
Table of contents
- What is the BCA Academy?
- Is BCA Academy good? Are they recognised?
- What Programmes Does BCA Academy Offer?
- Are There Programmes for Part-Time Students?
- What is the Admission Process for BCA Academy?
- Where is BCA Academy Located?
- What Facilities Does BCA Academy Provide?
- What Are the Career Prospects for Graduates of BCA Academy?
- Are There Any Funding Options Available at BCA Academy?
- What Kind of Support Does BCA Academy Offer to International Students?
- What About Student Affairs and Activities?
- What is BCA Academy's Contact Information?
- Final Thoughts
For students aiming to dive into the world of the built environment and construction industry or for mid-career workers who want to advance in the built environment sector, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Academy, Singapore may be the school for you!
That said, you may have some burning questions you want answered about this school.
Lucky for you, we've curated this comprehensive article to answer if BCA academy is good, and some other burning questions about this educational institution.
What is the BCA Academy?
BCA Academy is the education and research arm of the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), Singapore. Nestled in the heart of Singapore, BCA Academy is a dedicated hub for built environment learning—a beacon of innovative and practical education in the field of construction.
BCA Academy is composed of various schools and departments, each specialising in particular areas to improve the development of industry expertise and capabilities
- School of Academic & Continuing Education (ACE): This school specialises in academic education. Likewise, it offers academic pathways to meet the needs and aspirations of the ever-evolving industry.
- School of Professional & Specialist Education (PSE): This school provides professional training programmes to industry practitioners to acquire in-depth competencies and capabilities.
- Leadership & Partnership Department (LPD): This department nurtures leaders in the built environment sector by enhancing their competencies and equipping them with the necessary skills to drive innovation and excellence.
Is BCA Academy good? Are they recognised?
To know if BCA Academy is good, or recognised, we need to look at a few things.
- Do they have ties with relevant industries? Are they connected to any industry partners?
This will ensure that companies in those relevant industries will more likely recognise BCA Academy's certificates as credible.
Does BCA Academy Have Ties with the industry?
Yes! In fact, BCA Academy is the academic arm of goverment agency Building and Construction Authority, which means you can expect BCA Academy to be highly recognised in Singapore. In fact, this has translated to strong employment rate, with the school boasting a 92% employment rate from their bachelor's degree graduates and an 84% employment rate from their diploma graduates 6 months after graduation.
Moreover, BCA Academy has numerous industry partners and prides itself on its extensive network of partnerships with prestigious institutions or organisations, whether locally or internationally. Through these partnerships, BCA Academy helps facilitate internships, real-world projects, and job placements, providing students with invaluable hands-on experience. This industry-academia synergy plays a crucial role in making BCA Academy graduates highly sought after by employers.
Here are some of BCA Academy's notable institutional partners:
- Building and Construction Authority (BCA): Perhaps most importantly, BCA Academy is affiliated with BCA, which means that its academy have access and recognition from BCA's members.
- National University of Singapore (NUS): NUS is one of Asia's top universities. That said, the partnership with BCA Academy and NUS focuses on sustainable building and construction technology.
- Nanyang Technological University (NTU): Renowned for its engineering programs, NTU collaborates with BCA Academy to foster innovation in the built environment sector.
- University of Newcastle, Australia: This university is known for its excellence in architecture and built environment education. With the partnership, BCA Academy students are able to pursue degrees in Construction Management.
- International Facility Management Association (Singapore Chapter): This partnership facilitates industry-oriented training, networking opportunities, and professional development programs for students.
- Singapore Green Building Council: Through this partnership, BCA is able to promote sustainable building practices through knowledge exchange and joint research projects.
For the complete list of BCA Academy's institutional partners, click here.
What Programmes Does BCA Academy Offer?
BCA Academy offers a diverse range of programmes tailored to meet the dynamic needs of the construction and built environment sector of the country.
These programmes range from a postgraduate programme to various undergraduate degrees to diploma courses. These programmes can be finished between 3 to 4 years. The programmes cover various facets of the built environment such as construction engineering, building services, and facilities management.
BCA also offers short-term specialist and advanced diplomas for professionals looking to upgrade their skills.
Interestingly, if you are looking for convenience and flexibility, BCA Academy also offers online courses on various related subjects to help you improve your skills.
Here is a list of courses and programmes available at BCA Academy:
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree
- Diploma Programmes
- Specialist Diploma
- Courses for Professionals, Managers, & Executives
- Courses for Technicians & Associate Professionals
- Courses for Construction Personnel
- Online Courses
Are There Programmes for Part-Time Students?
Yes! There are many programmes available for part-time students. Here are some of them:
- Master of Built Environment
- Bachelor of Construction Management (Building) (Honours)
- Bachelor of Sciences in Facilities Management with a Minor
- Diploma in Construction Engineering
With regards to the Specialist Diploma, it can be obtained by taking various stackable modular certificates such as the Specialist Diploma in Architectural Technology (SDAT) or the Specialist Diploma in Building Cost Management (SDBCM) within 3 years. Each course can take 3 months to finish each modular certificate.
As for the various online and in-person courses, these can take between half a day to up to 4 months.
What is the Admission Process for BCA Academy?
