BSc (Hons) Construction & the Built Environment (Graduate Apprenticeship) BSc (Hons)



Combine theory and practice to develop your career with this fully accredited, industry aligned degree

Overview

The RICS Accredited BSc (Hons) Construction and the Built Environment Graduate Apprenticeships aims to produce graduates with the skills, knowledge and behaviours to make a valuable contribution to their employing organisation. Participants on this programme will join one of 4 specialist pathways, which aligns with their job role: 

  • Building Surveying - involves advising on many aspects of building construction and design for new and existing buildings. Building Surveyors advise on a range of things including maintenance and repairs, restoration and refurbishment, and they provide expert assessments and reports on all kinds of buildings.
  • Quantity Surveying - learn the skills involved in design economics, procurement strategies, cost planning and estimating, measurement and quantification of construction work, commercial management and professional practice.
  • Real Estate Surveying - combines real estate surveying with valuation, planning and development. It studies how commercial and residential property markets work and draws upon the economics of the real estate sector to gain knowledge of how they develop
  • Architectural Technology - An architectural technologist is a specialist in the technological aspects of building design and construction, bridging the gap between design theory and construction practice.
Graduates will develop abilities across the core and emerging areas of their chosen degree pathway allowing them to apply their work-based learning in an academic context and to take their University learning into the workplace to make a valuable contribution to the creation, improvement and maintenance of the built environment.

As well as a number of common modules taught in the first and second years, there are specific modules focusing on the core competencies relevant to the individual pathways. The application of professional skill-sets to solve scenario-based problems on all of the Construction and the Built Environment pathways is key to our work-based learning strategy.
Person pointing at projected building plans

Mode of Study:

Block Release, Full-time

Duration:

4 years

This Graduate Apprenticeship is fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) for the surveying pathways, and the AT pathway is accredited by CIAT (Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists). You will graduate with both an Honours degree and the underlying knowledge and skills to progress and achieve the highly regarded professional qualification awarded by RICS and CIAT.

Course details

As a Graduate Apprentice you will study for your degree alongside your job, spending approximately 80% of your time in work and 20% in university. This unique combination offers an integrated experience, where practical skills and knowledge gained during the university days can be embedded in your working practices. Skills learned directly in the workplace are aligned with and can be applied to coursework and assessment. This allows you to attain an honours degree in 4 years, the same time as traditional full-time students.

RICS and CIAT.

In accord with the Framework developed by the Technical Expert Groups (TEGs) advising Skills Development Scotland (SDS) on Construction & Built Environment, Subject Benchmarks set by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for both Architectural Technology as well as Land, Construction, Real Estate and Surveying and in addition to the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Competency Mappings, the programme’s curricula includes the following:

  • the principles of design and technology in Construction and Built Environment
  • relevant laws and their regulation of the sector
  • business strategy and management concepts, such as data management, business finance and business strategies
  • project and delivery management, including the core and subject-specific knowledge, skills and professional standards necessary to practice
  • the valuation of land and property
  • the reconciliation of project objectives, finding appropriate; solutions which recognise, the context-specific constraints of cost, time, quality, life cycle aspects and sustainability
  • professional standards and ethical conduct, recognising obligations to society, the profession and the wider environment
  • environmental sustainability
  • innovation
  • continuing professional development, negotiation and leadership in the workplace
  • health, safety, welfare and quality issues
  • professional and ethical conduct, recognising obligations to society, the profession and the wider environment
  • working both as an individual and part of a team to develop and deliver solutions within Construction and Built Environment
  • consultancy
  • sustainable development
  • research
 
  • calendar

    How you’ll be taught

    As a Graduate Apprentice, you benefit by being both an employee and a registered student at Napier. You typically spend 20% of your work time studying through a mixture of university-based and work-based learning. Studies are designed to complement your role in the workplace.

    This Graduate Apprenticeship is taught over 4 years at our School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, based in our Merchiston Campus in Central Edinburgh. This programme is delivered over a full calendar year on a block release basis. Our block teaching takes place over 3 x 2-week periods in August, December and May. You will be expected to attend university for the entirety of these teaching blocks, during which all teaching and assessment will take place. The remainder of your time, outside of teaching blocks, will be spent working with your employer and developing your professional competencies.

    Your work-based learning will be overseen by a workplace mentor and university coach. You will be offered tripartite progress review meetings each trimester to support you in your work and studies.

     
  • note and pen

    Assessments

    A mixture of practical assessments, reports, academic essays and exams. You are also assessed on your learning in the workplace, primarily in the summer trimesters. As you progress through the course, more of your job role is used to gain credit towards their final award through Professional Practice and your final-year dissertation.

    The assessments will allow you to demonstrate your application of the knowledge and skills you are gaining both though your studies and through your work experience.
  • briefcase

    Work placement

    You will be a full-time employee for the duration of the programme.
  • library

    Facilities

    Graduate apprentices can enjoy the same full access to our campus facilities as a full-time student. All learning takes place at our Merchiston campus, which is centrally located in the heart of Edinburgh. Merchiston campus is home to our creative, computing and engineering students.

