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All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |
| SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY |
| REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: |
| Bachelor of Construction in Construction Management |
| SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
| 99600 | Bachelor of Construction in Construction Management | |||
| ORIGINATOR | ||||
| Central University of Technology, Free State | ||||
| PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
| CHE - Council on Higher Education | HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
| QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
| National First Degree | Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction | Building Construction | ||
| ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
| Undefined | 360 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 07 | Regular-Provider-ELOAC |
| REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
| Registered | EXCO 0324/24 | 2024-07-01 | 2027-06-30 | |
| LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
| 2028-06-30 | 2033-06-30 | |||
| In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise. |
This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. |
| PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
| The purpose of the Bachelor of Construction in Construction Management qualification is to provide learners with the knowledge, applied skills, and professional competencies required to enter the Construction Management profession within the built environment sector. The qualification is intended for school leavers, emerging practitioners, and individuals seeking to develop a career in construction management and related built environment disciplines. Through this qualification, learners will develop a sound understanding of construction processes, project coordination, administrative systems, and construction production principles. The qualification benefits learners by preparing them for entry-level roles in the construction industry while also enabling them to pursue further academic study and professional development within the construction management field. In accordance with the NQF Level 7 descriptors, the qualification develops learners' ability to apply integrated knowledge, analyse and evaluate information, and apply theoretical and practical skills to solve defined construction-related problems in familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
This qualification forms part of a professional and vocational pathway in the built environment and provides a foundation for progression toward advanced qualifications and professional registration as a Candidate Construction Manager or Candidate Construction Project Manager, ultimately leading to registration as a Professional Construction Manager or Professional Construction Project Manager with the relevant professional councils. Upon completion, learners will demonstrate an integrated understanding of construction design and constructability principles, construction administration and production systems, project planning and scheduling methods, construction quantification and cost management, construction information and data management, and contract procurement processes. Graduates will be capable of applying appropriate analytical tools, techniques, and professional judgement to support construction project planning, coordination, monitoring, and reporting within the broader social, economic, and infrastructural development context of the built environment. A qualified learner will be able to demonstrate competencies associated with all the ELO and typical occupational tasks are inclusive of: Rationale This qualification has been developed to respond to the growing demand for competent construction management professionals who possess integrated technical, managerial, and administrative competencies required for the effective delivery of construction projects. The construction industry plays a critical role in infrastructure development, economic growth, and job creation in South Africa, yet the sector continues to require graduates who can support construction production, site management, and project coordination functions at an entry professional level. The qualification addresses the need to develop practice-oriented construction management graduates who are able to operate within complex project environments while supporting sustainable infrastructure development. The qualification also contributes to the alignment of technology-oriented construction qualifications with current industry requirements and professional standards. While several built environment qualifications exist within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), this qualification specifically focuses on the integrated application of construction production, management, and administrative competencies within construction management practice, thereby addressing a distinct professional preparation pathway within the built environment disciplines. The qualification responds directly to the skills needs of the construction and built environment sector, which requires qualified individuals capable of supporting project planning, production management, cost management, and contract administration within construction projects. Industry stakeholders, including contractors, construction firms, professional councils, and sector organisations, have consistently indicated the need for graduates who can support construction operations while contributing to improved productivity, project delivery, and infrastructure development. The qualification contributes to addressing national priorities related to infrastructure development, economic growth, employment creation, and sustainable built environment development. By producing graduates with competencies in construction management, planning, cost control, and project coordination, the qualification contributes to strengthening the capacity of the construction industry to deliver infrastructure and built environment projects that support socio-economic development. The qualification therefore benefits the sector by developing skilled graduates who can contribute to the efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness of the construction industry. The typical learners for this qualification include school leavers, individuals seeking to enter the construction and built environment sector, and aspiring construction management practitioners who wish to develop professional competencies in construction project delivery. The qualification prepares graduates to enter a range of entry-level occupational roles within the construction industry where they support construction planning, site management, project administration, and construction production processes. Typical areas of employment include construction contracting firms, subcontracting companies, project management consultancies, property development organisations, and construction supply and manufacturing companies. Graduates may enter occupational roles such as Junior Site Agent, Site Supervisor, Construction Coordinator, Assistant Construction Manager, or Project Support Officer, with opportunities to progress into more advanced construction management roles as