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Why choose the School of Computer Science and Technology
Two-year full-time or three-year part-time vocational-based programme for individuals looking to gain a practical introduction to construction management.
Successful completion automatically qualifies you for registration on our BSc (Hons) Construction Management (top-up), where you can study for a full Honours degree.
Study at a University with over 15 years’ experience in delivering construction-based courses.
About the course
The ideal gateway into a booming sector, this Foundation degree gives you the industry-ready skills and practical experience needed to launch your career in the construction industry. Immerse yourself in hands-on projects; learn from seasoned industry leaders; and explore the full lifecycle from inception, design and planning to construction and demolition. We welcome students from all manner of educational backgrounds so you can apply even if you do not have traditional academic qualifications.
Course accreditation
Our Construction Management courses are all fully accredited by the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE), an internationally recognised professional body. On successful course completion, you have the opportunity to work through the CABE membership grades and ultimately progress to chartered status, signifying you are a competent professional who strives for the highest possible standards.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Dedicated STEM building with specialist labs, group study hubs and bespoke teaching spaces
- High-tech facilities with cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art equipment including an automated total station, 3D scanning and automatic levels
- Advanced machine workshop and product design lab with laser cutting and 3D printing
- Industry-standard software such as AutoCAD, Revit and MATLAB
Industry links
We take on work projects and review case studies in close collaboration with leading employers such as Kier and NG Construction.
Your student experience
Prepare yourself for future employment with our hands-on approach, which gives you the practical competencies, technical knowledge and transferable skills needed to kick-start your career in construction.
Thrive under the support of our dedicated academic success tutors and regular contact with your project supervisor.
Learn from industry experts in our interactive demonstrations and seminars, from local authority planners and civil engineers to project managers and local government agency representatives.
Take part in field trips to ground-breaking developments. Past projects include Thames Tunnel (Silvertown Tunnel) project, Old War Office, and Luton and Dunstable project.
Our academic team’s wealth of experience and active involvement in industry feeds directly back into their teaching, so you stay up to date with the latest developments in the field.
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.
What will you study?
Studying our Construction Management FdSc course will equip you with the knowledge and expertise in the design, planning and contracting of projects in the construction industry. To build on your foundations, you will be introduced to the key principles of economics within the UK construction industry in our Introduction to Construction Economics unit. Here, you will explore the significance of economic principles to the industry and identify business operations and commercial risk. In more technical areas of study, you will explore the foundations of Building Services and Project Management that will enable you to formulate design layouts, consider the choice of building materials, and conduct essential installations such as water, heating, electricity, gas, and security while considering the costs and risks of services installation such as lifts and escalators. To ensure your safety in a construction environment, our unit in Academic and Computer Skills, Health and Safety will allow you 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, you will identify quality-related issues based on legislation and interpret the impact of failing to meet such standards. Furthermore, you will build your knowledge around project development, planning design processes and project briefs to meet a client’s needs. In areas of legislation, and this is where our Construction Contracts, Measurements and Processes unit will teach you to apply knowledge of construction contract law to projects. Aside from this, you will explore Building Technology, construction techniques and analyse a range of materials used in construction while considering their effects on energy conservation and building production. More importantly, you will consider issues in Sustainability, Environment and Construction Technology and analyse ways to reduce the impact of construction on the environment.
In project-based work, you will have the opportunity to work on a site to identify issues with site surveying using modern surveying equipment to provide and implement solutions in our Work Based Learning A – Construction Management and Surveying for Construction unit. This will be an opportunity for you to work in small groups to carry out surveying exercises while demonstrating the principles and procedures of surveying in a work-based environment. In the second part of this unit, you will focus on identifying problems relating to people and project management in construction by working on a case study scenario or during an industry work placement in our Work Based Learning B – Managing People and Projects unit. To prepare you for your career in construction, our unit in Human Resource Management and Career Development will develop the knowledge and skills to manage your own career and personal development goals while also teaching you how to manage construction personnel to deliver successful projects.
How will you be assessed?
A range of assessment methods are used throughout the course. The types of assessment used range from practical work, which assesses the practical application of knowledge and concepts gained in lectures, seminars, and also from learning acquired during self-study, through to presentation and report based assessments. Time controlled in-class tests are also utilised to allow the students to experience and adjust to industry requirements.
Careers
Key industry bodies have indicated a huge projected demand for, and shortages of construction professionals and technical staff.
This will offer a range of opportunities to our construction management graduates across different sectors, disciplines and projects to fill that skills gap, and to provide high-quality input where it’s most needed in the industry.
The course has been designed to deliver ‘industry-ready’ graduates, who have the skills and knowledge to work at a professional standard, and have a high-level of understanding of industry demands.
The course has also been developed to provide graduates with different career options and to follow various career paths, depending on their particular fields of interest. In the past, our graduates have gone on to work for local authorities, housing associations, large, medium and small building contractors, as well as specialist consultancies and agencies.
Job roles that graduates have taken have included assistant site managers, trainee project planners, managers, surveyors and estimators.
On successful completion of the Construction Management foundation degree, you will also automatically qualify for registration on to our BSc (Hons) Construction Management (Top-up) degree should you choose to. This will give you the opportunity to take the necessary level six units to complete a full undergraduate honours degree.
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard fee for a Foundation Degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £9,250. These are the full course fees covering each year of study.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
International
International students cannot apply for Foundation Degrees.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
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