Civil Engineering Higher National Certificate

This Higher National Certificate BTEC Construction and the Built Environment (Civil Engineering) course is taught by Bolton College on behalf of the University of Bolton.

The Higher National Certificate in Civil Engineering Studies is a vocational course designed to help prepare you for a rewarding career in the industry. With a strong focus on hands-on practice, reinforced by theory, this course is the product more than 50 years’ experience delivering well-acknowledged civil engineering programmes in the North West.

As a student on the Higher National Certificate Civil Engineering Studies course, you’ll have hands-on access to our laboratories, developed for practice in the materials, hydraulics, geotechnical and structural disciplines. You’ll also have the opportunity to make use of all the latest surveying equipment, which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

Problem solving is a key focus - you’ll be guided in learning and applying UK and EU codes of practice and industry standards, using your critical reasoning and analysis skills. You’ll also cover those elements of maths and science that support engineering principles, along with management techniques and subjects that enhance your awareness of the commercial and economic context of engineering processes.

Highlights

• The course provides opportunities for you to make progress towards achieving internationally recognised professional status with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the Chartered Institution of Highways or Transportation (CIHT) and the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE).
• On successful completion of this programme you’ll be awarded the Pearson BTEC Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Construction and The Built Environment (Civil Engineering).
• Bolton College scores highly in student satisfaction surveys for its HE provision, and we take pride in being able to offer you the opportunity to learn from industry-experienced staff.

Key Features

• This course offers essential subject knowledge that you’ll need to progress successfully within or into the world of work or onto further study.
• Our approach to teaching and learning is ‘student-centred’, so we’ll work with you on an individual basis, providing tailored help and support throughout your studies.
• You’ll have the opportunity to develop and enhance crucial skills such as communication, teamwork, organising and planning, numeracy, problem solving, flexibility and adaptability, action planning, self-awareness, initiative, personal impact and confidence, environmental sustainability, and social, public and ethical responsibility.
• You’ll have the chance to take part in field trips to various projects run by industry; and gain first hand industry knowledge and insights from guest speakers during class time.

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.

• 32 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
• Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. 
• You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (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 5.5 with no less than 5.5 in reading and writing (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 on to a 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 Bolton 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.

If you choose to complete a BTEC Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Construction and the Built Environment it’s expected that you’ll be aiming to progress with your employment or continue your studies at university. Pearson developed these qualifications in close collaboration with experts from professional bodies, vendors, businesses, universities and colleges to ensure you gain the skills and knowledge you’ll need to succeed in the future – whichever route you take.

What can I do with this qualification?

This Higher National Certificate 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 contractors, 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 the Pearson BTEC Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Construction and The Built Environment (Civil Engineering) you’ll be eligible for advanced entry to Level 2 (HE5) of the University of Bolton’s part-time BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering course.

Alternative career options

Certificate holders can also use the qualification to enter a range of other careers, and for some of these roles, both relevant experience and/or further study may be required. Some of these careers include:

• 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

Lawrence Atherton
Programme Leader, Bolton College
Email: Lawrence.Atherton@boltoncc.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1204 482556