
Digital Construction - MSc
Currently viewing course to start in 2023/24 Entry.
The MSc in Digital Construction course is designed in response to the growth of digitalisation in the built environment, to produce pioneers who can lead and apply digital innovation to the construction industry. This new course is aimed at: Provide you with a comprehensive portfolio of creative, professional and practice-based education....
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time/Part Time
- Location City Centre
- Award MSc
- Start date September 2023
- Fees View course fees
- School School of Engineering and the Built Environment
- Faculty Faculty of Computing, Engineering and The Built Environment
Overview
The MSc in Digital Construction course is designed in response to the growth of digitalisation in the built environment, to produce pioneers who can lead and apply digital innovation to the construction industry. This new course is aimed at:
- Provide you with a comprehensive portfolio of creative, professional and practice-based education. Help you to secure employment and career enhancement, further study and career enhancement.
- Help you to secure employment and career enhancement, further study and career enhancement.
The course design has been influenced by the rapid development in automated processes that support different aspects within the built environment, as well as the continual demand of the commercial sector for strategies that support effective technological transformation. Improving digital competencies amongst different professionals at technical, operational and managerial levels across the built environment sector is becoming vital. With the continual technological evolution of this sector, the demand for graduates who can advance the use of data / information is on the rise, especially with many emerging potentials resulting from applying areas of knowledge such as techniques from big data analytics, block-chain and information system management strategies. We anticipate that both professionals and graduates are motivated and capable in terms of both academic ability and real-world understanding to study this course.
MSc Digital Construction is a cognate course, which means that it is designed for graduates from different educational backgrounds including built environment, engineering, manufacturing, and computer science industry professionals. This goes hand-in-hand with the applied nature of the taught modules, which contextualise theory and practical exercises into areas where we have considerable expertise, e.g. BIM, information systems and computer science.
What's covered in this course?
The MSc Digital Construction is built on five main areas of knowledge: Digital Transformation, Integrated Processes, Innovation, Smart Production and Decision-making.
Digital Transformation: through Information System lenses, we will provide you with knowledge and understanding on role of Information Systems and Technology within organisations shedding the light on a range of techniques that support formulating an effective strategy for digital transformation.
Integrated Processes: reflecting on best practice of employing integrated processes across different built environment disciplines, we will pave knowledge and practice of using Building Information Modelling (BIM) as one of the integrated processes on real-life projects.
Innovation: extending on integrated processes, you will be exposed to different innovative solutions that can be applied during and after building delivery, and how they can be used to improve overall building performance and management.
Smart Production: with the continual evolvement of engineering and manufacturing processes within the construction industry, we cover knowledge and understanding about different approaches primarily through lean principles toward achieving smart production.
Decision-making: with the expansion of integrating technology-based solutions within the built environment, the value of understanding data/information in informing different decisions across the whole life cycle is becoming inevitable. Through interdisciplinary expertise, we will provide you with an insight into different computing-based areas to equip you with robust knowledge on synthesis of the data to optimise different aspects with in the built environment.
Accredited By
This course is accredited by:
Why Choose Us?
- Become a specialist in Digital Construction - this course will go beyond upskilling your knowledge on technological advances in the construction industry to equip you with pragmatic and dynamic mind-set that places you at the front line in the construction market.
- Widening your job prospects - in addition to your opportunities in the construction market, our course will enable you to step into businesses that are undergoing or planning to undergo a digital transformation journey where your role will be forming strategy, improving processes and support their technological adoption.
- Links with industry - we are well connected with the industry, and this includes large organisations and SMEs. The interdisciplinary nature of the course allows us to bring expertise from both the construction industry and computer science together.
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OPEN DAY
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to meet us in person. You'll get the chance to learn about courses in subject talks, chat to tutors and explore our campus. We'll post you a detailed event programme to help plan your day and find your way.
Next Event: Saturday 24 June
Entry Requirements
Essential Requirements
2:2 honours degree or higher in Built Environment, Engineering or Computer Science Discipline |
We will also consider other qualifications and suitable work based experience on an individual basis. You may be asked to attend a selection interview. |
Additional information for EU/International students
Essential |
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Non-EU students need to demonstrate a good command of English. IELTS 6.0 with not less than 5.5 in all areas or equivalent is needed before they can enrol in this programme. |
Introduction course |
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Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MSc
Starting: Sep 2023
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £9,250 in 2023/24
- Full Time
- 18 months with Professional Placement*
- £10,175 in 2023/24
- Part Time
- 24 months
- Show fees
- £1028 per 20 credits
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MSc
Starting: Sep 2023
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £16,870 in 2023/24
- Full Time
- 18 months with Professional Placement*
- £18,557 in 2023/24
Professional Placement option*
The Professional Placement option will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement. The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will also benefit from support sessions delivered by Careers+ as well as advice and guidance from your School.
Placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course. All students who do not find a suitable placement or do not pass the competitive selection process will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.
Personal statement
You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.
Course in Depth
Master's
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):
This course is seeking to create effective, efficient and creative managers of construction projects from design right through to occupation. Innovation is a key aspect of this both in managers’ ability to conceive of new approaches but also to implement series of improvements and to cope with disruption. The module takes a ‘learning approach’ to innovating considering this at both the system level and the individual level. In this, it explores and challenges different conceptions of innovation and seeks to devise strategies for implementation and success within different contexts.
