BSc (Hons) Construction Project Management (Design and Construction Management Degree Apprenticeship)
Course Overview
The Level 6 degree apprenticeship standard for design and construction management was developed by a consortium of consultants, contractors and employers from across the sector. The University of Bolton’s BSc (Hons) Construction Project Management (Design and Construction Management Degree Apprenticeship) has been fully mapped to the apprenticeship standard (ST0044). It offers an excellent combination of theory and practice. Study at the University complements learning in the workplace, supporting apprentices who already hold a relevant HNC, Level 4 apprenticeship or have achieved Technician status with an industry recognised professional body to gain the core knowledge, skills and behaviours required to act effectively as the link between designers (including architects and engineers), construction teams and project stakeholders on construction projects.This degree apprenticeship can help your organisation attract the best new talent and retain valued staff through career progression. Leading to an internationally recognised honours degree, this structured training programme supports apprentices who wish to work towards membership of the Chartered Institute of Building or the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists*. By integrating study into the normal working week, your apprentices will have opportunities to put their new skills and understanding into practice without delay, building their confidence and experience, and benefitting your organisation immediately.
Our expert team will support your apprentices as they undertake structured training in essential areas such as construction site safety, financial and cost factors, procurement and contract processes, control processes and systems, and the strategies and requirements of environmental sustainability and considerate construction. We’ll guide them as they gain a range of highly valuable hard and soft skills. For instance, practical skills in surveying, mapping, and testing various natural and built environment characteristics are essential, as is experience identifying reasons for disputes and dispute resolution. With a focus on helping apprentices develop the behaviours required for occupational success, such as the ability to provide professional advice, maintain confidentiality, undertake lifelong learning and demonstrate cultural sensitivity, you can be assured that we’ll work hard to support your apprentices as they develop into competent and confident design and construction management professionals.
If you’re a potential student looking for undergraduate-level training in this subject area but don’t work for an employer that offers apprenticeships, please see our related courses section for details of study opportunities that don’t require current employment.
*Please note, the University is currently seeking accreditation for this programme from the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT).
Highlights
- When apprentices successfully complete their degree studies, they will be awarded an academic degree – the BSc (Hons) Construction Project Management from the University of Bolton. When they also complete the end point assessment successfully, they will receive a degree apprenticeship certificate from the relevant awarding body.
- Face-to-face sessions and one-to-one support are offered by our team of highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic built environment lecturers.
- Guest lectures by specialists from industry, professional bodies and other academic institutions enhance the learning experience.
- This apprenticeship offers knowledge and training that is highly relevant to those with the longer-term goal of achieving Chartered Membership of the Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB)* or becoming a Chartered Architectural Technologist (MCIAT)*.
Key Features
- This course skillfully combines study in our well-established School of Engineering environment with practical and focused work-based learning and experience in your organisation.
- Course materials are available online, allowing your apprentices to prepare work in advance and make the most of the highly interactive in-class tuition.
- Our teaching and learning approach is student-centred, so we’ll work with your apprentices individually, providing tailored help and support throughout their studies.
- The programme's design and curriculum benefit from consultation with our Industrial Advisory Board (IAB), which includes consultants, building engineers, contractors, local government, and government agencies.
- Quarterly and annual reviews, where each apprentice, their workplace mentor and a member of our team meet to assess your apprentice’s progress, promote continuing conversation between your workplace and the University. This helps to ensure the success of your apprentices and maximise the value of their studies to your organisation.
Entry Requirements
- Applicants should hold an HNC/HND in Construction and the Built Environment (or equivalent qualifications appropriately mapped on an individual basis to University of Bolton Level 4 modules). Alternatively, applicants should have achieved Technician status (or equivalent) with an industry recognised professional body (for instance, TCIAT Architectural Technician).
- Applicants should have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics. If an applicant has yet to achieve appropriate Level 2 English and Mathematics qualifications, then with their employer's support, they can complete suitable equivalents locally or with assistance from the University before commencing the apprenticeship. Please contact apprentices@bolton.ac.uk for a list of acceptable GCSE equivalents, further information and support.
- We’re happy to consider applicants with non-traditional entry qualifications provided they can demonstrate relevant experience or a suitable portfolio of work that is deemed a reasonable substitute for the above qualifications. We'll consider such applications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures, as appropriate.
- Applicants will attend a joint discussion with their employer and the University of Bolton. This combined interview and onboarding discussion fosters trust and sets the tone of the relationship between the applicant, their employer and our tutors. As part of the interview, applicants may be asked to undertake additional assessment(s) or provide a portfolio of appropriate work to determine their suitability for the course.
- Admission to this programme is only available to applicants who meet ESFA eligibility criteria, including the following: 1) They are employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week in a role relevant to the apprenticeship. 2) They have valid residency status and the right to work in England and can provide a valid BRP card (valid beyond the end date of the programme including End-Point Assessment (EPA)), and a ‘Right to Work’ share code for validation. 3) Their employer is willing to sponsor them to spend a minimum of six hours per week of their time in off-the-job training, including attending the University (times and dates to be determined) for the duration of their course. Please note that an apprentice cannot be self-employed. ESFA eligibility criteria may change so please contact apprentices@bolton.ac.uk for up-to-date information.
- If English isn’t the applicant's first language, they will also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- To be eligible for tuition fee funding through the Apprenticeship Levy, candidates should not normally have already completed a qualification at the same level as the proposed apprenticeship, unless that qualification was gained in a completely unrelated discipline.
