Upskill and Retrain Your Workforce
With our qualifications in construction and engineering
Are you looking to upskill your workforce and invest in staff training and development? Our Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) which include Higher National Certificates and Foundation Degrees support upskilling and retraining your staff.
Lasting between 1 and 2 years, with part-time options available, our qualifications blend practical and classroom-based learning and allow employees to study outside working hours, aligning studies with your business needs. These industry led qualifications have been approved against employer-developed standards, ensuring learners gain the skills the industry requires, and employers can be confident that their employees will gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours for particular specialist roles.
Our range of courses in construction and engineering allows students to specialise in specific areas and develop research, planning, organisation and leadership skills.
So what are the benefits of HTQs?
- Address skills shortages by supporting existing employees to retrain, improve existing skills or learn new skills in our state-of-the-art facilities
- Invest in industry led training and development to improve productivity and performance in the workplace
- Your employees gain hands-on experience and learn skills in a specialist area, while giving them opportunities for rapid career progression
HTQ courses
Engineering (HNC)
Do you see your future in engineering? The industry urgently needs you. Around a fifth of the UK’s engineering workforce is expected to retire by 2026.
Spread over two years, this is a part-time engineering course ideal for anyone looking to fit higher education study around work commitments and is supported by our outstanding new engineering facilities on campus.
See full course details
Quantity Surveying (HNC)
As a quantity surveyor, you will manage the cost of construction projects including determining client needs, calculating costs, timelines and monitoring construction progress.
This course is aimed at any adult learner looking to develop their professional skills to meet the demands of employers in the construction quantity surveying sector.
See full course details
Modern Methods of Construction (HNC)
There is increasing demand for skilled professionals who can implement modern methods of construction, contributing to the growth and advancement of the construction industry.
This course has a comprehensive curriculum to prepare you for success as a site or project manager. You will develop your professional skills in project design, technology, environmental sustainability and more.
See full course details
Architectural Technology (HNC)
Architectural technologists manage all stages of the technical design and planning process of building projects, equipping you with the knowledge to excel in various roles across the sector.
This full-time or part-time course enables you to build up your knowledge and practical skills with the competencies and confidence needed to excel in a variety of roles such as an architectural technologist or a senior architectural technician.
See full course details
£5k Cost of Living Allowance
At University College Birmingham, we believe the cost of living shouldn’t hold back our students from achieving their goals. That’s why we’re providing UK full-time undergraduate students starting in September 2025 with £5,000 each to support expenses like food, bills, and transport - completely free, with no need to pay it back.
“Higher Technical Qualifications equip employees with the advanced skills and knowledge necessary to drive innovation, enhance productivity, and maintain a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving technological landscape. University College Birmingham has been at the forefront of the development of these industry informed qualifications and continues to invest in their development to support learners and develop higher level skills across our region"
Our facilities
Students on our construction and engineering courses learn in real-world training environments. Our Centre for Sustainable Construction offers state-of-the-art facilities specifically designed to develop skills that support employers and their supply chains, along with specialist facilities for design and IT skills at Camden House. Facilities include:
• 3D printers and plotters
• Renewable energy simulators
• Hydraulics test equipment
• Production line technology
• Total station surveying tools
• Control engineering rigs
• Cyber physical system
• Mechatronics automation
• PLCs
• Fluid dynamics software
• Enhanced IT facilities
Centre for Sustainable Construction
Formerly a historic print works, this retrofitted art deco building is home to our Centre for Sustainable Construction - opened in 2024.
Camden House engineering facilities
Camden House is our bespoke STEM education and training facility offering Industry 4.0 standard engineering labs and IT resources.
Enquire now
If you are interested in upskilling or retraining your workforce with an engineering or construction qualification, please send us an enquiry and our dedicated team will be in touch.
FAQs on HTQ courses
What is a HTQ?
Approved HTQs are new and existing Level 4 qualifications approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. There are many different types of HTQs, such as:
- higher national diplomas
- higher national certificates
- foundation degrees
- higher education diplomas
You have to be at least 18 to undertake an HTQ and they can be taken after a Level 3 qualification, such as A-levels, T-levels, BTECs or some advanced apprenticeships, depending on the mandatory qualification within them. They are suitable for 18+ school leavers and you can apply for HTQs while you are still at school. They are also suitable for anyone looking to upskill or retrain. HTQs can be taken alone as a standalone qualification or embedded as part of the mandatory qualification within a higher apprenticeship.
How long will a HTQ take to complete?
A HTQ will usually take 1 to 2 years to complete with both full-time and part-time options available.
What are the benefits of HTQs?
HTQs give you confidence that you are getting the skills that employers want. They offer a great deal of flexibility for a variety of learners, including the possibility to study full or part-time. They are a great way to retrain or upskill in your current career.
Do you have to pay tuition fees to do an HTQ?
If a HTQ is undertaken as a standalone qualification, tuition fees will apply, which will vary depending on the course. Click here for more information on tuition fees.