Construction Project and Cost Management MSc

Study level: Postgraduate
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Currently accredited1 by both the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and studied on campus or 100% online, this practice-led course has been developed in response to the rapid cultural changes within the global construction industry.

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)
100% online study

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time
2 years sandwich

Course code

On campus - EECT020
Online - EECT021

Start date

May 2024


Course overview

This practice-led course was developed in response to the rapid cultural changes within the global construction industry and aims to recognise the growing demand for professionals to stay abreast of new, innovative, and non-adversarial approaches to project management, able to address internal constraints and dynamic external situations.

  • Coventry University has been educating construction professionals for over half a century. Our courses are developed with direct input from members of our current Civil Engineering and Building Advisory Boards including Arcadis, Arup, Mott MacDonald, and Geotechnics Ltd.
  • This exciting course focuses on developing the core skills and competencies identified by the professional bodies for roles as construction project managers, cost managers and quantity surveyors.
  • If you study on campus, you will have the option to apply for a 'work placement' opportunity2, designed to further develop your skills and knowledge with the aim of maximising your employability prospects. See modules for more information.
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Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects

Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022

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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

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Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2023

Why you should study this course

For the UK and other countries to capitalise on the future growth potential of the global construction industry, industry requires new talent and new ways of working to meet the challenges of a shortfall of skilled labour and rising demand for lower costs, lower emissions, and faster delivery.

  • This professionally accredited course1 combines the study of the core industry professions; construction management; project and contract management; and quantity surveying. Successful completion of this course is intended to set you on the path towards becoming a chartered surveyor or chartered construction manager, able to obtain full membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) (subject to additional costs) or Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) (subject to additional costs) after a suitable period of professional practice.
  • This course may be of interest if you are looking to enter the construction industry or are seeking career progression – as an existing construction professional, civil or structural engineer, architectural technologist, surveyor or building services engineering. For non-cognate graduates, those without a RICS accredited undergraduate degree, it also constitutes a vocational conversion course.
  • We currently enjoy excellent links with local and national contractors, many of whom provide direct input into course development as members of our Civil Engineering and Building Advisory Boards. They may also enable you to gain further involvement within the construction community through networking and placement opportunities2, which may enhance your employment prospects on graduation.
  • Our current teaching staff have academic and professional experience in architectural practice, civil engineering, and the construction industry. We also have a strong portfolio of industry-related research, particularly in the areas of low carbon building technology, sustainable construction materials and engineering education, which aims to keep you abreast of new technologies and emerging issues.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

This course is currently accredited by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The accreditation of this course is perpetual (continuous) and is not subject to annual renewal process.


Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)

Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)

This course is currently accredited by The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) for 2023-24 entry, having been judged to meet the CIOB Education Framework. Prospective members holding these qualifications will have full academic exemption and once they have gained three to five years’ relevant work experience, may enter CIOB membership as an applicant to progress towards Chartered Membership (subject to additional costs) without the requirement for an Individual Assessment.


Chartered Management Institute

Chartered Management Institute

As part of this course you will be required to undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for the 2023-24 intake. Upon successful completion of the module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost. Further details can be found on the Professional Development module homepage.

Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules and is regularly reviewed and monitored by the CMI through their quality systems.


Chartered Association of Building Engineers

Chartered Association of Building Engineers

This course is accredited by the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) for intakes up to and including May 2025. All students on a CABE accredited course can apply for FREE Student Membership of CABE for the duration of their course.


Coventry University has given me an experience of a lifetime and has taught me learnings that have been beneficial since graduation. I have recently started work and realised the teaching and assessment all links with the real-world and makes me stand out from the crowd. I wouldn’t have wished for any other University to have completed my undergraduate and master’s. Coventry University has truly made me evolve as an individual.

Khanjan Darad, Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management (BSc) Hons, Construction Project and Cost Management (MSc) Distinction, quoted February 2022
Khanjan Darad

What you'll study

Modules

  • This module will develop an understanding, critical awareness, and the ability to apply a range of different techniques to the management of construction projects within the global construction industry.

    Compulsory

  • This module has been designed to develop your ability to understand, apply accounting and financial principles and to use financial information to analyse problems and assess business performance in construction firms from a financial viewpoint.

    Compulsory

  • This module provides a critical awareness of the concepts, theories, and principles relevant to preparing budget costs and understanding the cost control techniques used for monitoring project cost and the progress of projects.

    Compulsory

  • The principal aim of this module is to provide you with a critical understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of strategic management in the context of the construction industry. 

    Compulsory

  • This module will critically appraise principles relevant to pre-contract management practices for construction projects. Emphasis will be placed upon preparation of pre-tender documentation, such as Bill of Quantities.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to develop your understanding and critical awareness of the selection, use and interpretation of standard forms of contracts within the construction industry.

    Compulsory

  • The project calls for the application of academic knowledge, engineering judgment, professional skills, and personal resourcefulness to analyse challenging civil engineering / construction problems in a comprehensive manner and propose well justified and presented solutions.

    Compulsory

  • This module will develop knowledge and critical understanding of exogenous issues influencing the way modern construction projects are being and, most importantly, will be managed in the future.

    Compulsory

  • The module aims to extend your experience in independent investigative work with a view to enhancing your ability to solve problems in your field of study. Research methods for technical, scientific, and social science investigations are included. Written presentation skills are developed as an integral part of the project.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding of how to effectively lead and develop people in a strategically diverse and inclusive way.

    Compulsory

With work placement pathway (on campus only)

The ‘With work placement’ opportunity2 enables you to apply in semester 1 for an optional work placement of up to 12 months, extending the duration of your master’s to 24 months. The placement provides an opportunity for you to develop expertise and experience in your chosen field with the aim of enhancing your employability upon graduation. The work placement would take place in semesters 3, 4 and 5.

Please note that the optional placement modules incur an additional tuition fee of £4,000. Placement opportunities may also be subject to additional costs, visa requirements being met, subject to availability and/or competitive application. Work placements are not guaranteed but you will benefit from the support of our Talent Team in trying to find and secure an opportunity. Find out more about the work placement option.

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


How you'll learn

The course can be studied on a one-year full-time basis or over a minimum of two years part-time. The modules are taught across the relevant semester. Part-time participants study modules on a day release basis and typically study 30 credits per semester.

Study on campus

Actual teaching contact hours will vary depending on the requirements of a particular semester. In a typical week, your contact hours will be divided amongst:

  • Tutorials and small group teaching
  • Medium group teaching (e.g. seminars, tutorial sessions and lab sessions)
  • Large group teaching (lectures)

This course can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Please request information about studying this course part-time.

Explore our campus

Study 100% online

You will have timetabled classes, online tutorials, and seminars, with all your learning activities available on-demand so that you can learn at the best time and location for you.

How online learning works


Teaching contact hours

The number of contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 14 contact hours per week. In addition, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study each week of around 25 hours, depending on the demands of individual modules.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include formal examinations, practical or project work, coursework, essays, group work, presentations, and posters.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


International experience opportunities

The content of the course continuously refers to the international context in which construction takes place, which gives an international perspective to your studies and future career as a project manager, cost manager or construction manager. For example, we draw on case studies such as European fortification projects, Malta; RICS and CIOB standards. Where possible, we also try to organise international field trips2 so that you can experience the construction industry in another country. In the past, for example, we have visited Malta for project and cost management field work in collaboration with MCAST, Malta.


Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.

To enter the course you should have a minimum of a second class honours degree in an appropriate discipline.

Each application will be considered on its merits and the final decision will be made by the course director. For information regarding what might amount to an ‘appropriate discipline’ please request information.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you. 

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Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

To enter the course you should have a minimum of a second class honours degree in an appropriate discipline.

Each application will be considered on its merits and the final decision will be made by the course director. For information regarding what might amount to an ‘appropriate discipline’ please ask a question.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

2023/24 tuition fees.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £11,200   Request fee information
EU £11,200 per year with EU support bursary**
£18,600 per year without EU support bursary**
Not available
International £18,600   Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU support bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

  • We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

    If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.


Facilities

Our aim is to offer you sector-leading facilities4.

Factory on the floor

Faculty on the factory floor

AME brings together academia, industry, and research and development in a ‘live’ manufacturing environment. Our collaboration with Unipart gives you the opportunity to work with some of the most talented engineering professionals in the UK.
 

High performance engineering centre

High Performance Engineering Centre (HPEC)

Situated on the ground floor of our Engineering and Computing Building, the centre houses flight and driving simulators, a chassis design assembly and test facility, wind tunnels and a fleet of CNC manufacturing machines.

Metals workshop

Metals Workshop

Participate in technical work in a hands-on way. The workshop includes lathes, milling machines, fabrication equipment for sheet metal work, CNC machines, work benches, welding lines and a fitting assembly area.
 


Careers and opportunities

On successful completion, you will be able to:

  • Select and apply appropriate technical methods for appraising, testing, and analysing built environment scenarios.
  • Analyse, synthesise, and interpret information, data and scenarios and apply a range of management theories to identify causes of problems.
  • Develop arguments and show reasoned evaluation and judgement in choice of solutions to a range of complex and varied situations
  • Develop appropriate procurement systems for a range of construction scenarios.
  • Apply numerical skills of budgeting and financial management to analyse complex problems and appraise performance.
  • Provide comprehensive presentations using technical aids and providing information in a logical and confident manner.
  • Research for information to develop and critically appraise ideas.
  • Apply techniques used for analysis of tender bids and project evaluation.
  • Apply project management techniques to aid planning, controlling, and monitoring performance of construction projects and preparing project evaluation reports.

Upon successful completion, this degree should prepare you for a rewarding career as a chartered surveyor or project management surveyor.

The complexity and scale of modern construction projects requires construction professionals with expertise in construction management, who can work either on site or within an office to ensure they are delivered safely, within budget, on deadline and to the highest possible quality.

The vocational nature of this programme provides a sound basis for a wide range of possible career opportunities managing the construction of building projects at home and abroad for large multinational companies or regional businesses. You could find yourself working as a construction supervisor, general contractor, project manager, constructor, project engineer or site manager. Many construction managers are self-employed, but others are employed by construction management or contracting firms, property owners, developers or consulting firms.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university's Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.

Where our graduates work

Recent graduates have found employment with companies such as Barratt and David Wilson, National Grid, and Baily Garner.


How to apply

  • Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University. 

    1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2023/24 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.