Foundation Degree (FdSc) Construction

Key Details

Available at:
Rhos-on-Sea
Study Mode:
Part-time, Full-time
Course Length:
2-4 years
Monday & Tuesday, 9am - 5pm
UCAS Codes:
K220

Foundation Degree (FdSc) Construction

University-level Courses

Full Time

There are two ways to apply to study for a full-time higher education course - either through UCAS or directly to the college.

Applying through UCAS:
You should apply through UCAS if you are currently studying for A Levels, a vocational Level 3 course (i.e. BTEC) or an Access to Higher Education qualification, or if you wish to apply to more than one higher education provider.

Apply via UCAS

Applying to College:
If you only want to study at the college, or if you already have the qualifications/experience to meet the requirements for your course, you should apply directly to the campus of your choice.

The application system is currently closed.

Part Time

If you are applying to study part-time you can apply directly to the campus of your choice.

The application system is currently closed.

Course Description

This course is currently under revalidation in consultation with employers and stakeholders, in order to refresh course content for delivery from September 2025

Are you looking to advance your career in the construction industry? This course provides academic and practical training for people employed in a range of technical construction jobs. You will gain a recognised qualification and enhance your opportunities for career progression.

Modules include:

Year 1

Construction Site Operations
Mathematics for the Built Environment
Site Surveying
Environmental Science and Materials
Hand Drafting and CAD
Legal, Contractual and Procurement Procedures
Management Principles

Year 2 (Level 5)

Building Services
Construction Technology
Surveying Techniques
Development of the Built Environment
Building Information Modelling
Management Procedures
Conversion and Adaption
Tendering and Estimating

Module information

More detailed information on modules is to be found in the ‘Additional Campus/Course Information’ section.

Entry Criteria

Language Requirements:

GCSE in Welsh or English as first language, grade C/4 (or equivalent) or above
Any degrees, diplomas or certificates eligible should have been taught and assessed in Welsh or English
For overseas applicants, for entry onto Level 4, English fluency to IELTS 5.5 or higher (with no element less than 5.0)
For overseas applicants, for entry onto Levels 5 or above, English fluency to IELTS 6.0 or higher (with no element less than 5.5)

Academic requirements:

a minimum of 64 UCAS tariff points in a main level 3 qualification, gaining a pass, grade C or higher in at least one relevant subject which could include: A Levels, BTEC, International Baccalaureate, ACCESS to HE; many additional qualifications from Wales, England and Scotland are accepted to support the UCAS points in addition to the relevant subject, such as the Welsh Baccalaureate.
GCSE Mathematics/Numeracy, grade C/4 or above, or Key/Essential Skill equivalent level. For applicants without these qualifications, evidence of numeracy skills at a suitable level to meet the demands of the programme successfully, will need to be demonstrated.

Equivalent international qualifications are acceptable

Examples of acceptable academic entry requirements include:

Two A levels, gaining a pass in at least one relevant A2 subject at grade C or higher. Minimum grades accepted D. Examples of A Levels appropriate for the course entry are the following: Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Design Technology, Geography, Geology, Economics, Business.
Or a BTEC Extended Diploma or equivalent with grade MPP or higher.
Or a BTEC Diploma or above, or equivalent with grade MM or higher with 2 years industry experience.
Or a BTEC Subsidiary Diploma or above, or equivalent with grade M or higher with 3 years industry experience.
Or experience in the industry of more than 5 years that show competent managerial expertise

For individuals who do not meet the above academic requirements, we will consider a wide range of non-standard or professional qualifications and experience through the submission of a portfolio for accreditation of prior learning (APL/APEL/RPEL), in accordance with GLLM regulations and policies.

Direct entry onto level 5 of the GLLM Construction or Civil Engineering Foundation Degree will be considered for those progressing students who have successfully completed the respective Construction or Civil Engineering GLLM Certificate of HE, or successful completion of 120 credits from a relevant HNC.

Where students take a break from their studies following completion of their Certificate of Higher Education, applications for direct entry should be made via the Credit Transfer process.

If your qualifications do not meet the entry requirements listed above, we would still encourage you to apply for the course you're interested in, as many of our courses will consider learners based on their previous work and skills experience rather than their qualifications.