- Please note: Employers must ensure they support apprentices to attain in-date industry certificates in Site Safety Plus Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) and Site Environmental Awareness Training Scheme (SEATS) if they have not already achieved them. These certificates are required for safe operations in the workplace and must be available as the apprentice proceeds through the gateway before the end point assessment.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
The BSc (Hons) Construction Project Management (Design and Construction Management Degree Apprenticeship) is designed to meet the Level 6 Design and Construction Management (ST0044) degree apprenticeship standard. Developed by employers, the standard underpins a highly relevant qualification and professional development pathway that educates future specialists ready to lead, manage and coordinate the design and construction process on building and infrastructure projects. Successful apprentices will be well qualified to take on roles such as architectural technologist, design manager, building information modelling (BIM) manager and construction design manager.
Upon successfully completing the degree apprenticeship, graduates will possess the knowledge and skills needed to perform as independent, highly competent design and construction management professionals. Employers can expect them to possess a wide range of transferable skills, such as the ability to work independently, adapt to changing circumstances, work in teams and groups, and listen and respond to stakeholders and their needs. They will be adept at planning and time management, rational decision-making, critical thinking, and have excellent communication skills.
What can I do with this qualification?
Graduate apprentices who have completed the University of Bolton’s BSc (Hons) Construction Project Management (Design and Construction Management Degree Apprenticeship) will be able to work for consultancy practices, contractors, sub-contractors or other specialist companies in the supply chain. They could be involved at the earliest stages of construction projects, manage the development of project briefs and designs for clients, and undertake tasks such as bid management, estimating, pre-construction management, project planning, and programming. Alternatively, they could work during the construction phase where their role is more information focused, maintaining and coordinating the flow of design information to enable construction work to proceed efficiently and facilitating cost control and the buildability review processes.
They will also be well prepared to consider higher-level study towards a master’s degree.
Professional Recognition
This apprenticeship will support candidates working towards achieving Chartered Membership of the Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB) or the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (MCIAT). Further training and experience will be required to gain Chartered Membership.
*Please note, the University is currently seeking accreditation for this programme from the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT).
Fees & Funding
Apprentices will not be expected to pay tuition fees towards this programme. If your organisation has a wage bill of more than £3 million per annum, then it may be able to fund this apprenticeship through its Apprenticeship Levy contributions. If your organisation does not pay the levy, it will be eligible for government support to fund apprenticeships. This support, called co-investment, covers 95% of the apprenticeship's tuition fees, with your organisation funding the remaining 5% of the fees.
Home/EU Fees
Apprentices will need to be employed by your organisation for a minimum of 30 hours per week. Your organisation will also need to commit to sponsoring apprentices to complete this qualification.
For further information on how your organisation can access funds to support apprentices, please e-mail apprentices@bolton.ac.uk.
Whether you’re an employer, employee or school leaver, please visit our Apprenticeship web page for support and advice regarding apprenticeships.
International Fees
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.
Bursaries
There are no bursaries associated with this programme.
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
Please contact the programme leader for details of the application procedure. You can find their name, email address and phone number in the Programme Contacts section of this page.
For support and advice regarding apprenticeships, please visit our Apprenticeship web page.
International Applicants
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.
Teaching & Assessment
Construction project management is a diverse and multi-faceted discipline, so we use a wide range of teaching and learning methods. These are designed to fully engage apprentices, helping them develop the skills, knowledge, self-awareness, and behaviours essential to becoming a design and construction management professional, with particular reference to your organisation and their place within it. Learning focuses on your workplace environment and builds towards the transferable body of knowledge and skills needed to achieve membership of the Chartered Institute of Building or the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists*, and apply this expertise within your organisation. Your apprentices will spend the majority of their time gaining on-the-job knowledge and experience. They will also complete at least six hours per week in off-the-job learning, including studying at the university.
As well as attending timetabled lectures, seminars, workshops, practical sessions and tutorials, apprentices will also be expected to allocate significant time to independent and self-directed studies. For example, background reading, revisiting practical work, attending lectures and technical meetings provided by professional bodies, preparing for seminars, working on assignments and revising for exams will support their timetabled learning and develop good lifelong learning habits. Our friendly and supportive tutors will be here to guide them and will gladly help them devise an independent study regime focused on their individual development needs. Learning will also be supported by the University's virtual learning environment, Moodle.
Your organisation will need to provide each apprentice with a workplace mentor to support their development. They will also benefit from regular visits from a University tutor. The workplace mentor, University tutor and apprentice will work together to create an individual learning plan. An individual learner record (ILR) will be completed on a monthly basis.
For the degree element of this programme, we assess each apprentice’s individual performance through a strategic blend of written coursework, examinations, oral presentations, time-constrained activities, practical work and portfolios. Some assessments contribute to their final module marks, while others are designed to help them identify their strengths and weaknesses, and where they need to seek extra support from course tutors. In addition to the assessments associated with the degree programme, apprentices will undertake the end point assessment at the end of the apprenticeship period.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Project Planning
- Project Finance
- Building and Environmental Technology
- Contract Procedures and Procurement
- Research Methods and Professional Practice
- Civil Engineering Surveying and Technology
- Sustainable Construction
- Project Management and Law
- Dissertation
- Construction Management
- Interdisciplinary Project
- Work-based Portfolio and PDP 2
- Work-Based Portfolio and PDP 3
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 60% Practical exams 15% Written exams 25% |
| Level 2 | Coursework 85% Written exams 15% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 66% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 34% |
| Level 2 | Guided independent study 76% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 24% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
