Concrete Technology & Construction: Concrete Practice

About this course

Unlike many other construction sectors, construction site personnel have historically not been mandated to gain any formal qualification relating to concreting operations. This fundamental lack of technical knowledge about concrete - the most commonly used construction material globally - frequently contributes to quality concerns, disputes, project delays and cost increases. As a result, employers and construction clients are increasingly demanding well qualified and certified individuals within the field of concrete technology. Related training courses are frequently run in-house by large companies and are openly accessible to smaller companies or individuals.

Against this background, this short course is intended to provide the fundamental knowledge required by those involved with the construction and day-to-day supervision of concreting works in line with current Specifications, Regulations and Codes of Practice.

The short course will build knowledge relating to: concrete constituent materials (cement, aggregates, reinforcing steel, water, admixtures); fresh and hardened concrete properties; routes to concrete specification for a range of applications; key methods of concrete production; methods of concrete delivery, handling, placing and curing; key construction methods and practices; and performance testing of constituent materials and concrete. In this way, on completion of the module students will have gained a comprehensive, introductory-level understanding of 'concrete practice'.

Furthermore, the short course's learning content is directly aligned to learning objects associated with Stage 1 of a four-stage competence pathway prescribed by the Institute of Concrete Technology (ICT).

As such, successful completion of this short course will lead to the award of ICT's professional qualification 'Concrete Technology & Construction: Concrete Practice' and ability to join as a Technician member (ICTTech).

Professional ICT membership is internationally recognized and highly valued, with its attainment widely viewed as a significant personal achievement and a benchmark of competence and professional standing.

The aim of this short course is to develop fundamental concrete technology and construction-related knowledge, with a particular focus on concrete materials and onsite practice.

It is intended to further the career progression of personnel working within the construction industry or for students embarking in a career linked to design, construction management, production, use or quality control.

Designed to prepare you for the Institute of Concrete Technology's (ICT) introductory qualification: 'Concrete Technology & Construction: Stage 1 - Concrete Practice', you will develop knowledge in the following key topics:

• Health & safety
• Sustainability
• The nature of concrete
• Natural aggregates
• Cementitious materials
• Admixtures
• Water
• Concrete properties
• Reinforcement
• Plant for batching & mixing
• Proportioning, batching & mixing
• Transporting, handling & placing
• Compaction
• Curing
• Formwork & falsework
• Surface finish
• Joints
• Light- & heavy-weight concrete
• Testing & inspection

The course is intended to further the career progression of personnel working within the construction industry or for students embarking in a career linked to the construction industry.

Linked programmes

UG CPPD Personal and Professional Development.

Assessment

Class Test (Written) [100%]
This short course will be assessed via a 1.5-hour written (multiple choice) examination covering a broad range of the module's learning topics.

The exam will be written to align with ICT's examination standards to enable student receipt of the aforementioned professional qualification.

This is a 5-credit point short course equating to up to 50 hours of learning and assessment time. The course is delivered in distance learning mode, comprising a blend of directed learning sets and pre-recorded lessons allowing you to study at your own pace.

Also incorporated will be ongoing self-assessment exercises offering immediate feedback on progress. You will also have access to ongoing peer and academic support via dedicated discussion forums and online tutorial drop-in sessions throughout the semester.

Professional exams linked to the ICT Stage 1 qualification take place twice each year, in:

• December(for students commencing the course in September)
• June(for students commencing the course in January)

Full information is available via The ICT website.

The ICT exam is a time limited, multiple choice quiz comprising 60 questions that cover a broad range of the qualification’s learning objectives.

Attendance

This course is delivered fully online in Semester 1 or Semester 2, with no on campus attendance requirements.

The course runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2, starting on the following dates -

• Monday 21 September 2026
• Monday 25 January 2027

* Please note, dates and timetabling are to be confirmed and may be subject to change.

Professional recognition

The learning content of the module has been designed to prepare you for the Institute of Concrete Technology (ICT) qualification: 'Concrete Technology & Construction: Stage 1 - Concrete Practice'.