Delivery

The course is delivered through a blend of the following:

Lectures
Workshops and practical work
Tutorials
Employment based modules
Guest speakers
Student centred learning
Virtual learning environment (MOODLE)

Students are responsible for organising their own work experience if it is a requirement on their programme, and they will be supported by the course team.

Timetable:

Full-time: 2 years, 2 days per week (typically 9am-5pm)
Part-time: 4 years, 1 day per week (typically 9am-5pm)

Fees

Visit our course fees page for information on full and part-time degree course fees.

Financial Support

Visit our financial support page for information on the range of support available.

Additional Costs

Additional costs may be associated with the following:

Materials for independent study, such as laptop or desktop computer
Textbooks that are considered essential reading
External visits such as construction sites, city centres, monuments, stadia, museums/galleries/exhibitions.
Software to be able to work from home
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), budget estimate £30 - £150
Scientific Calculator
Apps which are generally free but have costs for upgraded versions

More detailed information on other costs associated with your course and work placements/work experience (if applicable) will be outlined in the programme validation document and explained to you at your interview.

Start date

September

Contact:

For specific course enquiries, please contact:

Dave Roberto (Programme Leader): robert1d@gllm.ac.uk

Suzanne Eckersley (Administration): eckers1s@gllm.ac.uk

For general enquiries about our degrees, please contact: degrees@gllm.ac.uk

Assessment

The course is assessed through a blend of the following:

Essays and reports
Case studies
Presentations
Time-constrained assessments (open and closed book)
Group presentations

Feedback

Where relevant, assessments will be marked and returned to students with constructive and developmental feedback. Effective feedback combines information which enables students to understand the strengths and limitations of their past performance, and information which enables them to recognise how future performance can be improved. Students will be provided with feedback in a timely manner and this feedback will justify how the grade has been awarded. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on the feedback given and identify their strengths, things they found challenging and areas for development that they will feed forward to their next assessment. Feedback will include linking evidence to assessment criteria to demonstrate how the student will have met the learning outcomes.

Progression

After completing the course you may choose to progress onto Level 6 at Coleg Llandrillo and complete the full BSc (Hons) in Commercial Construction Management. Or you could choose from a wide range of Built Environment degrees at other universities and colleges. Other graduates may secure new jobs in the construction industry or gain additional responsibilities and increased status within their existing organisation.

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work as Quantity Surveyors, Architectural and Engineering Technicians, Building Control Officers and Environmental Services Officers, among other roles in both the public and private sectors.

Campus Information Rhos-on-Sea

The Foundation Degree in Construction is designed to prepare you for a range of technical, professional and management careers in construction. It gives you the knowledge, skills and qualification to work in a diverse range of organisations within this sector.

The course provides a broad knowledge of the built environment sector, exploring the key concepts and principles of construction and surveying. You will learn about contemporary issues facing the construction industry and you will look at the relationships between construction and related disciplines. You will also focus on more specific areas of construction and you will gain the expertise required for a management career.

You will explore the contexts of construction management, including the regulatory systems that affect it. You will also become familiar with the software that supports construction functions. As well as gaining knowledge of the industry, you will acquire analytical and vocational skills that benefit a range of organisations. You will be able to produce professional reports, understand legal and other documents and gather relevant information to present clear arguments.

The course integrates academic and practical elements, providing you with knowledge and skills to help you meet the needs of local and national employers.

Unit Information

For every 10 credits, students should engage with around 100 notional hours of learning. This will be approximately 30% direct learning contact and 70% independent student learning.

The course consists of the following modules:

Year 1 (Level 4)

Construction Site Operations (20 credits, core):
This module aims to introduce you to the fundamental aspects of developing and operating a construction site operation. (Report 75%, Presentation / proposal / poster 25%)

Mathematics for the Built Environment (20 credits, core):
This module aims to provide students with confidence in numeracy and mathematics by reinforcing and revising basic numeracy and being able to transform and resolve equations algebraically and graphically. (Exam 40%, Exam 60%)

Site Surveying (10 credits, compulsory):
This practical module is designed to provide the student with the ability to use modern surveying equipment and to undertake a range of site surveying procedures typical of today’s construction industry. (Report 50%, Exam 50%)

Employer Based Learning (10 levels, compulsory):
The construction industry is constantly changing in terms of technology, materials, processes, legislation and practice. Students have the opportunity to reflect upon and contextualise the learning that they gain from working within the industry to assess their personal learning needs in order to plan for the future. (Portfolio 100%)

