MSt in Construction Engineering

The aim of the course is to develop and empower emerging leaders as agents of change to transform the construction industry.

The course is a two-year part-time degree targeted at those who have several years professional experience and have already attained a leadership role or have been identified as potential leaders in their organisations. The course will enhance students' technical knowledge and managerial skills with the expectation that they will return to their respective companies trained as agents of change ready to redefine the way in which the infrastructure of society is created. The part-time format of the course permits students to continue with their professional careers while studying.

Course themes

The course focuses on the following themes:

• The built environment
• Design for value
• Research and innovation
• Advanced construction technology and materials
• Advanced construction management
• Finance planning and procurement
• The future of construction

Sustainability, leadership, innovation, whole-life performance and systematic thinking are topics interwoven throughout the course. The course is continually evolving in order to stay current and meet the needs of participants.

Students are first given an understanding of the current context and challenges faced by the construction industry. They then critically evaluate the latest research in design, management, and construction techniques and processes. The programme encompasses a broad view of the construction industry from the high-level financing requirements of mega-projects through to innovations in analysis, design and materials technology. Throughout the course students are given leadership and communication training that will give them the skills and confidence to develop their own vision of the future of construction and enact it.

Learning outcomes

Graduates of the MSt programme will be equipped with the technical, leadership and managerial skills they need to play a transformative role in the construction sector. The key learning objectives are for the students to:

1. Understand the key factors governing national policies in construction.
2. Learn how the construction industry must and will change to accommodate the legally binding targets for sustainability and CO2 reduction.
3. Identify technological advances that will enhance the production of constructed facilities.
4. Understand the range of financial instruments and constraints on managing large-scale construction projects.
5. Gain a broad knowledge of the construction sector with specialist components of the course covering topics such as construction technologies, integration of other services and operational priorities, maintenance procedures, safety-critical components, robustness in the different areas of buildings, infrastructure, water, advanced materials, sustainable practices, energy management,  supply chain management, recycling and  life-cycle management.
6. Gain an insight into good research practice based on university research programmes and the ability to report research outcomes.
7. Understand business practice and tools in the areas of technology management, technology transfer and exploitation with particular emphasis on the construction industry.

The programme will develop the following intellectual skills:

1. Application of generic skills in modelling, simulating and experimentally evaluating construction projects.
2. Critical evaluation of technical problems and examining alternative approaches and technologies to solve them.
3. Holistic thinking in solving problems and designing systems by applying professional engineering judgment to balance technological, environmental, ethical, economic and public policy considerations.
4. Ability to act as a change agent within an organisation, manage change effectively and respond to changing demands.
5. Ability to solve complex research issues both systematically and creatively, and make informed judgments in the absence of complete data and in unpredictable situations.
6. Understanding of commercial exploitation routes for construction-based technologies and evaluation of options for technology transfer and/or implementation.
7. Planning, execution and critical evaluation of an original and individual investigative piece of work through a major dissertation.

Students will develop transferable skills that include the following:

1. Preparing formal reports in a range of styles.
2. Reasoning critically, thinking creatively, exercising independence of mind and thought and the ability to communicate ideas.
3. Managing time and work to deadlines, working effectively both independently and in groups, and developing the ability to assess the relevance and importance of the ideas of others.
4. The ability to find information and learn effectively for the purpose of continuing professional development and in a wider context throughout their career.

Find out more

View full information about the course - on the Construction Engineering website.

If you have any questions about the application process, contact our Admissions team: mst.admissions@ice.cam.ac.uk or +44 (0)1223 746262.

Prospective students are encouraged to contact the CEM Director at cem.director@construction.cam.ac.uk if they wish to learn more about the course.

Teaching

Teaching is delivered through a series of seven intensive residential weeks in Cambridge, interspersed through the two years of the course. These weeks involve lectures, workshops, seminars with industry experts, group project work, and individual supervisions.

