Master of Construction Management (Professional)
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Construction Management (Professional) |
| Course credit points | 16 |
| Deakin course code | S792 |
| Course version | 1 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2011 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Waterfront (Geelong), Online |
| Duration | 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Course map - enrolment planning tool | The course map for students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 will be available soon Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS code | 079321G Waterfront (Geelong) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Alternative exits
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Build advanced management skills for the construction industry through multidisciplinary, industry-connected learning. You will develop the practical, theoretical and research capabilities needed to succeed, with knowledge in topics such as procurement, project economics and cost management, and sustainability. Strengthen your leadership, teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills – key qualities sought by employers.
The two-year Master of Construction Management (Professional) is designed for built environment graduates who want to take their careers to the next level. It is also an ideal entry pathway into construction management for other professionals with relevant experience. With an in-depth understanding of legal, economic and environmental issues, you will be well-suited for roles such as quantity surveyor, project manager or construction manager with construction and property firms or in consulting.
Indicative student workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, site visits and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Professional recognition
This course is professionally accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS), and the Australian Institute of Building (AIB).
Career opportunities
As a graduate of this course, you will find career opportunities with a wide range of employers. From construction companies to consultancies and client organisations, you will find yourself at home in a variety of settings. Beyond that, you will be equipped for roles in the property development arms of government departments, and in commercial entities like banks, retailers, and manufacturers.
The Master of Construction Management (Professional) gives you the technical skills to secure roles as a:
- construction manager
- contract administrator
- estimator
- project manager
- quantity surveyor
- site manager
- property developer
- building construction supervisor
- building code and access consultant
- operations manager
- building surveyor
- safety coordinator
- project coordinator
- quality manager
- safety manager.
Construction management professionals are generally highly mobile, and The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) accreditation offers you an immediate passport to global recognition. Whether your ambitions lie in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, or North America, your qualification will open doors to exciting possibilities across the globe.
If you are an experienced mid-career construction professional in search of your next challenge, this course is your gateway to future leadership roles within the industry.
Participation requirements
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Alternative exits
| Graduate Certificate of Construction Management (S591) | |
| Graduate Diploma of Construction Management (S691) | |
| Master of Construction Management (S791) |
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Integrate broad and specialist knowledge of construction management practices in the industry and advocate sustainable management of social built environments in urban, regional and rural communities through professional practice. Apply an integrated specialised and evidence-based scholarly knowledge of ever-changing construction industry practices in order to improve construction economics and construction life cycle management. Develop and demonstrate a complex body of knowledge of construction management and practices, cost planning and control, legal and risk management in order to manage construction companies and projects. |
| Communicate clearly, professionally and responsibly with specialist and non-specialist audiences in a variety of contexts using oral, written, graphical and interpersonal skills to inform, negotiate, lead and motivate a project team. Engage with a variety of participants and contributing influences including legal, economic and environmental impacts in construction projects to mediate, negotiate and collaboratively resolve issues and conflicts. |
| Apply knowledge of relevant technical tools and methodologies to locate, collect, analyse and synthesise complex information from a variety of sources to prepare cost benefit plans and legal, risk and environment implication analyses for construction projects. Apply knowledge of digital technologies for modelling and scenario building, including information systems to evaluate and assess various scenarios for disseminating relevant analysis to clients. |
| Use expert reasoning and analysis skills, drawing on knowledge and information from a range of professional or scholarly sources to reflect on, analyse and synthesise complex legal, economic and environmental influences and impacts for collaboratively and independently planning and making decisions in construction. |
| Apply specialized technical skills and judgment to identify potential legal, environmental and economic risks and problems and recommend appropriate solutions for effective risk management in construction. Demonstrate professionalism, autonomy and well-developed judgement to independently and collaborative generate strategies and solutions to manage construction projects at various stages including planning, implementing, construction and evaluation of the built environment. |
| Apply critical reflection and use frameworks of self and peer evaluation to develop independent judgment, adaptability and responsibility for expert professional practice and / or scholarship. |
| Apply interpersonal skills to interact, contribute, collaborate and develop leadership skills through teamwork activities, and enhance project potential through shared individual and collective knowledge and creative capacity to optimise complex problem resolution. |
| Engage ethically and professionally when working in a variety of construction management situations through concern for legal, economic, environmental and social risks both nationally and globally. |
Approved by Faculty Board 27 June 2019
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Master of Construction Management (Professional), you must pass 8, 12 or 16 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as Recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
A 16-credit point Master of Construction Management (Professional) includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- SRA710 Safety Induction Program (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- STP710 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- 14 credit points of core units
- 2 credit points of course elective units.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Core units
You are required to complete 13 core units (these are essential units for this degree).
