Construction Project and Cost Management MSc

Postgraduate

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This practice-led, accredited¹ 100% online Construction Project and Cost Management MSc course has been developed in response to rapid changes in the global construction industry and explores innovative, non-adversarial approaches to project and cost management.

Year of entry

2024-25 2025-26

Location

100% online study

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time

Course code

EECT143

Start date

September 2025
January 2026
May 2026

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Online Learning

Discount

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At Coventry University, we continuously review the courses we offer to ensure we reflect industry-relevant emerging best practice and technology. As a result, this course is undergoing continuous improvement assessment and will be launched with a renewed curriculum starting in September 2025. Module content and titles will be updated. Course title, learning outcomes and assessments may also change. We expect our new curriculum to be fully updated by March 2025. Please return to this page to see the final course details.

Course overview

Our practice-led, 100% online Construction Project and Cost Management MSc course recognises the growing demand for professionals to engage with new, innovative, and non-adversarial approaches to construction project management and construction cost management in response to rapid cultural changes within the global construction industry.

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.

Why you should study this course

You will learn 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. You may also have the opportunity to obtain full membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) (Memberships are subject to meeting the relevant professional body's entry criteria and may incur additional costs)¹.
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.
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.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited¹ and recognised by the following bodies for the 2024-25 intake:

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 Management Institute

As part of this course you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for the January 2025 and May 2025 intakes. Upon successful completion of the Leading Diverse workforces module (achieving a pass grade), you will be eligible for the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice, subject to successful registration and CMI moderation, 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.

Memberships

You may also have the opportunity to obtain full membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) (Memberships are subject to meeting the relevant professional body's entry criteria and may incur additional costs.)

What you'll study

Modules

Global Management Practice – 15 credits

Financial and Asset Management – 15 credits

Construction Cost Management – 15 credits

Strategic Management for Construction and Engineering – 15 credits

Pre-Contract Management Practice – 15 credits

Contract Management Practice and Law – 15 credits

Integrated Project – 15 credits

The project calls for the application of academic knowledge, engineering judgment, professional skills, and personal resourcefulness to analyse challenging civil engineering / construction problems in a comprehensive manner and propose well justified and presented solutions.

Compulsory

Contemporary Issues and Research Methodologies – 15 credits

Research Project – 50 credits

The module aims to extend your experience in independent investigative work with a view to enhancing your ability to solve problems in your field of study. Research methods for technical, scientific, and social science investigations are included. Written presentation skills are developed as an integral part of the project.

Compulsory

Leading Diverse Workforces – 10 credits

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

Study 100% online

This course is studied completely online via our digital learning environment. It can be studied as a full-time master's programme over three semesters in one year, or on a part-time basis. Our platform provider is currently Aula.

This course can be offered on a 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. Request further information about the part-time study.

When studying online you will have access to a complete set of online learning materials delivered through our approved platforms. The learning materials contain all the essential teaching you will need to complete your course and undertake your assessments. You also have access to our library's electronic resources 24/7, including thousands of books, ejournals and newspapers.

In addition to the learning assets, you will have the support of an Associate Lecturer. The Associate Lecturer will undertake weekly live sessions (recorded for those unable to attend). These sessions will be seminar based, discussing the learning materials, giving clarity, depth and direction to your learning.

The Associate Lecturer will also offer fortnightly one-to-one surgeries for any individual requirements and will be available for questions on platform and via email.

Prefer to study with time on campus? Click here to view our on campus course.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 15 credit module requires a total of 150 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

In a typical teaching week you will have around two contact hours of teaching. Later in the course, you will have 10 hours (total) of project supervision. Teaching is typically organised as two-hour sessions for 15-credit modules and one-hour sessions for 10-credit modules, incorporating engagement on our digital platform with content material and applying learning in associated workshops.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning:

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods may include

formal examinations
phase tests
essays
group work
presentations
reports
coursework
exams
individual assignments.

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.

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.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

You should have a minimum of a second class honours degree in a related discipline (e.g. Construction Management, Architecture, Architectural Technology, Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Building Surveying, Building Services and Facility Management.)

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Each application will be considered on its merits and the final decision will be made by the course director. For information regarding what might amount to an ‘appropriate discipline’ please request information.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

General enquiries

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK and International	£13,550	Request fee information

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 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

All students have access to these facilities in Coventry:

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The Library

You will benefit from our support designed to help you succeed and our industry-relevant teaching and resources. These include our modern library and computing facilities, dedicated careers advice and Your Students’ Union.

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The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student campus life. It's also home to the Student Wellbeing Centre, the Spirituality and Faith Centre, the Tank Studio, Student Success Coaches and the Enterprise Hub.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

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 a 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 could set you on the path towards becoming 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

UK and International students

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, 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 unpaid and/or 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, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any 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 UK (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

Student Contract

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 current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website. 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.