The admission process at BCA Academy involves visiting the course/programme information page that you have chosen and registering for it through the BCA Academy Online Storefront. Note that specific requirements can vary based on the program of interest.
Prospective students are advised to check the official BCA Academy website for more details on the admission process.
Where is BCA Academy Located?
- Address: BCA Braddell Campus, 200 Braddell Road Singapore 579700
BCA Academy is strategically located in central Singapore, just 5-10 minutes from key transport hubs like Bishan MRT and Toa Payoh Bus Interchange. The Academy is about 20 minutes from Changi Airport and 12 minutes from the Central Business District. Click here to get complete directions to get to BCA Academy.
What Facilities Does BCA Academy Provide?
The Academy boasts state-of-the-art facilities designed to foster a conducive learning environment. Students have access to modern workshops, laboratories, and computer facilities.
In fact, the Academic Tower at BCA Braddell Campus is a part 10-storey and part 6-storey institutional building that is highly intelligent as it responds to the environment to achieve interior comfort and optimal energy consumption. With it, students can learn and experience how a building "lives," "breathes," and interacts with its occupants. In addition, it boasts exceedingly high energy savings of 35%, which far exceeds 30% for the GM Platinum criteria in 2015.
Additionally, the Zero Energy Building, a live demonstration of sustainable construction practices, serves as a unique learning resource for students. It's a prime example of how buildings can be designed and retrofitted for net-zero energy consumption. Likewise, it serves as a learning hub for students focusing on sustainability.
What Are the Career Prospects for Graduates of BCA Academy?
As mentioned above, since BCA Academy is part of a government agency, graduates are poised to gain employment within 6 months after graduation. That said, graduates have a range of career prospects in the build environment sector which includes project manager, building surveyor, and facilities manager.
That said, if you wish to continue studying, BCA Academy Diploma or Specialist Diploma may qualify you for related degree courses from various local and international universities such as the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Australian National University, University of Newcastle, and the University of Florida.
For the complete list of universities you can apply for after your stay at BCA Academy, click here.
Are There Any Funding Options Available at BCA Academy?
There are several funding options for prospective students at BCA Academy
- For employers: Companies can apply for training subsidies so they can sponsor their employees to take courses at BCA Academy. To apply for funding, must have a SkillsConnect account. For more information about funding support for employers, click here.
- For Individuals: Self-sponsored individuals can also apply for funding for selected courses. For more information about funding support for self-sponsored individuals, please click here.
If you do not fit into those two options, there are other funding schemes available:
- Workfare Skills Support (WSS) Scheme: If you are a low-wage worker that aims to upskill in order to improve your career options, the WSS scheme may be for you. You can find more information about this scheme here.
- Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy (MCES): You can be eligible for this funding option if you are a Singaporean aged 40 and above. Click here to find more information about MCES.
- Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS): As the name suggests, SMEs can enjoy funding of up to 90% of the course fees of courses supported by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG). They can also claim absentee payroll (AP) funding of 80% of the basic hourly salary at a higher cap of $7.50 per hour. For more information about ETSS, please click here.
- SkillsFuture Credit: All Singaporeans aged 25 and over have starting credit of S$500. You can utilise your credit to apply for selected courses at BCA. For more information about your SkillsFuture Credit and how you can use it to apply for BCA, please click here.
- Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA): This funding scheme administered by the Ministry of Education can be used by citizens under 30 years old. It can be used to pay for all BCA Academy full-time diplomas and programmes. Click here to find out more.
- Union Trade Assistance Programme (UTAP): This funding option is only available for union members only. Eligible applicants can claim up to 50% of course fees. Click here to find out how to apply for this funding option.
What Kind of Support Does BCA Academy Offer to International Students?
If you are an international student wishing to apply at BCA Academy, you can contact these international agents recommended by BCA Academy.
They can assist you with the following:
- Understand the courses offered at BCA Academy
- Guide you with the application process at the Academy
- Provide support with the visa application
- Help with other logistics issues related to studying in Singapore.
What About Student Affairs and Activities?
While there is not much on the internet about student life at BCA Academy, their website offers some glimpses into it. For example, BCA Academy students regularly compete and win in various design competitions organised by NTU and Singapore Polytechnic. Recently, BCA Academy students also joined the ASEAN Quantity Surveyors Association (AQSA) International Congress 2023 held in Sibu, Sarawak (East Malaysia) in which they won the second prize in the poster presentation competition.
The continued appearances and triumphs in competitions and conferences reflect the school's commitment to enhancing their students' learning experience by offering them a platform to apply their classroom knowledge in real-world contexts.
What is BCA Academy's Contact Information?
You can contact BCA Academy through the following:
- Telephone: +65 6248 9999
- Website: http://www.bcaa.edu.sg/
Please take note of their operating hours: Mondays to Fridays 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 5 pm.
You can also send your enquiries through the BCA Feedback Form.
Final Thoughts
BCA Academy stands as a leading institution in built environment education.
Whether you aspire to be part of the construction industry, aim to contribute to sustainable building practices, or seek a career in facilities management, BCA Academy can be the school to set you on the path to success!
Hopefully, with this FAQ, I was able to answer your burning questions about this fine educational institution.
Cheers!