Construction Project Management - MSc drafted

Program Overview

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The Construction Project Management MSc prepares you for complex construction projects in a constantly changing globalised industry. Such an industry calls for skilled professionals who can deal with the challenges ahead.

This course is

open

to

International

students.

What's covered in this course?

Accredited by RICS and CIOB, this course gives you a broad yet rigorous grounding in the fundamentals of organising and managing construction projects, and provides you with the knowledge and skills needed as a project manager. Our Construction Project Management postgraduates are highly sought-after and have secured positions with companies such as Turner & Townsend, Miller Construction and Acivico.

The MSc Construction Project Management course will enable graduates with degrees in surveying, construction, architecture, civil engineering and real estate to enter the construction management profession. Practitioners with extensive construction work experience but without a first degree will also be considered, subject to entrance exam and interview.

The course gives you a broad knowledge of the challenges of a changing construction industry.

You’ll cover law and contract, sustainability, business management, project management and

innovation. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is embedded in the course for integrated project delivery.

Professional staff with industry experience will offer support and guidance. We are constantly reviewing and researching the most up-to-date construction developments to be able to pass on the latest industry knowledge. This is supported by guest speakers such as Andrew Hornby, one of our graduates, who now works for Arcadis. We also have excellent links with companies in the region, including Willmott Dixon, Galliford Try and Birmingham City Council.

The Masters in construction project management course is taught in the prestigious £114m Millennium Point building

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part of our City Centre Campus

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with technology and facilities that reflect advanced professional practice. Our City Centre Campus location is an inspirational

place to learn. Birmingham’s Big City Plan, regenerating and developing the city, means there are plenty of opportunities within the built environment. And you’ll have the added advantage of

being based near construction sites, including our new Conservatoire development and the new high speed rail track, HS2, giving you invaluable insight into the construction industry.

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Tailor your degree

The Professional Placement version of the course is optional and is offered as an alternative to the standard version of the course. This will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market.

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Accredited By

Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)

The MSc Construction Project Management degree focussed primarily on establishing ‘creative minds’ in the field of property and construction. The course enabled me to focus on building my own company within my parent company to overcome all challenges related to property and construction management.

Ajay Nahar – Alumnus

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Why Choose Us?

Accredited Course

- This course is fully accredited by both the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

Preparation for industry

- Successful completion of the course enables you to pursue professional membership of both CIOB and RICS after the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

Highly employable graduates

- Our graduates have secured positions with companies such as Miller Construction, Parkwood Consultancy, HS2 and Turner & Townsend Project Management.

Professional placement option

– Gain desirable employability skills with the option of a professional placement.

Strong industry links

- Our links with companies such as Wilmott Dixon and Galliford Try help you make vital contacts and gain practical experience to back up theory.

Multi-Professional learning

- Develop understanding of all aspects of this industry in workshops with students from other built environment post-graduate courses.

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Studying with us during the Covid-19 pandemic

The University has put in place

measures in response to Covid-19

to allow us to safely deliver our courses. Should the impact of the pandemic continue in future years, any additional or alternative arrangements put in place by the University will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the

student contract

.

Program Outline

Master's

Professional Placement (optional)

Master's

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):

Construction Law and Contract 20 credits

This module seeks to help the students understand and evaluate construction contracts, their application and execution, as well as the legal aspect of construction. The module is designed to make the students develop a systematic understanding of the knowledge and critical awareness of the issues and opportunities for the management of construction projects. It also seeks to make the student aware of and appreciate the conflicting interests within construction projects and the need to manage such interests effectively. To be able to manage such interests, the module prepares the students to be aware of the legal and organisational factors at play in the construction industry and the methods available for managing/resolving disputes that may occur during the execution of projects.

Sustainable Construction 20 credits

The programme philosophy seeks to respond to a changing employment market and to the changing requirements of the construction industry. Its aim is to give you a broad yet rigorous grounding in the fundamentals of organising and managing construction projects. This module is consistent with this philosophy as it discusses the reality of construction activities which have a long-lasting effect on the environment therefore sustainable and environmentally sound construction methods and innovative management practices are needed.

