2023/24 entry
HNC Construction and Property
Why study Construction and Property at Liverpool John Moores University?
- Provides an introduction to varied aspects of the Construction and Property sector
- Develops essential academic and IT skills for further study or employment.
- £6 million investment in developing state-of-the-art teaching facilities
- Stepping stone to a range of degree opportunities in the built environment and professional body membership
- International Foundation Year course available offering direct progression onto this degree programme - visit LJMU's International Study Centre to find out more
About your course
The HNC Construction and Property at Liverpool John Moores University is a vocational course, offering direct progression onto Level 5 of a range of full honours degrees in the Department of Built Environment. Students on part-time mode of attendance will complete the course in 2 years with attendance typically one day per week.
Additional course costs
There are usually no costs associated with local field trips and site visits. Residential field trips and student exchange visits will incur costs including in country travel and/or flights plus accommodation costs.
All HNC students will study the following core subject areas:
• Built Environment Practice
• Construction Technology
• Design and Environmental Procedures
• Integrative Project
• Built Environment Law, Health and Safety
• Construction Management Practice (Construction Management pathway)
• Design and Specification
• Architectural Technology and Building Surveying pathways
• Measurement and Costing (Quantity Surveying pathway)
• Valuation (Real Estate pathway)
At the start of their second year of study part-time students select one discipline specific option module; completed during the second semester. The option modules are tailored to provide the students with the knowledge required to progress to their chosen degree pathway, as follows:
Construction Pathway
Students will complete an option module in Construction Management Practice to facilitate progression to BSc (Hons) Construction Management degree. This degree is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB) and will lead to a varied career in the industry where you will be concerned with the cost and production requirements of buildings within a framework of construction site management and health and safety legislation.
Quantity Surveying Pathway
Students will complete an option module in Measurement and Costing to facilitate progression to BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying degree. This degree is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and will lead directly to a career as a quantity surveyor where you will working with clients, contractors or professional practices on construction projects in UK and further afield.
Building Surveying / Architectural Technology Pathway- full time route only
Students will complete an option module in Design and Specification to facilitate progression to either BSc (Hons) Building Surveying or BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology degree. Building Surveying degree is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and will lead directly to a career as a building surveyor where you will be inspecting and surveying existing buildings and providing advice on building defects and specification of remedial work. The Architectural Technology degree is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) and will lead directly to a career as an architectural technologist where you will combine an aptitude for design with technical knowledge and IT skills to produce detailed design proposals and architectural drawings.
Real Estate Pathway- full time route only
Students will complete an option module in Valuation to facilitate progression to BSc (Hons) Real Estate degree. This degree is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and will lead directly to a career in real estate management and business where you gain employment across a wide range of property based organisations including local surveying practices, property developers and multinational companies managing property portfolios.
"Our expert academic team includes professionals with experience of working in a wide range of disciplines including civil engineering, project management, real estate, architecture and law."
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- Library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to programme-appropriate software
- Library and student IT support
- Free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Employability
Completing this HNC will enable you to pursue a wide choice of careers across the construction and commercial property market sectors.
Students on part-time mode of attendance may be able to secure employment at technician level working with both small and large contractors and practices in all aspects of construction, including new build, refurbishment, housing and the commercial sector.
Others follow careers in property-related disciplines ranging from contract management and building maintenance to property management and estate agency.
Successful completion of the HNC can also lead to further studies, allowing Level 5 entry (if entry level criteria are achieved) onto a range of LJMU Built Environment degree programmes which can lead to graduate entry employment in a range of disciplines including Quantity Surveying, Building Surveying, Real Estate, Architectural Technology and Architectural Engineering.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
We are committed to ensuring all our students experience a transformation in their employability skills and mindset and their career trajectory. A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course.
Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose. It will enable you to become more proactive, adaptable and resilient in your awareness and approach to career possibilities.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU’s state-of-the-art suite of online tools, resources and jobs board. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU’s in-house recruitment service, ensuring students can build experience whilst they study.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones to accelerate your job search and applications, CV and interview technique. Themed careers and employability workshops, a programme of employer events and recruitment fairs run throughout the year and students have the opportunity to hear from a range of alumni who openly share their own onward experience.
Student Futures work with businesses to create opportunities for fully funded internships which help students increase their network within the Liverpool City Region and beyond. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU’s Careers, Employability and Enterprise Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance on core and option modules for further information on what you will study
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or option in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations.
Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules may also be included to provide you with an element of choice within the programme. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 4
Core modules
Built Environment Practice
20 credits
This module develops your understanding and appreciation of the built environment sector and the different professional disciplines that constitute built environment practice with specific reference to the UK. You will learn to:
• Understand the nature and organisation of the UK built environment sector
• Identify the impact of a range of factors, including social, economic, political, legal, technological and environmental factors, on the built environment sector
• Understand and appreciate economic trends and the significance of development cycles
• Understand the role of different professional disciplines that constitute built environment practice.
