BSc Hons Construction Management

What you’ll study

The course is designed for students who want to undertake a leadership role in the global building construction process. The successful completion of a construction project requires careful coordination of many activities to ensure that it is finished on time and within budget, and is fit for purpose to the desired quality.

Our modules are tailored to meet the skills demand in industry. You'll develop the knowledge and confidence to analyse and evaluate the management and technical concepts, principles and theories associated with the development, production, refurbishment and maintenance of international construction projects. Your studies will involve explorations into legal, economic, financial, political, technological, environmental, sustainable, and health and safety principles that impact construction processes.

Year One

Fundamentals of Construction (40 credits)

• This module will introduce you to the domestic construction industry and the technology associated with it, looking at modern and sustainable forms of construction.
• You'll develop an understanding of building materials and their properties, studying a range of building components, elements and forms.

Introduction to Measurement and Cost (20 credits)

• This module will introduce, and develop your understanding of, measurement principles. It will also hone your ability to apply measurement skills.
• You'll develop an understanding of how construction costs occur, and learn how to prepare estimates and manage the occurrence of these costs during the construction process.

Architectural Science and Building Engineering Services (20 credits)

• This module will introduce you to the methods of providing comfortable internal thermal, visual and acoustic environments – the ways in which buildings are appropriately heated, cooled, quietened and illuminated.
• You'll study the basic principles underlying the operation and function of building engineering services  – how buildings are provided with water supplies and concentrated energy, such as gas and electricity, and how waste and refuse are removed.

Numerical and Professional Skills (20 credits)

• This module will introduce you to some of the important roles carried out by professionals in order to create the built environment, developing your understanding of the nature of the construction industry.
• You'll develop your numeracy skills – a vital part of your professional development in this industry.

Construction Industry Practice (20 credits)

• This module will introduce you to some of the important roles carried out by professionals in order to create the built environment.
• Focus will be on the structure of the industry, the professions within the industry and where you'll fit into it - forming construction teams, tendering for construction work, and health and safety within the industry.

Year Two

Construction Technology (20 credits)

• This module will primarily focus on industrial and commercial buildings. The key aim is for you to understand modern and traditional building technologies.
• It will also consider international construction methods and materials. Sustainability is an intrinsic driver in all construction matters, and its consideration will be an overriding requirement in this module.

Engineering Surveying (20 credits)

• The aim of this module is to introduce you to the basic principles and purposes of engineering surveying. You'll learn the theory in lectures and tutorials, with hands-on seminar and laboratory sessions introducing the practical surveying field skills required by industry.
• You'll learn how to use standard surveying instruments, how to set out and control construction works, and how to measure existing buildings.

Sustainable Technology and Environmental Control (20 credits)

• In this module, you'll explore the techniques of sustainability used in building technology and environmental engineering.
• You'll also learn about providing internal environments within buildings using both active and passive control methods.

Contract Administration: Control and Finance (20 credits)

• Contract administration is the study of construction contracts and practice. Construction-related contracts are widely used in the industry, and will play an important role in your working practices.
• This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of this area by studying key topics related to the administration of construction-related contracts, and applying the practices and procedures to industry-related scenarios.

Construction Management Practice and Procedures (20 credits)

• The module introduces you to the principles and practice of a small-to-medium construction company, its behavioural management system, and the operation of its projects.

Law  (20 credits)

• On this module you'll study the English legal system and its relationship to European Union law, to help you understand how law is made, administered and enforced.
• You'll also study health and safety law, contract law, negligence, occupier’s liability and other construction-related legal topics that have relevance to the construction and property environment.

Year Three

Sandwich placement year
 

In your third year, you'll have the opportunity to take a year-long, full-time placement. This year in industry will offer you hands-on experience, adding invaluable knowledge and skills to your CV. Many students return to their placement company after graduation, having developed a useful network of contacts within the industry.

Recent placement destinations have included MACE, Arcadis, ISG, and Laing O’Rourke. The majority of these roles come with a salary, with some students earning up to £20,000 for their year.

