Course details

Summary

Construction Management is the overall planning, co-ordination and control of a project from beginning to completion. Construction Project Management is aimed at meeting a client's requirement in order to produce a functionally and financially viable project.

Construction Management professionals undertake a wide range of tasks, including:

• Specifying project objectives and plans. Defining the scope, budget and schedule for a project;
• Setting performance requirements and selecting project participants;
• Employing procurement methods to maximize the efficient use of resources (labour, materials and equipment;
• Coordinating and controlling the planning, design, estimating, contracting and construction;
• Developing and implementing effective communications and mechanisms for avoiding and resolving conflicts among those participating in the project.

The Construction Management programme offers graduates study leading to the Master of Engineering degree. The focus is on professional programs that successfully combine theory and application with a strong emphasis in applied management.

Why Study Construction Management

The current demand for highly skilled Construction Managers is high, not only in New Zealand but also overseas. There is an overwhelming shortage of people with the appropriate CM knowledge and skills. Giving the increasing emphasis on creating new infrastructure, housing, and commercial growth there will be an increasing global shortage of Construction Managers in years to come.

The programme is designed to cater for a wide variety of students, including practising construction management professionals around NZ and recent graduates (including overseas graduates) wishing to acquire or upgrade their knowledge and skills or whom want to make the next step in their careers. Our programme uses a variety of teaching methods and we co-operate with a good pool of accredited academic staff and professionals to give the course its national and international relevance to the industry.

Major Topic Areas

• Project management;
• Procurement processes;
• Risk management;
• Cost estimation;
• Management of labour, materials and equipment;
• Infrastructure asset management.

The Master of Engineering (ME) includes a thesis of 120 points and up to 45 points of coursework. ME students can complete in 16 months or a maximum of three years full-time. For part-time study the duration can vary between 30 months to four years.

Further study

Students can study a Doctor of Philosophy in Bioengineering, Chemical and Process Engineering, Civil Engineering, Earthquake Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering at UC.

Career opportunities

Postgraduate study can bring many career benefits eg, specialist skills and enhanced knowledge, entry into specific occupations, higher starting salary/progression rates, research capability/achievement and evidence of high academic attainment/self-discipline.

Entry criteria

Candidates must normally have completed one of the following:

• Bachelor of Engineering with Honours with first or second class honours
• Bachelor of Science with Honours with first or second class honours, in relevant subjects
• Postgraduate Certificate in Engineering with a GPA of 5 or more.

Students wishing to enrol in postgraduate study must have completed both the academic and non-academic requirements of the prerequisite degree. This includes practical work days, work reports, a workshop training course and a first aid certificate. The programme of study must be approved by the Dean.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum B+ grade; CAE or CPE score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 64 and no PTE communicative skills score below 58.