By gaining this qualification you will receive a professional certificate of competence and be eligible to join ICT as a Technician member (ICTTech). Professional ICT membership is internationally recognized and highly valued, with its attainment widely viewed as a significant personal achievement and a benchmark of competence and professional standing.

Entry requirements

This course is open for direct application. There are no prior qualifications required, but we would suggest that applicants can provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE English Language grades A-C or equivalent).

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the minimum English entrance requirements of the University and will need to provide recent evidence of this (certified within the last two years).

Most of our courses require a minimum English level of IELTS 6.0 or equivalent, with no band score under 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement.

Additional information on English language requirements for admission at Ulster University, is available at - www.ulster.ac.uk/global/apply/english-language-requirements

Start dates

• 21 September 2026
• 25 January 2027

Belfast

Delivering a city university experience, we are located within Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, the cultural centre of the city.

A look around Ulster University in Belfast

Explore the spaces, studios and social areas you'll use while studying at our Belfast campus.   Prefer to explore at your own pace? Take the 360° virtual campus tour.

City Living

Explore

Dive deeper into the places, services, virtual experiences and city life that will shape your student life in Belfast.

• Discover the City (opens in new window)
• Student Accommodation (opens in new window)
• Student Wellbeing (opens in new window)
• Library and Study Spaces (opens in new window)
• Sport Facilities (opens in new window)
• Food and Drink on Campus (opens in new window)
• Take the 360° Tour (opens in new window)
• View All Campuses (opens in new window)

Fees and Funding

2026/27 Fees

See our tuition fees page for the current fees for 2026/27 entry.

Prices

Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and EU Settlements Status Fees: £207.70

England, Scotland, Wales and the Islands Fees: £207.70

International Fees: £207.70

Fees information

Please note that an additional professional examination fee applies (currently £50), payable directly to the ICT.

Further information is available via the ICT website: www.theict.org.uk

This course has been registered with the Construction Industry Training Board Northern Ireland (CITB NI) for grant assistance which is only applicable to those employers who are registered, in-scope and meet the current terms & conditions.

Payment of Fees and Deposits

Information about how to pay for a course including different payment options is available at - www.ulster.ac.uk/finance/student/tuition-fees-payments

Fees and Funding

Information and advice about course fees and a guide to budgeting for your living costs, as well as sources for financial assistance including hardship funding, scholarships, prizes and awards, is available at - ​www.ulster.ac.uk/student/fees

Find the right scholarship for you

See if you can access financial or other forms of support, including mentorship to excel in your studies.

View available scholarships.

Additional mandatory costs

Please note that an additional professional examination fee applies (currently £50), payable directly to the ICT.

Further information is available via the ICT website: www.theict.org.uk

This course has been registered with the Construction Industry Training Board Northern Ireland (CITB NI) for grant assistance which is only applicable to those employers who are registered, in-scope and meet the current terms & conditions.

It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.

Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.

There are additional fees for examination resits and library fines. Where a graduation ceremony is part of your course, please be aware that additional fees will apply.

Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.

See the tuition fees on our student guide for most up to date costs.

Sustainability

Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.

At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.

We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships: Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Our work in this area is already being recognised globally.  Most recently by the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact rating where we were recognised as Joint 5^th Globally for Outreach Activities and Joint Top 20 Globally for Sustainable Development Goal 17:  Partnership for the Goals.

Visit our Sustainability at Ulster destination to learn more about how the University strategy and the activities of Ulster University support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.

• Sustainability at Ulster University

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

We are passionate about sharing with our students the vital role they each have now and as future professionals in promoting a sustainable future for all. We believe that sustainability is not the domain of one discipline or profession. It is the responsibility of all disciplines, professions, organisations and individuals.

That is why on each of our courses within the Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment you will learn about the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the contribution you can make now, and as a graduate in the Built Environment.

