Construction Project Management BSc (Hons)

Why choose this course?

Construction project managers play a crucial role. They ensure projects are completed on time, to budget, to a specified quality and meet the client's needs.

The demand for construction project managers is increasing as the construction industry continues to grow – there are more than two million people currently employed in the sector across the UK.

If you are interested in becoming a construction project manager and ensuring the entire construction process goes smoothly and according to the plan, this course is ideal.

This course is designed to equip graduates with the knowledge, skills and professional behaviours that are expected from them as a construction project manager, in addition to being effective in mitigating climate change impacts on construction and human society.

Kingston University was ranked joint fourth in the United Kingdom for graduate prospects for Building (Complete University Guide 2022).

This course was previously known as Construction Engineering Management BSc (Hons).

Apply for this course in Clearing

Course	Attendance	UCAS code/apply	Year of entry
Construction Project Management BSc (Hons)	3 years full time	K251	2023 (Clearing) 2024
Construction Project Management BSc (Hons)	4 years full time including sandwich year	K252	2023 (Clearing) 2024
Construction Project Management BSc (Hons)	6 years part time	Apply direct to the University	2023 (Clearing) 2024

Location

Penrhyn Road

Book an Open Day

Reasons to choose Kingston University

This course is pending accreditation by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), leading to full membership of the Institute.
An industry work placement will give you real-life experience of construction, management, civil engineering and surveying.
This degree focuses on the construction processes as well as learning about management, economics, logistic, finance, people management, law, digital technologies and information management system and decision-making, preparing you for managing construction projects. It also emphasises health and safety, professionalism, ethics, diversity and inclusion.

Professional Accreditation

This course is pending accreditation by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), leading to full membership of the Institute. See the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) website for more information.

Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)

What you will study

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3/4

Year 1 introduces Navigate (a Future Skills module that aims to assist students in making the transition to Higher Education, develop strong foundations of self-awareness and self-motivation, and generate a sense of belonging to their course and Kingston University), sustainability, climate literacy, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), construction management practice, professional practice, construction technology and techniques, and construction law and its regulatory.

Core modules

Navigate for Professional Engineers

15 credits

You will be introduced to your course learning aims and will consider your learning targets from now until graduation. You'll take ownership of your personal academic journey through the development and application of academic skills aligned to Kingston's Graduate Attributes and your discipline-specific professional body learning outcomes.

You'll be tutored in a range of 'learning to learn' techniques. You'll be introduced to assessment for learning and the roles of feedback, reflection and feedforward as integrated parts of your learning journey. This will be supported through active engagement in Kingston's Navigate Programme.

Sustainability for Professional Practice

15 credits

This is module you will explore the environmental, economic and social problems that society faces, and you'll be encouraged to find and create sustainable innovative solutions.

You will be introduced to the complex societal problems and current time challenges associated with social justice, cultural inequalities, ethics and climate change emergencies. You will be immersed in a culture of education, which provides knowledge, values, attitudes and skills, and encouraged to think about possible solutions for the economic, environmental and social objectives set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), and the challenges in achieving those goals.

Introduction to Quantification of Construction Works

15 credits

You'll be introduced to the principles of measurement of construction work. You'll focus on the detailed quantification of simple buildings in order to gain an understating of industry rules and conventions for measuring construction work and their application.

Upon completion, you should be able to competently measure the building envelope of simple residential buildings.

Introduction to Law and Regulatory Context

15 credits

This module will give you an overview of the modern English legal system, with a specific focus on key legislative and regulatory frameworks. It covers essential aspects of contract law and introduces elements of tort law relevant to the construction industry.

Additionally, you will explore regulations and statutory acts that are applicable in the UK construction sector. You will learn to employ appropriate legal methodologies to address scenario-based legal problems.

Principles of Construction Management Practice

30 credits

This module provides you with an introduction to the construction industry and develops your awareness of the skills required of a construction manager. You'll learn about the issues connected within the construction project environment, such as stakeholders' diversity, construction planning and operation of the building and construction process within the industry.

Introduction to Construction Technology

30 credits

This is a core technology module where you will explore alternative construction materials and technologies used for low-rise built facilities. You will learn about the impact of construction methods and materials on important issues, including building regulations, health, safety and welfare regulations, sustainability and the environment.

By the end of the module, you should have developed a fundamental knowledge of building types, and be able to interpret drawings, produce sketches and appreciate the reasons for the selection and use of different construction materials and service solutions.