This module aims to provide a holistic view of the process and practice underlined by the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) as one of the mechanisms for integrated delivery. Using case studies and real life scenarios, the Module commences by identifying drivers and rationale to identify the business case for BIM in any project.
This module aims to facilitate knowledge and practices of lean integration and production within the built environment. It provides an overview of lean principles, techniques and approaches, and how they smart production processes. The module also touches on the integration of lean principles and production within built environment technologies, and attempts to reflect different stakeholders’ perspectives of lean integration across the whole life cycle.
This module aims to provide an insight into the synthesis of data analytics knowledge and its application to optimise different aspects within digital built environment. Due to the advent of technological advancements, and since the introduction of Industry 4.0 and 5.0, research continues to show that deeper insight into the data/information can support overcoming many of the complex issues within built environment projects.
The module is concerned with the social context in which technology is employed and the relationship that develops thereby. The module focuses on effective strategic thinking and a holistic integration approach to IT challenges and barriers. The module debates the interdependent relationship between people, processes and technology to deliver enterprise solutions able to exploit information and IT in a constantly changing international context
This module aims to encourage self-directed, individual and life-long learning through the adoption of problem-based learning strategy to enhance your problem solving skills. The module requires you to work in teams to address the challenges presented in case studies, simulating real-word scenarios. You will gain practical experience of applying, analysing and critiquing a range of modelling techniques to formulate IS strategies.
The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and research-informed Level 7 project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. In agreement with your supervisor, you will decide upon your topic which will take the form of a practical outcome (artefact) with accompanying contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your topic is that it must be aligned to the programme you are studying and informed by the research strategy of your school, and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.
Professional Placement
In order to qualify for the award of MSc Digital Construction with Professional Placement, a student must successfully complete all of the Level 7 modules listed above as well as the following Level 6 module:
This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 20-week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree.
The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
Download course specification
Download nowThe teaching for this course puts you at the centre of learning and teaching, with a particular focus on the reflective learner and the development of professional skills and applied research. The course team use lectures, seminars, workshops, action learning sets, group work, problem based activities, guest speakers, on-line learning via Moodle, a study trip and discussion forums to deliver learning.
Critical thinking is vital in Master’s study, and you are required to develop your own ideas and come up with solutions to problems based on solid evidence and logical analysis. You’ll also be expected to complete reading and assignments outside of class hours.
This course is accredited by

Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)
This course is accredited by Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)
Employability
Enhancing your employability skills
Construction is seen as one of the top industries that rapidly is moving toward digitising its processes. Following the emergence of the fourth industrial revolution, digitalisation is recognised to be having a profound impact on the way industry works, operates and progresses.
Despite the digital transformation wave, this course anticipates to engage you with multidisciplinary industries to promote innovation and enable you to gain both practical and in-depth knowledge of tools and techniques within the Digital Built Environment for solving complex project problems.
Benefiting from our resources and partnership with Autodesk, you will be using software applications including Revit, Dynamo, BIM 360, and many others. Also, as BCU is recognised as an Autodesk Training Centre, you will benefit by having a free training access to one of the software applications from Autodesk.
Despite the active engagement with many international Consultancies, Contractors, and the UK BIM Alliance through the BIM Task Group, the course responds to many of the current and future needs within the Built Environment. The course will invite leading guest speakers to share their knowledge across various modules, and this will be arranged at their convenience.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff

Our Facilities
The facility our students value most is not actually on campus, but is the location of the campus in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside opposite the new High Speed 2 station construction, and minutes from dozens of fascinating live projects within the city centre.
Birmingham as it changes constantly on our doorstep really is our ‘living lab’. By simply looking out the window of our classrooms you’ll be able to witness live projects as they’re happening around us. You’ll constantly be inspired by dozens of fascinating case studies just from walking from the station to the campus.
The facilities on offer to our students reflect the work environment you will enter as you start your career. Learn more about what we have to offer below.
Our staff
Dr Mohammad Mayouf
Senior Lecturer in Digital Built Environment
Dr Mohammad Mayouf teaches a range of modules across Construction Management, Quantity Surveying and Building Surveying both at Undergraduate and postgraduate levels. His expertise include embedding and applying the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) within the built environment teaching curriculums, and research and collaboration with...
More about MohammadDr Elham Delzendeh
Senior Lecturer in Digital Built Environment
Elham's core research is around advanced digital technologies in AEC, building energy performance, occupants' behaviours and BIM. In addition to her academic experiences, she has a demonstrated history of working in the design and construction industry as an Architect, Architectural Technologist and BIM specialist.
More about ElhamDr Saeed Talebi
Senior Lecturer in Quantity Surveying, Course Leader for BSc Quantity Surveying
Dr Saeed Talebi is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Built Environment, Birmingham City University. He has a PhD in the Built Environment and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). His role combines teaching, research, and administration. Saeed is the Course Leader for BSc Quantity Surveying and he has taught on several areas...
More about SaeedDr Emmanuel Aboagye-Nimo
Senior Lecturer in Construction Management
Emmanuel Aboagye-Nimo is a Chartered Construction Manager (MCIOB) and a Senior Lecturer in Construction Management. He teaches on a range of Built Environment modules and supervises researchers of various levels from undergraduate to doctoral projects.
More about Emmanuel