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Course Overview
Construction managers plan and organize, and control activities relating to high and low-rise buildings including residential, commercial and government projects. In this course, you will learn about the process of building construction from land planning and building legislation, procurement, risk management, contract administration, and the use of building information modelling (BIM) as it applies to construction.
As a construction manager, you will embrace the principles of project management as they apply across different phases of the construction project cycle to achieve successful project outcomes in terms of time, cost, quality, safety and sustainability. You will have the opportunity to gain crucial lifelong learning and transferable generic skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving. The course has been designed in a manner you can study the final year opting through two streams: research stream and internship stream.
The research stream (as required by the research units in the course curriculum) provide you with the opportunity to engage in applied research for a project relevant to the construction industry. These projects will also enable you to interact early with the industry and apply your knowledge to a relevant work-based problem. Alternatively, you can opt for an internship, and if you are eligible, you will be placed at a host organisation to further develop your skills and competencies and obtain authentic experience in construction management.
Given the national and international demand for large scale projects, this course through both streams will develop construction management graduates with employment skills relevant to the local and international construction sectors.
Career Information
Construction managers plan, organise and control activities associated with a wide range of building projects. Employment opportunities exist in government departments, construction, building and sub-contracting companies, federal, state and local government departments and authorities and corporations with a large building portfolio.
| Duration | 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time |
|---|---|
| Credit Points that Must be Earned | 96 |
| Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
| Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
| Course Type | Postgraduate Award |
| Qualification (post nominal) | MConstMgt |
| AQF Level | Level 9: Masters Degree (Coursework) |
| Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2026
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Admission Codes
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
Not Applicable |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
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Domestic Availability
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Term 3 - 2027
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Term 2 - 2027
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Term 1 - 2027
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Term 3 - 2026
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Term 2 - 2026
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Term 1 - 2026
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Term 3 - 2025
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Term 2 - 2025
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Term 1 - 2025
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Term 3 - 2024
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Term 2 - 2024
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Term 1 - 2024
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Term 3 - 2023
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Term 2 - 2023
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Term 1 - 2023
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Term 3 - 2022
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Term 2 - 2022
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Term 1 - 2022
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Term 3 - 2021
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Term 2 - 2021
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Term 1 - 2021
International Availability
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Term 3 - 2027
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Term 2 - 2027
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Term 1 - 2027
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Term 3 - 2026
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Term 2 - 2026
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Term 1 - 2026
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Term 3 - 2025
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Term 2 - 2025
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Term 1 - 2025
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Term 3 - 2024
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Term 2 - 2024
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Term 1 - 2024
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Term 3 - 2023
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Term 2 - 2023
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Term 1 - 2023
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Term 3 - 2022
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Term 2 - 2022
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Term 1 - 2022
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Term 3 - 2021
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Term 2 - 2021
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Term 1 - 2021
To be eligible for entry into this course, applicants must hold one of the following:
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A completed Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) equivalent 3-year Bachelor of Project Management; with a minimum of 2-years relevant industry employment experience; or
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A completed Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) equivalent 3-year Bachelor degree in a relevant field*; or
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A completed CQUniversity Graduate Diploma of Construction Management.
*Relevant fields include: Architecture, Building, Construction Management, Engineering.
^ Industry experience must relate to construction management. Employment experience must be shown in a letter of employment which is presented on a company letterhead as well as signed and dated by a delegated authority. The letter must contain position title, duties performed and length of service.
English Language Proficiency Requirements:
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University. Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:
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A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
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An Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) diploma level qualification, or
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Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years full time with a minimum overall GPA 4.0
Completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.
If you do not satisfy any of the above you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores as below:
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An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 overall with a minimum 5.5 in each subset; or
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Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 550 or better overall & minimum TWE score of 4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test); or
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Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46; or
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An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.
International Students should visit http://www.cqu.edu.au/international for further information.
Each student will be assessed individually.
In terms of student workload, twelve hours of study per week is recommended for each unit undertaken with 6 credit points whereas twenty four hours of study per week is recommended for each unit undertaken with 12 credit points.
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Awards and Accreditation
| Interim Awards | CC33 - Graduate Certificate in Project Management CL83 - Graduate Diploma of Construction Management |
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| Exit Awards | CC33 - Graduate Certificate in Project Management CL83 - Graduate Diploma of Construction Management |
| Accreditation |
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Residential School Requirements
No Residential School for this course.
Practicum/Work Placement
| PPMP20017 - 4 days a week for total 10 weeks. It applies 9.00am to 05.00pm working hours for a day working; therefore, 7.25 hours per day and 29 hours per week for total 10 weeks. |
Previous and Current Enrolments
| Year | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 314 |
| 2024 | 268 |
| 2023 | 227 |
| 2022 | 85 |
| 2021 | 21 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
Examples are:
- Complying with academic and non-academic misconduct policies and procedures such as CQUniversity’s Student Charter, Student Misconduct Policy and Student Behavioural Misconduct Procedures and Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
- Demonstrating honesty and integrity in academic and professional practice, as expected by a respected member of the profession.
Examples are:
- Being reflective with personal behaviours in relation to professional performance and being positive and receptive to processing constructive supervisor/lecturer feedback or criticism.
- Working consistently and reliably with your peers and other stakeholders in a team to complete tasks and projects
Examples are:
- Demonstrating effective communication skills in a range of emerging environments, including the online domain.
- Actively participating in discussion activities related to the course.
- Using language that is appropriate to the context of the individual, group or workplace.
