Our degree apprenticeship courses
We currently offer a range of degree apprenticeship courses. For the full range of courses visit our apprenticeships page for applicants or for business partners.
Course summary
This apprenticeship provides the technical, practical and professional skills required for a successful career as a construction site supervisor in the private or public sector – from the concepts of building design and building science to construction technology, site surveying and data analysis.
| Duration | Start date | Location | Entry level | End Point Assessment Organisation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years part-time day release | September 2024 | Marylebone Campus, central London | Level 4 | CIOB |
Combining current industry practice with associated construction management theories, this apprenticeship leads to a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) in Construction Management, equivalent to the first year of a traditional undergraduate degree. Students who have completed this apprenticeship can then move onto the Construction Site Management apprenticeship.
Apprentices spend a minimum of 30 hours in work each week and 20% of their time learning outside the organisation, supported by their employer to ‘earn while they learn’ without paying course fees. Real-life case studies, problem- and work-based learning bring professional practice to the classroom, while apprentices apply their learning to workplace projects.
The University is ranked 14th in the UK for Building by The Times Good University Guide 2021, placing Westminster 2nd in London. Our Central London location and numerous industry contacts, which include Great Portland Estates, Mace, Lendlease, The Portman Estate and The Crown Estate, provide buildings as case studies for coursework, learning materials (drawings, reports, client briefs etc.) and come into the University to give face-to-face formative feedback on students’ work.
Course structure
This is a two-year course. Apprentices must be employed by a construction employer. Time spent on work and training is split 80/20, meaning the apprentices spend 20% of their time learning which can include time at the University and work-based training, linked to the apprenticeship, provided by the employer.
Year 1 introduces the principles that underpin the study of construction, specifically in relation to simple building forms, the key theories and concepts of building design, building science, construction technology, site surveying and data analysis.
Year 2 develops management practice knowledge, covering site production management, health and safety in design, planning and construction, and sustainable development. The second half of Year 2 focuses on the end point assessment, based on the apprentice’s work experience, comprising an online test, project and panel discussion.
Subjects of study include:
- Building Science and Structures (Technology 1)
- Construction Technology and Services (Technology 2)
- Site Engineering and Management
- Introduction to the Built Environment (Management 1)
- Project, Commercial and Organisational Environment (Management 2)
- Building Design
Credit level 4
Accreditations
This apprenticeship will include the knowledge, skills and behaviours typically required to achieve Technician status or the equivalent with the industry’s recognised professional bodies. The final assessment process for this apprenticeship will typically be representative of the review process required for professional registration.
On completing and passing the End Point Assessment, apprentices will automatically qualify for TechCIOB-L4.
Programme specification
For more details on course structure and modules, and how you will be taught and assessed, see the programme specification.
To request an accessible version of the programme specification, please email [email protected].
Download the Programme Specification
Entry requirements and eligibility
Our apprenticeships are only available to those employed as part of an agreed apprenticeship scheme in a related role, who are aged 18 or over on the first day, are not in full-time education and meet the ESFA funding eligibility criteria. Further details are available on our How to apply page.
Applicants must also meet the academic entry requirements of the course:
- A Levels – BCC to BBB
- International Baccalaureate – 104 to 120 UCAS Tariff points from the IB
- BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM to DDM
- BTEC Diploma – D*D to D*D*
- Access – 104 to 120 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course
In addition to the above, it is a requirement that all applicants can demonstrate competency at a Level 2 standard in English and maths. This will be assessed during the application process, as part of the initial assessment stage.
It is a mandatory requirement, that in order for an apprentice to reach End Point Assessment, they must hold a Level 2 achievement in English and maths and be able to provide a copy of the original certificate of achievement.
Current acceptable evidence can be found on the Education and Skills Funding Agency's list of acceptable qualifications for English and maths requirements.
