Construction Project Management - MSc

More about this course

As you progress through your programme, you’ll visit live projects and get a taster into the types of opportunities a career in project management can offer. You’ll study the design, planning, financing and construction of organisations, products, infrastructure and places where people live, travel and play.

Equipped with essential knowledge, skills and behaviours of a project manager, you’ll be introduced to the principles behind the construction process. This course will develop your know-how, enabling you to expertly and confidently plan, programme and allocate resources to projects. As your leadership and problem-solving skills develop, defining and evaluating project feasibility, building project teams, setting goals and monitoring progress will become tasks that you are able to complete skilfully and confidently.

As a forward-thinking course, our Construction Project Management MSc embraces the latest project management techniques and technologies to ensure your learning experience develops you into a next generation science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professional, with the ability to lead ethical and sustainable project delivery, within a climate-conscious, low carbon world.

Across the globe the demand for skilled construction project managers is growing. The School of the Built Environment is committed to developing you into an employable graduate. Throughout the course you will have opportunities to develop contemporary and sought after career skills.

Located in London, you’ll have access to some of the UK and the world’s most influential contractors, developers and industry professional bodies. We have some of the UK’s largest and most important projects right here, on our doorstep, including infrastructure projects like High Speed 2 and Thames Tideway. On this course you’ll have the opportunity to engage with these types of organisations and projects through site visits, guest lectures and fieldwork, keeping you at the forefront of this dynamic sector.

Assessment

Assessment for your study will be primarily based on coursework. In some modules you’ll be tested on key topics covered and your understanding of core concepts. Industry inspired scenarios will be used as the basis for your coursework development, where enquiry-based learning is applied.

Your coursework types will be varied, including reports, essays, presentations and portfolios. In addition, you’ll take part in a project module, which will allow you to conduct your own piece of research or produce a work-based project, which you’ll then be assessed on.

Assessment for this course will be developed in line with the new University tariff guidelines and policy.

Professional accreditation

We will be seeking accreditation for our Construction Project Management MSc from the Chartered Institute of Building, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, and the Association for Project Management as soon as possible.

Entry requirements

You’ll be required to have a:

• Minimum 2:2 honours degree in a built environment subject such as, quantity surveying, architecture, civil engineering, construction management, real estate or quantity surveying

Or

• Chartered or full membership of an appropriate built environment or project management professional body which needs to be approved for this purpose by the University, accompanied by relevant industry experience at an appropriate level

If you’re applying with non-standard qualifications and/or relevant experience:

• You will be considered on an individual basis. Assessment of your experience will confirm that you have achieved the necessary skills

If you are applying for the part-time mode:

• You’ll typically need to have a minimum of three years’ relevant experience at the appropriate level and have the support of your employer who will wish to integrate study and projects into your day-to-day work

Accreditation of Prior Learning

Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course at London Met. Find out more about applying for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL).

English language requirements

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Student visa (previously Tier 4) you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. This course requires you to meet our standard requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2023/24 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.

Year 1 modules include:

Applied Research Project (core, 60 credits)

This module currently runs:

• all year (September start) - Thursday morning

The module will provide students with the opportunity to undertake an in-depth study of a subject which is of personal and subject interest in the field of the built environment. Students may focus their research upon a topic or problem relevant to their current programme of study and based upon an academic subject of interest, their current work practice or recent work experience or placement. The submission will take the form of a dissertation.

Students are encouraged to develop their critical thinking and undertake rigorous and theoretically informed research. The module will develop the student’s understanding of the linkages between conceptual issues, subject area, and research methods.

The module will introduce students to research methods and strategies which are appropriate to their area of study. It will provide the student with experience in the planning and implementation of a research project and the subsequent writing up of research findings in a dissertation and encourage students to undertake critical thinking.

