CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT
MSc
Accredited by University College Birmingham
Award
MSc
Duration
18 months FT / 3 years PT
Entry
September, February
Fees
View Fees
225,000 new construction workers needed in the UK by 2027*
*CITB, 2023
£130bn contributed to UK economy by construction industry in 2022**
**Statista, 2023
This course is also available for February entry, so if you're looking to start your studies sooner, why not apply for February 2025?
Do you want to pursue senior positions within the construction industry? The sector is in great need of new talent, with hundreds of thousands of new workers required in the UK over the next five years, including around 30,000 in the West Midlands. Our Construction Project Management postgraduate course will equip you with the blend of technical knowledge and managerial competencies you will need to take the lead on future projects in this field.
As part of our construction master’s course, you will gain in-depth knowledge of modern methods of construction and sustainability within the sector, familiarising you with exciting innovations essential to the future of the industry. You will also study core topics for managing construction projects, including management strategy and principles, workforce management, legal and statutory requirements, procurement, tendering and bid management.
Throughout your studies, you will have access to our cutting-edge Sustainable Construction Centre in the heart of Birmingham, enabling you to combine theory with practical training. By the end of the course, you will be superbly positioned to pursue careers in everything from site and project management to building surveying and civil engineering.
Why should I choose this course?
- PRACTICAL APPLICATION – Apply construction management concepts in a practical environment within our dedicated facilities at our Sustainable Construction Centre
- EXPERT TUITION – Learn from our highly qualified staff with extensive knowledge and experience in construction and sustainable practice
- IN-DEPTH RESEARCH (MSc only) – Conduct either a dissertation or industry-led research project into a relevant area within the field of construction
- AWARD-WINNING UNIVERSITY – Study at the highest-ranking university in the region according to student choice (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023)
Our facilities
Students on our construction courses will study in our real-world training facilities within our state-of-the-art Sustainable Construction Centre at the iconic James Cond Building. You will also have exclusive access to our dedicated postgraduate suite in McIntyre House, providing study and meeting spaces, PCs and other facilities.
Course breakdown
- Postgraduate
Core Modules
Workforce Resource Management
Employment in the construction industry, sub-contract management and control, leadership and motivation, change management
Legal and Statutory
Statutory control of construction projects including risk, finance and value and financial control
Project Management Principles and Strategy
From inception to post-contract facilities management, project strategies, contract principles and techniques, project monitoring and contractual procedures
Procurement, Tendering and Bid Management
Procurement law, international procurement, procurement systems, national procurement policy statements, public and private, bid writing, document control systems and people management
Modern Methods of Construction
Domestic and commercial, off-site manufacturing, factory production, ready-made technology including complete rooms, walls, floors, roofs, logistics and construction methodologies, modular, slabs, frames, panels, beams and joists
Sustainability
Natural resource extinction, wealth distribution, community health and social equity, environmentally responsible resource procurement through design, construction, and facilities management
Plus one option from: (MSc only)
Dissertation
Research methods and proposal, dissertation
Research Project
Industry-led
The modules listed above for this course are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up to date and informed by industry as well as the latest teaching methods. On occasion, we may need to make unexpected changes to modules – if this occurs, we will contact all offer holders as soon as possible.
Entry requirements
Academic
- MSc Construction Project Management – A grade classification of 2:2 is required, or international equivalent.
- A relevant UK or International honours degree from a recognised institution.
Work-based
- We also consider applicants who are currently employed and wish to apply to University College Birmingham.
- To apply, you must have five years of relevant managerial work experience, demonstrating in-depth knowledge of the sector for the subject matter you are interested in pursuing.
- A reference detailing your roles and responsibilities from your line manager and a meeting with the programme team will usually be scheduled prior to a place being offered.
International students
For academic and English entry requirements for EU and international students, please visit the Country Specific Information page.
Please note: As an International Student, when choosing optional placement, a visa extension may be required.
Additional
If your degree is not related and you do not have relevant managerial work experience, please contact Admissions so that we can discuss your application on an individual basis before you apply.
If you have any questions, please complete our enquiry form:
Key information
Teaching and assessment
Note: Indicative information only – actual timetables and assessment regimes will be issued at your induction.
Teaching
Example of a typical teaching week (up to 12 contact hours):
- Large group teaching – 10 hours (in lecture rooms/specialist construction facilities)
- Smaller group teaching – 1 hour
- Tutorials – 1 hour
- Subject advice sessions – 1-3 hours
You will also need to commit around 20 hours per week for individual study time.
Assessment
Estimated breakdown of assessment for this course:
- Coursework – 45%
- Practical assessments/projects – 45%
- Exams/tests – 10%
Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2021-2024.
Timetable
We understand that you need to balance study with work, so wherever possible your lessons will be timetabled into 2-3 days a week for full-time and one day a week for part-time study.
Tuition fees for international students
If you are an international student (or have been fee assessed as an international fee payer) and enrolling on a full-time postgraduate degree course in 2024/2025, the fee for the academic year will be £15,000. If you complete a placement year, there will be an administration fee of £500 for a full year or £250 for a half-year placement.
In 2025/26, the tuition fee for [Band 1] courses will be £17,000 for the academic year.
Unibuddy Community - meet other students on your course
Starting university is an exciting time, but we understand that it can sometimes feel a little daunting. To support you, you will be invited to join our Unibuddy Community, where you can meet other students who have applied for the same course at University College Birmingham, before you start studying here.
As soon as you have been made an offer, you will be sent an invitation email to complete your registration and join the Unibuddy Community. For more information, check out our Unibuddy Community page.
I know how valuable a postgraduate qualification is for working in this sector, having studied a master’s in civil engineering myself. Our course provides the broad curriculum required to operate well within the world of modern construction, making it ideal whether you are looking to update your construction management skills, change career or stand out from undergraduates within the job market.
Career opportunities
The example roles and salaries below are intended as a guide only.
Construction project manager
Average Salary: £58,000
Construction site manager
Average Salary: £47,500
Construction manager
Average Salary: £30,000
Building control officer
Average Salary: £41,000
Civil engineer
Average Salary: £30,000
Building surveyor
Average Salary: £26,500
Rachael’s Story
Senior engineering lecturer Rachael has witnessed first-hand the rapid changes in industry and is now sharing her vast experience with our students.
