University of Brighton
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Construction Management
MSc (PGCert PGDip)

  • Course summary and entry requirements

    Course duration Help

    Full-time: 1 year

    Part-time: 2 years

    Professional accreditation

    The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

    About the course

    The Construction Management programme offers a challenging academic route to becoming a qualified construction management professional. It provides an exciting and dynamic learning experience, building on your existing experiences and background. Our cutting edge expertise in engineering, construction and sustainable development enables students to develop their research and analytical capabilities at masters level. The course provides the requisite knowledge for understanding construction management as a profession. You will refer to how people, resources, organisations, built environment and the natural environment interact and take account of the unique needs and characteristics of construction projects in an environmentally sustainable fashion.

    Emphasis is given to the knowledge and skills required to manage the operations on site and to report both to the client's representative and the employing organisation. You will explore site management proposals that can be used to efficiently and effectively deliver construction projects in the shortest possible time. You will also develop effective methods of conducting and controlling the execution of work to an agreed quality standard, to accepted safety standards, within budget and acceptable to all strategic stakeholders.

    Typical entry requirements Help

    The entry requirements listed here are for students starting their course in 2013. Individual offers may vary

    For non-native speakers of English:
    6.5 overall and 6 in writing.

    Degree and/or experience:
    Honours degree; or other degree plus at least two years postgraduate experience in a position of responsibility; or full membership of a relevant chartered professional body.

  • Course content

    Course structure

    Course delivery is divided into two main parts:
    (i) taught portion at the university for lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, laboratory classes, individual supervision sessions and team working
    (ii) the masters project, an individual research programme enabling you to broaden your learning and develop research skills directed at critical appraisal, examine innovative solutions to the problem at hand, and to produce and defend a written thesis on a selected construction engineering, technology or management topic.

    The course has been developed using the university's modular structure providing flexibility for student learning and for further evolution of the course to reflect advances in the subject and the demands of the construction management profession.

    A typical 20-credit module normally requires a total of 200 hours of study time. The timetabled contact time for these modules is normally a minimum of four hours per week for thirteen teaching weeks. A minimum of eight hours per week per module is used for directed self-study, structured assignments, open-ended assignments and team working. Taught modules are assessed based on their learning objectives using coursework, presentations, oral and/or written examination at the end of the semester.

    Areas of study

    The programme provides the academic and professional core knowledge, understanding, skills and experience that are necessary to practice professionally as a construction manager. Modern construction is characterised by a complex network of design, component manufacture and assembly systems in which specialised contractors take responsibility for both the design and construction of discrete elements. Significant changes have occurred in the technologies, procurement methods and the skill base of the workforce. The construction management discipline has evolved to reflect this new industrial and commercial environment.

    The masters project plays two major roles, firstly to develop your ability to identify, formulate, execute and report upon an individual programme and secondly to develop specialist knowledge and understanding of a topic related to the construction management profession. A series of lectures and seminars develop appropriate research skills and expectations. The project is primarily an independent study, and your progress is monitored through interim scoping study reports and progress presentations.

    Syllabus

    Core modules
    Construction Management
    Project Planning and Analysis
    Construction Law and Procurement
    Management of People and Organisations
    Project Risk and Financial Analysis
    Masters project

    Sustainable Energy of Buildings
    Sustainable Construction
    Energy Assessment of Buildings
    Environmental Impact Assessment

  • Fees and costs

    The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

    The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

    What's included in the fee?

    When costs such as health or criminal record checks, field trips or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

    You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply please check with the school that provides your course using the contact details on the left of this page for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

    Our website www.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.

    Construction Management (MSc) (Full time)  [P2BH001]
    UK/EU (Full Time)4,320 GBP
    Island Students (Full Time)8,925 GBP
    International (Full Time)12,750 GBP

  • Location

    Location Help Moulsecoomb

    Located to the north of Brighton city centre, the Moulsecoomb campus offers students an excellent learning environment and a wide range of facilities. It is the largest of our five campuses with over 8,000 students.

    View campus maps and directions

    Living in Brighton

    Brighton’s rich mix of historic architecture, lively arts scene, varied shopping and cosmopolitan community make it a vibrant, enjoyable place to live. It is no wonder that many Brighton graduates choose to stay here.

    Social scene

    Alongside the traditional seaside attractions, Brighton is famed for its exciting social scene with a wide choice of pubs, clubs and restaurants.

    Music event on the beach

    Arts

    The highlight of the city’s cultural year is the Brighton Festival. The event is held each May and is England’s biggest arts festival, which showcases arts and performance from around the world. Brighton is also home to the UK’s oldest working cinema, the Duke of York’s, which shows alternative and mainstream films. The city is also well known for its exciting music scene and hosts The Great Escape music festival.

    Burning the Clocks winter solstice festival

    Sports

    Whether you take your sport seriously or just want to keep fit, Brighton offers all kinds of sports opportunities and facilities, on and off campus. You can also make the most of the location, and play volleyball, basketball and windsurfing down by the beach. The seafront is also the finishing point for the famous London – Brighton bicycle ride and the quirky veteran car run.

    Playing volleyball on the seafront
  • Career opportunities

    The course serves as a training and proving ground for the next generation of construction managers and researchers, leading to immediate employment in the construction management profession, or to further study at doctorate level.

    Visit the careers service website.