Read full details

Procurement and Contract Practice (core, 20 credits)

This module currently runs:

• autumn semester - Monday afternoon

The module aims to provide the student with a critical awareness of the processes behind successful procurement and contract management of a construction project. It aims to develop their knowledge and understanding of the legal and contractual context within which construction projects operate and the project context’s which influence the procurement strategy. The module will explain the fundamental concepts of procurement and contracting as well as examining the project procurement management knowledge area processes: plan procurements, conduct procurements, administer procurements, and close procurements. It also covers project outsourcing techniques and tools including soliciting, selecting, and managing subcontractors. It will examine the construction project procurement cycle and the statutory and legal frameworks which need to be accounted for. Particular attention will be given towards sustainable procurement and the influence of an organisation’s Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy on project finance and procurement.

The knowledge gained will enable the student to propose project contract and procurement strategies for planning, decision making and control.

By the end of the module students should be able to critically evaluate the following:

• the principles of contract law.
• the roles and responsibilities of the contract parties.
• contract selection and procurement routes.
• procurement strategies available for different project types
• the impact of governance on a project procurement strategy for public and private projects
• how a procurement method contributes to an organisation and/or projects ESG goals
• the use of digital tools to aid procurement
• standard form of contracts and their procurement terms.
• techniques to manage disputes towards resolution

Read full details

Project Management Practice (core, 20 credits)

This module currently runs:

• spring semester - Monday morning

The module aims to develop students' knowledge of leading contemporary project management concepts and practices and how these contribute to the successful delivery of construction projects, including the management of risk and construction logistics. It will take a detailed look at construction, commissioning and handover stages of a project and aspects of stakeholder management within the same. It will consider the role of construction project management in the global move towards a sustainable and low/zero carbon built environment.

The syllabus is guided by professional body project management bodies of knowledge and codes of practice (such as the APM and CIOB). The module explains the operational phases of project management including pre-construction, construction, and handover.

By the end of the module students should be able to critically evaluate the following:

• the challenges in leading a complex project
• effective methods to manage the operational project stage
• the competencies required of their project team
• project value
• project constraints
• the link between project change and risk
• the practical contributions a project and project manager can make towards a sustainable low/zero carbon built environment

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Project Management Principles (core, 20 credits)

This module currently runs:

• autumn semester - Monday morning
• spring semester - Monday morning

This module will introduce the student to the fundamental theories and concepts for successful project management. It examines the theory behind project management and best practice in the built environment industries in a local and a global context. It will consider how organisational strategic objectives drive projects and the role the project manager performs in the early stages of the project lifecycle, including the development and use of models to drive portfolio and project management. Following this it will move the focus to the operational stage of the project and how the key project objectives are identified and managed towards a successful project completion.

The syllabus is guided by professional body project management bodies of knowledge and codes of practice (such as the APM and CIOB). The module explains the strategic context within which projects operate to enable the students to understand that a project needs to have a strategic fit with the organisation's wider aims and ambitions. By the end of the module students should be able to critically evaluate the following:

• the link between organisational strategy, programmes, and projects
• project economics
• project finance mechanisms
• project management methodologies and their underpinning theories
• the challenges of leading a complex project
• the contribution project management makes towards a sustainable built environment
• the responsibilities of the modern global project manager
• strategies to monitor and control the complete project lifecycle

Read full details

Project Planning and Delivery (core, 20 credits)

This module currently runs:

• autumn semester - Wednesday morning

The module aims for the student to develop a critical awareness of project planning and delivery principles alongside developing the skills necessary to deploy them to manage a construction project. Through enquiry-based learning it will facilitate a project scenario to allow the students to deploy the tools necessary to successfully plan a project and monitor a project's resources.

