Program Overview

BSc (Hons) Construction & the Built Environment (Graduate Apprenticeship)

Overview

The RICS Accredited BSc (Hons) Construction and the Built Environment Graduate Apprenticeships aims to produce graduates with the skills, knowledge and behaviours to make a valuable contribution to their employing organisation. Participants on this programme will join one of 4 specialist pathways, which aligns with their job role:

• Building Surveying - involves advising on many aspects of building construction and design for new and existing buildings. Building Surveyors advise on a range of things including maintenance and repairs, restoration and refurbishment, and they provide expert assessments and reports on all kinds of buildings.
• Quantity Surveying - learn the skills involved in design economics, procurement strategies, cost planning and estimating, measurement and quantification of construction work, commercial management and professional practice.
• Real Estate Surveying - combines real estate surveying with valuation, planning and development. It studies how commercial and residential property markets work and draws upon the economics of the real estate sector to gain knowledge of how they develop
• Architectural Technology - An architectural technologist is a specialist in the technological aspects of building design and construction, bridging the gap between design theory and construction practice.

Mode of Study:

Block Release, Full-time

Duration:

4 years

Course details

As a Graduate Apprentice you will study for your degree alongside your job, spending approximately 80% of your time in work and 20% in university. This unique combination offers an integrated experience, where practical skills and knowledge gained during the university days can be embedded in your working practices. Skills learned directly in the workplace are aligned with and can be applied to coursework and assessment. This allows you to attain an honours degree in 4 years, the same time as traditional full-time students.

Accreditation

This Graduate Apprenticeship is fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) for the surveying pathways, and the AT pathway is accredited by CIAT (Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists). You will graduate with both an Honours degree and the underlying knowledge and skills to progress and achieve the highly regarded professional qualification awarded by RICS and CIAT.

Assessments

A mixture of practical assessments, reports, academic essays and exams. You are also assessed on your learning in the workplace, primarily in the summer trimesters. As you progress through the course, more of your job role is used to gain credit towards their final award through Professional Practice and your final-year dissertation.

Work placement

You will be a full-time employee for the duration of the programme.

Facilities

Graduate apprentices can enjoy the same full access to our campus facilities as a full-time student. All learning takes place at our Merchiston campus, which is centrally located in the heart of Edinburgh. Merchiston campus is home to our creative, computing and engineering students.

Facilities include modern classrooms and cutting-edge labs. Our Merchiston Library is a bright attractive environment providing both silent and collaborative study spaces designed to suit a variety of learning styles. In addition, Merchiston boasts a business incubator, two cafes and a 500-seat computing centre, with both Mac and PC hardware, that is open 24hrs a day in Trimesters 1 and 2.

Popular modules

Year 1

• All Surveying pathways (common year 1):
  • Surveying
  • Building Design and Technology 1
  • Property Value Studies
  • Building Design and Technology 2
  • Construction Cost Studies 1
  • Construction and Property Law

Year 2

• Architectural Technology Pathway:
  • Design and Building Standards 1
  • Design and Building Standards 2
  • Building Modelling 2
  • Architectural Technology 2
  • Building Adaptation & Conversion
  • Design for Manufacturing
• Building Surveying pathway:
  • Building Surveying 1
  • Facilities Management
  • Building Surveying 2
  • Contract Administration
  • Construction Cost Studies 2
  • Construction Financial Management
• Real Estate Surveying pathway:
  • Real Estate Surveying 1
  • Facilities Management
  • Real Estate Surveying 2
  • Planning Law and Development Control
  • Construction Cost Studies 2
  • Construction Financial Management
• Quantity Surveying pathway:
  • Quantity Surveying 1
  • Quantity Surveying 2
  • Construction Cost Studies 2
  • Construction Financial Management
  • Contract Administration
  • Facilities Management

Year 3

• Professional Standards (40 credits)
• Innovation in Construction and Built Environment (40 credits)
• Environmental Sustainability (20 credits)
• Health and Safety (20 credits)

Year 4

• Consultancy Project (40 credits)
• Sustainable Development (20 credits)
• Dissertation (60 credits)

Entry requirements

• Standard Entry Requirements:
  • Four SQA Highers at Grade BBCC (or equivalent) plus National 5 grade C in English and Maths (if not taken at Higher)
  • A Foundation Apprenticeship in a related discipline plus 2 Highers BB
  • A Modern Apprenticeship or college qualification in a related discipline
  • HNC with C in the graded unit in a related discipline
  • Sufficient recognition of prior learning (RPL) through industry-related experience, qualifications, and informal learning. RPL applications are considered on an individual basis
• Minimum Offer Entry Requirement: CCCC plus National 5 grade C in English and Maths
• Advanced Entry:
  • Advanced entry into Year 2 or 3 is possible for students with suitable qualifications. If applying for advanced entry, you will need to provide sufficient evidence of qualifications and experience through our process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Applications are considered on an individual basis.
• Work Experience and Professional Qualifications:
  • We encourage applications from individuals whose work experience or professional qualifications provide them with a comparable foundation for starting the course. You will be asked to provide evidence of at least 1 year’s relevant work experience through a detailed CV or application form, including an employer reference. Advanced entry may also be granted if you have sufficient industry-related experience and qualifications.
• Foundation and Modern Apprenticeships:
  • We offer enhanced recognition for Foundation and Modern Apprenticeships if you are applying to a Graduate Apprenticeship in a similar subject area. Please refer to our typical entry requirements for more information on each course.
• Already have a degree or similar qualification?:
  • You could apply for funding for a Graduate Apprenticeship in a similar subject area if your existing qualification is at a lower level. You may also be eligible for funding if you have completed a degree in a different subject area. For example, if you recently completed a Biology Honours degree, you can still apply for a Civil Engineering Graduate Apprenticeship.
• English language requirements:
  • As all learning, teaching and assessment activities are conducted in English, if your first language is not English you must have a minimum International English Language Testing System score of 6.0 with all four elements having a score of at least 5.5.

Fees & Funding

Graduate Apprenticeships are fully funded through Scottish Funding Council and Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), and supported by Skills Development Scotland. Once you have been offered a Graduate Apprenticeship place, you should apply to SAAS for funding, who will pay your tuition fees directly to the university. There are no associated learning costs to the Graduate Apprenticeship employer.

Careers

As a Graduate Apprentice you are fortunate to be studying for your honours degree alongside your work-based apprenticeship position and to have the support of both Edinburgh Napier staff and your workplace. You are first and foremost an employee for your organisation, and therefore could develop your career through your entire apprenticeship journey. Your employer will look for opportunities for you to apply your learning in work and develop as a professional, meaning you may be offered career progression opportunities at any time during your studies.

Whether you’re working on site or behind a drawing board, in construction you'll shape and build the world. This Graduate Apprenticeship opens the way to a broad range of jobs in this exciting sector, such as:

• Building services engineer
• Chartered surveyor
• Site manager
• Facilities manager
• Cost Manager
• Contracts manager
• Architectural Technician