This course is subject to validation. You can still apply for this course while it is being approved.
University College Birmingham has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
OVERVIEW Our full-time or part-time Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Building Services Engineering (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) enables you to build up your knowledge and practical skills in building services to become a vital professional in this rapidly growing sector. Building services engineering includes all aspects needed to make buildings work for humans and includes the lighting, heating and ventilation, lifts and escalators, acoustics, plumbing, power supply and energy management systems, plus the security and safety systems. This course produces highly-skilled assistant building services engineering technicians with the skills, professional competencies and capabilities to become successful building services designers across a range of projects. The course is suitable for those working for contractors, consultants and client organisations. Ultimately, around 40% of all the UK’s energy is used within buildings, so good design for energy efficiency can make a real difference to our carbon emissions and energy costs. As a building services engineer, you can play a genuinely important role in helping to make our lives more sustainable, sustainability and the drive to net zero being crucial to the role of building services engineers. WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
- EXPERT TUITION – Learn from our highly-qualified staff with extensive practical knowledge of construction - supported by expert guest lecturers
- MODERN METHODS – There is a firm focus on sustainability and health and safety to meet the demands of the future
- PRACTICAL APPLICATION – Get hands-on experience studying in our cutting-edge construction facilities with design units in electrical and HVAC
- AWARD-WINNING UNIVERSITY – Study at the highest-ranking university in the region according to student choice (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023)
- Design studios with industry-standard CAD software (AutoCAD and Revit)
- 3D printers and plotters
- Renewable energy simulators
- Hydraulics test equipment
- Production line technology
- Human comfort surveying tools
- Control engineering rigs
- Cyber physical system
- Mechatronics automation
- PLCs
- Fluid dynamics software
- Enhanced IT facilities
- Building Services Technician
- Building Services Engineer
- Intermediate Electrical Engineer (Building Services)
- Intermediate Mechanical Design Engineer (Building Services)
Modules
Unit 1Construction Design Project, Unit 4 The Construction Environment, Unit 8 Mathematics for Construction, Unit 9 Principles of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Unit 15 Principles of Alternative Energy, Unit 18 Principles of Electrical Design and Installation, Unit 22 Scientific Principles for Building Services & Unit 26 Digital Applications for Building Information Modelling
Assessment method
Note: Indicative information only. Actual timetables and assessment regimes will be issued at your induction. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to our website: www.ucb.ac.uk Teaching A wide variety of teaching methods will be used to ensure you gain the appropriate skills and knowledge, including lectures, practical sessions, workshops, tutorials and group study sessions. Face-to-face classes will be combined with practical research activities in our state-of-the-art construction facilities, while you will also conduct independent and online learning. Assessment Assessment occurs through a combination of assignments and projects with a focus on the holistic development of practical, interpersonal and higher-level skills. Many modules will require a demonstration of skills, while others will require you to carry out your own research and analysis, working independently or as part of a team. Our assessments will focus on developing the skills required by a professional building services engineer – designing and demonstrating a building system, delivering presentations and technical report writing aimed at technical and non-technical audiences to broaden your range of skills. You will also need to commit around 20 hours per week for individual study time. Assessment for this course will be 100% coursework. Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2021-2024.
How to apply
To apply for this course you will be taken to the provider's website, where you can find out more information and make an application.
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 64 points
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge English Advanced | Level B2 | BA/BSc - Minimum 170 with no less than 160 in any skill FdA/FdSc - Minimum 160 with no less than 150 in any skill |
| IELTS (Academic) | BA/BSc - Overall score of 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each component FdA/FdSc - Overall score of 5.5 with no less than 5.0 in each component | |
| Institution's Own Test | BA/BSc - Overall score of B2 with no less than B2- in in each component FdA/FdSc - Overall score of B2- with no less than B1+ in in each component |
To apply for all undergraduate degrees, if your first language is not English, you will need to sit an approved test in English.
UCB English Language Requirements
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Republic of Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| England | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
UK:
If you are a UK student enrolling on a Foundation Degree or a BA/BSc at University College Birmingham, your fee for this academic year will be £9,250. A half year tuition fee is £4625.
This is a yearly fee, and will increase with inflation in subsequent years (in line with the government’s permitted rise).
If you are an English student studying your first higher education qualification, you can apply for a tuition fee loan from the Student Loans Company. You will not start repaying this loan until you leave the course and are earning over £25,000 a year.
If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you should apply to Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Northern Ireland, or SAAS. The loans and grants available to you will differ from those available from Student Finance England.
UCB does not charge for 24 or 48 week placements.
More information about UK Fees please go to our website here -
https://www.ucb.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/undergraduate-fees/
EU and International:
More information about International Fees please go to our website here - https://www.ucb.ac.uk/our-courses/international/tuition-fees-and-scholarships.aspx
Provider information
University College Birmingham
Summer Row
Birmingham
B3 1JB