Study the Bachelor of Construction and get practical experience in construction practices, building services, construction methodologies and more. You can choose to major in Construction Management, Project Management or Quantity Surveying.
Please be advised that only Year 2 and Year 3 are offered for 2024. If you are a new learner, please apply for New Zealand Diploma in Construction (Quantity Surveying) (Level 6) - click here
Three years full-time
This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.
International Fees can be found here.
The Bachelor of Construction will prepare you for a career at any level in the construction industry.
You will learn and get practical experience in construction practices and technology, building services, health and safety management, construction methodologies and more. The student will have the opportunuty to do an industry project to gain practical experience.
Tailor your degree to your career goals by choosing one of three specialisations:
Please note that we may not be able to offer some strands every year. Please contact us for further details.
The Bachelor of Construction aims to develop graduates who have the intellectual rigour, skills and capability needed by construction professionals.
The qualification is aimed at secondary students who have achieved the requisite entrance qualifications, at recent certificate or diploma graduates (in Architectural Technology or Construction or Project Management or Quantity Surveying) wishing to undertake a degree programme of study, and at people working in the construction industry wishing to obtain a more senior position.
It will be of interest to building inspectors, building practitioners, construction managers, contract supervisors, project managers, and quantity surveyors.
Public and private sector organisations employing graduates will benefit from the knowledge and specialist skills that the graduates have acquired during their programme of study.
Become proficient in areas such as:
Year One - Common Compulsory
BCON510 Construction Economics and Environment
Students will be introduced to the built environment, construction economics and measurement systems in the construction industry.
BCON520 Construction Estimation
Students will gain an understanding of the processes involved in preparing a tender submission for construction of a small building.
BCON530 Construction Measurement
Students will be introduced to measurement of building works and to quantity surveying documentation.
BCON540 Construction Technology 1
Students will be introduced to construction methodology and inherent risks with construction methods for residential buildings.
BCON550 Health and Safety Management
Students will develop a working knowledge of health and safety management in a construction context.
BCON560 Information Communication
Students will develop oral, written and interpersonal communication skills that are focused on delivering effective advice and recommendations in a construction context.
BCON570 Legislation and the Construction Industry
Students will gain an understanding of the New Zealand legal system and the application of specific laws to the construction industry.
BCON580 Materials Science
Students will develop knowledge of the use and application of materials, and their properties across a range of applications in construction and building contexts.
Year Two - Common Compulsory
BCON600 Level 6 Project
Students will research, plan and present a report on a focused area of study in construction management or project management or quantity surveying.
BCON610 Arbitration, Mediation and Negotiation
Students will develop skills in the fundamentals of dispute resolution in the construction industry using techniques of negotiation, mediation and arbitration.
BCON620 Building Services
This paper will enable students to expand and build on their knowledge of the principles of services and facilities contained within residential and commercial buildings.
BCON630 Construction Technology 2
Students will develop knowledge of construction technology and methodologies from establishment through to completion of commercial projects
BCON640 Economics of Construction
Students will develop knowledge and skills required to apply financial concepts to early stages of construction projects.
BCON650 Project Management
Students will develop a working knowledge of project management in a construction context.
Year Two - Compulsory for Construction Management
BCON660 Construction Practices
Students will develop an overall understanding of all aspects of industry standard construction methods and practices for a large construction site.
BCON675 Planning and Scheduling Projects
Students will develop higher level skills in the practice of construction project planning, programming, scheduling and risk analysis.
Year Two - Compulsory for Project Management
BCON690 Risk Management
The student will analyse and manage risk in construction projects, using robust analytical processes and tools
Year Two - Compulsory for Quantity Surveying
BCON680 Measurement and Estimation 1
Students will develop skills in measurement and scheduling of commercial construction works utilising standard systems of measurement and software packages.
BCON685 Design Economics and Cost Planning
Students will develop knowledge and skills required to apply advanced financial concepts to early stages of construction projects.