- Establishing rapport with clients in the delivery of projects and responding appropriately to clients, supervisors and other professionals.
- Understanding and communicating with various relevant mediums (plans and sketches for example) with both the public and other professionals.
- Using appropriate facial expressions: eye contact, being mindful of space, time boundaries, a range of body movements and gestures.
- Recognizing and interpreting non-verbal cues of others and responding appropriately during activities related to the course, as well as during practical placements.
- Extending both verbal and written communications skills to a range of emerging environments, including the online domain.
- Competently and appropriately constructing written assessment work in a logical, coherent manner, and with correct grammar and punctuation to the required academic standards.
- Expressing complex and detailed information and knowledge into a logical and legible report, in a timely manner that meets professional standards and clearly communicates the intended message.
- Accurately conveying and documenting information in a written form that meets legal and professional requirements.
- Accessing a computer for your studies, and having basic computer knowledge and skills to engage in the on-line learning environment that may include completing relevant on-line assessments and participating in on-line forums or responding to emails.
- Regularly accessing the Internet for research, and email for communication with peers and lecturers.
- Analysing, manipulating and displaying scientific information.
- Presenting in front of a range of stakeholders, including students, academics and industry personnel
Examples are:
- Conceptualising and using appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items.
- Applying theoretical knowledge, research evidence, policies and procedures related to professional practice.
- Competently reading, writing and accurately interpreting information to convey language effectively in projects and services.
- Producing accurate, concise and clear documentation which meets legal requirements.
- Demonstrating competency in applying appropriate mathematical knowledge and skills to make precise calculations.
- Demonstrating effective use of numeracy skills to make accurate interpretation of data.
- Applying numeracy skills to interpret and solve problems in a wide range of projects.
Examples are:
- Accurately using instruments for measurements.
- Having sufficient auditory ability to be capable of hearing warnings when on site.
- Interacting effectively with stakeholders including clients, members of the community, tradespeople and other members of the engineering team.
- Using a computer and other tools.
- Being able to climb a ladder or steep stairs, walk along scaffolding and traverse a construction site.
Examples are:
- Engaging and relating effectively as student with team members, staff and industry experts
- Working reliably and constructively with your peers and other stakeholders in a team to complete tasks and projects
- Maintaining positive working relationships throughout different learning environments and situations
Examples are:
- Developing reflective practice awareness and skills for life long professional learning and development
- Recognising the importance of 'reflection in action' throughout the learning cycle of each unit and the across the course
- Reflect on lessons learnt through past experiences and able to adapt and improve future practice
Examples are:
- Demonstrating sufficient computer knowledge and skills to engage in the on-line learning environment that may include completing relevant on-line assessments (e.g. online tests).
- Participating in ISL or Zoom lecture/workshop sessions, responding to emails and using MS word to answer assessment tasks.
- Ability to use digital research database for literature review.
- Ability to use data analysis and other discipline related software
- 1. Demonstrate a coherent understanding of the key concepts, and their underlying principles of construction management
- 2. Critically research contemporary practice and formulate innovative solutions to complex problems within the context of construction management and related practice
- 3. Justify and communicate construction management principles, ideas and risk in collaborative contexts with professionals, paraprofessionals and the general community
- 4. Demonstrate a well developed professional judgement when identifying and responding to cultural, ethical and social issues in diverse contexts
- 5. Plan and execute a substantial research-based project with autonomy
- 6. Work independently and collaboratively and have cognate skills to critically evaluate and apply feedback to improve performance.
| Course Learning Outcomes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 1. KNOWLEDGE Have a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice | ||||||
| 2. KNOWLEDGE Have an understanding of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning | ||||||
| 3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and professional practice or scholarship | ||||||
| 4. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice | ||||||
| 5. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level | ||||||
| 6. SKILLS Have communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences | ||||||
| 7. SKILLS Have technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice or scholarship | ||||||
| 8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning | ||||||
| 9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use high level personal autonomy and accountability | ||||||
| 10 APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship. | ||||||
| APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Communicate, interact and collaborate with others effectively in culturally or linguistically diverse contexts in a culturally respectful manner | ||||||
- Complete the core structure
| Number of units: 15 | Total credit points: 96 |
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Core Structure
You are required to complete the award using one of the following two streams: Research or Internship.
Regardless of the stream, Students will study 12 core units (as shown below) as part of the award of Master of Construction Management.
Please refer to the 'More Details' tab of the course handbook for study planners of the course (full time and part time).
Research Stream
To complete this stream, you must achieve two compulsory research units as shown below.
Upon the completion of the award through this stream, you may be eligible to enroll in a PhD.
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| PPMP20019 | Research Project 1 | |
| PPMP20016 | Research Project 2 | |
Internship Stream
To be eligible for this stream, you must apply for the internship, and undergo a series of interviews with prospective host organizations. Generally, internship students will spend 290 hours of 10 consecutive weeks with the internship host organization applying the knowledge you have gained over the course of study before returning to the campus to present your learning experience.
The internship is scheduled for you to take it in your last term of study and associated assessments will need to be completed throughout the term. You are strongly advised to consult course advisers for an effective and suitable study planner ensuring the course completion within the shortest possible time.
As an internship stream student, you need to complete the following three compulsory units in addition to 12 core units:
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| PPMP20017 | Project Management Internship | |
| PPMP20012 | Portfolio and Program Management | |
| PPMP20014 | Complex Project Management | |