This module will develop construction project skills, identify, review and analyse project management best practice guidelines and discuss aspects of planning and controlling projects. Evaluation of industry techniques and tools, using manual and computer methods for planning and control will be undertaken.

The MSc Dissertation enables you to undertake an in-depth individual research project in an area directly linked to your subject area and interests. This will ensure that you undertake scholarly work that further develops an aspect of the taught material and thereby contributes to your personal development and training towards professional practice. This module evidences your transformation from undergraduate to master’s level achievement through the process and production of a recognised research output in your subject area.

Delivery within budget is a key requirement of successful projects and programmes. This module is designed to provide deep understanding of not only the methods of producing financial information throughout the project life-cycle, but also the implications of such information for project and programme outcomes.

This module aims to develop knowledge and understanding of contract law and law of tort and their application to projects. Contract law considers the requirements for a legally binding agreement, with particular emphasis on the formation of a contract, the contents of a contract, forms of contract and remedies for breach. Law of tort law examines the requirements for liability in negligence and outlines of the other torts relevant to the construction industry. The module includes an introduction to the English legal system and dispute resolution.

This module develops understanding of programme management epistemology and its relationship to project management. Students develop the expertise necessary for applying programme management methodologies to groups of projects, organisational development initiatives and change management across industry sectors. Furthermore, few projects and programmes are implemented exactly as originally conceived and designed. This reality creates requirement on project and programme managers not only to develop understanding of risks, uncertainty and other change factors and how they affect outcomes but also to acquire the competence in tracking change using appropriate metrics and working out and implementing remedial courses of action that recognise the interests of all stakeholders. This module is designed to develop such attributes and is concerned with: understanding the risks of change; forensic cost and delay analysis, fast-tracking projects, dealing with responsibility for extra cost and delays, etc..

The aim of the module is to provide a comprehensive introduction to project management, and the general principles that all MSc students need to understand. This includes the project lifecycle, benefits realisation, risk identification, tools and techniques common to project managers. The concepts can be applied to all project management situations.  

By studying this module you will develop the personal and professional skills required to design and undertake research in your chosen subject area at post graduate level.