Quantity Surveying - MSc

This module seeks to help the students understand and evaluate construction contracts, their application and execution, as well as the legal aspect of construction. The module is designed to make the students develop a systematic understanding of the knowledge and critical awareness of the issues and opportunities for the management of construction projects. It also seeks to make the student aware of and appreciate the conflicting interests within construction projects and the need to manage such interests effectively. To be able to manage such interests, the module prepares the students to be aware of the legal and organisational factors at play in the construction industry and the methods available for managing/resolving disputes that may occur during the execution of projects.

The programme seeks to develop the students with the knowledge and skills that will meet the challenges presented by change and innovation and provides opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds including international students, students with limited professional experience, as well as students looking for mid-career development in specialist areas related to quantity surveying. This programme will challenge the students to question their current thinking and the practices adopted in the face of a rapidly changing global construction industry, and develop their abilities to be innovative and creative in solving unique problems. This module is designed to provide students with the capability to take a 'whole life' approach to construction economics, including client, contracting and consulting roles in the industry through strong financial, analytical, interpretative and teamwork skills and to develop their risk awareness and the skills to analyse risks in the dynamic built environment.

This module explores various methods of project management within the context of construction. It explores the practical aspects of the development and construction process and in particular, those areas over which a Project Manager would expect to have some control. Themes such as specifications, programming, costing, stakeholder, risk and project control are addressed towards providing practical solutions. This module focuses on the practical skills needed for a project manager to effectively manage a construction project.

The programme philosophy seeks to respond to a changing employment market and to the changing requirements of the construction industry. Its aim is to give you a broad yet rigorous grounding in the fundamentals of organising and managing construction projects. This module is consistent with this philosophy as it discusses the reality of construction activities which have a long-lasting effect on the environment therefore sustainable and environmentally sound construction methods and innovative management practices are needed. 

The programme seeks to develop the students with the knowledge and skills that will meet the challenges presented by change and innovation and provides opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds including international students, students with limited professional experience, as well as students looking for mid-career development in specialist areas related to quantity surveying. This programme will challenge the students to question their current thinking and the practices adopted in the face of a rapidly changing global construction industry, and develop their abilities to be innovative and creative in solving unique problems. The module focuses on educating practitioner professionals and cognate graduates to focus on adding value through detailed analysis and appreciation of professional relationships, costing techniques, buildability, design economics and procurement set within the current IT technology. 

This module takes a production process view of design, construction and operation enabling students to appreciate developments in effectiveness and efficiency and how these can be managed. This will consider concepts such as transformation, flow and value creation to understand the notion of integrated project delivery. The module will focus on integrating people, process and technology, design and construction management, integrated procurement strategies, continuous improvement, BIM process for information delivery, UK BIM standards and their implication on construction processes, digital plan of works, project protocols, execution plans, workflows and responsibility matrices, and BIM standards around the world. The module will continually compare current practice with new practice reviewing how change can take place and how it can be assessed. Teaching will be based on weekly lectures, supplemented with seminar sessions / workshops during which the students will work in groups and present their findings in respect of scenarios / case studies. These will be delivered in class or web based. Moodle will be used for discussion and feedback. This develops intellectual and technical skills fundamental to the course.

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.