GENERAL AIMS

The degree is of a general nature, enabling graduates to work in the wide range of activities currently performed by Quantity Surveyors, whilst at the same time providing access to the kind of specialisation which takes place in the labour market, through the cyclical structure of university courses.

The general aim of the new Degree in technical architecture is to provide graduates with a general, European-standard education in the theories, techniques and technologies corresponding to the building sector, within a framework of continuous improvement and transmission of learning.

The Department of Education and Science Order ECI/3855/2007 of 27 December, in response to Additional Provision Nine of Royal Decree 1393/2007 of 29 October, regulating official university programmes, established that students should acquire the following skills:

1: Overseeing of building works, installations and elements, carrying out the quality and quantity control of constructed works by means of establishing and managing control plans for materials, systems and execution, drawing up the corresponding logs for inclusion in the Building Manifest. The financial control of works, drawing up the corresponding certificates and the costs of the works performed.

2: Drafting labour health and safety studies and plans and coordinating them in building works, through projects and execution phases.

3: Economic viability calculations, measurements, assessment, appraisal and studies; appraisal, inspection and analysis of building pathologies and defects and drafting of the corresponding reports and technical documents; plans and blueprints of plots and buildings.

4: Drawing up technical projects and overseeing building works, within the legal scope of the qualification.

5: Managing new building technologies and participating in building quality management processes; analysing, appraising and certifying building energy efficiency and sustainability studies.

6: Overseeing and managing building use, preservation and maintenance, drawing up the corresponding technical documents. Carrying out service life studies for materials, building systems and buildings. Overseeing the treatment of demolition and construction waste.

7: Technical consultancy in the manufacturing processes of the materials and elements used in building construction.

8: Overseeing the property process as a whole. Technical representation of construction companies in building works.

In addition to the above skills, regulated by current legislation, the following skills are also expected to be acquired to complement the aims of the degree course:

9: Identification, analysis and control of labour risks in building works, taking labour health and security requirements into account.

10: An understanding of the logic and operation of the economic sphere of construction companies.

An understanding of concepts such as inflation, unemployment, GNP, productivity, the public sector, investment, the housing market, housing policy and tenders, among others, and their implications for developers.

An understanding of the workings of financial management systems in construction companies, the banking structure, means of payment. Conversance with the operation of the property and housing markets in Spain, as a basis for decision-making in construction.

Solving practical construction business problems using economic calculation tools, such as calculating mortgage quotas, estimating growth in construction costs, calculating accessibility to housing for families or pricing tendencies, among others.

11: An understanding of real estate distribution and the organisation of the property market.

Gauging the importance of the basic determinant of the construction of non-residential properties and their implications for developers. The interaction between mortgage markets and development financing schemes.

Calculating the yield of building companies, estimating construction costs and making investment decisions.

Calculating the price of land.

• Credit structure of the degree course
• Distribution of credits per subject type
• General description of the course programme
• Optional subjects and routes
  

CREDIT STRUCTURE OF THE DEGREE COURSE

In order to make the course compatible with other activities, students are allowed to take a part-time course consisting of 30 credits per academic year.

DISTRIBUTION OF CREDITS PER SUBJECT TYPE

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE PROGRAMME

The course has been structured on the basis of three subject types:

Core subjects are taught in the first half of the study programme and comprise a total of 60 ECTS credits, of which 54 belong to Engineering and Architecture and the other six to Social and Legal Sciences.
Prior to evaluation for the final grade, the student must demonstrate competence in a foreign language. Among other forms of accreditation at the University of Alicante is to be overcome at least level B1 of the Common European Framework for modern languages¿¿, which may be raised in the future.

Compulsory subjects, aimed at guaranteeing that students acquire the skills covered by the Degrees, comprise 150 ECTS credits, in addition to the 12 ECTS credits corresponding to the compulsory Final Project, which is carried out in the final semester and is used to assess the level of skills acquired.  

Optional subjects are aimed at providing specialisation and are worth 18 ECTS credits. Students have two possibilities with regard to these credits. Firstly, if they wish to follow a recognised route, they must take the 12 credits offered in one of the proposed routes, plus another 6 ECTS from any other subject offered. Secondly, if they do not wish to take one of the official routes, they may take 18 ECTS from any three of the optional subjects. The optional subjects include the possibility of outside work experience.

The student shall be guaranteed the opportunity to obtain academic recognition to a maximum of six credits of elective total completed curriculum, by participation in activities university culture, sports, student representation, solidarity and cooperation.
Before the start of each academic year, the Governing Council will define the nature of the activities taking this academic recognition.

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS AND ROUTES

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT (IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Students who study an undergraduate degree at the University of Alicante must confirm a minimum level of B1 in a foreign language (a B2 is recommended) in order to obtain the diploma.  

The required language level is in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. 

The language accreditation requirement can be obtained previously or at any time during university studies. However, the language requirement will be necessary in order to be able to assess the final year project.

The different forms of obtaining such language requirement can be consulted in the additional information in this section.  

