MSc Construction Project Management

This course is ideal if you wish to develop your understanding and skills in managing projects for construction professionals in either practice or client organizations. 

In today's ever-changing market, construction professionals need the knowledge and skills available through postgraduate study more than ever. Successful project managers need to be able to think, lead and act in an uncertain and dynamic business environment, have access to the latest information, understand the appropriate techniques and systems, and have the expertise to apply these to market needs and business opportunities.

The MSc Construction Project Management is designed specifically to enhance your understanding of managing projects, and to support construction professionals in practice and client organizations. It is aimed at architects, surveyors, services engineers, civil engineers, construction managers, and existing project managers who wish to formalize their training on the client and supply side.

Careers

Clients, consultants and contractors value project managers' role highly when it comes to optimising projects' budgets, timescales and quality. Project management roles vary, depending on the nature of the project and working environment, but it is a generic function that many organisations' clients will specify.

Our award-winning careers service helps you develop your employment potential through career coaching, a vacancy service for internships, placements, jobs, global opportunities, volunteering and community activity plus support for entrepreneurial activity, and access to employer events.

During your study we will provide you with support in finding employment through close industrial contacts and career events and recruitment fairs.

Content

The course is structured to support you as you explore the nature of projects in relation to organisations, and their commercial and public environment. This includes managing teams that analyse client value and risk associated with environmental issues, and the forms of procurement and contract available.

You will consider the use of information technology in managing projects, together with organisational change and innovation, and study the planning and control of projects in relation to the organisations that contribute to and manage the process.

We review modules regularly to ensure they're relevant to the latest trends and events, but the overall aims and content themes remain the same. The following core modules are indicative of the course structure:  

Year one

• Project Management Principles (15 credits) - This module gives you a holistic view of a generic project. It looks at the lifecycle of project management, and choosing project management tools and techniques strategically to suit specific situations and economic sectors.
• BIM in Design Co-ordination (15 credits) - You'll develop an advanced understanding of building information modelling (BIM) approaches to retrieving, analysing and integrating information to aid and refine design decision-making. We look at a selection of BIM tools and their application to generation, review, analysis, simulation, communication and coordination of design information.
• BIM in Construction Operations (15 credits) - This module applies BIM approaches to construction planning and operations, and considers a range of issues, including simulation of construction schedules and logistics, buildability scenario forecasting and clash detection.
• Sustainability in the Built Environment (15 credits) - Designed to give you a greater awareness of the interplay between environmental, social and economic issues and to develop holistic thinking to identify and implement strategic decisions for the sustainability of the built environment.
• Managerial Finance for the Built Environment (15 credits) - A critical evaluation of financial management from the non-financial manager's point of view. It gives you a firm grounding in the interpretation of published accounts and other financial data, and introduces management accounting in areas such as budget control, investment appraisal and cost behaviour.
• Construction Project Management Practice (15 credits) - Here you begin to integrate your project manager skills and practice, by focussing on a case study of a project and analysing the environment, client objectives, feasibility, strategy and implementation of the project.
• Construction Procurement and Law (15 credits) - This module covers Construction Procurement and Construction Contract Law. Standard forms of Contract are examined together with risk allocation theory and the newer forms of procurement including frameworks and alliancing.
• Modern Methods of Construction (15 credits) - The module extends a basic appreciation of construction technology and environmental science principles from traditional construction to modern methods of construction (MMC). You will be looking at efficiencies and smart project delivery through MMC, which are key to secure a sustainable built environment and a net zero carbon future.

Dissertation (60 credits)

This is a major part of the course, where you plan and carry out a research project. You'll have expert supervision from a member of staff. The module also provides a critique of research methods.

This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved we will inform you.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching usually takes place on two whole days a week, with lectures, seminars and other supporting activities. Each module (excluding the dissertation) has a full day of contact, with morning and afternoon sessions, and five teaching days so you engage with each module usually once a fortnight. This allows you to prepare for each module and apply yourself to the activities to consolidate your learning.

Some of your learning will be through using BIM software in computer labs, applying it to real-world scenarios and briefs.

Each module has a flexible reading programme with essential text and suggested reading lists, and some modules provide interactive learning materials. The library has a wide range of e-materials, especially e-journals and other resources you can access remotely. The course demands you develop an advanced knowledge and use of independent materials.

Entry requirements

We normally require an honours degree of 2:2 or above in Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Architectural Technology, Building, Building Services Engineering, Building Surveying, Building Technology, Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Construction Management, Construction Technology, Quantity Surveying, Real Estate, Urban, Development and Regional Planning.

We can consider applicants who have a degree in a different subject or do not have a degree but do have relevant professional experience or qualifications in the construction industry. In your application, you should describe in detail your professional experience and qualifications and provide one employer's reference.

Applicants who do not meet the standard requirements above, may be required to undertake some undergraduate modules in the year prior to starting the MSc. An additional fee will be charged for these modules.