Construction Management MSc

Program Overview

---

Introduction:

Construction is an exciting global industry and Construction Managers play a crucial role at the heart of it, responsible for directing operations within building projects - from project planning, contract administration and safety management, through to cost and quality control.

This course will develop your knowledge of the fundamental principles of construction management to the processes and dynamics of live project work. You’ll gain a critical understanding of the role that management plays in industry processes, and examine the technological processes and associated business functions widely seen in the UK and across international environments.

Through the application of research methods, you'll advance your ability to identify innovation and continuous development in the industry. Our MSc Construction Management course provides you with a framework for understanding the unique role of a construction manager, with a key focus on the management of construction projects from the perspective of the construction contractor.

Who is this course designed for?

This course is aimed at both professionals or graduates wishing to pursue a career managing construction projects.

It is suitable for professionals already working in the construction industries who aspire to senior management positions. Additionally, this course is suitable for undergraduate students in related subject areas, looking to progress to a managerial and technical programme.

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES), and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE).

95% of our Construction Management postgraduates (PGT) are in a ‘High Skilled’ role 15 months after finishing their degrees (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20).

You’ll have hands-on access to industry-inspired workshops and laboratories, supported by our team of expert technicians.

Our study routes are designed to be flexible and we provide extra support to part-time learners wanting to balance further study alongside their current employment.

---

---

---

---

Course accreditation

Program Outline

---

What you’ll study

The course is formed of six core modules, four of which are shared with other construction management courses. This provides the opportunity for multi-disciplinary group work, which aims to extend your knowledge and peer network. You’ll also be able to

choose between a further two optional modules

, offering the opportunity to pursue research or to undertake a work placement in industry.

Your seven taught modules will total 180 credit points. The modules’ credit points are weighted based on the total time you can expect to spend studying the module content, both in terms of contact hours and non-contact hours.

Core module content

Optional module content

---

Law for Construction

15 credit points

This module will provide you with a framework for understanding legal processes and legal decision making in relation to the construction industry. This will provide you with a basis for understanding some key legal rights and responsibilities, and inform dispute resolution.

The module content includes: an introduction to the English legal systems and process, key elements of contract law pertinent to the role of the construction manager, a review of key torts, a review of health and safety law, and methods of dispute resolution, including courts, arbitration, adjudication, mediation and conciliation. You will also look at corporate social responsibility from a legal perspective, including Corporate Manslaughter legislation.

This module will be delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars, and be assessed via coursework and an examination.

---

Construction Business and Enterprise

30 credit points

This module aims to introduce you to the construction industry as a business and enterprise. You will study three main areas: economics and finance, organisations and human resources management and marketing.

You will develop a critical understanding of the complex economic and financial environments that construction organisations operate within, developing the necessary skills to analyse construction company accounts. The module will also introduce you to contemporary and emerging management theories and practices. You’ll appraise social, cultural, political and organisational differences, to identify how companies operate globally.

You will also evaluate current and evolving human resource management issues, and develop the skills to critically review the marketing of construction organisations.

This module will be delivered via a flexible programme of lectures, workshops, seminar groups and tutorials, and be assessed via coursework, a portfolio and an exam.

---

Collaborative Working

15 credit points

The aim of this module is to explore the business case and technological concepts for using collaborative working, and its associated information and communication technologies used on construction projects, supported by case studies from industry.

Module content will include demonstrations and on-the-job learning of collaborative working environments, with the key aim of the module to understand and utilise the benefits provided by collaborative working, on your projects.

You will study the history and background to collaborative working, and assess standards and collaborative procedures. You will also be exposed to a variety of collaborative working technologies, and look at the business implication of collaborative working, including risk analysis.

This module will be delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars, and be assessed via coursework.

---

Advanced Construction Technology

15 credit points

This module aims to introduce you to the technological environments, in which the construction industry operates.

You will critically review construction systems and methods of implementation, including characteristics, constraints and difficulties, that together form the criteria for the development and optimisation of various methodologies available.

You will explore and evaluate opportunities for the rationalisation of construction systems and production methods. The module will extend you knowledge of the relationship between construction projects and the environment, including the integration of environmental protection in the planning, implementation and life cycle of the construction product.