In your first trimester you must also complete three 0-credit point units which are compulsory for this degree.
Year 1 - Trimester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| SRA710 | Safety Induction Program (0 credit points) |
| STP710 | Career Tools for Employability (0 credit points) |
| SRM776 | Introduction to Construction Management ~ |
| SRQ780 | Construction Procurement, Law and Contract Administration * |
| SRQ774 | Construction Measurement and Estimating * |
| SRM751 | Principles of Building Information Modelling ** |
Year 1 - Trimester 2
| SRT757 | Building Systems and Environment |
| SRQ762 | Cost Planning |
| SRQ764 | Building Project Evaluation |
Plus 1 credit point from the course elective list
Year 2 - Trimester 1
| SRQ763 | Project Risk Management |
| SRM777 | Construction Management Practice ** |
| SRR720 | Construction Research Frontiers ** |
Plus 1 credit point from the course elective list
Year 2 - Trimester 2
| SRQ745 | Construction Company Management ** |
| SRV799 | Integrated Project Management (capstone)** |
| SRR721 | Construction Research Project (2cp)**# |
*Unit offered in Trimester 1 and Trimester 3
**Unit offered in Trimester 1 and Trimester 2
# Students intending to apply for entry into Higher Degree by Research may be required to complete SRR711 Thesis instead of SRR721 Construction Research Project
~ Completion of STP710 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit point compulsory unit) as a co-requisite
Course electives
You must choose two course elective units from this list (subject to meeting unit requirements).
| SRD760 | Urban Informatics |
| SRL733 | Indigenous Narratives and Design Processes |
| SRC724 | Architecture Communication: Advanced |
| SET721 | Engineering Sustainability |
| SEN770 | Infrastructure Engineering |
| SLE740 | Climate Change, Adaptation and Mitigation |
| SLE741 | Regional Development Economics for Sustainability |
| SLE742 | Systems Thinking for Sustainability and Resilience |
| SLE715 | Circular Economy |
| SLE756 | Sustainability in the Anthropocene |
| SLE757 | Environmental Science and Global Change |
| MIS770 | Foundation Skills in Data Analysis |
| MIS715 | Responsible Artificial Intelligence |
| MMH707 | Managed Change |
| MPM780 | Foundations in Leadership |
| MAF752 | Principles of Finance |
| MMH701 | Human Resource Strategy |
| MPM722 | Human Resource Management |
| MMP713 | Property and Real Estate Context |
| MMP721 | Property and Real Estate Law and Practice |
Work experience
You can apply to undertake a discipline-specific industry placement as part of your course. Visit deakin.edu.au/sebe/wil
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Research and research-related study
The suite of core units exposes students to advanced knowledge within the discipline and to research methodologies.
In SRR720 Construction Research Frontiers students are provided with an introduction to research methodology that is specifically suited to research for current issues in the construction industry. By the end of the unit students will have a critical understanding of appropriate research methodology and have developed a research proposal for progression to SRR721 Construction Research Project.
In SRR721 Construction Research Project (2cp core unit) students undertake a masters level thesis or research project related to current issues in the construction industry. By the end of the unit students will have developed the knowledge and skills to become independent researchers.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.