Management in Construction (Civil Engineering) MSc
Why choose this course?
This industry-accredited course offers a strategic overview of civil engineering and management issues; addressing the challenges facing the construction industry. It successfully combines structural engineering with advanced construction management.
The course is aimed at civil and/or structural engineers who aspire to become senior managers in both consulting engineering and contracting organisations, and is particularly suitable for graduate engineers starting their career in the construction industry. It will develop your professional, analytical and management skills, as well as improve your technical skills and knowledge.
| Mode | Duration | Start date |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | 1 year |
January 2023 September 2023 |
| Full time | 2 years including professional placement |
January 2023 September 2023 |
| Part time | 2 years |
January 2023 September 2023 |
| Location | Penrhyn Road |
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators, which includes the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) and the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) under licence from the Engineering Council.
- This MSc meets the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) if you already have an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng (Hons) or an Accredited IEng (Full) BEng/BSc (Hons).
- Kingston has excellent links with industry. Students have worked with: Matra-Marconi Space Ltd; Ericsson; Balfour Beatty; The National Health Service; and British Gas.
Accreditation
Further Learning Programme - MSc (non-technical)
This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM), which comprises the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers and the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation on behalf of the Engineering Council, as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree.
It should be noted that candidates completing the MSc who hold an underpinning accredited IEng degree or a non-accredited bachelor degree will need to apply for an academic assessment to determine whether they will meet the educational base for CEng registration.
Our MSc course in Management in Construction (Civil Engineering) is accredited until 2023 entry.
See www.jbm.org.uk for further information.
Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.
Please check the Engineering Council website for more information.
Engineering council
Civil Engineering at Kingston
What you will study
There are four taught modules and a thesis. Three of the modules are intended to provide you with an understanding of the core management skills needed to make a major contribution within the industry, while one structural design module enables you to broaden and deepen your technical knowledge of specialised civil engineering areas. You will also cover subjects that are both specific and complementary to civil engineering. In addition, you will develop the ability to resolve the broader problems that arise in civil engineering.
The advanced concrete design module is assessed by coursework based on the national university competition organised by The Concrete Centre, the trade body representing the concrete industry in the UK.
Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.
For a student to go on placement they are required to pass every module first time with no reassessments. It is the responsibility of individual students to find a suitable paid placement. Students will be supported by our dedicated placement team in securing this opportunity.
Modules
Core modules
Management of Project Risk, Quality and Safety
30 credits
The module starts with a general introduction into the management of projects, and then goes more deeply into the technical aspects of project management techniques and project risk analysis.
It also covers many aspects of health and safety legislation and practice, starting from the history of health and safety in the UK, the Health and Safety at Work Act, risk assessment, and covers major sets of regulations that impact on construction work. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations are dealt with in depth, as this is a key piece of statutory legislation that relates to the construction industry. Good practice and the importance of advice and guidance are emphasised.
Quality management is dealt with in relation to the requirements of the latest edition of ISO9000, and the process leading to registration under this standard. Modern practices in quality and the use of various quality management techniques are covered.
Business in Practice
30 credits
This postgraduate module covers the theory and practice of the business and management needs of students from different academic contexts such as, but not limited to Science, Engineering, Computing and Health Services who are aspiring team leaders, managers, and entrepreneurs in business within the context of the commercial, public, voluntary, or academic sector.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
- Investigate business topics ranging from finance, accounting, budgeting, and marketing, to organisational management by developing the leadership skills to meet business challenges and to cope with their complexity.
- Explain and put into context business concepts to graduates from a variety of sectors including those encompassed by Science, Engineering, Computing and Health Services.
Estimating, Tendering and Procurement
30 credits
This module concentrates on the way the construction product is priced and paid for and aims to give an in-depth understanding of the roles that the client/employer, the main contractor, and the professional service consultants have in relation to the procurement of construction works.