Year 2 includes Exploring – a Future Skills module which scaffolds Navigate from Year 1 and is skills-rich, including the development of team-working, interpersonal and interdisciplinary skills, critical self-reflection, communication and presentation skills, and the ability to organise, strategise and prioritise. You will also learn about digitisation in construction (i.e. using REVIT and BIM related software), construction technology including its environmental services, and business and legal principles including contract administration, planning, scheduling and cost planning.

Core modules

Digital Technologies and Construction Modelling

15 credits

The module provides an in-depth understanding of digital technologies and construction-related information modelling in the built environment context. You will learn how digital construction has revolutionised the construction industry and how Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its closely related digital technologies are used as tools for the realisation of the Construction Industry 4.0.

The course covers various aspects of digital design, construction, and operation and maintenance, including the knowledge and use of tools related to BIM, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and geographic information system. You will learn about BIM software, collaboration techniques and project delivery methods.

You will also develop digital skills and knowledge such as data management, quantification, project team collaboration and cost analysis.

Procurement and Contract Administration

15 credits

This module introduces you to procurement strategies for executing construction projects and the intricacies of contract administration. The course identifies the various procurement routes for different project circumstances. The module further extends your critical knowledge and understanding of the contract administration and financial management duties of the project manager.

Although there will be lectures, the teaching and learning emphasis will focus on developing your core knowledge and interpersonal skills using scenarios, workshops and a day field trip to an ongoing project in a major city in England. This will help increase your problem-solving competencies and communication skills development. The module will be assessed by coursework.

Construction Technology and Environmental Services

15 credits

This module provides insights into the construction of commercial and other buildings. The module will extend your knowledge and skills in construction technology and services, from the basic types of construction to framed and more complex commercial structures.

By the end of the module, you should have developed a critical knowledge of building types, be able to interpret drawings, produce sketches and appreciate the reasons for the selection and use of different construction materials and services solutions.

Exploring Engineering Project Management

15 credits

This module considers the principles and practices for the design and management of engineering projects. The nature of engineering project management is discussed in the context of constraints on quality, time, risk, and sustainability. The module broadens your knowledge of how organisations undertake and monitor projects.

Construction, Planning, Scheduling and Control

30 credits

In this module, you'll consider the principles and practices for the management of construction projects. The nature of construction project management is discussed in the context of contemporary issues and constraints, including time, cost, quality, and sustainability.

Design Appraisal and Cost Planning

30 credits

This module introduces the design appraisal of a construction project. You will develop cost management techniques and skills used during design development.

It will enable you to comprehend the principles of the subject, and apply cost management and planning techniques. You'll learn about value management, life cycle costing, cost reporting, and tools for managing the cost of construction projects at the pre-construction stage, from their initiation toward the design process as well as construction on sites.

Final year students will be guided to interact with professional and learning communities beyond the University and reflect on these interactions through Applied (a Future Skills module) where students will demonstrate the ability to apply their developing professional skills competencies in their chosen area and prepare students for employment and entrepreneurship.

The final year involves the in-depth study and application of contractual procedures including health and safety and environmental law, site practice and management, Construction Information Management System as part of digitisation in construction, feasibility of project and managing collaborative workflows in a BIM environment. You will carry out an individual project focused on research into a specialised subject.

Core modules

Applied Business Management

15 credits

Students will demonstrate the ability to apply their developing professional skills competencies in their chosen area and will ensure they have a broad understanding of the business environment in which professional activities are undertaken. The module will develop the student's technical, management and interpersonal skills required to perform in a team environment, and prepare the students for employment and entrepreneurship.

Students will participate in Kingston University's Bright Ideas competition where they will work together as a team to develop a business idea of their choice. To do this they will need to interact with relevant stakeholders outside of the University.

Project Feasibility Studies

15 credits

This module builds upon curriculum taken in level 4 and level 5. The main aims are to provide a detailed appreciation of feasibility study of construction projects – including development and project brief – sustainability performance and the various factors that impact a cost-effective building design.

The lecture content promotes the benefits of holistic building design and construction that gives due consideration to the service life of the buildings, the design and appraise carbon/energy assessment techniques to provide the management of buildings over the course of their life cycle.

Construction Information Management Systems

15 credits

This is a core module taken by Building Surveying, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying students at Level 6. The module provides an in-depth understanding of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Construction Information Management System (CIMS) in the construction industry.

It covers various topics related to BIM and CIMS, including their application, benefits, challenges and future developments. The module will begin by recapping the fundamental concepts of BIM and CIMS, including the evolution of BIM and its importance in the construction industry. It will then delve into the different stages of BIM and CIMS, including modelling, collaboration, documentation, and analysis.

