Building Information Modelling and Management
MSc
Key facts
Start dates
January 2024 / September 2024 / January 2025 / September 2025
Course length
Full time: 1 year (Sept start), 17 months (Jan start)
Part time: Part time: On campus or distance learning - Sept start (24 months), Jan start (29 months – including summer break)
Department
Accreditation(s)
Chartered Institute of Building, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Overview
Our Building Information Modelling and Management course delivers a flexible and innovative programme of study. The course addresses the rapidly evolving needs of the built environment sector in respect to the emergence of Building Information Modelling (BIM) as a working practice.
You will work on real-life or reality based problems, as experienced within the construction sector and its associated industries, consultants and clients.
During your studies you will experience behavioural aspects of managing projects. Most construction project managers only experience these when their careers are well advanced.
The MSc is available as:
- a one year full-time programme
- a part-time on campus or part-time distance-learning (DL) programme normally taken over two years, extendable up to five years.
Before September 2016 entry, this programme was named Construction Project Management and BIM.
Please note, PGCert and PGCDip qualifications are offered as exit awards only and are not are not accredited by RICS or CIOB. Applicants interested in these should apply for the MSc in the first instance.
How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
The course is open to applicants who hold a 2.1 undergraduate honours degree (or international equivalent) in any subject.
We will actively consider applications from candidates with lower degrees, who can evidence substantiated & relevant experience in construction.
Industry professionals with suitable practice qualifications (e.g MRICS, MCIOB) - demonstrating ability to study at master's level, are also encouraged to apply.
For Distance-Learning study, it is recommended that applicants have at least six months work experience in the built environment sector.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English you will require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall with 6.0 in all components.
OR
An equivalent English language qualification acceptable to the University.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
We advise applying in advance to secure places, and allow sufficient time for applications to be reviewed.
There is no formal application deadline (recruitment closes when teaching capacity is reached).
Applicants should also factor any time needed to meet offer conditions, arrange accommodation, and obtain a UK Student visa (if applicable).
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Compulsory costs
| Additional costs | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Personal Protection Equipment to include: safety shoes / boots, hard hat, and hi-visibility vest/jacket. | £0 |
Optional costs
| Additional costs | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Intensive study periods for open-learners: accommodation fees | From £100 per night |
UK field trip |
Typically £150-400 |
It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online. |
From £30 |
| You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand. | £20-60 per book |
Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills) |
£94-265 per week |
Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs) |
£122-180 per week |
Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41. |
Typically £0-200 |
Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. BrookesBus travel is subsidised for full-time undergraduate students that are on a course with a fee of £9,250 or more, or living in an Oxford Brookes hall of residence. There is an administration fee for the production of a BrookesKey. |
From £10 |
Funding your studies
Financial support and scholarships
Featured funding opportunities available for this course.
All financial support and scholarships
Learning and assessment
Modes of study
There are two modes of delivery for this course:
- full-time on campus
- part-time on campus
- part-time distance learning.
There are two entry points - September and January.
Please note, PGCert and PGDip qualifications are offered as exit awards only and are not accredited by RICS or CIOB. Applicants interested in these should apply for the MSc in the first instance.
For full-time students lectures are held on two set days every week.
For part-time on campus students, lectures are held on one set day every week.
For distance learners, the virtual learning environment (VLE) is the primary mode of delivery. Students are supported by email, Zoom, Google Meet, on-line lectures and telephone, and are welcome to attend all lectures on campus. Distance learners are advised to spend two evenings per week and one whole day per weekend on their studies.
There are also intensive on-campus study periods and a field trip, when students from all modes of study come together (attendance is optional).
Start this course in January
You can start this course in January or September.
Only the Dissertation module (independent study) runs in the summer, so course lengths for January starters will appear longer due to the summer vacation.
The summer vacation does provide a good opportunity for students to find an internship or gain work experience. Please note that there is no formal internship or placement as part of the course. We do however provide many networking opportunities and advice on how to find your own internship.
Study modules
The modules listed below are for the master's award. For the PGDip and PGCert awards your module choices may be different. Please contact us for more details.
Learning and teaching
In response to industry feedback we have made our courses more practical by using an 'applied' approach to learning. This is sometimes called 'problem based learning' or PBL. You learn by working through problems that are adapted from complex, real situations. We use our links with industry to help devise the problems we use in class, leading to a more exciting and relevant student experience.
Full time and part-time on-campus modes
You will receive new material weekly with intermediate tutorials or seminars. There are also intensive study weeks and field trips where you will learn with students from all modes of study.
Distance learning mode
The virtual learning environment (VLE) is the primary mode of delivery. You will also be invited to attend (non-compulsory) on-campus intensive study periods and field trips where you will learn with students from all modes of study. You will be able to contact the Programme Team by email, telephone and through online meetings/tutorials.
Field trips
An optional European field trip* is part of the course and typically takes place over a five-day period towards the end of January.
The field trip exposes you to European project management practices, allowing you to:
- consolidate the knowledge gained in the early part of the course
- develop team and other relationships
- assess your ability to observe and report on the different approaches to project management in the UK and in a European country.
The trip normally consists of visits to prominent construction/engineering projects and sites. Plus architectural attractions, both en route and at the destination. You will be introduced to the development and planning practices at the destination. And you will have the opportunity to visit major complex projects.
The majority of the costs are subsidised by the School and a coach is also provided to transport students and staff from Oxford Brookes to the field trip destination.
There are some expenses you will need to pay for. Please see the Additional costs section of this page for details.
* Subject to Covid restrictions
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
Assessment is 100% coursework, and includes a variety of types of work, including quizzes taken remotely on Moodle (our virtual learning environment). Moodle also allows you to:
- download course material
- take part in closed discussions
- remain in contact with other students whether you are on campus or distance learning students.
Research
Many members of staff are part of the Oxford Institute of Sustainable Development (OISD). OISD is noted for its work on sustainable technology in buildings and sustainable urban form among many on-going projects.
Areas of interest include:
- sustainability, adaptation and resilience to climate change
- Building Information Modelling (BIM)
- collaborative supply networks for procurement and delivery of project
- building economics
- forecasting techniques
- risk management
- social networks in project environments
- managing complex projects
- management of knowledge and innovation as a source of competitive advantage
- adaptive re-use of existing buildings
- facilities management
- health and safety.
In the recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014), our Unit of Assessment (UoA 16) ranked 4th within the University in terms of its Grade Point Average (GPA). We hold the 11th position in terms of Research Impact and Power Rating among the 45 institutions that submitted to our unit of assessment.
After you graduate
Career prospects
Graduates of our postgraduate construction programmes have an outstanding employment record. Our graduates are recognised as having excellent levels of communication, presentation and problem-solving skills. Consequently, our students go on to be project managers right across the broad spectrum of the construction industries both locally and internationally.
Many of these companies visit the department annually to meet students for graduate positions as assistant project managers whilst all of our distance learning students are employed full time by prominent companies in the sector.
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.