Course summary

Studied on campus or 100% online, this course seeks to prepare you to effectively manage projects and the budgets surrounding the development of the built environment. Encompassing physical, legal, economic and technological factors, you should gain an advanced understanding and knowledge of the theory and practice of procurement, construction economics, cost management and best practice project management within the specific context of the construction industry Studying theory/management practices and examining real-life case studies like the Millennium Dome and the Channel Tunnel, we aim to teach you how to manage complex construction projects from the initial planning stages, analysing corporate problems and presenting appropriate solutions, to implementation and completion, managing project teams, procurement, finance, risk, health and safety. Our aim is to develop your high-level knowledge, wide-ranging understanding and professional skills in both the theoretical and practical aspects of strategic management in the construction industry. You will be required to study the economics behind construction, examining the regulatory and legal framework within which the industry operates, as well as health and safety in the construction workplace. You will also cover the corporate management processes used within the construction industry, such as procurement systems and standard forms of construction contracts. We aim to make you familiar with a comprehensive range of the management and appraisal tools that can aid project management functions – design, programming and planning, monitoring and project evaluation of new developments and modifications of existing buildings. You should also develop your interpersonal skills in areas such as communications, presentation, conflict avoidance, negotiation, persuasion, management and dispute resolution. You will have the opportunity to examine how the built and natural environments interact, ever conscious of the need for sustainable construction, together with the environmental principles and legislation applied to the construction industry. You will be encouraged to engage in topical discussions about a wide range of issues, from sustainability demands in construction to environmental and economic considerations in shaping construction trends. As part of your degree, you will be expected to undertake an independent research project, which can be based on a topic of your choice or from selected supervisors. Past students have worked on construction and project management, cost management, contract management, lean construction, production management, Building Information Modelling (BIM), theory and practice, facilities and asset management and renewable energy management.