It also examines the processes that need to be undertaken at senior management level in terms of the estimating and tendering decisions by contactors' during the bidding process. It analyses in detail the strategic decision making rationale that needs to be put in place when making a decision to tender a bid and the process of turning an estimate into a tender submission.
Dissertation
60 credits
The overall aim of the module is to allow you to develop research skills and gain an appreciation of a subject area of the your own choosing. In undertaking the work that is required you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and competence in reviewing existing published literature and data and through the use of your own efforts apply one or more of a range of research methods to collect and analyse data and draw well-founded conclusions as a result of your research.
The module allows you to study an area of interest in significant depth and allows you to demonstrate a clear understanding of what has been learnt through a variety of means; a literature review, a research proposal, an oral presentation and a substantial dissertation.
Structural Design in Concrete and Steel
30 credits
This core module covers latest developments in specification, design and detail of reinforced and pre-stressed concrete framed buildings and, steel framed structures. Methods of analysis and structural design are in accordance with Eurocode 2 (EC2) and Eurocode 3 (EC3) for concrete and steel respectively.
On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:
- Analyse, design and detail reinforced and pre-stressed concrete elements includinf flat slabs and post-tensioned slabs to EC2.
- Carry out the conceptual design including design for stability and robustness of multi-storey concrete framed buildings.
- Specify sustainable modern concretes including self-compacting concrete, high strength voncrete, admixtures and additions, in accordance with up-to-date practice.
- Critically compare various methods of design with steel such as simple, continuous and semi-rigid and carry out plastic analysis of steel frames.
- Analyse, design and detail incl. fire resistance requirements of steel elements such as beams, columns and composite floors to EC3.
- Design single and multi-bay industrial structures in steel including bolted and welded connections.
Optional modules
Professional Placement
120 credits
The Professional Placement module is a core module for those students following a masters programme that incorporates an extended professional placement. It provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in an appropriate working environment, and develops and enhances key employability and subject specific skills in their chosen discipline. Students may wish to use the placement experience as a platform for the major project or future career.
It is the responsibility of individual students to find and secure a suitable placement opportunity; this should not normally involve more than two placements which must be completed over a minimum period of 10 months and within a maximum of 12 months. The placement must be approved by the Course Leader, prior to commencement to ensure its suitability. Students seeking placements will have access to the standard placement preparation activities offered by Student Engagement and Enhancement (SEE) group.
Read more about the postgraduate work placement scheme.
The information above reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. Updates may be made on an annual basis and revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. The regulations governing this course are available on our website. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this may not be offered.
Work placement scheme
Many postgraduate courses at Kingston University allow students to take the option of a 12-month work placement as part of their course. The responsibility for finding the work placement is with the student; we cannot guarantee the placement, just the opportunity to undertake it. You may find securing a professional placement difficult as they are highly competitive and challenging, but they are also incredibly rewarding. So it is very important to prepare and apply yourself if this is the route you wish to take. Employers look for great written and oral communication skills; and an excellent CV/portfolio. As the work placement is an assessed part of the course, it is covered by a student's Student Route visa.
Find out more about the postgraduate work placement scheme.
Entry requirements
Teaching and assessment
Who teaches this course?
The course is taught by the Department of Civil Engineering, Construction and Surveying. Staff have a wide range of experience across research and industry and continue to practice and research at the cutting edge of their discipline.
Our programmes have been designed with your aspirations, needs and abilities in mind, and are aimed at developing your specialist skills, deepening your understanding and gaining new insights and perspectives to equip you for a professional career ahead.
Academic staff in the department are bonded in an interdisciplinary team of civil and structural engineers, material scientists, geologists, hydrologists, construction managers, building and quantity surveyors with professional practice and applied research backgrounds. Many of us are nationally and internationally recognised leaders in our areas of specialism and we are frequently invited to undertake high-profile external research and consultancy work.