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LANGUAGE TEACHING COMPETENCE CERTIFICATE

Students who want to have a career in non-university teaching when they finish their studies are recommended to obtain the teaching competence certificate (Valencian and/or foreign languages).

This certificate can be obtained by taking specific itineraries in your university studies or by taking the UA teaching competence course in Valencian, German, French and English.

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FINAL YEAR PROJECT (TFG)

All the official undergraduate degrees must be completed by preparing and defending a final year project, which must be done in the final phase of the studies and be aimed at the assessment of competences associated to the degree.

The final year project must be an original, independent and personal work. The elaboration of it may by individual or coordinated. Each student will prepare this project under the supervision of a tutor, allowing students to show the received training content in an integrated many, as well as the acquired competences associated to the undergraduate degree.

In order to register in the final year project, students must comply with the requirements established in the “Regulations for continuation studies for students registered in undergraduate degrees at the University of Alicante”. Among the requirements established to be able to register in the final year project, a minimum of 168 credits must be passed in undergraduate degrees with a total of 240 credits, and a minimum of 228 credits in undergraduate degrees with a total of 300 credits or more.

In order for the final year project to be assessed, a B1 level of a foreign language (B2 is recommended) must be confirmed.

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• Access routes
• Procedure for applying for admission
• Number of places and pass marks

ACCESS ROUTES

Admission to this degree course is open to any applicant who meets one of the following entrance requirements:

1.     SPANISH BACCALAUREATE (LOMCE) UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAM (PAU): Although students can access university by means of any Baccalaureate specialization, the recommended one is Sciences.

Admission scores for this degree can be improved by taking the specific modules of the University Entrance Exam (PAU) as indicated in the table below with their respective weightings.

TABLE 1

2.     PREVIOUS BACCALAUREATES WITH OR WITHOUT A PASS IN THE UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAM (PAU): Students who have completed their Baccalaureate under previous education systems and have passed the PAU will be able to use the mark obtained in their application.

However, students can take specific exam modules during the voluntary PAU exam period in order to improve their admission score as shown in table 1. They can also sit for the obligatory PAU exams, in which case they will have to take all the exams scheduled during this period.

3.     VOCATIONAL EDUCATION: Vocational educational qualifications such as senior technician, senior technician of plastic arts and design, or senior technician in sports is the preferred professional area although access to this degree may be through any professional field.

Admission scores can be improved by taking the PAU exam in up to 4 of the modules in table 1.

4.     STUDENTS FROM EDUCATION SYSTEMS IN COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION OR OTHER STATES WITH WHICH SPAIN HAS AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT: Accreditation is required and issued by Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED).

Students can sit for exams in subjects included in the Pruebas de Competencias Específicas (PCE), organised by the UNED, in order to improve their admission score up to 14 points as indicated in the weightings in Table 1.

5.     STUDENTS FROM FOREIGN EDUCATION SYSTEMS: Prior to applying for the validation of their foreign Baccalaureate, students may sit for up to 4 exams in subjects offered by the Pruebas de Competencias Específicas (PCE) organised by UNED (at least one subject from the core subjects).

The weightings indicated in table 1 will be applied to core and/or optional subjects.

6.     OTHER: University degrees and other similar qualifications. University entrance exam for students over 25 (preferential option: Engineering and architecture). Access on the basis of professional experience (applicants over 40 years of age). Access to applicants aged 45 years or more by means of an exam.

Weightings of the subjects of the specific phase of the Proof of Access to the University (PAU) in the previous years

High School Diploma Subjects

Academic Years 2010-11 2011-12

0.1

0.2

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

Academic Years 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

0.1

x

x

x

x

x

0.2

x

x

x

x

x

PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING FOR ADMISSION: PRE-ENROLMENT AND REGISTRATION

• Anticipated number of places offered during the first pre-enrolment session: 240
  

• In order to apply for a place, the procedure and pre-enrolment periods established each year must be observed.  Information concerning the application procedure  (Pre-enrolment).

• Applicants admitted to a course must formally register within the timescale established annually in the enrolment calendar. Registration Information.

NUMBER OF PLACES AND PASS MARKS

• "Pass marks" indicated correspond to the results of the first adjudication of June.
  
• The definitive marks can be inferior to the here collected.

PROFESSIONS FOR WHICH THE DEGREE QUALIFIES ITS HOLDER

This degree entitles graduates to work as Quantity Surveyors. The professional attributes of the course are regulated by law. The free exercise of the profession is supervised by the Professional Associations of Draughtsmen and Quantity Surveyors.

Graduates may also enrol on professional Master’s Degree courses, research courses and other post-graduate courses, in accordance with current regulations.

