BTEC Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment / Civil Engineering Level 3

…you want a career in the technical construction industry disciplines, including surveying, design, consultancy, infrastructure, civil engineering, setting out, project management, quantity surveying or building services engineering.
…you are good at working as part of a team
…you are interested in the theory behind construction and the design of the built environment
…you have progressed from a trade, and would like to pursue a design based or management/consultancy role

Whilst gaining an in-depth knowledge of the industry, you will prepare yourself for a potential career in a range of roles including, but not exclusive to, Design, consultancy, building service design, project management, quantity surveying, site engineering and CAD technicians. Coleg Gwent Work Based Learning Apprenticeships are available, and this will also form a natural progression for those apprentices that have already achieved a trade based NVQ.

If you are interested in following a professional career in construction, this is a good progression course for you. The course may include planning, sustainability, designing and working as part of a site or office team. This is predominantly a theory based course, through the use of industry standard software applications.

You can choose to follow one of three pathways:

1.  Construction

2. Civil Engineering

3. Building Services Engineering

During the first year you will study core modules and can make a choice between the pathways.

You’ll study core units and optional units, including:

• Construction Design
• Construction Principles
• Graphical Detailing
• Management
• Primary Services in Buildings
• Building Surveying
• Health and Safety

You’ll be involved in ongoing inter-professional projects using computer aided design (CAD) and graphical drawing techniques.  You’ll be assessed through coursework, which will include written and CAD work.

Upon completion, you’ll achieve:

• Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Construction & Built Environment Construction/Civil Engineering or Building Service Engineering
• Appropriate supporting qualifications to broaden your skill set and meet the needs of industry
  Skills Activities
• English and Maths

To enter the course, you’ll need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above, to include Maths and English/Welsh First Language, or an appropriate Level 2 Diploma qualification at Merit Grade and GCSE Maths and English/Welsh First Language at C Grade.

You will also need:

• An interest in buildings and the wider urban fabric – construction isn’t a job confined to the working hours of the day but rather a way of life.
• An ability to work under pressure individually or as part of a team in order to complete the assignments to strict deadlines and specifications.
• A reasonable grasp of mathematics is desirable, as many of the modules rely on basic mathematical principles in a construction context.

Full commitment to attendance is required, as is respect for others, enthusiasm for the subject and self-motivation.

Successful completion of the Year 1 Foundation Diploma will allow you to progress to the second year and complete the full Extended Diploma in your chosen pathway.  There is the opportunity, if successful, to apply for apprenticeships for the second year.  From there, progression routes include:

• Foundation Degree/HNC/HND or a full degree course at either Coleg Gwent or through UCAS to another University
• HNC/HND Apprenticeships at Coleg Gwent or further afield
• Degree Apprenticeships

You’ll need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade C or above to include Maths and English/Welsh First Language; or an appropriate Level 2 Diploma qualification at Merit grade and GCSE Maths and English/Welsh First Language at C grade.

Although delivery of the teaching on this course focusses on material technology, an real life scenarios, the course is predominantly theory based.  It contains controlled assessment and one examination to accompany the courseworks.

You’ll benefit from having access to a laptop, so that you become familiar with the Computer Aided Design process.

You’ll need to purchase a scale ruler, graphical pencils/pens and general stationery.