Having developed our courses with the working world in mind, we offer hands-on student experiences such as testing in our exemplary laboratory facilities in structures, materials, concrete, geotechnics and hydraulics that are used for teaching and research. Knowledge is also gained from field trips for both undergraduates and postgraduates; site visits and industrial placements; employability support via our strong partnerships with industry, professional institutions and learned societies.
Our teaching is engaging and practice-focused and supported by site visits and invited guest lecturers by our industrial liaisons and strong alumni network. Our approach to assessment is project-driven and seeks to equip students with a range of competencies and transferrable skills thus boosting their employability prospects.
Postgraduate students may run or assist in lab sessions and may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.
Facilities
There is a wide range of facilities for practical work at our Penrhyn Road campus, where this course is based. You will have access to a modern environment with the latest technology and industry-standard equipment, including:
- extensive materials and structures facility for concrete, masonry, steel and timber;
- geotechnical and hydraulics testing facilities; and
- surveying equipment, such as satellite global-positioning systems.
Dedicated computer-aided design facilities include:
- a range of CAD/CAM packages, such as Ideas, SolidWorks and AutoCad;
- finite element analysis
- computational fluid dynamics; and
- virtual instrumentation.
You can also use the dedicated Graduate Centre on campus. This includes:
- IT facilities;
- seminar rooms;
- social spaces and a canteen; and
- specialist libraries.
Students studying this course will benefit from the John Galsworthy Building, a £20million teaching and learning facility, which opened in November 2007. The six-storey complex brings lecture theatres, flexible teaching space and information technology suites together around a landscaped courtyard.
Fees for this course
Additional costs
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.
What this course offers you
- This course provides a strategic overview of civil engineering and management issues.
- It will develop your professional, analytical and management skills, as well as improving your technical skills and knowledge. For example, you will gain communication, teamwork, IT and problem-solving skills.
- Each module combines a stimulating mix of lectures, practical laboratory work, group work, case studies and presentations.
Input from industry experts complements the academic teaching throughout the course. - Your MSc dissertation allows you to build on your academic knowledge and extend your in-depth knowledge in your area of specialisation. It can be an excellent selling point when looking for a job or promotion.
- You can choose to study the course full-time or part-time to fit in with work commitments. September and January start dates give you extra flexibility.
- The course was originally designed to satisfy the Engineering Council's SARTOR 3 requirements. We have now developed it to appeal to students who do not require a Matching Section as well.
- We regularly review all our postgraduate courses to make sure that they are up to date, reflect industry needs and are comparable to other university courses.
After you graduate
Suitable roles include construction manager, civil engineer, site engineer and sustainability consultant.
How the engineering staff work with industry partners
Our excellent industrial links have developed over many years and throughout many countries. Some examples include work with:
- Matra-Marconi Space Ltd
- Ericsson
- Balfour Beatty
- The National Health Service
- British Gas.
Our Industrial Advisory Committee reviews and advises industrial activities. The Committee acts as a forum for discussing teaching, research and consultancy to industry.
Industrial project review
This course features an industrial project review and analysis module, which is designed to be taken in industry. It gives you the chance to address a real-world problem in an engineering environment. Throughout the course, academic teaching is complemented by input from industry experts.
Engineering research
Many academic staff are engaged in a range of research and consultancy activities funded by the Research Councils, the European Union, the government, trade unions and industry. These activities ensure our staff are in touch with the latest industry thinking and bring best practice to your studies.
Research centres
Engineering research within the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing is organised into three research centres, which provide focus and encourage the cross-fertilisation of ideas.
Civil engineering and construction research takes place in the Sustainable Technology Research Centre. The research groups within the centre cover a wide range of topics, including:
- land use;
- building design and construction;
- re-cycling waste materials;
- efficient energy use and distribution;
- water resources (hydraulics); and
- monitoring using remote sensing.
Changes from 1 August 2022
Up until 31 July 2022, this course was taught in the Faculty of Science Engineering and Computing. For students enrolling from September 2022, the course will be delivered by the Faculty of Engineering, Computing, and the Environment. There will be no impact on the teaching or the award of the degree.