BSc Hons Construction Project Management

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Northumbria University

Program Overview

This programme gives you the know-how to manage construction projects from conception to completion, blending technical building knowledge with business, law, procurement, people management, and digital skills. It’s a strong choice if you like being both practical and organised, want to take leadership roles in construction, and are interested in how projects are delivered sustainably.

Curriculum structure

First Year (Level 4)
You’ll begin with modules like The Construction Industry and its Management where you learn how the construction sector is structured — who does what, costs, regulations, and how projects are constrained. You also get introductory technical grounding via Construction Technology, exploring how buildings are made, what materials are used, and environmental considerations. In addition, business and management basics like Commercial Management, Law and Procurement and Management of People will help you understand contracts, stakeholder roles and non-technical skills such as negotiation and leadership.

Second Year (Level 5)
Here you move into more advanced topics: Advance Construction Technology, which deals with building technology for larger and more complex structures; Contract Administration and Procedure teaches how contracts are managed in practice; Construction Project Management with BIM 1, bringing in digital tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM) to plan construction and design workflows. You also study Building Environmental Science and Services to understand how systems like lighting, heating, ventilation etc. contribute to building performance.

Final Year / Later Years (Level 6, or with Placement Option)
In the last stage, you will tackle Construction Project Management and BIM 2, which focuses on managing projects during the delivery phase, dealing with challenges like delays, disruptions, recovery, cost control, and performance monitoring. Data-Centric Construction and Digitalisation dives deeper into how data and digital tech reshape how construction is managed. There is also a Dissertation ‒ an independent research project where you pick a topic of interest and apply what you’ve learned. Plus, there is the option of a year-long placement with a construction or engineering company to gain real-world experience before you graduate.

Focus areas

Commercial & Contract Management; Building Technology & Environmental Systems; BIM & Digital Construction; People & Leadership; Project Delivery & Risk Management; Sustainability.

Learning outcomes

You’ll graduate able to plan, resource, and deliver construction projects; integrate legal, commercial, technical, and digital considerations; lead and communicate effectively with stakeholders; apply sustainable and ethical practices; and conduct independent research & problem-solving in real-world settings.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The degree is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). Northumbria is a CIOB Accredited Centre under the 2022-2027 period, which means after gaining some years of relevant work experience, graduates can apply for Chartered Membership without needing an individual assessment.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Northumbria ranks 11th in the UK for Construction, Surveying & Planning (Guardian University League Table 2024).
Over 94% of students on this course believed it enabled them to develop the knowledge & skills needed for their future-careers (NSS 2024).
The Architecture, Built Environment & Planning department is ranked 11th in the UK for research power in REF 2021.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

When you study this programme, you won’t just sit in lectures — you’ll be working with real tools, real people, and real industry practices. Facilities and methods are built so that by the time you graduate, you’ve already developed many of the skills employers want. Here are specific details:

You will:

Undertake site visits frequently — this lets you see how a building project is being built in reality: how foundations, structure, M&E systems, finishes all interplay, what on-site safety & logistics look like.
Do a year‐long work placement (also called a “sandwich year”) with a construction / engineering company. This is full time and is at least 40 weeks. During this you work on real tasks, develop professional behaviours, understand workflows in industry.
Work on group projects and case studies in later modules — you’ll tackle more complex, ambiguous problems, often reflecting what happens on actual sites or in project planning.

You will use / be trained in:

Autodesk Revit (a BIM tool) — important for design, visualisation, model‐based coordination.
Use of digital tools and eLearning platforms: “Blackboard” (Northumbria’s VLE), electronic reading lists, lecture capture software, etc. These help you prep, revise, collaborate.
Modules like Data Centric Construction and Digitalisation where you’ll learn about digital twin, virtual reality / augmented reality, building information modelling, use of databases / data science in construction decisions.

You’ll also have:

A major project in the final year: this pulls together many of the skills you’ve developed (technical, management, sustainability, digital) into one in‐depth study.
Access to resources in the University Library (physical and digital) to support study, research, and independent learning.

Progression & Future Opportunities

If you complete this degree, you could go into roles such as:

Construction Project Manager
Site Manager or Construction Site Supervisor
Commercial Manager / Contracts or Procurement Manager
Building or Asset Manager

What makes this program strong and what you can expect:

What the Degree Offers & Why It’s Valuable

University Services & Support
• You have access to Careers and Employment Services — from first year through final year, you’ll get help finding placements, CV/workshop support, guided career advice.
• Option to do a year-long work placement with a construction or engineering company — this gives real experience and often helps get your foot in the door.
Accreditation & Long-Term Professional Value
• The degree is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and forms part of the CIOB Education Framework.
• Because of this accreditation, after you graduate and gain 3-5 years of relevant industry experience, you may be eligible for full Chartered Membership of CIOB without needing an individual assessment. That opens doors in management / senior roles.
Reputation & Rankings
• Northumbria is ranked 11th in the UK for Construction, Surveying & Planning (Guardian University League Table, 2024).
• Over 94% of students on this course agree that it enables them to develop the knowledge & skills they need for future work.
Industry Partnerships & Projects
• There are strong local/regional construction, engineering, and manufacturing sectors (e.g. companies in the North East of England) nearby, which helps for placements, site visits, guest lectures etc.
• The university is also part of collaborative initiatives in digital construction / digital design management (e.g. KTP projects with Turner & Townsend) which gives exposure to cutting-edge tools and practice.
Salary & Employability Stats
• For recent graduates in Building/Construction-types degrees at Northumbria, typical salaries around £29,500 (≈ 15 months after graduation) with a range ~ £26,000–£33,000.
• Longer term (after ~3 years), those numbers tend to rise, often into the £34,000 region or higher depending on your role and progress.

Further Academic Progression:

Once you finish the BSc, there are a number of paths if you want to continue studying or specialise further:

A Master’s degree in areas like Construction Project Management, Digital Construction, BIM, or related fields.
Possible postgraduate research (MSc by Research, MPhil, or PhD) if you are interested in more academic or large-scale planning / policy work.
Short-course / certification options in specialist/technical areas (e.g. procurement, sustainability, building services, advanced digital tools).