Construction Project and Cost Management MSc
Study level: Postgraduate
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
September 2023
January 2024
The information on this page is for 2022-23 entry and should be used as guidance for 2023-24 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.
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.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunities
Teaching excellence
Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
Employability
Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeedWhy 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)
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)
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
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
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.
What you'll study
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.
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.
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.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. 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.
Fees and funding
2023/24 tuition fees.
| Student | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|---|---|
| UK | £11,200 | Request fee information |
| 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).
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How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
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.
Faculty on the factory floor
AME brings together academia, industry, and research and development in a ‘live’ manufacturing environment. Our partnership with Unipart gives you the opportunity to work with some of the most talented engineering professionals in the UK.
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
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
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UK students
To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.
For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form.
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International students
Full-time international students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degree view our International hub.
You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Chat with our admissions team.
Complete our contact form.
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Disclaimers
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 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
Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The 2023/24 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. 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.
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