Successful completion of the placement year leads to an extra qualification – the Diploma in Professional Practice.

Study abroad

If you're studying on our sandwich route you can also opt to study abroad for a full academic year, or for a semester, during Year Three. This is an optional and additional period of study that complements your degree at NTU as an alternative to taking a work placement.

This is an exciting opportunity to experience a different national culture, teaching and learning styles and subjects in an international environment. The destination university must be a year abroad / exchange partner of NTU or member of a formally recognised scheme such as the International Student Exchange Programme (ISEP).

Our NTU Global and student mobility team will support you in finding the right opportunity from one of the many international partners available around the world.

Successful completion of a period of international study will earn you a standalone award – an International Study Certificate (minimum six weeks) or the International Study Diploma (minimum 36 weeks).

Year Four

Dissertation (40 credits)

• This module offers an opportunity to develop and utilise a range of research skills to produce a thesis based on a topic you have selected.
• Through intensive research and your knowledge of appropriate theory, you'll develop an extended research dissertation, guided by your dissertation supervisor.

Construction Management Project (40 credits)

• This module will integrate your knowledge and skills, and their application to construction production management.
• It will also explore production management techniques required for modern complex construction projects, both in the domestic and international construction arenas.

Contemporary Construction Themes (20 credits)

• This module will help develop your existing knowledge and understanding of the construction industry. Current developments within the sector will be studied, and their effect on the industry investigated.
• This module will be based around the following core themes: technology, sustainability and procurement.
• You'll evaluate today's construction industry and the issues it faces, and develop your understanding of digital construction and the use of technology. You'll also investigate innovation in construction techniques and materials - including sustainable methods - and critically evaluate procurement strategies and approaches.

Corporate Management (20 credits)

• This module will further develop your knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the corporate, financial and operational environment in which different construction organisations, their management and their clients operate.

English Language Requirements

If English isn’t your first language, studying in the UK can be very challenging. That's why we make sure you have the language skills you need to succeed right from the start. We’ve listed our English language entry requirements here and the qualifications we accept. You'll also find information about Pre-sessional English courses on this page.

IELTS

We accept a range of English language qualifications, including IELTS.

You’ll need to achieve the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS.

Please note there are different types of IELTS test available, and it is important that you take the correct one.

Please note we do not currently accept ‘IELTS Indicator’ or 'IELTS Online' test scores.


We've listed IELTS academic test grade needed for all courses in the table below.

**Please note that the date of your IELTS academic test result must be within two years of your degree course start date.**

Alternative English language tests accepted by the University

We accept any of the qualifications listed here as an alternative to IELTS.

In most cases the grades specified are acceptable for courses requiring an IELTS 6.5 (with 5.5 in each component) unless otherwise stated.

Please note that we do not accept the Duolingo English test.

The cost of studying at Nottingham Trent University varies largely depending on the type of university and the degree chosen. More often than not, humanities, arts, and education courses are less expensive than degrees in medical, engineering, or management. Furthermore, students who choose to study at the postgraduate level typically pay higher tuition fees, which again vary depending on the programme chosen.

Most universities provide scholarships or financial aid to students in order to help them offset their tuition costs. Students should be aware that additional course fees and incidental expenses may not be included in tuition. On average, international students can expect to pay £15,600 annually, to study in Nottingham Trent University.

Our course is designed to prepare you to succeed in the construction industry. You'll graduate with desirable skills and knowledge, boosting your employment prospects. We ensure our courses continue to be focused on current industry practice, through regular consultation with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE), employers, and current students.

Where do Construction Management graduates from NTU work?

NTU has a strong construction alumni community, with many graduates working in senior positions in leading national and international companies.

Recent BSc (Hons) Construction Management graduate destinations have included:
 

• Balfour Beatty
• Berkley Homes
• Gleeds
• ISG
• Mace Ltd
• Morgan Sindall
• VINCI
• Willmott Dixon.
• Siemens

Graduate job roles have recently included site manager, graduate project management, graduate trainee, trainee construction manager, assistant site manager, graduate site manager, and project manager.