Program Overview

HNC Construction and Property (Higher National Certificate)

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.

Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support

• The HNC Programme Team, School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment 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 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.

Where you will study

• This programme is delivered in the Byrom Street complex of LJMUs 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 is just minutes away on Tithebarn Street.

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.

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

• 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.
• 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.

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)
• Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

GCSEs and equivalents

• Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/ Numeracy.

A levels

• CDD

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.

IELTS

• 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date.

How to apply

• UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses.
• Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here

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