    Facilities include modern classrooms and cutting-edge labs. Our Merchiston Library is a bright attractive environment providing both silent and collaborative study spaces designed to suit a variety of learning styles. In addition, Merchiston boasts a business incubator, two cafes and a 500-seat computing centre, with both Mac and PC hardware, that is open 24hrs a day in Trimesters 1 and 2.

Accredited by

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

This programme is available to new and existing employees who work and reside in Scotland. Entry requirements cater to professionals and can account for both academic and work-based experience. You must be employed in the same field as your chosen subject area.

All applicants must:

  • Be 16 or older (some employers may require 18+)
  • Have the right to live and work permanently in the UK
  • Have ordinary residence in Scotland
  • Meet programme entry requirements

Advanced Entry

Advanced entry into Year 2 or 3 is possible for students with suitable qualifications. If applying for advanced entry, you will need to provide sufficient evidence of qualifications and experience through our process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Applications are considered on an individual basis.

Work Experience and Professional Qualifications

We encourage applications from individuals whose work experience or professional qualifications provide them with a comparable foundation for starting the course. You will be asked to provide evidence of at least 1 year’s relevant work experience through a detailed CV or application form, including an employer reference. Advanced entry may also be granted if you have sufficient industry-related experience and qualifications.

Usually, unrelated work experience is not considered sufficient for entry without meeting the minimum academic entry requirements.

Foundation and Modern Apprenticeships

We offer enhanced recognition for Foundation and Modern Apprenticeships if you are applying to a Graduate Apprenticeship in a similar subject area. Please refer to our typical entry requirements for more information on each course.

Already have a degree or similar qualification?

You could apply for funding for a Graduate Apprenticeship in a similar subject area if your existing qualification is at a lower level. You may also be eligible for funding if you have completed a degree in a different subject area. For example, if you recently completed a Biology Honours degree, you can still apply for a Civil Engineering Graduate Apprenticeship.

You are not eligible to apply for a Graduate Apprenticeship if you have completed a similar degree within the past 5 years.

To meet our Standard Entry Requirements you must have EITHER:

  • Four SQA Highers at Grade BBCC (or equivalent) plus National 5 grade C in English and Maths (if not taken at Higher)
  • A Foundation Apprenticeship in a related discipline plus 2 Highers BB
  • A Modern Apprenticeship or college qualification in a related discipline
  • HNC with C in the graded unit in a related discipline
  • Sufficient recognition of prior learning (RPL) through industry-related experience, qualifications, and informal learning. RPL applications are considered on an individual basis

Our Minimum Offer Entry Requirement: CCCC plus National 5 grade C in English and Maths

You may be given an adjusted offer of entry if you meet our specified minimum entry requirements within our widening participation criteria, and outlined in our Contextual Admissions Policy. Click here for further information about our entry requirements and admissions policies

To meet our year 2 entry requirements you must have EITHER:

  • A Modern Apprenticeship in a related discipline at SCQF Level 7-8
  • An HNC at Grade A in a related discipline
  • An HND at Grade B in a related discipline
  • Sufficient recognition of prior learning (RPL) through industry-related experience, qualifications, and informal learning

To enter this programme at the start of Year 3 you must have 240 SCQF credits (or equivalent) of which a minimum of 120 credits are at SCQF 8 (or equivalent) and/or significant recognition of prior learning (RPL) through industry-related experience, qualifications, and informal learning.

SCQF Level 8 qualifications can include:

  • HND at minimum Grade B in a related discipline
  • Diploma for Higher Education in a relevant subject area

English language requirements

 As all learning, teaching and assessment activities are conducted in English, if your first language is not English you must have a minimum International English Language Testing System score of 6.0 with all four elements having a score of at least 5.5.
We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & Funding

Graduate Apprenticeships are fully funded through Scottish Funding Council and Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), and supported by Skills Development Scotland. Once you have been offered a Graduate Apprenticeship place, you should apply to SAAS for funding, who will pay your tuition fees directly to the university. There are no associated learning costs to the Graduate Apprenticeship employer.

All Graduate Apprenticeship applicants must meet SAAS eligibility and residence conditions to apply. Visit the SAAS website for more information.

Fees & funding



Careers

Abstract exterior photo of Edinburgh Napier University Sighthill campus building at night

As a Graduate Apprentice you are fortunate to be studying for your honours degree alongside your work-based apprenticeship position and to have the support of both Edinburgh Napier staff and your workplace. You are first and foremost an employee for your organisation, and therefore could develop your career through your entire apprenticeship journey. Your employer will look for opportunities for you to apply your learning in work and develop as a professional, meaning you may be offered career progression opportunities at any time during your studies.

Whether you’re working on site or behind a drawing board, in construction you'll shape and build the world. This Graduate Apprenticeship opens the way to a broad range of jobs in this exciting sector, such as:

  • Building services engineer
  • Chartered surveyor
  • Site manager
  • Facilities manager
  • Cost Manager
  • Contracts manager
  • Architectural Technician
 
Civil Engineering alumni Emily Alfred at the Queensferry Crossing bridge which she worked on.