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BSc (Hons) Building and Construction Engineering

UCAS CODE: BCE1
TARIFF: 104 - 128
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Location: High Wycombe
  • Duration: Three Years
  • Start Date: September 2024

You can also study this course:

This BSc in Building and Construction Engineering will enable you to develop the digital and sustainability skills you need to become a built environment professional. Discover the skills and knowledge you’ll need to undertake the technical and commercial management of projects, which provide engineering design solutions to maintain and enhance the quality of the environment and community.

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No. 1 in England for Student Satisfaction*
*Measured by % of positivity across all questions within the larger providers only: taught or registered population (NSS 2023)
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No. 1 Students' Union in the UK*
*As ranked among taught students at non-specialist HEIs (NSS 2023)
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Top for our response to the cost-of-living-crisis*
*Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023
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5th for learning opportunities*
*NSS 2023
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Top 10 for student support*
*Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

Why study this subject?

The construction industry globally has high demand for graduate engineers. You could join a team where your skills and knowledge play a key role to the development, planning and construction of builds. Not only is this career path fulfilling in the work you will be doing, it also provides you with great opportunities to work in the UK and around the world.

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Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

BNU offers a contemporary curriculum providing a stimulating and challenging programme of study that reflects current practice and meets the needs of employers in the field of building and construction engineering.

Led by a dedicated teaching team with a wealth of experience within the industry, you’ll benefit from their insider-knowledge and the professional-network they bring with them. Our array of industry practitioners and working alumni will be involved in delivering guest lectures, masterclasses and workshops, and where possible, contribute to the assessment of your work.

You’ll learn hands-on practical skills to help you stand out to potential employers. You’ll get to grips with industry-standard equipment including in our CAD/CAM labs, ensuring upon graduation you are prepared for your first role.

On this building course learning continues beyond the classroom; You’ll be provided with unique opportunities to develop the employability skills required by construction companies, from small to medium enterprises to large multinational construction companies, through work experience opportunities, live briefs and site visits.

Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers.

What facilities can I use?

We have a range of state-of-the-art-facilities for you to get hands-on with. Certain modules will see you undertake model-making workshops and develop computer aided design, an essential skill for to acquire and apply to project work. You may also learn AutoCAD, Revit, 3d Studio Max, Rhino and Photoshop through structured lessons in IT/CAD suites and studios. 

This mix of traditional and highly creative learning environments will enable you to learn essential knowledge and real-world skills, standing you in good stead for your professional career.

You are expected to take ownership of your learning and are required to spend time outside the contact time with tutors undertaking independent study. That’s why we offer a four-storey library filled with all the articles, books, research papers, computers and printers that you may need during your studies.

 

What will I study?

Buildings take on many forms, from newly built facilities, to the refurbishment of premises. Upon graduation your role within as a Building and Construction Engineer undertakes the technical and commercial management of projects which provide engineering design solutions to maintain and enhance the quality of the environment and community.

You will ensure that businesses, clients and end-user needs are considered throughout the operation and you will strive to sit within financial, environmental and safety constraints. As building and construction engineers, you could be working in a design consultancy, as a contractor or with an engineering company.

The Building and Construction Engineering course covers a range of key areas, from how to manage a team of engineers and technicians and how to collaborate with other construction professionals, to design building elements and the various services found in buildings.

As well as this, digital technologies are embedded in the curriculum and are a key part of the learning and teaching along with vocational skills. The course typically includes systems such as renewable and emerging technologies, energy management, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, drainage, lighting, power, water services and building management systems. You will consider design and construction methods evaluating the social, ethical, legal, environmental and economic factors relevant to engineering. This is to ensure you can navigate through problems as they arise using a holistic understanding of the sector to make the right decisions. 

This programme runs as both a full-time and Part-time course, with part-time structured across a five-year span, so you can fit it around your other commitments outside of study.

Building and Construction Engineering.
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How will I be taught and assessed?

Learning and teaching activities are strongly focused on developing your knowledge and critical evaluation of theories and concepts in the field of building and construction engineering and its application in practice.  The activities are a mix of lectures, tutorials and seminars together with workshops and laboratory based individual and group working.

Case studies, live briefs, simulations and scenarios will be used to develop your academic study skills, graduate skills and attributes and employability skills. These will have emphasis on ‘real-world’ learning activities and scenarios that will enable you to address realistic problems.

The university’s virtual learning environment (VLE) will be used as a vehicle to support your learning, alongside class-based activities. Learning materials and discussion tools will be available on the VLE for all modules. 

You’ll study in a close-knit tutor group where everyone’s input is recognised and valued. Not only will you make friends for life, you’ll also make important connections that will last through your career, and you’ll form a network, just like you’d find in the working-world.

A variety of assessment vehicles are used as appropriate to each module.  The forms of assessment have been chosen to motivate learners to achieve and to create positive learning opportunities. The assessments are mainly coursework, which include:

  • Written assignments
  • Report 
  • Portfolio and digital models
  • In-class assignments  
  • Computer-based test 
  • Set Presentations (for example, poster and oral)  
  • Laboratory exercises  
  • Proposal 
  • Dissertation 

Stories and news within the School of Engineering and the Built Environment

A headshot of BNU George Kingston-rayes wearing glasses stood in front of a lake.

George's story

Engineering graduate, George Kingston-Rayes, recently shared with us the lessons he learnt at BNU, and how they’ve helped him thrive in the industry.

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Why choose a career in Engineering?

Engineering is one of the fastest growing and broadest sectors within the UK, meaning it is crucial to our economy and critical that employers find graduates who are ready to step into hands-on and innovative roles. 

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Simon's story

Our Engineering Design alumni, Simon Wheeler, recently sat down to share with us his BNU story and what he’s been doing since graduating in 2023. 

Useful Documents

BSc (Hons) Building and Construction Engineering Programme Specification

BSc (Hons) Building and Construction Engineering Additional Course Costs

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 104 - 128

UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.

GSCE Maths and English at grade 4 (or C) or above. A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required, ideally with one STEM subject. T levels should be in Engineering or Construction.

For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

What are the tuition fees

Home

Home, Academic Year 2024 - 2025

£9,250 per year

International

Overseas/International, Academic Year 2024 - 2025

£15,150 per year

Additional course costs and financial support

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.
You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

Questions about fees?

If you have any questions about the fees above, contact our Enquiries team by calling 0330 123 2023 or emailing advice@bnu.ac.uk.

What are my career prospects?

Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. Our Careers and Employability Team also help you find employment after graduation.

Our strong links with employers enables our programmes to be developed to closely match their needs. This gives graduates great employment opportunities upon completion of their degree. Our BSc (Hons) Building and Construction Engineering course will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities, such as:

  • Building Engineer
  • Site Engineer
  • Site Manager
  • Construction Planner
  • Building Control Officer.

You may also wish to stay on at Buckinghamshire New University and study a postgraduate degree, such as MSc Engineering Design.

BSc (Hons) Building and Construction Engineering