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Building HNC
Study level: HNC/HND courses
The Building HNC pathway is intended for candidates working for house-building contractors or intending to pursue careers in quantity surveying.
Year of entry
Location
CU Coventry (Coventry)
Study mode
Part-time
Duration
1-2 years part-time
Course code
CUCH016
Start date
September 2025
The information on this page is for 2024-25 entry and should be used as guidance for 2025-26 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.
Course overview
This course aims to develop your practical skills, real-world knowledge and theoretical understanding of the issues and processes in the multidisciplinary construction industry. The course reflects contemporary practices and emphasises the essential practical knowledge and competencies needed for career progression within the industry.
This course is available on a day-release basis only, so you will need to be in relevant employment while you are studying with us.
Why you should study this course
Construction Engineering, despite being an ancient industry, is constantly evolving to reflect our ever-progressive society. An exciting sector rich with potential for ambitious achievers, this ever-changing field is challenging preconceived notions and offering more opportunities than ever. Below are some of the benefits of studying on the course.
- Development of transferrable skills – The skills you gain when you study Building HNC could aid you in many aspects of your life. This course is perfect for sharpening your problem-solving skills, as it will present you with the typical challenges of the industry and enable you to devise solutions.
- Progression in a high-demand industry – Career paths in this industry tend to be well paid, with building engineers being in high demand and well paid. Depending on the branch you pursue, career opportunities may include Building Engineer, Building Surveyor, Quantity Surveyor, etc. By completing the Building HNC, you could increase your employability in your chosen career path and could open a range of progression opportunities that may allow you to climb higher up the ladder of engineering.
- A real chance to change lives – Construction or Building engineering has been a vital aspect of life since the beginning of human existence, playing an essential role from the rudimentary shelters of early man to the sprawling metropolises of modern life. And as sustainability climbs higher on our priority lists, building engineering has a part to play in our climate change worries. The push towards sustainable living means that there is an increased need for highly qualified, innovative engineers and managers with an environmental and social conscience who can make the world a better place.
- Progression to Management Positions – After completion of the Building HNC qualification, you should have gained knowledge of some of the key management skills and principles that may allow you to progress to a variety of management positions in the construction and building engineering field. This is because the Building HNC course introduces you to the principles of management, the evolution of management thought and their application in construction industry. It also introduces you to both practical and theoretical project management methods and planning of construction projects. You’ll gain an insight into people management and practices to ensure that your team are working to the best of their ability. This will ensure that they are competently applying their creative problem-solving abilities to improve the world around them under your expert guidance.
- Develop Specialism - Not only will a Building HNC allow you to advance your career and seek managerial roles, but you will also have the opportunity to pursue a specialism. At CU Coventry, our HNC Building programme will also help you to develop a deeper understanding of engineering design principles and processes, sustainability and environmental protections, project management, among many other key areas. A HNC Building also places you potentially in a position for further HE study, such as enrolment at higher stages of some BSc/BEng Building/Construction Engineering related courses (subject to meeting entry requirements).
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What you'll study
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
How you'll learn
Our teaching methods are varied, offering several teaching styles to suit the needs of all our students, so in addition to lectures, we also utilise a blended learning approach, including online aspects, workshops and group work. We also operate an open-door policy, with additional availability via email and our online learning platform, Moodle.
Progression through the modules develops knowledge and skills, including communication (written and oral), study skills, research methods, project management, presentation and career development. We will also encourage you to consider your employability and/or entrepreneurial development.
Unlike traditional institutions, there are no end-of-year exams. Instead, learning is assessed through coursework and phase tests, which is more reflective of our learning model.
Teaching contact hours
The number of part-time contact hours may vary from module to module, however, on average, it is likely to be around 8 contact hours per week. Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of around 15 hours each week depending on the demands of individual modules. The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.
This course is available as a part-time day release course on Tuesdays or Wednesdays 9am-6pm, usually studied over two years. The course comprises of four modules, with three modules taught in each academic year.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Assessment
Assessment will take the form of individual and group coursework, which is vocationally relevant. The wide range of assessment techniques will ensure that students are given every opportunity to demonstrate their skills in these areas.
Course Breakdown:
- Lectures and tutorials
- Self-directed learning
- Textbooks
- Module webinars
- Scenario-based learning sets
- Professional libraries and resources
- Journals and case studies
- Access to industry experts and practitioners
- Asynchronous online seminars
- Discussion forums
- Peer-to-peer learning
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Entry requirements
Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.
Fees and funding
| Student | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|---|---|
| UK | Not available | 2025/26 fees TBC* 2024/25 fees-£7,950 |
For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Fees and funding page and see the university’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.
How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
Facilities
All our facilities are located at Mile Lane. Our building4 has been designed to enable collaboration, creativity and innovation to flourish, and includes (subject to availability):
- Indoor and outdoor social spaces, including a café
- A library that includes loan laptops, over 115,000 eBooks and a silent study area
- Open access IT suites and 83-inch teaching screens
- Engineering lab, science lab and a moot courtroom
- Student support and careers advice teams
Careers and opportunities
On successful completion, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Contemporary issues relating to a sustainable built environment, including social, environmental and economic aspects.
- Appropriate mathematical methods, including those needed for modelling engineering problems.
- Common construction materials.
- Management practice and construction procurement.
- Principles of civil engineering and construction technology, methods and procedures.
- Building science with respect to materials, structure, services and internal environment.
- The legal and regulatory framework within which buildings are constructed. Health and safety in built environment design and construction.
- Preparation of project reports.
- Design processes used in construction.
- Management of the design process and the production of project documentation, including the planning, budgeting and control of costs.
- Relevant principles of applied mechanics in the main areas of structural mechanics and soil mechanics.
- Surveying and setting out.
Successful graduates will not only have the opportunity to gain the knowledge needed for a successful career in the construction industry, but also sought-after skills to be self-managing, self-developing individuals.
If you successfully pass the HNC course and meet all relevant entry criteria, you will be guaranteed a place on a relevant degree course at CU Coventry, or subject to meeting all progression requirements you could potentially progress to a degree at Coventry University.
How to apply
UK students
Disclaimers