This module will be delivered via a flexible programme of lectures, workshops, seminar groups and tutorials, and assessed via a report and a presentation.

---

Planning and Managing Construction Work

15 credit points

This module will introduce you to project environments within the construction industry. This module aims to:

Critically evaluate the definition, planning and organisation of construction projects, including resource management and logistics.

Demonstrate competencies in the application of management to both the overall process of project management, and to specific stages within that process, including knowledge and understanding of planning techniques, such as critical path methodology, line of balance and critical chain analysis.

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of cost and risk management applied to construction.

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the use of information technology for project planning and risk management, including building information modelling.

This module will be delivered via lectures, workshops, seminar groups and tutorials, and be assessed via a portfolio.

---

Professional Practice and Procedure for Construction and Engineering Management

30 credit points

This module introduces you to project environments in which the international construction industry operates. The module will be based around studying a live construction project, working in teams to solve a series of problems relating to the management of construction projects in the national construction market.

Depending on the nature of the project selected, your teams may also be cross-disciplinary, including members from the MSc Project Management (Construction) and MSc Quantity Surveying courses, with whom you may share some common lectures and workshops.

The module may also allow some personalisation of your studies, as you may be able to pursue topics or themes of your own interest and choosing within the assessment, pertinent to the management of construction engineering.

This module will be delivered via a flexible programme of lectures, workshops, seminar groups and tutorials, and assessed via project work, including a submission, a portfolio and a presentation.

---

You will choose to study either:

---

Postgraduate Research Project

60 credit points

This module will introduce you to the methodology used in build environment research, the theory behind different research methods, and practical aspects of their implementation.

You will be required to define a research project, in agreement with your supervisor, examining the connections between theory and principle, business or industrial practice, and research in the context of your chosen course.

You will own and manage a significant independent academic inquiry that will be reported in the form of a postgraduate research project, poster presentation and journal paper in the publisher’s format of an appropriate peer-reviewed academic journal. You’ll be guided through the nature of academic postgraduate work, which will include specific exercises to develop your knowledge of research methodology.

This module will be delivered via lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, and assessed via a written submission. You’ll be supported throughout by regular meetings with your project supervisor to receive feedback.

---

Or:

---

Industrial or Professional Internship

60 credit points

By choosing this option you will need to successfully secure an internship*, and complete a period of programme relevant work experience (minimum 150 hours).

As part of this you will be required to complete an associated research-based enquiry examining connections between theories, principles and practice, business, commercial, industrial, and professional practice and research, in the context of your course and field of internship.

Your Practice Research Enquiry will be reported in the form of a professional report. It is expected that this report will be underpinned by rigorous and critical examination of literature within the field. This enquiry may be based around a topic that has been pre-identified and possibly partly pre-constructed in your internship environment, and framed around an issue of organisational relevance to the internship provider.

Key relevant data may be readily available from or through the internship and the outcome of the study may well have direct relevance to the internship provider (although this is not a requirement). It is important to note that this study will require a focused critical literature review, and critical consideration of methodological choices, options and approaches. You will be required to specify the nature of your research enquiry at a formative stage of the investigation through the submission of a Practice Research Enquiry Proposal.

The report will also include a personal development plan. Assessment will be via written reports and assessments, including your Practice Research Report, your internship log and diary, and a critical reflective commentary and evaluation.

*You will receive support in sourcing a placement through our Employability team, however it is your responsibility to source and secure your internship opportunity with a relevant company. Availability of internships is not guaranteed. If an internship cannot be secured, then you will be required to complete the Postgraduate Research Project module instead.

It is the responsibility of non-UK students to investigate the restrictions of their student visa when seeking internship opportunities and/or employment in the UK. Visit the UKCISA website for the most up-to-date visa information.

---

How you’re taught

---

How will I learn?

A wide range of teaching and learning methods are used to deliver the course content. In most modules, you’ll take part in intensive sessions of key point lectures, supported by study guides and other literature. Many modules include presentations by external industry specialists, to provide a real life perspective on the module content.

Non-contact hours include direct out-of-classroom reading and activities, and independent learning and reading is deemed necessary to achieve the learning outcomes for the course.