The syllabus is guided by professional body project management bodies of knowledge and codes of practice (such as the APM and CIOB) and the module explores the pre-construction and delivery phase of the project to enable the students to understand that detailed planning of a project is needed to help in the successful delivery of the construction phase. By the end of the module students should be able to critically evaluate the following:

• project constraints and how they are identified and accommodated.
• project risks and strategies to accept, avoid, control, transfer and monitor them.
• internal and external stakeholders to the project and how to manage their expectations.
• the requirements of a project delivery plan for the pre-construction and construction phase of a project and once produced how to control it throughout the construction phase.
• Produce and maintain a detailed project programme

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Sustainable Built Environments (core, 20 credits)

This module currently runs:

• spring semester - Monday afternoon

The module aims to develop a critical awareness of the background and drivers for sustainable development. It will explore the development of the sustainability agenda, different approaches to sustainable development and the key trends in society that affect, and are affected by, the built environment. It will consider how climate change, urbanisation and other factors are placing pressure on the built environment across the globe to deliver agile and appropriate responses to challenges such as accelerated climate change, extreme weather and societal change.

The knowledge gained will enable the student to understand the impact of the built environment sector on the sustainability agenda.

By the end of the module students should be able to critically evaluate the following:

• the background behind the sustainability in the built environment agenda
• drivers for change and appropriate responses
• the role of development in maintaining and sustaining the wider environment
• techniques that can be adopted to reduce our built environment operational energy demand
• the different types of infrastructure and their role in achieving sustainable built environments
• strategies to ensure energy security positioned within a low carbon energy mix

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Building a Successful Project Team (option, 20 credits)

This module currently runs:

• spring semester - Wednesday morning

The module aims to develop a critical awareness of the people dimension of projects and will address the principles of project team development. It will look at the role soft skills play in the successful delivery of a project and how a mastery of leadership and motivating your project team can help you build and maintain a successful and focussed project team. It will address how to distinguish between different types of change projects and propose techniques in leading teams to achieve organisational change

The knowledge gained will enable the student to develop strategies to form and maintain integrated project teams.

By the end of the module students should be able to critically evaluate the following:

• the role of soft skills in project management
• stakeholders and relationships present in a project
• means to select and maintain a project team
• group dynamics
• managing change
• the role of corporate social responsibility in project delivery
• methods to manage and resolve conflicts within a project team
• decision making and problem-solving processes associated with complex and unpredictable solutions.
• Gender representation within the built environment

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Managing Risk and Uncertainty (option, 20 credits)

This module currently runs:

• spring semester - Wednesday morning

The aim of this module is to provide the student with knowledge and understanding of risk and uncertainty theories and an appreciation of the differences between risks found on different project types.

Responding to today’s highly complex project landscapes, the module looks at risk management in a contemporary way, including complex projects which involve an unusual degree of uncertainty and unpredictability.

The module will introduce students to risk analysis techniques and how they can help the project team in making decisions under a highly dynamic project landscape. It will provide students with the tools to identify and assess risk and make informed decisions including how to manage risks within the context of a changing project environment. The module looks at “managing change” from the perspective of the risks involved.

By the end of the module students should be able to critically evaluate the following:

• The level of individual element and overall project risk
• Project complexity and risk
• Tools available to manage qualitative and quantitative project risks
• Appropriate means to manage risk
• The links between project change and risks

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Where this course can take you

As a construction project management graduate, your technical skills, business knowledge and communication skills will be valued by employers in a range of sectors.

The private sector is a major source of employment and within the public sector, both central and local government bodies offer graduates in this field employment opportunities. Typical employers include:

• Major UK and international construction companies and consultancies
• Residential and commercial property developers
• Construction and civil engineering contractors
• Architectural and design practices
• Housing associations
• Public sector organisations
• Specialist consultants including cost consultants, engineering, and environmental consultancy

The technical, management and professional skills you’ll gain during your studies are also valued by employers in other sectors, such as renewables, engineering and manufacturing.

Who is this course for?

If you’re already on a career path in the construction industry and are looking to become an expert in the field, then our Construction Project Management MSc has been designed for you. Our student backgrounds include architects, interior designers, surveyors, engineers, construction managers and property developers, looking to further develop their skill set and progress into the next level of senior management.

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When to apply

You are advised to apply as early as possible as applications will only be considered if there are places available on the course.