The module will cover various software tools that are commonly used in BIM and CIMS, such as Autodesk Revit, Navisworks and BIM 360. This module is to enable the students to apply and evaluate the key principles of BIM with the students undertaking a collaborative interdisciplinary project to apply and develop their skills in a scenario-based group project.

Finally, the course will discuss the future trends and developments in BIM and CIMS, such as the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Virtual Reality (VR) in construction.

Construction Law and Contract Practice

15 credits

This module aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the legal aspects related to construction projects. It is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the legal framework governing the construction industry, particularly in contract administration and management.

This module enhances your analytical and critical thinking abilities when confronted with legal and professional practice challenges. It promotes a holistic comprehension of sustainability in the context of the built environment and provides an in-depth examination of construction disputes and the commonly employed methods of dispute resolution.

You will acquire practical techniques for effective time management, develop proficiency in locating, interpreting, utilising and referencing legal sources, and cultivate essential attributes valued by the construction industry, including collaboration, team building, critical and analytical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, initiative and creativity.

Site Practice and Management

30 credits

This module is core to professional practice in construction project management. The module is a unique combination of developing and deepening students' understanding of construction site set-up, and the associated health and safety management.

The module is situated at Level 6 specifically to prepare students with the necessary knowledge and understanding of construction site practice and management, including site establishment, health and safety, quality, waste, sustainability, teamwork and leadership required for graduate employment.

Individual Project

30 credits

This is a core module for Level 6 BSc students. The individual project is an opportunity to explore a subject of the student's own choice and to initiate, design and execute a small-scale research project under supervision.

The work in the project will draw upon material from all modules previously or currently taught and provide a culmination to their degree. Additionally, this allows the students to develop and practice their research skills which will be invaluable for the future.

The students are encouraged to work independently, study a topic in depth, review previous work, collect, and interpret and analyse information. This is also intended to develop students' ability to communicate clearly and succinctly orally, graphically and in writing.

In undertaking the work, students should demonstrate knowledge and competence in reviewing literature and in using one or more of a range of research methods to collect and analyse data and draw well-founded conclusions. To support the student a series of workshops will be given along with individual one-to-one supervision to ensure the student is supported throughout the process.

Assessment is by submission of an initial formative research statement, and summative assessments comprise an interim report and the completed project.

Future Skills

Knowledge to give you the edge

Embedded within every course curriculum and throughout the whole Kingston experience, Future Skills will play a role in shaping you to become a future-proof graduate, providing you with the skills most valued by employers such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability.

As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills, learning to demonstrate and articulate to employers how future skills give you the edge.

At Kingston University, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it.

Learn employability enhancing Future Skills

A female engineering student, in the engineering lab.

Entry requirements

If you would like to join us through Clearing 2023, please call our Clearing hotline on 0800 0483 334 (or +44 020 8328 1149 if you are calling from outside the UK) and speak to our friendly and knowledgeable hotliners who will be able to provide information on available courses and will guide you through your options.

Please note the entry requirements listed below are for 2024 entry only.

Typical offer 2024

UCAS tariff points: 112–128

A-level

112–128 UCAS tariff points from at least two GCE A-levels
Maths or science subject preferred
General studies and Native language at both A-level and AS-level not accepted in the tariff.

BTEC level

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma or Diploma in Engineering including Construction and the Built Environment.

Access to HE Diploma

Pass Access to HE Diploma in engineering, science, business and maths subjects.

Candidates are normally required to hold five GCSE subjects at grade C/4 or above, including Mathematics and English Language.

Typical offer 2023

UCAS tariff points: 112–128

A-level

112–128 UCAS tariff points from at least two GCE A-levels
Maths or science subject preferred
General studies and Native language at both A-level and AS-level not accepted in the tariff.

BTEC level

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma or Diploma in Engineering including Construction and the Built Environment.

Access to HE Diploma

Pass Access to HE Diploma in engineering, science, business and maths subjects.

Candidates are normally required to hold five GCSE subjects at grade C/4 or above, including Mathematics and English Language.

Alternative routes

We will consider a range of alternative Level 3 qualifications such as an Access Course in a relevant engineering, science or business subject which has been passed with 96 UCAS points.

Applications from those that have undertaken an Engineering foundation year will also be considered.

