MSc Construction Project Management

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'll 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'll 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.

See our glossary of teaching and learning terms.

Study time

Full-time (including dissertation): Teaching is in 40 teaching days. You should spend a minimum of 28 hours a week studying.

Part-time (including dissertation): Teaching is in 30 teaching days in the first year, and 10 teaching days in the second year. You should spend a minimum of 14 hours a week studying.

Part-time students will study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.

Studying part-time allows you to combine study with work, although being in work is not a requirement of the programme. Our full-time version is an intensive, yet cost-effective way, of accelerating your studies. If you opt to study with us full-time, any accompanying job that you hold should not exceed 16 hours per week to allow you sufficient study time.

We provide tutorial support between teaching blocks.

Assessment

Assessment avoids major exams. We assess your work through a variety of coursework assignments, including reports, and presentations. Many modules have mini projects that require applied research relevant to the syllabus but applied to construction project management in practice.

See our full glossary of assessment terms.