Course Overview
The Graduate Diploma of Construction Management (GDCM-CL83) course incorporates principles of project management as it applies across different phases of the construction cycle to achieve successful project outcomes in terms of time, cost, quality, safety, and sustainability for construction projects. This course provides the basis for exciting careers as construction managers and assists with employment areas of Construction Management including Project Management principles, Construction Contract Administration, Construction Risk Management and Construction Technology.
The course is appropriate for people seeking careers in construction management, project management from a national and international construction management perspective. It also provides valuable education for those seeking a broader career basis such as; architects, builders, engineers, quantity surveyors, construction economists, and facilities managers. This course will provide opportunities for students to advance their studies in construction management in either full-time or part-time modes. As this course incorporates the first eight units of the Master of Construction Management (MCM-CL82), students can use CL83 as a pathway to extend their studies to the masters program.
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. There are many employment opportunities for construction management professionals from a national and international perspective.
| Duration | 1 years full-time or 2 years part-time |
|---|---|
| Credit Points that Must be Earned | 48 |
| 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) | PGradDipConstMgt |
| AQF Level | Level 8: Graduate Diploma |
| 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.
Please Click Here for more information.
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 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
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 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
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 Diploma; 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 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*.
*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.
The successful completion of CL83 will allow the students a direct entry into Masters of Construction Management (CL82) at CQUniversity.
In terms of student workload, twelve hours of study per week is recommended for each unit undertaken.
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Awards and Accreditation
| Interim Awards | CC33 - Graduate Certificate in Project Management |
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| Exit Awards | CC33 - Graduate Certificate in Project Management |
| Accreditation |
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Residential School Requirements
No Residential School for this course.
Practicum/Work Placement
| Not applicable |
Previous and Current Enrolments
| Year | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
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. Develop a coherent understanding of the key concepts, and their underlying principles of construction management
- 2. Research and develop contemporary practice and formulate solutions to problems within the context of construction management and related practices
- 3. Plan and execute construction management practices based on principles, ideas and risk in a collaborative context with professionals, paraprofessionals and the general community
- 4. Demonstrate professional judgement, adaptability and responsibility when identifying and responding to cultural, ethical and social issues in diverse context
- 5. Develop the ability to 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 |
| 1. KNOWLEDGE Have advanced knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area | |||||
| 2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems | |||||
| 3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas | |||||
| 4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice | |||||
| 5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concept | |||||
| 6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | |||||
| 7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts | |||||
| 8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts | |||||
| 9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters | |||||
- Complete the core structure
| Number of units: 8 | Total credit points: 48 |
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Students will study the following units as part of the Graduate Diploma 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)
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| PPMP20007 | Project Management Concepts | |
| PPMP20008 | Initiating and Planning Projects | |
| PPMP20009 | Leading Lean Projects | |
| PPMP20010 | Executing and Closing Projects | |
| PPMP20015 | Research Proposal | |
| BLCN28002 | Construction Risk Management | |
| BLCN28003 | Construction Contract Administration | |
| BLCN29001 | Construction Technology | |