Entry to Year 2:

This mode of entry requires exemption from Year 1 of the course. This is normally attained with a BTEC Higher National Certificate in Civil Engineering or Construction or similar qualification with a minimum of five merits.

International

We welcome applications from International Applicants. View our standard entry requirements from your country.

All non-UK applicants must meet our English language requirements. For this course it is Academic IELTS of 6.0, with no element below 5.5.

Country-specific information

You will find more information on country specific entry requirements in the International section of our website.

Find your country:

Typical offer and UCAS points explained

Like most universities, we use the UCAS Tariff point system for our course entry requirements.

Find out more about UCAS Tariff points and see how A-level, AS level, BTEC Diploma and T-level qualifications translate to the points system.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical laboratory sessions, field courses, design classes, workshop sessions and site visits each year.

Assessment comprises exams and coursework (eg reports, computer and numerical exercises, laboratories and essays).

Guided independent study (self-managed time)

When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for final assignments. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.

Academic support

Our academic support team here at Kingston University provides help in a range of areas.

Dedicated personal tutor

When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University.

Your workload

Type of learning and teaching

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 1

Guided independent study (self-managed time): 314 hours
Guided independent study (self-managed time): 886 hours

Year 2

Scheduled learning and teaching: 509 hours
Guided independent study (self-managed time): 691 hours

Year 3

Scheduled learning and teaching: 281 hours
Guided independent study (self-managed time): 919 hours

How you will be assessed

Type of assessment

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 1

Coursework: 81%
Practical: 19%

Year 2

Coursework: 76%
Practical: 4%
Exams: 20%

Year 3

Coursework: 63%
Practical: 10%
Exams: 27%

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.

Your timetable

Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.

Class sizes

To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally enrols 15 students and lecture sizes are normally between 15 and 105. However this can vary by module and academic year.

Who teaches this course?

Having developed our courses with the working world in mind, we offer hands-on student experiences such as testing in our exemplary laboratory facilities in structures, materials, concrete, geotechnics and hydraulics that are used for teaching and research. Knowledge is also gained from field trips for both undergraduates and postgraduates; site visits and industrial placements; employability support via our strong partnerships with industry, professional institutions and learned societies.

Our teaching is engaging and practice-focused and supported by site visits and invited guest lecturers by our industrial liaisons and strong alumni network. Our approach to assessment is project-driven and seeks to equip students with a range of competencies and transferrable skills thus boosting their employability prospects.

Postgraduate students may run or assist in lab sessions and may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.

Dr Hsein Kew CEng MICE

Course Leader

Dr Hasan Haroglu

Facilities

There is a wide range of facilities for practical work at our Penrhyn Road campus, where this course is based. You will have access to a modern environment with the latest technology and industry-standard equipment, including:

extensive materials and structures facility for concrete, masonry, steel and timber;
geotechnical and hydraulics testing facilities; and
surveying equipment, such as satellite global-positioning systems.

Dedicated computer-aided design facilities include:

a range of CAD/CAM packages, such as Ideas, SolidWorks and AutoCad;
finite element analysis;
computational fluid dynamics; and
virtual instrumentation.

Course fees and funding

2024/25 fees for this course

The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2024/25 the fees for this course are:

Fee category	Amount
Home (UK students)	£9,250*
International	Year 1 (2024/25): £17,800 Year 2 (2025/26): £18,500 Year 3 (2026/27): £19,200

For courses with a sandwich year, the fee for the placement year can be viewed on the undergraduate fees table. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.

* For full-time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.

Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.

2023/24 fees for this course

The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2023/24 the fees for this course are:

Fee category	Amount
Home (UK students)	£9,250* Foundation Year: £9,250
International	Year 1 (2023/24): £15,800 Year 2 (2024/25): £16,200 Year 3 (2025/26): £16,600 Year 4 (2026/27): £17,000

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Textbooks

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to, or be required to, buy your own copy of key textbooks.

Computer equipment

Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses.

Printing

In the majority of cases coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees.

Travel

Travel costs are not included but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses and halls of residence.

Lab equipment

For this course you will need to purchase a lab coat, hard hat and safety glasses at approximately £20. Students will also be required to purchase safety boots which cost a minimum of £27, a £10 voucher will be supplied by Kingston University to help cover this cost. Site visits equipment (hard hat and gloves) will cost around £50 over the course of 4 years.

Note for EU students: UK withdrawal from the European Union

The Government has recently announced that new students from the European Union and Swiss Nationals starting their course after August 2021 will no longer be eligible for a student loan in England for Undergraduate or Postgraduate studies from the 2021/22 academic year. This decision only applies to new EU students starting after 2021/22. If you are an existing/continuing EU student, you will continue to be funded until you graduate or withdraw from your course.

