KEY FACTS

Title
MSc Sustainable Construction Project Management
Award
Master of Science - MSc
Study mode
Part-time
Distance learning
Duration
1 year
Start date
April 2013
September 2013
April 2014
Fees
See fees information above

MSc Sustainable Construction Project Management

Professionals completing this unique MSc, which combines project management and sustainability, will be in an outstanding position to become industry leaders in delivering sustainable construction.

One of a series of new and exciting professional MSc courses in Sustainable Construction available at the University of Plymouth, delivered using blended learning, which combines the best of face-to-face and distance learning; ideal for the busy professional.

Our mission is to provide world-class, advanced education in a vital field of practice in ways that will suit busy working professionals and their employers. The aim of this MSc is to develop the core knowledge, skills and understanding project managers need to ensure that sustainability measures are effectively embedded within all types and sizes of construction project.

Professional accreditation Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Studying, living or working in Cornwall? Then you may be eligible for a scholarship worth £3,500.

For further information visit the ESF Scholarships page

Why Sustainable Construction?

Sustainable Construction makes sense. This is not only because construction professionals design, build and manage the building and infrastructure humanity needs, but also because our industry:

is the world's largest, employing over 111 million people
consumes between 40% and 50% of all materials extracted from the earth's crust
accounts for nearly half of energy use and carbon emissions in developed countries
has immense potential to reduce its environmental impact through the delivery of green building and infrastructure projects

However, to fulfil its potential the industry urgently requires leaders and managers who possess advanced understanding of sustainability to enable them to maximise the quality of construction projects while improving both competitiveness and sustainability performance.

Key features

This masters degree will equip you to become a leading-edge 21st century professional in the world's most significant industry. Key features include:

Flexibility: distance learning is combined with two long weekend teaching sessions a year delivered on campus
Flexible take-up: Individuals can undertake the four taught modules separately as CPD. In this way, if you wish, you can build up your MSc qualification over time. Each individual module will provide around 260 hours of credit rated CPD, representing excellent value for money.
Expert delivery: Our staff are experts in their field and have proven expertise in flexible learning. As a result, both the course content and delivery techniques are up-to-date and innovative.
Innovative content: Plymouth has a sixteen year track record in delivering sustainable construction education. We were the first to offer sustainability themed undergraduate degrees in construction and have designed this
MSc with sustainability threading right though the curriculum. It is not an add-on.
Particular delivery innovations unique to Plymouth are:

The provision of a research-based online sustainable construction competency planning and profiling tool
Face-to-face and book-based sustainability training techniques that have been successfully completed by hundreds of people to engage them more fully with the sustainability agenda.

What's in it for me?

Survey after survey confirms that sustainability concerns are fast emerging as central drivers in professional practice for all disciplines. In response to this reality, Plymouth University has pioneered a suite of innovative new MSc degrees designed to equip and empower built environment professionals to take a leading role in raising the sustainability performance of their industry and delivering sustainable construction solutions for their clients.

Plymouth University credentials

1996 saw Plymouth University launch the first overtly environment themed building degrees in the UK, possibly the world
Plymouth University is dedicated to developing environmentally aware professionals capable of taking a leading role in the transformation of the construction industry in the UK and abroad
The University has great green credentials including the 2012 First Class award in the People and Planet Green League
A top, multiple award-winning institution for teaching excellence in this field

Watch a short film about this programme by Paul Murray, Subject Leader.
The film outlines:

What sets these courses apart
What will be taught
Programme structure
Staff expertise

Duration

Distance learning, minimum 3 years

Fees and Funding

For full information on our current fees and funding opportunities visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/money

Home/EU
The programme comprises 180 credits. In year one, a student will typically take 60 credits.

What our students say

"The emphasis on sustainability is not just a box to be ticked but a philosophy instilled in all aspects of the course that taught me to consider the environment not just in my professional life. With the construction industry being forced to embrace sustainability, my education in the field has come in very useful and I believe it gives Plymouth students a competitive edge in the job market."

Matthew Malcolm, Roof Construction September 2010

"Studying MSc Construction Management at Plymouth University has showed me that hard work definitely pays off and it has proved to myself, as much as others, that I am capable of much more than I ever thought possible. The course has been stimulating and interesting which has fuelled my yearning for knowledge that also has driven me through the course. During this year I have learned more than any other year in my life, and I know that what I’ve learned is up to date and cutting edge academically as well as industrially. This is particularly the case for the sustainable agenda which is of most importance in today’s construction industry and is highly regarded in Plymouth University. Successfully completing this program has given me great confidence in the success of my future career and opened vital doors to either a career in the industry or in the academic profession."

Cesar Erik Alarcon, MSc Construction Management Graduate 2010