One to one supervision

• In year one students will typically receive three hours of supervisory support per assignment.
• In year two students typically receive eight hours of supervisory support for their research dissertation. 
• In addition students meet with their Director of Studies at each residential week.

Seminars and classes

• The course is delivered via 240 hours of lectures, small group teaching, seminars, supervisions and meetings with the Director of Studies over the two-year period.

Lectures

• As above.

Small group teaching

• Forms a regular part of the course as part of the lecturing, as outlined above.

Literature reviews

• All assignments including the dissertation require literature reviews.

Posters

• Presentations form part of students' assessment during residential weeks.

Feedback

Students are regularly provided with feedback on their performance via individual face-to-face and written exchanges with supervisors and the Director of Studies.

Assessment

Thesis

Students are required to complete a research dissertation (up to 15,000 words) during the second year of the course. At the discretion of the Examiners, there may be an oral examination.

Essays

There are three pieces of written assessment in the first year of the course:

• A written case study (up to 5,000 words) based on one of the topics covered by the ‘Built Environment’ module.
• One written essay of 3,000 words based on one of the topics covered in the ‘Design for Value’ module.
• One written essay of 3,000 words based on one of the topics covered in the ‘Research and Innovation’ module.

Other assessment

Full and active participation in all elements of the course is required, including residential week assessments, participation in group projects, and presentations for the dissertation.

Funding Opportunities

Most students are likely to to obtain full or partial funding from their employer. When this is not possible, a limited number of bursaries may be available for a proportion of the tuition fee. Please contact the Construction Engineering Masters Programme Director for more information.

Sources of government funding and financial support, including professional and career development loans, can be found on the Student Finance pages of the UK government website.

The fee for students starting the Construction Engineering course in September 2020 will be published in late 2019. Fees include both the tuition and college membership fees. These fees are payable in two equal instalments and must be paid according to the following schedule:

• Instalment one – in advance of the September 2020 residential week
• Instalment two – on receipt of notification in September 2021 that the student has passed the first year of the course and may proceed to year two of the course

The same fees apply for Home/EU and overseas students.

Students will be expected to cover the costs of accommodation and subsistence during residential sessions in Cambridge. These costs are estimated at £250 for each of the seven residential weeks.

Construction Engineering Masters Bursaries

Most students are likely to to obtain full or partial funding from their employer. When this is not possible, a limited number of bursaries may be available for a proportion of the tuition fee. Please contact the Construction Engineering Master's Programme Director for more information.

Other funding

Sources of government funding and financial support - including Professional and Career Development Loans

The Apply Now button on the right will take you to the Applicant Portal, where you can create and submit your application and supporting documents, and request references.

An application is only complete when:

1. you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal
2. you have paid the £65 application fee
3. your referees have provided their references.

If you miss the deadlines specified in this section, you will not be able to submit your application.

Potential applicants are advised to consider carefully their capacity for balancing personal and professional commitments before submitting an application.

Your application will require the following documentation:

1. A curriculum vitae.
2. A letter of support from your employer.
3. A transcript of all the courses you have taken during previous programmes of study, with the result you obtained, and with the credit value if applicable. If your documents are not in English, you must also upload a full translation of each document, prepared by a registered translator.
4. An official copy of academic degree and any chartership certificates.
5. A brief outline of reasons for applying, ​ indicating your motivation for applying to this course, relevant experience and interests.
6. A more detailed statement of interest that covers the following: your future aspirations and expectations; any particular research topics you may wish to explore during the course**; how this course will help you in your personal and career development; any other information you wish to include in support of your application; and whether you have any other applications in progress.
7. (A) If you meet the academic requirement and wish to upload a research paper that you have published to support your application you may upload this with your application (optional).
   (B) Candidates invited to the interview stage who do not hold the minimum academic requirement of a UK  2:1 hons degree (or international equivalent) will be required to submit a research proposal detailing the focus of their proposed research dissertation (a template will be provided by the Construction Engineering Masters Centre Manager: centre.manager@construction.cam.ac.uk). If preferred, applicants may give details of a published/awaiting publication research paper they have written that demonstrates their ability to undertake a research dissertation in the second year of the CEM.