---

Study trips

Field trips and study visits are an important part of your learning. Trips may include site visits and visits to practices, museums, exhibitions and events. Where a trip is mandatory it will be aligned to your modules and inform project work, and substantive costs – including travel and accommodation – will be paid for by the school. Optional trips may also be organised which can provide additional opportunities to enhance your knowledge and experience. Optional trips may incur a cost to the student. A valid passport and any associated visas will be required for trips outside of the UK.

---

Studying part-time

The full-time route is usually studied for one year. The part-time route typically takes two to five years to complete, depending on your work/study balance and commitments. The part-time route is suitable for students in full-time employment.

---

Research informed teaching

By daring to think differently our research is tackling real-world issues.

In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) – the UK’s system for assessing the quality and impact of research in universities – 100% of research submitted by the Centre of the Built Environment was assessed to be either world-leading or international excellent.

---

Careers and employability

---

Where do MSc Construction Management graduates from NTU work?

Our MSc Construction Management course has an outstanding reputation for producing employable graduates. 95% of our Construction Management postgraduates (PGT) are in a ‘High Skilled’ role 15 months after finishing their degrees (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20).

The skills and knowledge gained on this course opens up opportunities for application to senior management positions. You will graduate with improved professional and technical skills in managerial, economic, legal and business areas.

Recent graduate destinations have included:

National Grid

Balfour Beatty

Douglas Smith Construction Consultancy Ltd

Tower Surveys Ltd.

VINCI Construction Ltd.

EC Harris, and many more.

Graduate job roles include project manager, construction manager and project development officer.

---

What our accreditations mean for you

This degree is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES), and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE). These accreditations represent seals of approval that the course delivers the highest standards of teaching, and signify the quality and relevance of the course content.

---

Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)

The CIOB accreditation ensures that successful students have a clear route to become full members of the CIOB (MCIOB). To become Chartered you must apply directly to the body, and demonstrate your knowledge, skills and experience in key areas of occupational, managerial and professional competence through reviews and assessments.

As a Chartered member of CIOB, you will be part of the world's largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership, with nearly 50,000 members in more than 100 countries.

---

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

The RICS accreditation enables you to progress to Chartered Surveyor status once you have completed your studies. To become a Chartered Surveyor, you'll need to complete at least two years of relevant professional work experience – the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

This course will prepare you for future employment in a number of the RICS APC pathways. Find out more about how to complete your APC and become RICS qualified.

---

Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES)

The course's CICES accreditation provides you the opportunity to apply for a free Student Membership, which you can then upgrade to a Graduate Membership once you've completed the course.

CICES is an international qualifying body dedicated to the regulation, education and training of surveyors working in civil engineering. As a member, you'll have access to a range of benefits and be able to progress through the membership grades as your career progresses.

---

Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)

All students on a CABE accredited course can apply for free Student Membership, and after graduating can apply for Graduate Membership (Grad CABE). Graduate Membership is a developmental grade on the pathway to becoming a fully qualified Building Engineer.

CABE is an internationally recognised professional body. As a member, you'll show your peers, employers and the public that you are a competent and ethical professional who can be relied upon to strive for the highest possible standards.

---

Internships

If you elect to complete the optional Internship module as part of the course, it is your responsibility to source and secure your internship opportunity with a relevant company. You will receive support through our Employability team, however availability of internships is not guaranteed.

It is the responsibility of non-UK students to investigate the restrictions of their student visa when seeking internship opportunities and/or employment in the UK. Visit the UKCISA website for the most up-to-date visa information.

---

Hear from industry professionals

Regular campus events such as our Construction CPD Series provide the perfect chance to hear from and meet industry professionals.

---

Our Employability Team

Our expert Employability team will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice. You can benefit from this service at any time during your studies, and for up to three years after completing your course.

Throughout the year, our Employability team runs a series of events specifically for students studying in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment. This includes the Built Environment Jobs Fair, where employers advertise graduate positions to our students.

---

Re:search Re:imagined

To us, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. From modernising construction supply chains to BIM implementation, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society. Find out more

---

NTU Enterprise

You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.

Students meeting industry representatives at our annual Built Environment Jobs Fair