Environmental Science and Materials (20 credits, compulsory)
This unit supports students to select and evaluate material choices to achieve the desired outcomes of a brief. It will enable them to justify if materials being fit for purpose; as defined by testing standards and properties and their impact on providing the human comfort requirement. Demonstrate awareness of the environmental impact and sustainability of materials and the health and safety considerations to meet current legislative requirements. (Presentation / proposal / poster 40%, Case study 60%)

Hand Drafting and CAD (10 credits, compulsory)
This module is one of the Employer Based Modules. It aims to enable students’ to develop their understanding of construction principles and methods associated with low rise domestic buildings using the vehicle of hand sketching and technical drawing skills suitable for communication on site and with clients’ during stages 0 to 1 of the RIBA POW (Plan Of Work). (Presentation / proposal / poster 100%)

Research and Study Skills (10 credits, compulsory)
This unit will enable you to identify and develop academic writing and information research skills, apply a range of research methodologies and instruments. (Portfolio 100%)

Legal, Contractual and Procurement Procedures (10 credits, compulsory)
This module aims to develop students’ understanding of the national legal system and different areas of law that are relevant to the construction industry. (Essay 100%)

Management Principles (10 credits, compulsory)
This module aims to relate management principles within the built environment to contemporary and historic theories and relate them to current practices nationally and internationally by looking at the role of a manager within the construction industry and linking this through to management theories. (Presentation / proposal / poster 50%, Essay 50%)

Year 2 (Level 5)

Building Services (10 credits, compulsory):
This develops your understanding of the design, function and application of building services. You will be able to assess the performance of building services and calculate solutions to domestic and commercial requirements. (Report 40%, Report 60%)

Construction Technology (20 credits, core):
This module focuses on the materials used in construction and relates them to multi-storey, industrial and commercial buildings. You will also look at sustainable construction techniques and different systems of internal design layout (Portfolio 100%).

Surveying Techniques (10 credits, compulsory)
This practical module is designed to provide the student with the ability to use modern surveying equipment and to undertake a range of site surveying procedures typical of today’s construction industry. (Report 50%, Exam 50%)

Development of the Built Environment (10 credits, compulsory)
This module aims to provide the student with an understanding of the built environment, its historic development and its context in modern society. (Presentation 50%, Essay 50%)

Group Project (20 credits, core)
The module aims to enable students to create a comprehensive and relevant personal enhancement plan by identifying a range of academic and specialist developmental needs. (Group presentation 50%, Essay 50%)

Building Information Modelling (10 credits, compulsory)
Students will use BIM compatible software to create a data rich model from which standard construction documentation can be compiled and schedule information extracted. (Report 30%, Presentation 70%)

Management Procedures (10 credits, compulsory)
This module will cover the internal operation of organisations and the affect their strategic decisions have on their overall market position. (Report 100%)

Research and Study Skills 2 (10 credits, compulsory)
The module aims to consolidate, further develop and extend the student’s capacity to apply a range of academic skills appropriately within discipline of the Built Environment. (Portfolio 100%)

Conversion and Adaption (10 credits, compulsory)
This unit enables students to understand the feasibility of modifying buildings for specific purposes and develop skills to produce construction documentation to modify buildings using a tutor agreed design brief. (Group project 100%)

Tendering and Estimating (10 credits, compulsory)
This module aims to investigate and demonstrate understanding of practical applications of measurement, estimating and tendering within the field of construction. (Essay 100%)

Rhos-on-Sea Teaching Team

Dave Roberto: BEng, MEng (East London), PGCE, SFHEA, Grad ISE.
Simon Carder: BA (Hons), BArch. Part 2 RIBA, MA Architecture and Urbanism (Manchester), PGCE, SFHEA.
Wyn Roberts: BSc Construction Management, PCET.
Alex Roebuck: BSc (Hons) Construction Management, BSc (Nautical Science), ACIOB, PCQI, APS, PGCE.
Colin James-Davies: BSc (Hons) Construction Management, Management Diploma, PGCE.

Other details

Course type: University-level Courses

Level: 4+5

Programme Area:

Construction and the Built Environment

Awarding Body: Bangor University

Bilingual:

n/a

Foundation Degree (FdSc) Construction

Key Details