Project Management in the Built Environment

Entry requirements

The MSc in Project Management in the Built Environment is open to students who hold a good undergraduate honours degree (2.1 or above) in any discipline. We will also consider applications from candidates with relevant experience (or an alternative qualification) and demonstrable ability to study at master's level. Normally, applicants for open-learning study should also have at least six months' work experience in a sector of the construction industry and are normally required to be in full-time employment. Please also see the university's general entry requirements.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

There are two modes of delivery for the Msc PMBE: full time on campus or open learning, and there are two entry points - September and January.

Extensive online learning material is provided to all students via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) - our own intranet site to which students have access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The course is assessed by 100% coursework submitted via the VLE. Module leaders can be contacted via the VLE, e-mail, telephone and Skype.

Intensive Study Periods - all students attend four intensive study periods during their programme and these are normally around 3 days long.
Field Trips and Site Visits - there are a number of field trips and site visits which take place mainly during the intensive study periods. There is one European field trip during the MSc programme and this takes place at the end of January each year - usually to the Netherlands.
Problem Based Learning - the programme will develop knowledge of current practice and issues in the construction industry as well as building real-life skills including the exploration of interdisciplinary problems.

Module Outlines

People, Leadership and Organisations: aims to develop the students knowledge and understanding of how behavioural and organisational issues influence project performance and how they can be harnessed to effectively deliver projects. To a large extent the module adopts a problem-based learning (PBL) approach. Here, PBL is facilitated through problem-solving exercises that are based on prominent case studies and game play exercises.

Project Planning, Control and Risk: prepares students to manage projects within the built environment through the use of advanced planning and control techniques.

Construction Law and Procurement: starts with the consideration of project procedure and participants and their roles on different kinds of project in the built environment.

Managing Technology for Sustainable Environments: design techniques and technological innovations and how they are used and managed are key elements in the development of our built environment. This module introduces these as considerations that should be made at the inception and briefing stages of a project, not as afterthoughts later in the process.
Applied Research Methods provides students with the fundamentals of research design highlighting the difference between qualitative and quantitative research paradigms and demonstrates how data can be both gathered and analysed and how deductive arguments can be used to produce valid generalisations from data.

Dissertation: each student will work with a supervisor from within the department to produce an original piece of work of publishable quality through conducting their own primary research and presenting their findings in a professional manner.

Information for international students

Please see the university's standard English language requirements

Fees and funding

UK/EU applicants who fulfil the academic entry requirements for postgraduate study in the university and School of the Built Environment and who have been offered a part-time place on MSc PMBE are eligible to apply for the school's merit-based scholarships. Further information on the scholarships can be found at: www.brookes.ac.uk/schools/be/scholarships/index.html

Qualification and course duration

MSc

PGDip

PGCert

Assessment

Course contact details