Need to know more?

Our undergraduate fees and funding section provides information and advice on money matters.

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.

Textbooks

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to buy your own copy of key textbooks; this can cost between £50 and £250 per year.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan. You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residence. Free WiFi is available on each campus. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost between £100 and £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

Photocopying and printing

In the majority of cases, written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees, this may cost up to £100 per year.

Travel

Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston upon Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.

Placements

If the placement year option is chosen, during this year travel costs will vary according to the location of the placement, and could be from £0 to £2,000.

Field trips

All field trips that are compulsory to attend to complete your course are paid for by the University. There may be fees incurred for optional field trips which can range from £30 to £350 per trip.

3D printing

It is not compulsory as part of your degree to print projects using the 3D printer. However if you wish to, you will need to pay for the material. Printing costs are estimated by weight (cheapest material is 3p per gram and most expensive material is 40p per gram).

After you graduate

You'll graduate with technical and communication skills that are in demand in many sectors. Through Kingston University's links to industry, placements and positions may be offered following graduation.

Examples of recent graduate destinations

Types of jobs

Construction manager
Assistant site manager
Estimator
Site manager/civil engineer

Employers

Allan Builders
Alan Builders Ltd
RG Group
Willmott Dixon
PVG Group
Cape Construction
Costain

Careers and recruitment advice

The Faculty has a specialist employability team. It provides friendly and high-quality careers and recruitment guidance, including advice and sessions on job-seeking skills such as CV preparation, application forms and interview techniques. Specific advice is also available for international students about the UK job market and employers' expectations and requirements.

The team runs employer events throughout the year, including job fairs, key speakers from industry and interviews on campus. These events give you the opportunity to hear from, and network with, employers in an informal setting.

Employability preparation at Kingston University

In addition to building expertise in your own discipline, our courses will also help you to develop key transferable skills that you'll need for professional life or further study once you graduate.

As well as a range of careers and employability activities at Kingston, we also offer you the chance to apply and develop your skills in live contexts as an integral part of your course. Opportunities include:

placements;
working or studying abroad;
volunteering;
peer mentoring roles; and
internship opportunities within and outside the University.

In your final year, you'll get the opportunity to complete a major 'capstone' project where you can apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired to a range of real issues in different contexts. This is a great way to learn and is a valuable bridge to employment or further research at masters level.

Courses available after you graduate

If you decide that you would like to go on to postgraduate study after your undergraduate course, we offer a 10% discount on our postgraduate course tuition fees to our alumni.

What our students say

I initially looked at Kingston as I was looking at potentially commuting and therefore needed somewhere that was not too far away. I looked around a number of universities but was immediately impressed with Kingston due to its facilities and labs. I felt very comfortable within the building and amongst the students and lecturers. We were told about the type of teaching and the field trips and I was particularly impressed at the way the course was not taught purely from the classroom.

There were a few defining moments whilst studying for my degree. The first and probably the most memorable for me was receiving the grades for first semester. I sat in a room with others from my course and we individually went to receive our grades and feedback from Bill Evans. I remember Bill pointing to one module and saying to me 'shame about that one' and I was terrified I had done badly. I received three A*s and an A which gave me the confidence boost I needed to continue with the rest of the course and keep up the very high standard.

Vicky Turner – Construction Management BSc(Hons)

The fountain of knowledge and direction that my construction management lecturers provided inspired me to work hard and I was blessed with finishing university with a graduate job at RG Group, a national independent construction company where I did my placement.

Alongside accommodating my other Kingston University extra-curricular activities like playing rugby, the course and lecturers made my time at Kingston University a very special one which has more than shaped my future aspirations.

Steve Wallace – Construction Management BSc(Hons)

Placement case study – Ollie Notley

Placement company: Fluor

Why did you decide to do an industrial placement as part of your degree?

I always wanted to undertake a placement year to provide me with relevant experience to greatly enhance my chances of gaining graduate employment and improve my understanding of the industry. An industrial placement on your CV can really make you stand out from the crowd when applying for graduate roles or can even provide the opportunity to gain employment with the company offering the experience, like myself and many of my peers. For me it was a no-brainer.

What was the process for getting a placement and what support did you get from the University?