Year Three - Common Compulsory
BCON700 Level 7 Project
Students will undertake and report on a project in construction management or project management or quantity surveying.
BCON710 Building Information Modelling and Communication
Students will apply the principles of Building Information Modelling (BIM) to collaborative inter-disciplinary design and construction of buildings, using a range of communication strategies.
BCON720 Contracts and Management 1
Students will apply principles of construction contract management from feasibility to completion.
BCON750 Sustainable Technology and Construction Methodologies
Students will develop knowledge of sustainable technology as applied to residential and commercial construction
BCON765 Legislation and Compliance
Students will develop knowledge of construction law and professional standards.
Year Three - Compulsory for Construction Management
BCON760 Health and Safety in Construction
Students will extend their knowledge of health and safety management in a construction context.
BCON730 Employment Law and Relations
Students will develop knowledge of employment law and management of employment relations within a construction context.
Year Three - Compulsory for Project Management
BCON740 Quality Management
Students will apply the theory and practice of quality assurance and reliability to a construction project.
Year Three - Compulsory for Quantity Surveying
BCON770 Measurement and Estimation 2
Students will develop knowledge of measurement systems and use software packages to undertake measurement and construction scheduling for construction works.
BCON790 Contracts and Management 2
Students will apply principles of advanced construction contract management for various construction projects.
Year Three - Electives
(Choose one)
BCON670 Management Accounting and Finance
Students will gain the knowledge and skills to report results of financial analysis and apply this knowledge to evaluating proposals and to scheduling and revising project costs.
Students will develop knowledge and skills required to apply advanced financial concepts to early stages of construction projects
The student will analyse and manage risk in construction projects, using robust analytical processes and tools.
BCON695 Strategic Management
Students will apply strategic management principles to simulated and actual business situations to develop their critical thinking skills
BCON755 Entrepreneurship and Development
Students will develop skills in property and commercial developments utilising entrepreneurial expertise.
BCON780 Relationships, Influence and Leadership
Students will recognise their role in influencing decision makers and understand how to use influential tactics
BCON785 Research and Innovation Project
Students will research and report on an area of innovation in construction management or project management or quantity surveying.
Students will recognise their role in influencing decision makers and understand how to use influential tactics.
Possible employers in the public sector include government departments, local authorities, and educational institutions.
Possible employers in the private sector include construction companies, consultancies, and infrastructure service companies. Graduates may also work in private practice.
After graduation (and further work experience in some cases) possible jobs include Building Estimator, Building Inspector, Construction Economist, Construction Manager, Contract Manager, Project Manager, Property Manager, Quantity Surveyor, Site Manager and Team Leader.
Please refer to the graduate profiles at https://www.sit.ac.nz/Courses/Construction?campusId=1 (bottom of page)
Refer to Long Term Skill Shortage List published by Immigration NZ for relevant occupations.
Students will have achieved NCEA Level 3 and met New Zealand university entrance requirements including:
Mature Applicants (20 years of age and above)
Notwithstanding the above admission criteria, mature aged applicants who can show evidence of ability to succeed in the programmes may be considered for admission, provided they have successfully completed an approved course or programme, or have relevant industry experience, which is deemed to meet the required standard for entry.
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following:
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A¬ level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or
Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of a Bachelor ‘s Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment
Degree at Level 7
The Bachelor of Construction is ideal for:
Applicants may be required to attend an interview, or if they live at some distance from the campus, complete a telephone interview. Applicants may be required to provide copies of applicable certificates and evidence of previous achievements prior to the interview date.
To be awarded the Bachelor of Construction students will have been credited with all required papers as specified in the programme schedule. The total credit value of the Bachelor of Construction is 360 credits. Graduates of the bachelors degree are entitled to use the letters BConstr after their names.
Please note – students failing to attend for 80% of timetabled programme hours may forfeit zero fees entitlement.
Monday - Friday: 8am - 5pm