HNC Construction and Property (Higher National Certificate)

Program Details

Degree: Diploma
Major: Construction | Construction Management | Construction Technology
Area of study: Architecture and Construction
Timing: Full time
Course Language: English

Intakes

Program start date

Sep 1, 2027

Program Overview

Why study this course with LJMU?

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
LJMU ranked 16th in the UK for construction, surveying and planning courses (The Guardian University Guide 2025)
LJMU ranked 8th university in the UK for building degrees (The Times UK University Rankings 2025)

About your course

The HNC Construction and Property at Liverpool John Moores University is a highly vocational course, offering direct progression onto Level 5 of a range of full honours degrees in the School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment.

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

HNC students will also select one of the following degree pathway option modules:

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)

Towards the end of semester one students then select one discipline specific option module, completed during semester two. 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 be working with clients, contractors or professional practices on construction projects in UK and further afield.

Building Surveying / Architectural Technology Pathway

Students will complete an option module in Design and Specification to facilitate progression to 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

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.

Course modules

What you will study on this degree

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Year 1
- Core modules
  - Built Environment Practice
    20 credits This module will help you to develop an understanding and appreciation of the built environment sector and the different professional disciplines that constitute built environment practice.
  - Construction Technology and Materials
    20 credits This module provides an overview and develops understanding of traditional and contemporary techniques and materials associated with the construction of low-rise domestic dwellings.
  - Design and Environmental Procedures
    20 credits This module develops your understanding of design and environmental considerations for low-rise building construction and refurbishment. It also helps to develop practical skills in producing simple building designs using appropriate software.
  - Integrative Project
    20 credits This module develops your understanding of collaborative group work for a built environment project. It also helps to develop an understanding of the role of different professional disciplines in the built environment.
  - 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 particular reference to the built environment. It also helps develop an understanding of the principles of health & safety legislation with particular reference to the built environment.
- 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.
  - 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.
  - 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.
  - Valuation
    20 credits This module develops an understanding of the principal valuation theory and methodology used in professional practice. It also helps to build competency in the practical application of valuation theory and techniques.

Your Learning Experience

Teaching Support Assessment
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 can expect on average 14 hours of direct contact time per week at which 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 30 hours per week in private study which may be at home or in the library.

This is a one-year course, so there is no sandwich-year option with the HNC, but for students who continue their studies at LJMU, all built environment degrees include the option for a placement-year in industry. HNC students will complete projects relevant to the construction and property sector and will develop appropriate skills.

Career paths

Completing this HNC will enable you to pursue a wide choice of careers across the construction and commercial property market sectors.

Students completing the HNC have secured roles as Surveying Technicians 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.

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, Architectural Technology and Architectural Engineering.

Tuition fees and funding

Home
- Full-time per year: £9,535
International
- Full-time per year: £18,250

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
- Grades/points required from qualifications: CDD (80)
- GCSEs and equivalents
  - Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/ Numeracy.
- A levels
  - CCD
- BTECs
  - MMP
- Access awards
  - Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- International Baccalaureate
  - Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- OCR Cambridge Technical
  - Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Irish awards
  - Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- T levels
  - Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.
  You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area.
- International requirements
  - IELTS
    - 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The HNC Construction and Property at Liverpool John Moores University is a highly vocational course, offering direct progression onto Level 5 of a range of full honours degrees in the School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment.

Objectives:

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

Description:

The HNC Construction and Property at Liverpool John Moores University is a highly vocational course, offering direct progression onto Level 5 of a range of full honours degrees in the School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment.

Outline:

Content:

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)

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

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.

NB: BSc Building Surveying and BSc Architectural Technology offered as full-time degrees only

Real Estate Pathway

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.

NB: BSc Real Estate offered as a full time degree only

Structure:

The HNC Construction and Property is a one-year full-time course.

Course Schedule:

Students will study core subject areas in the first semester.
Students will select one of the degree pathway option modules in the first semester.
Students will select one discipline specific option module in the second semester.

Individual Modules:

Level 4

Core Modules:

Built Environment Practice: This module will help you to develop an understanding and appreciation of the built environment sector and the different professional disciplines that constitute built environment practice.
Design and Environmental Procedures: This module develops your understanding of design and environmental considerations for low-rise building construction and refurbishment.
Law and Health & Safety for the Built Environment: This module provides you with an appreciation of the basic principles of English law with particular reference to the built environment.

Optional Modules:

Measurement I: 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.
Construction Management in Practice 1: 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.
Passive Design and Specification: This module introduce fundamental concepts concerning passive building design with particular reference to dwellings.
Valuation: This module develops an understanding of the principal valuation theory and methodology used in professional practice.

Assessment:

Methods:

Exams (open and closed book)
Coursework (projects, technical reports, reviews etc)
Presentations (individual and group)
Practical assessments for fieldwork

Criteria:

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose.
Tutors will give prompt and constructive feedback via Canvas (our virtual learning environment), face-to-face or in writing.

Teaching:

Methods:

Active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU.
On average 14 hours of direct contact time per week at which 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 30 hours per week in private study which may be at home or in the library.

Faculty:

Each student is allocated a personal tutor from the programme team to support, guide and advise where necessary.

Careers:

Potential Career Paths:

Surveying Technicians working with both small and large contractors and practices in all aspects of construction, including new build, refurbishment, housing and the commercial sector.

Outcomes:

Students completing the HNC have secured roles as Surveying Technicians 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.

Other:

This programme is delivered in the Byrom Street complex of LJMUs City Campus.
There's so much more to university than just studying for a degree.
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan.

Home full-time per year:

£9,250

International full-time per year:

£18,250

About University

Overview:

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is a public university located in Liverpool, England. It is a large and diverse institution with a strong focus on providing high-quality education and research opportunities.

Services Offered:

LJMU offers a wide range of services to its students, including:

Accommodation:

Student Support:

Library:

Student Futures:

International Student Support:

Student Life and Campus Experience:

LJMU offers a vibrant and engaging campus experience for its students. Key aspects include:

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Program Details

Intakes

Program Overview