IMPLEMENTATION TIMESCALE

The proposed course programme for the University of Alicante Degree in Building Engineering will be implemented on a year-by-year basis. This involves replacing each year of the programme leading to a Diploma in Quantity Surveying currently being taught at the University of Alicante Polytechnic University College, (amended 1999 programme), as follows:

CREDIT EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN THE FORMER DEGREE IN QUANTITY SURVEYOR AND THE NEW DEGREE IN QUANTITY SURVEYOR

Credits taken by students of the Quantity Surveyor course and not adapted according to the above table may be admitted for the Degree Course, up to a maximum of 6 optional credits covering the activities mentioned in Art. 12.8 of Royal Decree 1393/2007 (participation in cultural, sporting, student union, charity and cooperation activities).

In addition to the adaptation table for subjects in the proposed course programme and subjects in the Quantity Surveyor plan being phased out, the terms of the regulations for remaining and progressing at Alicante University must also be respected:

Transitional Provision Two. Students who do not wish to take the new degree course subjects are entitled to sit four examinations in the two academic years following the end of each year. Any students wishing to continue their studies after sitting and failing these tests will be required to follow the new plan, according to the adaptation system established in the new course programme. Old (LRU) and new (ECTS) credits are one-to-one equivalent, although overall limits will be established for the credit validation system.

Studies being phased out and replaced by the proposed degree course: Quantity Surveyor

According to the guidelines of the amended 1999 course programme of the University of Alicante. Official State Gazette 01/12/1999, amended Official State Gazette 29/11/2002. General guidelines published in Official State Gazette 27/08/1992.

Bridging Course for Architectural Technicians who wish to obtain the Degree in Architectural Technicians

• Envisaged number of students

• Entry and admission of students

• Degree Bridging Course Programme

• Estimated quantitative values

• Bridging Course implementation timescale

Envisaged number of students

Given the experience of other schools offering bridging courses this academic year, which have received a high number of applications for places on these courses, and taking into account the teaching resources of the departments involved, it is proposed to offer 200 places for Architectural Technicians. 

Entry and admission of students

In response to the training needs of present holders of the Architectural Technician qualification, as identified by both the Spanish General Council of Architectural Technicians and a significant group of Architectural Technicians in professional practice represented by the Official college of Quantity Surveyors, Architectural Technicians and Construction Engineers of Alicante, the  Polytechnic University College at the University of Alicante proposes to offer a Bridging Course intended for holders of the Architectural Technician qualification, in accordance with Royal Decree 1393/2007 and following the directives established by the University of Alicante and in this document. This Bridging Course will qualify these Architectural Technicians for positions at the same level in Public Administration as graduates.

Where the number of applications exceeds places offered, these will be assigned in accordance with the following priority criteria:

• (50%) Overall academic record. 
• (20%) To be a graduate of the University of Alicante (from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, having completed studies at the delegation from the University of Alicante) in the degree that gives access to the course of adaptation.
• (30%) Teaching collaborations with the School of Engineering.

Holders of the Architectural Technician qualification from other universities who wish to obtain the Degree in Architectural Technician from the University of Alicante by taking this bridging course will be required to take the subjects indicated by the Centre’s Commission for Recognition and Transfer of Credits, determined according to the subjects studied previously for the Diploma. Any architectural technicians who need to study subjects not included in the bridging course they will not be admitted onto the course.

Degree bridging course programme

The bridging course will consist of the subjects indicated in the Table below:

To successfully complete the optional component of the course, students may choose between Route II or Work Experience.

It is envisaged that teaching hours will be adapted to the particular circumstances of the students for whom this Bridging Course is intended, most of whom may be working.   This timetable will achieve the dual objective of enabling students to attend the course, and avoiding any possible conflict of teaching duties between the Bridging Course and the Degree course, in accordance with the timetable established in the course programme.

Estimated quantitative values for the indicators listed below and rationale for the estimation.

With respect to the bridging course, it is envisaged that the indicators used to evaluate learning outcomes will be better compared to typical values for the Degree, since students will already have ample knowledge of the subject matter.  Therefore, an improvement in indicators is envisaged and in consequence, the following values are proposed:

• Effectiveness rate > 80 %.
• Graduation rate > 50 %.
• Dropout rate < 20 %.

Implementation timescale for the Bridging Course

The course of adaptation has registered high levels of demand in previous editions having been more than 200 students each year without the possibility of registration. In view of these data, it is expected that the first academic year in which it is not offered (2013/2014), there will be a high demand for enrollment of new students entering graduate from extinct plans. This would significantly reduce the chances of access to the level of new students from senior high school and vocational training and competing for the same seats.
To resolve this situation, it is proposed that an adaptation period, while demand is sufficient to cover 50% of places offered in this course. 

DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGY. SYLLABUS SUMMARY

Internal Quality Assurance System (SGIC) of the Title

• Structure of the Centre for Quality
  • Comission of Internal Quality Guarantee
  • Other Commissions  
• Handbook SGIC
• Procedures
  • Strategic (PE)
  • Key (PC)
  • Support (PA)
  • Measurement (PM)

• Management of the SGIC (Access to ASTUA)

Follow-up of the Title

• Self-reports UA
• External reports AVAP 
• Other reports
• Improvement Plans
• Progress and Learning Outcomes