FdSc Construction

UCAS code: K201

Start date: September and January

Course length: Full time: two years Part time: three years (day release) 

Campus: Markeaton Street site, Derby Campus

This course is available to international students

This is a vocational course designed to give you the skills and knowledge you'll need for a career in construction. It's also an excellent route to the final stage of our BSc (Hons) Construction Management degree.

The course has been carefully developed to cover almost every aspect of building production and management in the construction industry, so if you prefer a more practical and vocational approach to study, this is an ideal way to fulfil your management ambitions.

You'll improve your understanding of the latest relevant technology, management, law and theories behind modern construction.

You'll study a total of 120 credits per year. This will be made up of single or double modules.

Stage one

You'll study modules such as:

• Construction CAD and Personal Development
• Construction Organisation and Economics
• Construction Materials Technology
• Environmental Design and Services
• Technology and Structures 1
• Site Surveying 1 (Work Based Learning)

Stage two

You'll study modules such as:

• Built Environment Project and Personal Development (Work Based Learning)
• Maintenance and Refurbishment
• Project Planning and Development (Work Based Learning)
• Measurement and Cost Studies
• Services and Sustainable Design
• Technology and Structures 2
• Procurement, Contracts and Legal Studies
• Surveying 2

If you want to go on to study BSc (Hons) Construction Management, you'll also study a bridging module such as:

• Construction Research Methods and Personal Development

Our entry requirements are usually 160 UCAS points, of which at least 120 will be from your core A2s (full A levels) or equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Diploma, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers etc.

We'll accept up to 40 points towards the total from level 3 qualifications such as AS levels (where those AS levels are not taken on to A2 level), the Extended Project or Music qualifications.

We don't accept points from Key Skills Level 3. If you have any questions about what is or isn't accepted, please contact our Admissions team.

We also accept the Access to HE Diploma.

Your points at level 3 will be in addition to 5 GCSEs at grade C or equivalent level 2 qualifications.

The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all the information that you've included in your application. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.

General undergraduate entry requirements

This is a resource intensive course.

UK/EU students

• £1,030 per module (you usually take 12 of these modules in total)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

How you'll learn

There will be a mixture of face-to-face lectures, practical work and work based learning. Work based learning gives you credit for activities undertaken by yourself in the workplace.

How you're assessed

A mixture of assignments, groupwork, presentations, logbooks, examinations and a portfolio of your work. A key feature of the course is the incorporation of work based learning (WBL) and its assessment.

With your foundation degree you'll have career opportunities in areas such as construction management, project management, site management or offsite manufacturing.

When you have successfully completed this foundation degree and the bridging module you'll also be ready to go into the final stage of our BSc (Hons) Construction Management degree, if you want to top up your qualification to a full bachelors degree.

This course is accredited by Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and on completion of this course our students will be eligible for Incoporated Member status of the CIOB (ICOB).

"I enjoyed getting a rounded knowledge of the construction industry and have found it very useful to understand the overall process from tendering and costing, contracts and procurement through to managing a project during the construction phase."
- Emma Jeffery