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Industrialised Construction and Design Management

MSc

Oxford Brookes has suspended recruitment to this programme. It will not run for new students in September 2026. Discover related courses below or explore our full range of subject areas.

Full time: 12 months (Sept start), 17 months (Jan start - including summer break)

Part time: Part time/distance learning: 24 months (Sept start), 29 months (Jan start - including summer break)

Location: Headington

School(s): School of the Built Environment

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Overview

The MSc Industrialised Construction and Design Management programme embraces environmentally sustainable and efficient construction practices to solve the most pertinent problems faced by the construction industry.

The construction industry is rapidly changing; new technologies, innovative methods, global challenges and increased demand have accelerated a new era of construction. By developing expertise in prefabrication, offsite construction methods (OSM), and design management, you will be at the forefront of the industry.

You’ll be equipped with highly sought after skills in current and future models of construction and their associated project commissioning, design processes, procurement, supply chain integration, and manufacturing concerns, transforming your ability to innovatively tackle the problems of the future.

We have strong links with prominent companies in the sector, and we consult with these to ensure that course content remains relevant and up to date.
 

Attend an open day or webinar Ask a question Order a prospectus

3D rendering of construction

Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Industry-Relevant Curriculum

    You’ll benefit from the deep knowledge of academics and experienced practitioners.

  • Flexible study

    You can study full-time on campus for one year or part-time as a distance learner over two years starting in September or January.

  • Problem-based learning

    Working on real-life problems and case studies you’ll learn the challenges of design and construction management in an engaging and effective way.

  • Networking Opportunities

    Benefit from extensive alumni and industry networking opportunities with real-world exposure through site visits and field trips.

  • Accredited
    Globally recognised qualifications accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

Course details

Course structure

There are three modes of delivery for this course:

  • full-time on campus
  • part-time on campus or
  • part-time distance learning.

Please note, PG Certificate and PG Diploma 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).

Students walking through corridor

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 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.

Assessment

Your assessments will be diverse, and will support different learning styles - you’ll have a real opportunity to showcase your strengths. Your learning may be assessed by a combination of individual or group coursework, examinations, and presentations. The assessment methods chosen will be based on your learning needs, individual aims and the academic standards expected for the course.

Field Trips

Optional field trips are part of the course and include daytrips and overnight stays.

The field trips allow you to experience project management practices in the following ways:

  • 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
  • explore different work practices and potential sources of employment and research.

The trips visit prominent construction/engineering projects and sites, plus local places of interest relevant to UK culture and the built environment. 

Part of the costs are subsidised by the School but there are some additional costs. Please see the Additional costs section of this page for details.
 

Start this course in January or September

You can start this course in January if a September start doesn't suit you or is not currently offered for this course.

If you start in January you will study a range of modules between January and May. During the summer months of June, July and August you will study further modules and begin work on your dissertation. Between September and December you will complete your final modules and focus on your dissertation.

Find out more about January entry

Study modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

  • Applied Research Methods

    This module provides you with the fundamentals of research design highlighting the difference between qualitative and quantitative research paradigms and demonstrates how data can be both gathered and analysed and how deductive arguments can be used to produce valid generalisations from data. It also provides you with an overview of particular research techniques such that they can choose and develop those tools most appropriate to their particular research project.

  • BIM in Practice

    Sustainable Construction, Off-Site Construction and Smart Technologies are some of the methods being developed to deliver a high-quality, productive and more sustainable built environment for future generations.  Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the emergent technology that is becoming the fundamental vehicle in driving and delivering these innovations.  Information rich Building Information Modelling (BIM) technologies, process and collaborative behaviours have the potential to unlock new more efficient ways of working. This module develops your understanding of the principles behind BIM and its application in practice.

  • Design Management

    This module formalises some of the processes currently being adopted in the industry to improve the quality of building outcomes. Design Managers bring together the loose parts of design and construction by liaising between the design, procurement and construction teams. Teaching will include stakeholder management, coordination of work packages, and understanding the impact of design decisions on construction.

  • Modern Methods of Construction

    Topics included in this module are Industrialised Construction (4th Industrial Revolution), Prototyping, Materials and Systems, Modular, Supplier-Led manufacturing, Circular Economy, Net Zero building. Looking to the future, the module also covers the use of digital tools, the use of platform building systems, 'kit of parts’, and the emergence of disruptive technologies such as Big Data.

  • People, Leadership and Organisations

    This module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of how behavioural and organisational issues influence project performance and how they can be harnessed to effectively deliver projects. 

    It includes an overview of management approaches, an exploration of the issues around understanding self and understanding others, team theory and leadership, communication, conflict theory and resolution, conflict resolution strategies and learning from experience in project environments and conflict and negotiation in the context of personal and cultural differences.

    The module largely adopts a problem-based learning (PBL) approach. Here, PBL is facilitated through problem-solving exercises that are based on prominent case studies and gameplay exercises.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

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.

Careers

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 many of our distance learning students are employed full time by prominent companies in the sector.

Many graduates are employed globally - including in:

  • India
  • Pakistan
  • Africa
  • Canada
  • Australia
  • Peru
  • The Middle East
  • China
  • The Americas.

Related courses

Related course
Construction Project Management
Related course
Building Information Modelling and Management
Related course
Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management
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Entry requirements

How to apply

Application process

We advise applying in advance to secure places, and allow sufficient time for applications to be reviewed.

Applicants should also factor any time needed to meet offer conditions, arrange accommodation, and obtain a UK Student visa (if applicable). Applications for overseas students to study in the UK normally close 2 months before the start of course.
 

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

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

Financial support and scholarships

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

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.

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.