MSc Construction Project Management
Course Overview
Construction project management requires highly skilled individuals who can lead and integrate multidisciplinary teams of professionals. That could be you.This challenging, industry-focused master's course supports you in developing both the academic and technical knowledge you'll need to be a construction project manager and the management and interpersonal skills essential for success in this career.
Our expert team will support you in building on the knowledge and experience you gained during your undergraduate studies or work experience, helping prepare you to take on the strategic responsibilities of managing construction projects. The course is based on the Chartered Institute of Building's definition of construction project management, which encompasses the whole project lifecycle, from inception to recycling. As such, sustainability is a key element of this course.
Our teaching staff bring vast industry experience to the course, and many are involved in leading research as part of their own professional development – which means they're currently involved directly in today's construction industry, here and all over the world.
Highlights
- You can examine and investigate real practical issues from industry in an academic context.
- The course aims to develop your skills through the extensive use of case studies, seminars and discussion groups.
- You'll benefit from regular small-group tutorials with professional staff and have the opportunity to ask for one-to-one advice from subject experts.
- Guest speakers from across the construction industry support your learning.
- We pledge to mentor you beyond successful postgraduate qualification into a professional role that befits your knowledge, skills and management abilities.
Key Features
- We encourage your commitment to lifelong learning through continuing professional development and professional body membership.
- We'll support you in developing systematic and innovative thinking in your approach to problem-solving and decision-making in construction project management.
- You'll also have numerous opportunities to develop your understanding of the sustainability agenda, linking lower carbon to lower cost.
- You'll have the chance to learn how to evaluate the effects of global changes on the construction industry.
- You can find out how to support theoretical knowledge with analytical thinking and information gathering as you resolve complex operational problems.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
Entry Requirements
- You should have an honours degree in an appropriate construction discipline (or a comparable relevant qualification from a UK or overseas institution); or
- Professional body membership in an appropriate construction discipline e.g. Chartered Construction Manager, Chartered Builder, Chartered Surveyor, Chartered Architect, Chartered or Incorporated Engineer; or
- Qualifications and/or experience equivalent to the above requirements, e.g. Higher National Certificate or Diploma and substantial experience at a senior level in construction; or
- A non-cognate degree, and experience working over a long period in construction, e.g. construction lawyer.
- We'll consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
- You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
This programme is ideal if you already have construction-related employment experience and are aiming for senior positions in project management. It aims to develop your awareness of the importance of construction projects to clients, and the context and constraints in which projects are procured and undertaken.
As a construction project manager, you'll take the lead and play a pivotal role in the successful completion of construction projects. You'll be responsible for coordinating the wide range of resources involved in construction projects, such as labour, materials, finance and consultants, to achieve the client's goals – on time, within budget and to the quality standards required. As a successful graduate of this course, you'll have developed the management, leadership and problem-solving qualities necessary for a career in this varied, rewarding and challenging field.
What can I do with this qualification?
You may be involved at the very earliest stages of construction projects, managing the development of project briefs and designs for clients. Alternatively, you could work during construction or manage the substantive resources needed during the occupation, maintenance, refurbishment, demolition and recycling phases. Or you could work as an independent project manager, perhaps building up your own consultancy practice.
The programme is also excellent preparation for doctoral-level study and a career in research and university lecturing.
Alternative career options
Graduates can also use the qualification as a stepping stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Possible careers include:
- Offshore and petrochemicals
- Civil engineering
- Teaching and education
- Financial management
- Architectural technology
- Logistics and distribution
- Management consultancy
- Planning and development surveying
- Town planning
- Estimation
- Research and development
- Water and environmental management
- Facilities management
- Estate agency
- Investment management
Professional Recognition
The programme is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). Successful graduates, with appropriate experience, may then to apply to the CIOB for full corporate membership and use the designatory letters ‘MCIOB’ after their name.
Fees & Funding
Please note the total course fee for a Home student starting this course in 2023/24 will be £7,920. As this is an 18-month course, the fees are £5,280 for the first year and £2,640 for the final semester.
Home/EU Fees
Home students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Home fee of £5,664 for the academic year 2024/25.
International Fees
Overseas students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Overseas fee of £15,950 for the academic year 2024/25.
Bursaries
Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2024-25 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen start date from the list below:
You should have to hand:
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Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
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Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
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Details of any employment history including name, address, dates and role
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Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
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Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already input.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: University of Bolton MSc Construction Project Management - 27 January 2025
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Apply online: University of Bolton MSc Construction Project Management - 22 September 2025
International Applicants
Thank you for your interest
In order to determine your suitability for this course as an international student and also to confirm you meet any initial eligibility criteria, we need you to answer a few short questions.
Teaching & Assessment
We promote active learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and library time alongside your own guided and independent study. We adopt a blended learning and teaching style, including online delivery and engagement where appropriate.
Assessment is predominantly through coursework. Exams comprise 50% of the overall assessment in two 30-credit modules (equivalent to about 15% of the programme). We assess group work and peer working in one module. Your dissertation comprises an extended piece of individual research, with a viva voce as the concluding assessment for the MSc award.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Construction Management
- Project Management
- Sustainable Construction
- Group Project
- Dissertation
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 85% Written exams 15% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 85% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 15% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
