The smartest way to get
a degree, the Francis James way.
Achieve a BSc (Hons) Construction and the Built Environment degree delivered online with live lectures, interactive workshops, and everything you need to succeed, on one dedicated learning platform, built around you.
Unlock your career potential
as a working construction professional.
Gain the recognition you deserve with a BSc (Hons) technical expertise, professional recognition, and confidence to advance your Built Environment career. Achieve a BSc (Hons) degree, built on the latest industry knowledge and academic excellence via distance learning.
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A degree that is exam free, that's right, no exams.
All of the courses are delivered remotely with lectures in the evenings, interactive assignment workshops with your fellow undergraduates plus all the resources and support you'll ever need via a dynamic portal.
For each level, there are a minimum of 7 courses.
Each course runs for 5 weeks:
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4 live online lectures, 6 - 9 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays
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1 assessment workshop, 6 - 9 pm
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Self study for 2 weeks is advised, this includes completing the assignment
Your degree will be a mark of your serious commitment to attending regularly weekly lectures combined with the self study that you need to pass multiple assignments.
Phew, thank goodness there's no exams.
FRANCIS JAMES CONSTRUCTION AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
DEGREE PROGRAMME DELIVERED ONLINE
Certificate of Higher Education
Level 4 (120 credits - 8 courses)
The Certificate of Higher Education is the first level
of BSc (Hons) in Construction & the Built Environment.
Diploma of Higher Education
Level 5 (120 credits - 8 courses)
The Diploma of Higher Education is the second level
of BSc (Hons) in Construction & the Built Environment.
BSc (Hons) Degree
Level 6 (120 credits - 7 courses)
Level 6 is the final level of BSc (Hons) in Construction & the Built Environment. The degree programme is validated by RA University London (RAUL) which was founded in 1972. In 2018, RAUL was granted Taught Degree Awarding Powers by the UK Privy Council, enabling it to validate the awards of other UK Higher Education providers.
Thoughts from the Industry
The greatest threat to our built environment is not a lack of money, but a lack of skilled people who understand the soul of a building. You can’t buy craft off a shelf; you have to train it.
Kevin McCloud, Grand Designs
Thoughts from the Industry
We need to stop thinking about retrofit as just 'building work.' It is a highly technical intervention. Without a long-term plan to upskill our workforce, we risk poorly installed energy efficiency measures that could actually damage the fabric of our historic buildings.
Thoughts from the Industry
You cannot just tell a traditional builder to go and make a house 'green.' If they don't understand the physics of moisture and airflow in an old building, they will create mould and rot. We don't just need more builders; we need a new generation of qualified specialists who understand the science of the home.
The People Behind Francis James
Sarah Graham
Vice-Chancellor
Blane Judd
Chair
Alison Allden
Non-Executive Director
Robert Campbell
Non-Executive Director
Helen Barratt
Academic Director
Paul Montgomery
Lecturer
Matthew Stewart
Lecturer
Melissa Ling
Lecturer
Francis James Legacy
Sarah Graham, MBA FCIOB FRSA MIoD MCGI, founded Francis James after many years working at the heart of the UK construction industry and over a decade of delivering further education, construction qualifications.
Francis James was built to give construction professionals the opportunity to progress into higher education, achieve a degree online, and unlock their pathway to chartered status.
Francis James Values
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Learner‑centred provision: Educational quality, learner support, and outcomes take precedence over short‑term commercial objectives.
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Academic integrity: Provision is delivered in accordance with recognised UK higher education standards and regulatory expectations.
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Accessibility and inclusion: Flexible delivery models are used to widen participation and support diverse learner cohorts.
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Continuous improvement: Teaching, assessment, and support are reviewed regularly to ensure relevance and effectiveness.
Francis James Vision
To enable learners in the construction and built environment sectors to achieve recognised higher education qualifications that support professional progression, social mobility, and lifelong learning.
Francis James Mission
To deliver inclusive, accessible and industry-aligned higher education that supports learners to succeed academically and professionally.