I applied to my placement following a presentation from Fluor at the University and having an informal interview with their staff. I was later selected as one of the final 12 of 132 applicants to attend an assessment day. I was required to take part in two group tasks with other applicants and then present for 20 minutes to senior management on why I felt I would be suitable for the role.

The Placement Team supported me greatly throughout the process; this included arranging mock interviews and providing constructive criticism for my presentation after allowing me to practice it with them. Their vast experience proved extremely helpful and I owe them a great deal for their continued support.

What does your placement role involve?

My placement involved providing a variety of support to energy and chemical construction projects at many different phases. I spent half of my year in the Farnborough office working on design and planning and the other half on site for the construction of a biomass conversion at Drax Power Station, the largest power station in the UK.

How is your typical day – any specific projects were you involved with?

My typical day involved preparing plans and attending meetings for engineering, procurement and construction, to define the construction requirements for the project to ultimately help achieve project objectives, in which I played an important and active role.

What key elements of your job will involve what you had learned from your course?

The Construction Management BSc (Hons) course provided me with a strong general understanding of applicable design and building processes and technologies, in addition to a good understanding of materials used in the industry.

From your experience working at your placement employer is there anything that you will utilise when you go back to your study (if this is applicable)?

I have been able to gain a much-improved knowledge of the industry and how it works, which will supplement my studies well. I was able to develop an in-depth understanding of innovations used in the industry that I can carry forward into writing my dissertation having gained first-hand experience while on placement.

How do you feel that your placement has benefited your course?

I will be able to apply my new first-hand industry experience to improve my overall degree classification and be able to apply real life experiences to enhance my work.

Knowing I have a job waiting for me will also relieve the stress of searching for a job while in my final year, allowing me to fully focus on my studies.

Are there any other benefits of doing a placement?

You get a professional life experience where you learn the etiquette of working life. It's a good year off from university deadlines, coursework and exams and the best opportunity to explore yourself academically and professionally. It enables you to think of your future with a broader perspective. It boosts your confidence level. You also make good professional contacts which are very important and if you perform well whilst on your placement and make the most out of it; you have a good chance to secure a place in the company too.

What job will you be seeking when you graduate?

I have signed a contract of employment for when I complete my degree and will begin work with Fluor in June 2015. As I have spent a year with the company I have been offered a higher salary than that of a non-placement student.

Work placement year

How you can work in industry during your course

Placements:

provide work experience that is relevant to your course and future career
improve your chances of graduating with a higher-grade degree
enhance your CV
lead to a graduate job
enable you to earn a year's salary whilst studying (the vast majority of placements are paid)
help you to select your final-year project.

"To be successful, tomorrow's leaders will need to be far more rounded individuals than ever before. They will collaborate in pursuit of shared goals. They will guide, challenge and support...They will have an appetite for change and a hunger for continuous improvement, and they will have an ethos of learning and development..." Jeremy Darroch, Former Chief Executive, Sky.

"Doing a placement year effectively gives you one foot in the door of a future job and to stand out from the crowd... as well as enhancing my CV... and future interviews. It's a great motivator to be successful in my studies as it only serves to open even more doors and gain more skills." Placement student at Jagex Games Studios Ltd.

There is a lot of support available for students looking to secure a placement (e.g. a jobs board with placement vacancies, help with writing CVs and mock interviews). Getting a placement and passing the placement year are ultimately the student's responsibility.

Examples of placements

Placements can be with large multinational companies, international companies, local companies and small start-ups; offering a diverse range of posts. Here are some examples of employers and roles:

Construction-based placement employers	Construction-based placement roles
RG Group Multiplex Costain Willmott Dixon Fluor	Assistant site manager Assistant trades package manager Assistant logistics manager Health and safety officer Construction engineer
Science-based placement employers	Science-based placement roles
Reckitt and Benckiser GSK Drug Control Centre Minton Treharne and Davies Ltd Various local and international hospitals	Bioanalytical sciences Lab assistant Pharmacy assistant Sports coach
Engineering-based placement employers	Engineering-based placement roles
Airbus BAM Nuttall Nissan Bosch Wozair	Analysis of aircraft structure Construction resources specialist Site engineer assistant
Computing and IS-based placement employers	Computing and IS-based placement roles
Disney Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe IBM McKinsey Intel	Database coordinator Software developer Website developer App developer
Mathematics-based placement employers	Mathematics-based placement roles
Lloyds Banking Group AXA Allianz PAU Education, Spain	Analyst Investment solutions Research analyst Accounts assistant

Key information set

The scrolling banner(s) below display some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).

Course changes and regulations

The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.