Project Management Methods 20 credits

This module explores various methods of project management within the context of construction. It explores the practical aspects of the development and construction process and in particular, those areas over which a Project Manager would expect to have some control. Themes such as specifications, programming, costing, stakeholder, risk and project control are addressed towards providing practical solutions. This module focuses on the practical skills needed for a project manager to effectively manage a construction project.

Business Management 20 credits

This module seeks to provide students the opportunity to critically examine and analyse topical business management issues in a construction organisational context. Through business management techniques and contemporary case studies, students will explore strategic and operational business issues in the construction environment such as economics, accounting and finance, market development, corporate social responsibility, resource and knowledge management, etc. This module develops students’ contextual awareness and competencies in business management so that they can better manage their projects and are ready to progress in their career.

Integrated Project Delivery 20 credits

This module takes a production process view of design, construction and operation enabling students to appreciate developments in effectiveness and efficiency and how these can be managed. This will consider concepts such as transformation, flow and value creation to understand the notion of integrated project delivery.

Innovation in Construction 20 credits

This course is seeking to create effective, efficient and creative managers of construction projects from design right through to occupation. Innovation is a key aspect of this both in managers’ ability to conceive of new approaches but also to implement series of improvements and to cope with disruption. The module takes a ‘learning approach’ to innovating considering this at both the system level and the individual level.

Individual Master’s Project (Dissertation) 60 credits

The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and research-informed Level 7 project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. In agreement with your supervisor, you will decide upon your topic which will take the form of a practical outcome (artefact) with accompanying contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your topic is that it must be aligned to the programme you are studying and informed by the research strategy of your school, and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.

Professional Placement (optional)

In order to qualify for the award of MSc Construction Project Management with Professional Placement, a student must successfully complete all of the Level 7 modules listed above as well as the following Level 6 module:

Professional Placement 60 credits

This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 20-week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree.

The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.

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The overall teaching, learning and assessment strategy of this course is that you are at the centre of learning and teaching, which has a particular focus on the reflective learner and the development of professional skills and applied research. To achieve this and to ensure that you are exposed to a wide range of learning and teaching methods, we use lectures, seminars, workshops, action learning sets, group work, problem based activities, guest speakers, on-line learning via Moodle, site visits and discussion forums.

Our teaching is very interactive, and you are encouraged to share your experience and opinions with your peers. Critical thinking is vital in Master’s study, and you are required to develop your own ideas and come up with solutions to problems based on solid evidence and logical analysis. You’ll also be expected to complete reading and assignments outside of class hours.

Although this programme is module based, each module forms part of one of the programme themes. This ensures that module design and associated teaching and assessments link together in progressive subject development. Our part-time students attend lectures on day-release basis, and share the modules with our full-time students.

Various assessment will be used in this course:

Module	Assessment
Construction Law and Contract	Essay
Sustainable Construction	Portfolio
Project Management Methods	Portfolio
Innovation in Construction	Essay + Individual presentation
Business Management	Essay + Group presentation
Integrated Project Delivery	Essay
Dissertation	Research proposal + Dissertation

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Professional Placement option*

The Professional Placement option will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market.

Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace. You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement. The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study.

You will also benefit from support sessions delivered by Careers+ as well as advice and guidance from your School. Placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course. All students who do not find a suitable placement or do not pass the competitive selection process will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.

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This course is accredited by:

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Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

The course is fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Successful completion of the course will lead to Professional Membership after the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

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The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)

The Chartered Institute of Building is at the heart of a management career in construction. Its focus is on those entering and already in a management career in construction, by delivering qualifications and certifications that meet the needs of a changing industry. It works with members, employers, academia and governments across the globe to drive forward the science, practice and importance of management in construction.

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Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)

This course is accredited by Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)