Building HNC

Program Overview

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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

2025

Location

CU Coventry (Coventry)

Study mode

Part-time

Duration

1-2 years part-time

Course code

CUCH016

Start date

September 2025, January 2026, March 2026, May 2026

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.

Why you should study this 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).

What you'll study

You will have the opportunity to gain an insight into the full breadth of design and construction disciplines that collaborate in the construction industry, and the benefit of practical experience brought to the course by students working in industry. You should also develop a sound base to further your education and training to become professionally qualified.

Modules

• Construction Industry Management - 30 credits
• Construction Technology and Design - 30 credits
• Construction Science - 30 credits
• Building Practice - 30 credits

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.

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.

• UK: 64 UCAS tariff points. GCSE maths, English and one science at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards. Minimum two A2 levels or BTEC equivalent qualification.

Access to HE Diploma

A pass in the Access Diploma. GCSE maths, English and one science at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards.

What if I don’t meet the entry requirements?

Relevant industry experience will be considered as an alternative to A level/BTEC qualifications.

If you don’t fulfil the entry criteria your application may be considered on an individual basis, taking into account any work experience, other qualifications and/or any training you have completed. Speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Fees and funding

Student | Full-time | Part-time
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UK | £9,535 per year | Not available

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.

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.