Overview
Built for leadership
Construction projects aren’t simple – they’re complex, multi-faceted endeavours that require leadership, organisation, project management and technical expertise, all while adhering to critical safety regulations and procedures. Construction managers are the individuals that hold the responsibility for these projects, ensuring that these varied factors are managed and controlled, and the client’s vision is successfully brought to life on time and on budget.
Whether you’re looking to forge a career in construction or want to upskill your existing knowledge, UCEM’s fully online BSc (Hons) Construction Management programme will help you develop the skills you need. This accredited qualification will give you both the academic knowledge and the industry-recognised standing you need to progress in construction and seek chartered professional status.
About this degree
Programme details
This online programme will develop your competence and capabilities across aspects of technology, leadership, management and communication. You’ll explore the construction lifecycle through the lens of clients, stakeholders, law, sustainability and the economy, giving you the in-demand skills and knowledge to support your career ambitions.
You’ll also grasp the digital literacy, theoretical understanding and communicative skills needed to lead and manage complex, engaging and rewarding construction projects.
Course accreditations
Structure
Modules you will study
If you choose the part-time route, you will study 18 modules across 4.5 years.
Autumn
Introduction to the Built Environment 1
Appreciate how legal, political and social issues shape our sector and its role in the economy. Understand the project lifecycle and the RIBA Plan of Work. Identify the industry’s stakeholders and professions and your chosen profession’s key responsibilities in meeting client objectives.
Introduction to Sustainability
Explore the causes of climate change and the challenges of sustainable development, with particular focus on the construction and property sector. Examine the relationship between property and the environment along with the criteria used to measure sustainability in relation to finished construction projects.
Professional and Business Practice
Gain an understanding of the organisational structures within the sector. Appreciate the role of business planning and the accounting concepts that support decision making. Consider the importance and benefits of client management, professionalism, ethical practice and diversity in the workforce.
Establish a foundation knowledge of buildings, the environment and technology, also considering them from a sustainability perspective. Develop your communication skills and construction literacy with real-world examples of construction projects, including traditional masonry and roof construction.
Introduction to Regulatory and Built Environment Law
Dive into the legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the construction and property sector, along with the legal environment in the context of planning, design and occupation and health and safety as it relates to both design and construction activity.
Introduction to the Built Environment 2
Gain familiarity with your chosen discipline and develop basic discipline specific knowledge and skills. Undertake a discipline specific task that will develop your understanding of client’s objectives, industry sources of information and the benefits of collaborative practice.
The relationship between a building’s design, environment and occupants is complex. With the overarching theme of human comfort, break down the individual factors – heat, air moisture sound and light within these aspects of a building, and how each of these factors affect one another, in the context of domestic or office environments.
Retrofit is a crucial function for keeping existing buildings in use and fit for purpose. Explore the range of different retrofitting project types and associated issues while developing the knowledge and skills required to appraise and develop retrofit and refurbishment solutions.
Contract Administration and Practice
Develop a broader understanding of law and apply it to common eventualities on construction and building services projects. Gain the contractual knowledge required to deal on behalf of all parties associated with construction contracts, from inception to completion.
Understand the principles that inform the skills relevant for measurement and costing of construction work for a contractor’s quantity surveyors. Appreciate the role of the estimator and the contractor’s quantity surveyor in the pricing of construction projects.
Explore the key principles, codes of practice and procedures governing the procurement and tendering of construction projects. Develop your understanding of the various procurement processes and tendering methods, while considering the demand for sustainable practices.
Use your own working environment to develop an understanding of and practice the skills associated with managing, planning and controlling the production of building in a global context. At the same time, complement your existing management theory with the practical aspects of site management.
Commercial Management in Construction
The dynamic environment that contracting organisations operate in means they need to be astute when bidding for work to sustain turnover and profit margins whilst enhancing stakeholder value. Explore the strategic and operational issues these firms encounter in a competitive commercial environment.
Build your understanding of, and practice in, the skills associated with facilities management, and the planning and controlling of built asset maintenance, focusing on the skills and knowledge that may be required for a construction manager.
Develop specific research skills and techniques that allow you to investigate issues and situations related to your area of interest, and apply these to an industry-related problem. Gain analytical skills and learn techniques that will directly enhance your employability skills.
Construction Project Management
The Project Manager (PM) plays a key role at all stages of the construction process in engaging stakeholders and addressing a range of strategic and operational challenges. Develop the understanding and skillset to function as a CPM across diverse client organisations.
Integrate the knowledge and skills developed during your programme into a major piece of work. Working with others, demonstrate an understanding of project management techniques when applied to real-life scenarios.
Contemporary Issues Case Study
Establish an up-to-date understanding of the developments, issues and arguments that dominate contemporary debate and policy making within the built environment, and formulate your own line of enquiry and analysis, informed by your own critical review.
The module structure above is indicative for those beginning their studies in the autumn. For further information about programme content, or to see how modules are structured for those starting in spring, you can view the full programme specification which sets out aims, intended learning outcomes and assessment methods.
If you are looking to study this programme on the full-time route, the module table will vary. You can find more information on this by getting in touch with our knowledgeable Admissions Team.
For further information on modules view our module descriptors. Please note that modules are subject to change.
Online learning
The future of study
Flexible study
Balance your study, work and home commitments, all while working towards your career goals
e-Library access
Full access to a comprehensive and valuable e-library with a wealth of resources to support your studies
Interactive
Study using a diverse range of interactive, modern and dynamic learning resources
Expert-led
Learning activities that have been designed by UCEM tutors and subject matter experts
Stay connected
Learn alongside a diverse community of students from all over the world
Time commitment and study breakdown
Studying two modules per semester requires an expected time commitment of 15-20 hours per week. If you study only one module per semester, the weekly time commitment will be less, depending on the module’s credit size. Most modules are typically 20 credits.
Directed study time (%)
Self-directed study time (%)
Assessment study time (%)
Careers
Where can it take you?
Construction is an industry that needs talent, skills and innovation. This programme can enhance your employability and open you up to new career opportunities in the industry, as well as help you gain professional membership from bodies such as RICS and CIOB. You could be working in one of these areas:
- Construction site management
- Estimation
- Site engineering
- Contracts surveying
- Planning
- Local authority surveying
Earning potential
ÂŁ50,000-80,000*
Applications
Ready to apply?
Questions?
Get in touch
Admissions Team
UK (Free): 0800 019 9697 (Option 1)
International: +44 (0)118 921 4696 (Option 1)