Those who are able to demonstrate competence at Level 2 but who are unable to provide evidence of prior attainment, such as a GCSE at grade C or 4 and above in English and Maths, will be required to obtain this during their first year of the apprenticeship. The University of Westminster will support any apprentice this affects, by facilitating an option to study for Level 2 Functional Skills English and maths with a partner organisation, in order to meet the requirement to progress to year two of the apprenticeship.
Fees
Employers who pay the levy are able to use their available levy funds to cover the training and assessment costs. Employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy share the cost of training and assessing their apprentices with the government – this is called 'co-investment'. Non-levy paying employers will contribute 5% towards the cost of apprenticeship training and the government will pay the rest (95%) up to the funding band maximum.
University module retakes are not included in apprenticeship levy funding. Employers will be charged separately. The current fee is £1,540 (price per 20-credit module).
One End Point Assessment (EPA) attempt is included in the apprenticeship levy funding. Any EPA resits are payable by the employer outside the levy. The EPA resit fees are:
- Knowledge Test £50 (first resit fee)
- Appendix B and C (Project) £200
- Professional Discussion £400
Careers/professional development
This course complements and enhances workplace knowledge and experience, boosting the apprentice’s career prospects, on-the-job performance and satisfaction. It also demonstrates the employer’s commitment to staff development, enhancing their appeal to future employees.
Apprentices must be in full-time employment, as a trainee or assistant construction site supervisor or more experienced role. Site supervisors are responsible for supervision of contractors, control of health and safety, control and reporting of quality and progress and assisting with monitoring costs on a construction project.
Course Leader
Steve Phillips
Dr Steve Phillips BSc MSc MPhil(Cantab) PGCert EngD FRICS MCIOB FCABE AFHEA has worked in the UK construction industry since 1978. He worked as a building labourer for five years after he left school before he decided to become a construction professional and has now qualified as a Chartered Building Surveyor [FRICS], a Chartered Construction Manager [MCIOB] and a Chartered Building Engineer [FCABE]. Steve has held several senior positions within the UK construction industry including being the managing director of a specialist dispute-resolution chartered surveying practice and an executive board member of a major social housing landlord organisation.
Steve has overseen the successful delivery of numerous complex multi-million pound construction projects including the new build, refurbishment, and deep retrofitting of both commercial and residential properties. He has also provided expert witness evidence on major works service charge disputes to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal, various Arbitration Tribunals and sat on the Government Working Party which amended the Service Charge Consultation Regulations in 2003.
Steve is a dedicated educator and has been involved in the delivery of construction apprenticeships since 2017. At the University of Westminster, he is Course Leader for several apprenticeship degree courses including Level 6 Construction Site Management and L4 Construction Site Supervision. He plays a crucial role in the curriculum development of these courses and is passionate about providing his students with an industry relevant education especially around sustainable construction methodologies and the reduction of carbon emissions in the built environment.
As an alumnus of the University of Cambridge and a winner of the CIOB International Research Award Steve is a well-respected figure in the industry and outside of the University of Westminster he sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal & Valuation and is a reviewer for several other academic journals. He is also a RICS APC Assessor on the Building Surveying Pathway and is an External Examiner in Construction Management, Building Surveying and Quantity Surveying at the University of West London.
Teaching and assessment
This is how you can expect to be taught and assessed at the University of Westminster. Your apprenticeship will include additional requirements, agreed in partnership with your employer, designed to develop and evidence your skills in the workplace.
How you'll be taught
Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application.
Learning typically falls into two broad categories:
- Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
- Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision
How you'll be assessed
Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.
Assessments typically fall into three broad categories:
- Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts
- Written exams: end of semester exams
- Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertations
Course location
Our Marylebone Campus has benefitted from a multi-million-pound refurbishment resulting in new workshops, digital studios and development of the Marylebone Library. The campus is home to Westminster Business School and our award-winning Architecture, Planning and Tourism courses.
For more details, visit our Marylebone Campus page.
Contact us
We are keen to establish new relationships with employers from a wide range of sectors and welcome enquiries. For more information please contact our dedicated apprenticeships team on:
+44 (0) 207 911 5027
[email protected]