Construction Technology and Materials
20 credits
This module develops your understanding of techniques and materials associated with the construction of low-rise domestic dwellings. You will learn how to:
• Describe, detail and compare a range of processes and techniques involved in the site investigation and construction of the substructure work of low rise buildings
• Describe and compare a range of construction methods in relation to the primary elements of the superstructure of low rise buildings
• Specify and compare a range of processes and techniques involved in the construction of the secondary elements and finishes of low rise buildings
• Understand and identify the properties of common building materials used in the construction of low rise buildings.
Design and Environmental Procedures
20 credits
This module develops your understanding of design and environmental considerations for low-rise building construction and refurbishment. It develops your practical skills in producing simple building designs using appropriate software.
Integrative Project
20 credits
This module develops your understanding of collaborative group work and of the role of different professional disciplines in the built environment. You will work and communicate professionally in a collaborative team environment to understand the roles of each professional discipline and the decisions made at the various stages of a built environment project. Utilising appropriate software, you will develop, present and reflect on built environment project work.
Law and Health & Safety for the Built Environment
20 credits
This module provides you with an appreciation of the basic principles of English law with reference to the built environment. It will also develop your understanding of the principles of health & safety legislation with reference to the built environment.
Passive Design and Specification
20 credits
This module introduce fundamental concepts concerning passive building design with particular reference to dwellings. To introduce students to specification of materials for building projects.
Optional modules
Measurement I
20 credits
This module establishes the principles and conventions for the quantification and costing of building works and considers their application by the Quantity Surveyor and the Estimator, as part of their key role in the economic and financial management of the construction process.
Passive Design and Specification
20 credits
This module introduce fundamental concepts concerning passive building design with particular reference to dwellings. To introduce students to specification of materials for building projects.
Construction Management in Practice 1
20 credits
This module aims to provide the students with an understanding of the role of a Construction Manager both in the workplace and within the Industry. It aims to introduce the students to some of the core practical skills and knowledge linked to use of industry standard software packages and surveying equipment. It will also introduce knowledge and improve understanding of the impact of construction on an inclusive environment.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
You will normally be expected to attend on one-day per week during two academic years. Contact time on the day in University will typically be 5-7 hours and may be in the form of lectures, tutorials, online activities and workshops in either the design studio or IT room. In addition you should spend around 10 hours per week in private study which may be at home or in the library.
Work-related Learning
As a part-time student it is likely that you already employed in the sector but this HNC course will enable you to gain further relevant knowledge and skills to enhance your career prospects in the built environment disciplines.
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
The HNC Programme Team, Built Environment Department and University will provide student support in the transition to studying at LJMU. Each student is allocated a personal tutor from the programme team to support, guide and advise where necessary.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
All students perform differently depending on how they are assessed, which is why we use a combination of assessment methods. These include exams (open and closed book), coursework (projects, technical reports, reviews etc), presentations (individual and group) and practical assessments for fieldwork. Your tutors will give prompt and constructive feedback via Canvas (our virtual learning environment), face-to-face or in writing. This will help you to identify your strengths as well as the areas where you may need to put in more work.
Facilities
What you can expect from your School
This programme is delivered in the Byrom Street complex of LJMU’s City Campus. Here you’ll find high quality lecture theatres, meeting and seminar rooms plus social spaces and a large café. The Avril Robarts Library, open 24/7 during semester, is just minutes away on Tithebarn Street.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Minimum points required from qualifications: 80
GCSE and equivalents
Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or an approved alternative qualification below:
- Key Skills Level 2 in English/ Maths
- NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
- Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
- Higher Diploma in Maths/ English
- Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths/ English
- Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
- Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
A Levels
- Minimum number of A Levels required: 1
- Is general studies acceptable? Yes
- Average A Level offer: CDD
- Are AS level awards acceptable? Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- Maximum AS Level points accepted: 20
T Levels
- T Level requirements: 80 UCAS tariff points from relevant subjects. Please contact the Faculty for further information.
BTEC qualifications
- National Certificate (RQF): Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Certificate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- National Diploma subjects / grades required: DM if studied on its own or to the total of 80 UCAS points when combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma subjects / grades required: MMP if studied on its own or to the total of 80 UCAS points if combined with other qualifications
Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Access to Higher Education Diploma acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Further information: 80 UCAS tariff points from Access to HE Diploma
International Baccalaureate
- International Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Additional information: 80 UCAS Tariff points from IB Diploma
Welsh awards
- Welsh Baccalaureate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
Irish awards
- Irish Leaving Certificate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Grades / subjects required: 80 UCAS points from a minimum of 5 subjects
Reduced Offer Scheme
Not applicable
International entry requirementsPlease Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Can this course be deferred?Yes
Is a DBS check required?No
The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.