Contact

For further information please contact us via -

Email: FlexEd@ulster.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 (0) 28 9536 7199

* Please ensure to include your name, email, contact number and the name of the course you are interested in, with your query.

For more information visit

• Visit Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment
• Visit Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment

Terms and Conditions

1. We prepare our prospectus and online information about our courses with care and every effort is made to ensure that the information is accurate. The printed version of the prospectus is, however, published at least a year before the courses begin. Information included in the prospectus may, therefore, change. This includes, but is not limited to changes to the terms, content, delivery, location, method of assessments or lengths of the courses described. Not all circumstances are foreseeable, but changes will normally be made for one of the following reasons:

• to meet external, professional, or accredited body requirements;
• to provide for exceptional circumstances due to reasons beyond our reasonable control;
• to improve or enhance your experience, or to adopt changes recommended in student feedback, with the aim of improving the student experience and/or student outcomes; and/or
• to ensure appropriate academic standards are met, for example in response to external examiners’ feedback.

2. If there are insufficient enrolments to make a course viable, it may be necessary for the University to withdraw a course. If you have received an offer for a course that we subsequently have to close, we will contact you as soon as possible to discuss alternative courses. If you do not wish to study any alternative courses at the University, you may withdraw your application by informing us by email to admissions@ulster.ac.uk.

3. Please note that the University’s website is the most up-to-date source of information regarding courses, campuses and facilities and we strongly recommend that you always visit the website before making any commitments.

4. We will include a durable PDF when we send you an offer letter which will highlight any changes made to our prospectus or online information about our courses. You should read this carefully and ensure you fully understand what you are agreeing to before accepting a place on one of our courses.

5. The University will always try to deliver the course as described in the durable PDF you receive with your offer letter.

6. At any point after an offer has been made, students will be notified of any course changes in writing (usually by email) as soon as reasonably practicable and we will take all reasonable steps to minimise their impact where possible. The University will, where possible and reasonably practicable, seek the express consent of the student in regard to any changes concerning material or pre-contract information.

7. The University website will be updated to reflect the changed course information as soon as reasonably practicable.

8. If, after due consideration, you decide that you no longer want to study your course or to study at the University because of the changes, you may withdraw your application or terminate your contract with the University. In order to do so, you should notify us in writing by emailing admissions@ulster.ac.uk (and update UCAS if applicable). We will, on request, recommend alternative courses that you could study with us, or suggest a suitable course at an alternative higher education provider.

9. If you do not agree that the changes are fair, you can seek redress under the Student Complaints Procedures.

10. Providing the University has complied with the requirements of all applicable consumer protection laws, the University does not accept responsibility for the consequences of any modification, relocation or cancellation of any course, or part of a course, offered by the University. The University will give due and proper consideration to the effects thereof on individual students and take the steps necessary to minimise the impact of such effects on those affected.

11. The University is not liable for disruption to its provision of educational or other services caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control providing it takes all reasonable steps to minimise the resultant disruption to such services.

12. The published Academic Calendar sets out the University’s standard teaching, assessment, and vacation periods. These dates do not apply to all programmes. Individual programmes may operate different start dates, teaching periods, assessment schedules, or vacation arrangements, and some may include teaching or assessment outside the standard University terms. This is particularly common for programmes with professional accreditation requirements, clinical or practice‑based teaching, placements, fieldwork, or intensive study blocks. Full‑time 12‑month programmes, particularly postgraduate taught courses, may operate across the full academic year and typically continue through the summer period without a standard vacation break.

Applicants and students should not rely solely on the central academic calendar when making decisions about accommodation, travel, employment, or other commitments. Programme‑specific schedules will normally be confirmed in programme information, offer documentation and programme handbooks.

The University takes reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy of published information but reserves the right to make changes where reasonably necessary, including to maintain academic standards or to comply with regulatory or professional requirements. Where changes materially affect students, the University will take reasonable steps to notify affected students and applicants in advance where possible.

13. Further information can be found in our terms and conditions.

Student Terms and Conditions

The full Student Terms and Conditions is now available.