they gain professional experience and further qualifications. The development and review of this qualification were informed through engagement with stakeholders within the construction and built environment sector, including industry practitioners, employers, and professional bodies. Consultation with the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) was conducted to ensure that the qualification aligns with the professional competency requirements for construction management practitioners. The qualification has been designed to support the development of graduates who may progress toward registration as Candidate Construction Managers, and ultimately toward professional registration as Professional Construction Managers or Professional Construction Project Managers, subject to meeting the experiential and competency requirements prescribed by the professional body. The consultation process ensured that the curriculum and graduate competencies align with industry expectations and professional standards within the construction management profession. This qualification forms part of a professional learning pathway within the construction management discipline of the built environment sector. Graduates of the qualification typically enter occupational roles within the construction industry that involve supporting construction project coordination, production management, cost control, and project administration functions. The qualification also provides a pathway for further academic and professional development through progression to postgraduate qualifications at NQF Level 8, such as honours-level qualifications in construction management or related built environment disciplines. In addition to academic progression, graduates may follow a professional development pathway through structured workplace experience and competency development leading toward professional registration within the construction management profession. This pathway enables learners to progress from entry-level construction roles to advanced management and professional positions within the construction and built environment sectors. |
| LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
| Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable with regards to equivalent qualifications for admission into the Bachelor of Construction in Construction Management qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission into this qualification, as well as advancement within the qualification. RPL may be applied for access, Credits. from modules and Credits. for or towards the qualification. RPL for access: Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission into this qualification may be considered for admission through RPL. To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification. RPL for advanced standing: An applicant who has already achieved some of the competencies expected for admission to, or progression within the Bachelor of Construction in Construction Management may be admitted despite lacking the conventional qualification pathway. In such an instance, the applicant's prior learning, knowledge, skills, and professional experience will be assessed to determine whether they are equivalent to the learning outcomes normally required for admission. This learning may have been acquired through formal studies, workplace experience, professional development, community engagement, short courses, research, or other forms of non-formal and informal learning. RPL for module exemption: Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted for modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio which demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module. RPL for credit: Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain Credits. towards the qualification. Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted. Entry requirements: Or Or |
| RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
| Y |
| QUALIFICATION RULES |
| This qualification comprises compulsory modules at National Qualification Framework (NQF) Level 5, 6, and 7 totalling 374 Credits.
Compulsory modules at NQF Level 5, totaling 120 Credits.: Compulsory modules at NQF Level 6, totaling 128 Credits. Compulsory modules at NQF Level 7, totaling 126 Credits. |
| EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
| 1. Analyse construction design elements, components, procedures and methods using appropriate analytical and digital tools.
2. Design and apply construction administrative and production systems to support effective construction management and problem solving. 3. Design and apply procedures and systems for quantifying, costing and financial management of construction work. 4. Design and implement construction planning, scheduling and production control systems for construction projects. 5. Develop systems for obtaining, managing and reporting technical, cost and economic construction information. 6. Apply principles of contract documentation, procurement and contract administration in construction projects. 7. Evaluate construction projects and propose innovative and feasible solutions that address socio-economic development needs. 8. Communicate effectively, work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams and apply professional ethics within the construction environment. |
| ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
| Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8: Integrated assessment Assessment within the institutions Assessment Policy, the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (FEBIT) Assessment Guidelines, and Senate-approved qualification-specific regulations. The qualification applies a Continuous Assessment approach as the principal mode of evaluation to support the progressive development of learner competence in line with the qualification outcomes and NQF Level 7 descriptors. Assessment practices are designed according to the principles of constructive alignment, ensuring that learning activities and assessments measure the knowledge, skills, and professional values required for construction management practice. Integrated assessment is used to evaluate learners holistically by combining theoretical knowledge with practical application. The assessment design requires learners to demonstrate their ability to apply construction management principles in authentic professional contexts, integrating competencies related to construction design analysis, planning and scheduling, cost management, contract administration, and construction information management. Integrated assessment therefore evaluates the learner's ability to synthesise knowledge across modules and apply it to real or simulated construction environments. Typical integrated assessment instruments used in the qualification include case studies, research and design projects; work-based projects linked to Work-Integrated Learning (WIL), reflective portfolios, collaborative group assignments, technical presentations, and problem-solving assignments. These assessment activities simulate real-world professional tasks and enable learners to demonstrate applied competence in construction management. Each assessment activity is accompanied by an approved assessment rubric or marking memorandum, and moderation is conducted internally and externally, where applicable, to ensure fairness, validity, reliability, and alignment with quality assurance requirements. To maintain a balanced evaluation of theoretical understanding and applied competence, the overall ratio of coursework to examination-based assessment across the qualification is 50:50. Coursework and continuous assessment activities such as assignments, projects, portfolios, WIL tasks, and presentations contribute 50% of the assessment weighting, while summative examinations or comprehensive summative tasks contribute 50%. This balance ensures that learners demonstrate both conceptual understanding and practical competence consistent with the professional expectations of the construction management discipline. Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) forms an essential component of the integrated assessment strategy. Through WIL, learners engage in structured experiential learning within industry contexts, enabling them to apply theoretical knowledge in real construction project environments. WIL is assessed through reflective journals, logbooks, technical reports, and evaluations from workplace supervisors. The WIL component contributes approximately 30 Credits. to the qualification and serves as a capstone learning experience that demonstrates the learner's readiness for professional practice. Formative Assessment: Formative assessment is designed to support the teaching and learning process by providing continuous opportunities for learners to develop their knowledge and skills while receiving feedback on their performance. A range of formal, non-formal, and informal formative assessment strategies are used to support learning progression and improve learner success. Formative assessment activities typically include: These assessments are developmental in nature and assist lecturers in identifying learner strengths and areas that require improvement. At least three formative assessment opportunities are provided per semester in each module, contributing toward the semester mark (50% in semester one and 50% in second semester) and enabling lecturers to monitor learner progress. Constructive written feedback is provided to learners after each assessment opportunity to support improvement and inform future learning. Formative assessment therefore plays an important role in diagnosing learning gaps, reinforcing conceptual understanding, and preparing learners for summative assessment. Summative Assessment: Summative assessment is conducted at the end of learning cycles, modules, or semesters to evaluate whether learners have achieved the required level of competence in relation to the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification. These assessments measure the learner's ability to integrate theoretical knowledge, technical skills, and professional judgement within the context of construction management practice. Summative assessments may take the form of final examinations, comprehensive projects, research reports, portfolios, or capstone assessments, depending on the nature of the module. In each module, except for the CA modules, the written Main Assessment has a 50% weighting; hence, the 50% formative and 50% summative assessments constitute the Final Mark (FM). To qualify for the Re-Assessment, a student must obtain a FM between 45% and 49%. A student has successfully completed a module if he/she has achieved a FM = 50%. |
| INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
| The Bachelor of Construction in Construction Management offered by the Central University of Technology (CUT), South Africa, was compared with similar international qualifications offered by Massey University, New Zealand (Bachelor of Construction) and Coventry University, United Kingdom (Bachelor of Science in Construction Management).
Country: New Zealand Institution name: Massey University (MU) Qualification title: Bachelor of Construction, with specialisation options that include Construction Management, Design Management and Quantity Surveying. Duration: Three years Credits: 360 NZQF Level 7 Purpose: The qualification prepares learners to become construction professionals who can contribute to all sectors of the construction industry. It develops technical and theoretical knowledge, industry experience, construction management capability, interpersonal skills and the ability to apply best-practice building solutions that support sustainable development of the built environment. Qualification structure and focus areas: The qualification includes majors such as Construction Management, Design Management and Quantity Surveying. The Construction Management specialisation includes learning in buildability, planning, scheduling, project organisation, legal compliance, quality, cost and time control, sustainable construction, construction technology, construction economics, accounting, law, finance, materials, measuring systems, CAD and digital built environment tools such as BIM, augmented reality and virtual reality. Similarities: Differences: Country: United Kingdom Institution name: Coventry University Duration: Three years Level: RQF Level 6 Qualification title: Bachelor of Science (BSc) Construction Management Entry requirements: Entry to the Coventry University qualification is typically based on the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (A-Level) qualifications or equivalent international qualifications. Purpose: The BSc Construction Management offered by Coventry University prepares graduates with the knowledge and skills required to manage construction projects effectively while integrating modern construction technologies and professional management practices. Similar to the CUT qualification, the qualification aims to develop graduates who can manage construction projects, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and contribute to sustainable built environment development. Assessment: Assessment in the Coventry qualification consists of a combination of coursework, project-based learning, presentations, and examinations. Similarities; Conclusion: The comparison with the above-mentioned international qualifications demonstrates strong alignment between the Bachelor of Construction in Construction Management at CUT and comparable international construction management qualifications in terms of purpose, entry requirements, content areas, level of offering, duration, and assessment strategies. These similarities confirm that the qualification meets internationally comparable academic and professional standards and prepares graduates with competencies that support professional mobility and recognition within the global construction industry. |
| ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
| This qualification allows for horizontal, vertical and diagonal articulation possibilities.
Horizontal articulation: Vertical articulation: Diagonal articulation |
| MODERATION OPTIONS |
| N/A |
| CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
| N/A |
| NOTES |
| N/A |
| LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
| NONE |
| PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: |
| This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here. |
| 1. | Central University of Technology, Free State |
| All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |