Overview
One of the largest and most influential markets in the world today, the construction industry is projected to grow from US$8.5 trillion in 2015 to US$10.3 trillion in 2020. In the UK alone, it contributed £103 billion in economic output in 2014 and accounted for 6% – or 2.1 million – of all jobs.
Accompanying this growth is the commensurate demand for construction management, with professional input required at all stages of building work – from concept to detailed design, construction and maintenance. This course, which is currently accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), aims to prepare you to work towards chartered status and roles in construction management wherever in the world you choose.
Ranked 4th in the UK for Building and Town and Country Planning in the Guardian University Guide 2020, Coventry University has been educating construction professionals for over half a century, keeping in step with the changing needs of technological advancement and the growing importance of its social and environmental. The strong links with other undergraduate courses in the school creates a rounded and multi-disciplinary experience for our construction management students, preparing them well for working in a modern construction industry.
Our interactive simulation centre allows us to provide you with not only theoretical knowledge and skills, but also to help you develop the ability to apply this knowledge to realistic industrial situations within a safe environment.
Why Coventry University?
An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.
COVID-19
The University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 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.
Due to the ongoing restrictions relating 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.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedTeaching Excellence
Taught by lecturers who are experts in their fieldCourse essentials
A degree which offers you more, at no extra costAccreditation and Professional Recognition
This course is accredited and recognised by the following bodies:
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
This course is currently accredited by The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)* until 1 April 2023, 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 (additional costs may apply) without the requirement for an Individual Assessment.
*This course is currently accredited by CIOB for the 2021/22 intake. If the accreditation of this course changes, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
Our Facilities
Materials Laboratory
Includes industrial standard timber and steel workshops, a concrete mixing area with 3 pan mixers, programmable environmental chambers, a range of ovens and curing tanks and various materials testing apparatus.
Simulation Centre
Our interactive training centre is used to create a ‘virtual’ construction site with fully-equipped site cabins and observation deck. Students undertake role play exercises to help prepare them for situations in the workplace.
Structures Laboratory
Includes eight test frames, two of which are fully programmable ‘top of the range’ Instron universal test machines. It also includes a strong floor area with associated framing and ancillary measurement devices.
What our students say...
What I found useful about the Construction Management Course at Coventry University was that it is taught using modern techniques… with innovations in technology and sustainability.
Course information
The course content has evolved over a number of years in development with our current industry partners. We have developed a course structure providing a mix of technical skills and digital/technological knowledge, in order to equip you for working in this growing sector and help prepare you for future developments in this fast moving industry.
Covering a broad range of subject areas, the core themes include construction technology, building science and structures, the legal and regulatory framework of building, engineering surveying and construction processes, construction management, contractual procedures and construction finance.
Course specification
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Modules
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.
Our Building and Town and Country Planning courses are ranked 4th in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2020.
In more detail...
Employers all over the world are looking for highly trained professionals with the technical, leadership and management skills to coordinate, plan, direct and budget the building of a vast array of construction projects – from motorways and bridges, schools and hospitals to wastewater treatment plants, residential, commercial and industrial structures.
Within the UK alone, the CIOB has found that three quarters of contractors are operating at or near full capacity - with more than 230,000 new recruits by 2020.
This professionally accredited* course blends traditional design skills with modern technologies, using traditional drafting methods alongside computer aided design (CAD). It aims to enable you to develop the skills necessary to become a highly-trained professional in this very demanding but rewarding discipline, setting you on the path towards chartered status and full membership of the CIOB.
Coventry University currently enjoys 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 can also enable you to become involved with the construction community through networking and placement opportunities**, which can enhance your employment prospects on successful graduation.
You will be taught by staff with current academic and professional experience in project management, operations management, quantity surveying and commercial management, architectural practice, civil engineering; having worked in roles for a variety of both contracting and consultant organisations. We also currently have a strong portfolio of industry-related research, particularly in the areas of low carbon building technology, sustainable construction materials and engineering education, which ensures you stay abreast of new technologies and emerging issues.
Teaching is highly practical; throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to draw on real-life case studies to reinforce teaching, including the use of site visits**. You also have a unique opportunity to be taught in the Simulation Centre and participate in integrated project work, where theory is put into practice as soon as it is learned.
* This course is currently accredited by CIOB for the 2021/22 intake. If the accreditation of this course changes, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
** Please note that we are unable to guarantee any site visits, placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
- Ranked 4th in the UK for Building and Town and Country Planning in the Guardian University Guide 2020.
- Apply for a full year work placement which can count towards your professional Chartered status with the Chartered institute of Building.
- A common first year makes it possible to transfer to our degrees in architectural technology, quantity surveying and commercial management or building surveying in the second year if you wish
- Current collaborative links with universities in 20 countries around the world, giving you the chance for you to spend part of your studies abroad (subject to availability and additional costs)
- Full accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), which is a requirement on the path towards membership of the CIOB*
* This course is currently accredited by CIOB for the 2021/22 intake. If the accreditation of this course changes, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible. - As part of your course and module assessments, you will have the opportunity to gain additional professional qualifications as well as your degree – an Autodesk certificate in Computer Aided Design (CAD) and undergo a Building Research Establishment Energy Assessment Method (BREEAM) to become an Accredited Graduate (BREEAM AG)
- Study on shared modules alongside students on a wide range of other professional disciplines such as quantity surveying, commercial management, architectural technology, building surveying, building services engineering and civil engineering, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of today’s construction industry
Your main study themes are:
- Construction management: We aim to develop your theoretical knowledge of how vertical and horizontal control is established on site, through techniques such as levelling and traversing, and how these methods can be used to control the positional accuracy of setting out construction work on site. You will also learn how to do this using surveying instrumentation, such as total stations and more traditional levels.
- Construction technology: You will have the opportunity develop an understanding of various aspects of the design and construction of sustainable and comfortable buildings, by incorporating the most appropriate construction technology and building materials. We will consider the design, construction and environmental performances of low-rise buildings, multi-storey and commercial framed structures, within the context of legislative influences on the layout and planning of buildings and the impact of energy conservation and climate change. We will also explore the range of building services which are installed to provide a suitable internal environment including acoustic, thermal, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
- Design studies: Aims to develop your skills in creating, refining and presenting construction documents in various drawn formats, embedding the arithmetic associated with scale and printed output of construction drawings. Through practical, activity-led studio and location based tutorial sessions, you will have the chance to develop measuring and sketching skills and use this recorded information as a basis for creating a series of construction documents, using a variety of industry standard 2D and 3D software packages. The produced construction documents will aim to follow the industry standard drawing conventions on scale and notation and will form the basis for 3D model making.
- Multi-disciplinary working: Modern construction projects are carried out with high levels of collaboration between various elements of the design and construction team, as such throughout the course you will develop this multi-disciplinary ethos completing projects as part of a team at all levels. This will enable an understanding of practices by other members of the team as well as the skills needed to coordinate and negotiate within this environment.
This course can be studied full-time over three years or four years with a sandwich year being taken between Year 2 and Year 3*. The programme may be followed part-time by attending up to five modules each year as scheduled for full-time students. You can start in September.
You will find that your course is taught using lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratories, workshops and studio sessions, supervised by academic and technical support staff. In addition, your personal tutor will review and discuss your progress with you and will be available for advice.
We try to provide you with as much real-life experience as possible with site visits to existing buildings, current construction sites and materials manufacturing sites*, which in the past have included a variety of student accommodation projects local to the University, projects on the technology park and visits to Ibstock Brick in Stoke. We also encourage guest speeches from current practitioners, which have previously covered topics such as estimating software, site logistics and design (subject to availability) .
You will have access to our Simulation Centre, which incorporates best practice building information modelling (BIM), now used commonly across the sector to manage the information produced during a construction project, from feasibility, through construction and operation to final demolition. Using a 3D model, you can view and walk through your project to add value, realise efficiencies and ensure every member of the construction team understands what is required of them and when. In the past, this has included the refurbishment of University buildings and new build designs.
In the second year, you will be expected to undertake a collaborative integrated group project with other students from architectural technology, quantity surveying and building surveying to demonstrate the need for collaborative working environments in the industry. You may also have the opportunity to also undertake a field trip in practical surveying*, which is included in the course fees and has previously lasted for up to five days, and included a variety of site surveying tasks designed match site practice.
The highly practical nature of the course enables you to work with staff and students on real-world problems from industry, commerce and research groups. This means that while you learn the technical content of your degree, these projects develop the professional skills required including: problem analysis and design; project, task and time management; risk assessment; team work and leadership; technical report and bench assessment; troubleshooting and more.
* Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement, study abroad or field trip opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include formal examinations, practical or project work, coursework, essays, group work and presentations, posters, Sim Centre etc.
The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.
On successful completion, you will have knowledge of:
- Building technology and construction processes; management processes and systems associated with construction.
- Building science with respect to materials, structure, services and internal environment.
- The legal and regulatory framework within which buildings are constructed.
- Economics of construction, procurement and contract administration procedures.
- Design processes used in construction and current innovations relating to the construction of buildings.
- How quality is achieved in construction processes and products.
- Health and safety in building design and construction.
- Land surveying.
- The management of building projects, including the planning, budgeting and control of costs in all aspects of the construction process.
On successful completion, you will be able to:
- Identify the aims and objectives of research.
- Analyse, interpolate and present information.
- Analyse and solve construction problems of a technical and managerial nature.
- Reflect on the interdisciplinary and team working nature of the construction industry in order to undertake and manage construction design and the construction process.
- Analyse data and information sources in construction.
- Apply techniques used for the analysis and surveying of existing buildings.
- Apply CAD and manual drawing techniques, and other tools to construction design.
- Undertake full-measured, dilapidation and condition surveys.
- Write different types of property survey reports.
Actual teaching contact hours will vary depending on the level of study and the requirements of a particular semester. In a typical week your contact hours will be divided amongst personal tutorials and small group teaching; medium group teaching (e.g. seminars, tutorial sessions, lab sessions and workshops); and large group teaching (lectures).
In addition, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study each week depending on the demands of individual modules. The number of contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 14-15 contact hours per week in the first and second year dropping to around 12 contact hours per week in the final year as you become a more independent learner.
Construction is a global industry with the demand for building professionals overseas set to rise dramatically. The United Nations has identified nine countries, which will account for half the world’s population growth between now and 2050: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, the US, Indonesia and Uganda.
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 construction manager. For example, we draw on a variety of international case studies, covering contemporary topics such as sustainability in Spain and building projects like the Sydney Opera House, Channel Tunnel and Burj Khalifa, among others.
During the course, you should have the option of participating in an international field trip*, which provides the opportunity to experience the built environment in other countries. If you opt for a sandwich year*, you can also spend time studying abroad; we currently have links with universities in Europe, America and Asia.
* Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement, study abroad or field trip opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student
Global ready
Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?
In 2018/19, we were able to provide a total of 5,469 experiences abroad that lasted at least five days.
Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.
Explore our international experiences1st for
international experiences
Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni 2016/17
5,469
Student experiences
The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2018/19
12,000
and counting
The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally since 2016
12
global programmes
As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses
What our students say...
What I found useful about the Construction Management Course at Coventry University was that it is taught using modern techniques… with innovations in technology and sustainability.
Entry Requirements
What our students say...
Enthusiastic teaching, practical experience and expert knowledge allow the lecturers to deliver modules that are both interesting and relevant to real-life situations.
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
For more information, please visit our Finance pages.
Course essentials at no extra cost
We're committed to communicating study costs clearly to make sure you're not faced with having to make any unexpected payments.
This is why our ‘Flying Start’ package provides you with a few course essentials. Your full-time fee for an undergraduate degree will cover the following:
UK field trips
Any mandatory site visits and trips within the United Kingdom.Key material
This can include core textbooks, software and equipment.Laser prints
1,000 A4 sides of black and white laser printing credits per year.Optional year
Pay no tuition fees for optional work placements or study abroad trips.Course essentials - additional costs: This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to) travel, accommodation, activities and visas. This course may incur additional costs associated with any equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire.
EU student fees
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
What our students say...
The course has benefitted me in gaining a larger understanding of the construction industry processes and how the other disciplines tie in with my everyday role as a site manager.
Career prospects
Graduate Immigration Route visa
Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
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.
This course is designed to prepare you for employment managing the construction of building projects at home and abroad, for large multinational companies or regional businesses. You could find yourself working as a Contracts Manager, Project Manager, Site Manager or Engineer. Construction managers have the option of aiming for self-employment, or Working for large or small, regional, National or international firms that can range in work from domestic housing up to multi-million pound internationally renowned projects, and ranging from new build to refurbishment; the world of Construction Manager is varied, interesting and exciting.
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
Our graduates have found employment in private practices, contracting organisations, commercial organisations and local/central government, regionally, nationally and internationally. They work with companies such as Mace, Galliford Try, Balfour Beatty plc, Lain O’ Rourke, Barrett Home Ltd, Watts Construction Ltd, and BAM Construction.
What our students say...
What I found useful about the Construction Management Course at Coventry University was that it is taught using modern techniques… with innovations in technology and sustainability.
Disclaimer
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 2020/21 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.
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we 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. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