** Please note the dissertation topics are not finalised until year two.

Selection Process

All applications are considered together immediately after the closing date. Interviews will take place in May and conditional offers will be made from late June. If your application is non-standard it is likely to take longer to process.

For UK applicants interviews are conducted in person. Applicants living overseas will be interviewed via a video call.

Further information on How To Apply

Supporting documents

Below are details of the Course Specific Questions and other supporting information you will be asked to provide before you can submit your application. These are marked with an asterisk (*). References and transcripts can be provided either at the time of submitting your application or shortly after.

If you have any questions, please contact ICE Admissions: mst.admissions@ice.cam.ac.uk and we will be happy to help.

References

You will need to provide the details of two referees who are senior people acquainted with your work and who are able to comment on your academic and/or professional suitability to undertake the course. You will be asked to provide email addresses for your referees so that they can submit their reference via the online referencing system, so it is important for you to ensure that your referee is able to provide a reference for you before you submit your application form.

You should try to advise your referees to include the following information:

• How long they have known you and in what capacity.
• Their opinion of your experience, achievements, professional interests and the capabilities that you will bring to the course.
• Whether they believe you have the academic rigour to successfully complete a Master’s level course.
• Whether they believe you will fit well on a Master’s level course concerned with Construction Engineering, requiring both group work and individual research.
• Whether they consider you have the enthusiasm, commitment and determination necessary to complete the course successfully.

If your referees are unable to use the online referencing system, or do not have e-mail addresses, please contact the ICE Admissions office for further assistance.

For this course one academic and one professional reference is required.

Transcripts

A transcript is a list of all the courses you have taken during a programme of study, with the result you obtained, and with the credit value if applicable.

If you are currently studying, please provide a transcript listing the courses taken during your programme of study, with the results or grades obtained for each. Current Cambridge students should upload a copy of their unofficial transcript from their Student Self-Service.

If you have previously completed degree-level study, please provide a transcript or degree certificate for each degree-level programme you have studied, showing the date the degree was awarded and the final class or grade obtained.

The transcript should be uploaded via your Self-Service, using the 'Academic - pre-decision' category. Please note that we may also ask you to send the originals via post if we make you an offer of admission and supplying these may be a condition of your offer.

If your documents are not in English, you must also upload a full translation of each document, prepared by a registered translator.

Research proposal

Candidates who are invited to the interview stage following an assessment of their application but do not hold the minimum academic requirement (which is typically a 2:1 hons degree) will be required to submit:

• A research proposal detailing the focus of their proposed research dissertation (a template will be provided by the Construction Engineering Masters Administrator if required)

OR

• A published/awaiting publication research paper written by the applicant that demonstrates their ability to undertake a research dissertation in the second year of the Construction Engineering Masters programme.

If you meet the academic requirement and wish to upload a research paper that you have published to support your application please upload it via Self-Service.

Curriculum Vitae*

You will be required to submit your CV on application. This should demonstrate at least five years’ experience in a job sector related to civil engineering or the construction sector more broadly.

Professional qualifications

To support the application, applicants are encouraged to provide relevant professional qualifications or memberships with documentary evidence, stating the date the qualification or membership was obtained. 

Personal statement*

Please enter the information as required in the application form. You will be asked to provide a brief outline of reasons for applying, indicating your motivation for applying to this course, relevant experience and interests. You will also be asked to provide a more detailed statement of interest which covers:

• Your future aspirations and expectations
• Any particular research topics you may wish to explore during the course **
• How this course will help you in your personal and career development
• Any other information you wish to include in support of your application
• Whether you have any other applications in progress

** Please note that topics for dissertations are not finalised until year 2

Letter of support from your employer

If a student will be in employment during his/her studies, a letter from the student's employer is required stating that they support the application and understand/accept that in undertaking the course some time away from work to attend the residential sessions will be required.