and Building Control unit. Through engaging with inspection and rectification, you will identify quality issues based on legislation and interpret the impact of failing to meet such standards in relation to compliance and commissioning. Furthermore, you will build your knowledge around project development, planning design processes and project briefs to meet a client’s needs.

As a design and build technician, one of your main roles is to ensure the financial and timely completion of projects. This is where our Management Principles for Design Technicians unit will allow you to develop the knowledge and skills around cost control and managing construction teams effectively. You will explore key processes in using digital applications to produce data and construction information that will enable the BIM process. Furthermore, you will learn to implement construction contracts, identify and prevent defects in your work to meet client quality standards while considering financial, legal and cost constraints. Another essential element to consider within the construction industry is sustainable practice, and this is where our Sustainability, Environment and Construction Technology unit will allow you to explore sustainability related issues and construction techniques.