HNC Civil Engineering for England

HNC Civil Engineering for England

Award

HNC

Start Date

To be confirmed

Duration

2 years

Mode

Part-time

Location

Bolton College

Are you looking to progress your career in civil engineering, structural engineering, highways, utilities and environmental management or land surveying? Equivalent to the first year of a university degree, this Civil Engineering HNC taught at Bolton College offers you the practical and personal skills needed for a role in the sector or progression to further study.

Apply Now Download Prospectus Programme Specification

Please note:
This course is 'Subject to Approval' and has not yet completed the University’s approvals process. Whilst we are confident that the course will be approved, there is the possibility that the course may not run or may be subject to alterations. This course is due to be validated by August 2025 after which we will write to all applicants who have applied for the course to let them know the outcome and of any changes. In the event that a course is not approved the University will make reasonable efforts to offer an alternative course at the University.

Course Overview

This HNC Civil Engineering for England, Higher Technical Qualification course is taught by Bolton College on behalf of the University of Greater Manchester.

Our part-time day-release Level 4 HNC in Civil Engineering for England can help turn your interest in civil engineering into a rewarding career in the industry. This approved Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) focuses on developing your civil engineering-specific and transferable knowledge and skills, ready to impress employers or continue with further study. This course contains The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) approved occupational standards that are highly regarded by industry. This stamp of quality shows that the course has been developed in collaboration with industry-leading employers to produce industry-ready graduates prepared for the ever-evolving civil engineering sector.

It covers a range of essential learning topics for all construction roles and focuses on the knowledge and skills required for the Civil Engineering Senior Technician occupation. Throughout the course, our team of highly professional teaching staff will guide you as you gain knowledge and understanding, as well as practical, professional and subject-specific skills.

All HNC Civil Engineering for England students receive a broad introduction to Civil Engineering and the different technical and management functions relevant to a career in this dynamic and exciting sector. We'll help you to gain a sound understanding of technology, science, maths, structural design and the construction environment. You'll explore civil engineering management roles and learn important details about the regulatory, technological, social, legal and financial aspects of the civil engineering industry. We'll highlight the importance of surveying, measuring and setting-out, and you'll gain experience in using industry-standard software. You'll also undertake an individual construction design project, where you'll have the opportunity to develop and apply your knowledge and demonstrate your practical ability.

Overall, our expert tutors will support you in building a wide range of civil engineering knowledge linked to practical skills gained through research, independent study, directed study and workplace scenarios. Vocational activities will help you develop behaviours (the attitudes and approaches required for a competence). We'll also help you gain key transferable skills employers highly value, such as communication, teamwork, research and analysis, ready for employment or further study.

Highlights

Key Features

Entry Requirements
  • 32 UCAS points
  • Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Construction and civil engineering-related subjects are preferred.
  • You should also have five GCSEs at grade 4/C or above (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
  • Entry to this course is also available to applicants who have extensive appropriate work experience in the construction/civil engineering sector. If you don't possess the academic qualifications listed above but have extensive appropriate work experience, we'll be delighted to consider your application.
  • You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
  • If English isn’t your first language, you’ll 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.
  • If you intend to progress to a level 5/6 apprenticeship or top-up degree course at a university after completing this HNC, you will usually need GCSE Mathematics and English at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent). If you have not already achieved this, please speak to the course leader about taking GCSE Mathematics and/or English while completing this course.
  • If you apply or enrol on this course, Bolton College and the University of Greater Manchester will share the information you provide. You’ll also receive communications from both organisations.

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

HTQs open up an exciting world of opportunity, empowering you for the future. The University of Greater Manchester's HNC in Civil Engineering for England taught at Bolton College is an approved Level 4 HTQ. It's ideal if you're seeking a career in the civil engineering sector or wish to progress to a civil engineering-related honours degree or degree apprenticeship. If you're already working in the sector, you can use this HNC to upskill or retrain, acquire valuable design and build experience and gain vital new skills to support your career progression.

This qualification was developed in close collaboration with experts from employers and professional bodies to ensure you gain the skills and knowledge needed for career success. Your learning will be rooted in the real world so that you leave the course as a work-ready graduate with the professional skills and behaviours that employers need.

What can I do with this qualification?

This HNC is designed to advance your career in structural, public health, highways and transport, hydraulic/water, geotechnical or site engineering. You may already be employed in the civil engineering and construction sector; for instance, by a contractor, consultant, utility company, local authority or other public or private body. After successful completion of this course, you should be prepared to take on additional responsibilities at work.

If you successfully complete this HNC, you'll be able to progress onto a higher level qualification, such as an HND in Civil Engineering. You'll also be able to apply for advanced standing to bachelor's degrees in civil engineering.

Alternative career options

You also use this qualification as a stepping-stone into various other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or further study. Some possibilities include the following:

  • Building services engineering
  • Geology
  • Environmental consultancy
  • Quantity surveying
  • Logistics
  • Operation management
  • Patent law and intellectual property
  • Teaching
  • Research and development
  • Procurement, purchasing and buying
  • Supply chain management
  • Technical sales and consultancy
Professional Recognition

We'll encourage you to become a student member of the relevant professional institution(s) and participate in local and regional activities, enabling you to network with potential employers.

Fees & Funding

When completing your student finance application, please list your institution as ‘University of Greater Manchester’, not ‘Bolton College’.

Home/EU Fees

No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.

International Fees

No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.

Important note regarding tuition fees: 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

Course application details are unavailable at present

International Applicants

Course application details are unavailable at present

Partner Organisation Applicants

Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk

Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom

Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk

Teaching & Assessment

The varied nature of this HNC programme means that we use a wide range of teaching and learning methods. We combine timetabled classes with student-centred and independent learning to ensure you acquire and develop the appropriate concepts, knowledge and skills. You can expect to attend lectures, practical sessions, workshops, tutorials and informal group study sessions. There will also be opportunities to visit sites and attend guest lectures by specialists from industry, professional bodies or other academic institutions.

There are significant opportunities to spend time with the tutors and technicians during timetabled classes, practical work and tutorials. However, we’ll still expect you to devote a significant amount of time to personal study. For example, you might spend this time engaging in general background reading, revisiting practical work, attending technical meetings and lectures provided by professional bodies or working on assignments.

We use various assessment methods depending on the learning outcome in question and the type of module content being assessed. You'll have opportunities to test your understanding of subjects informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark or grade. Each module/unit will normally contain at least one piece of practice or 'formative' assessment for which you'll receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades/marks you receive for them do not count toward your module/unit mark or grade.

You must also complete formal or 'summative' assessments for each module/unit. Methods include a range of coursework assessments such as exams, essays, reports, portfolios, presentations, and a project. The grades from the formal assessments count towards your module/unit mark or grade.

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.

Programme Contacts