Intakes: 

2023: February, May, July

Duration: 
4 years
Location: 
Fees: 

2023: A$16,400*
* fee per semester

Application due dates:
We are currently accepting applications for this course.

Overview

Take a leading role in exciting, large-scale building construction with VU's Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours).

In our honours construction-management degree, you’ll learn all the skills needed to manage residential, commercial and industrial projects. You’ll gain valuable expertise in the various areas of large-scale building and civil-engineering projects.

Your expertise will let you undertake roles overseeing the building process, from design to development, construction and operation.

You’ll graduate with skills in:

  • project planning
  • cost and quality management
  • construction techniques and materials
  • building law
  • building codes
  • industrial relations
  • personnel management.

Our industry contacts and our focus on real-world experience ensure you’re job-ready when you graduate.

Construction management is a growing profession, and your qualifications will be highly useful and in-demand.

Graduate with diverse skills, tailored to the construction industry:

  • planning and managing strategies for the construction process
  • assessing documents for compliance with codes and standards
  • assessing plans for constructability
  • communicating with technical professionals such as architects and engineers on design objectives
  • formulating project cashflows and budgets
  • preparing tender documents, contract bidding, negotiation and sub-contractor selection
  • supervising construction sites and personnel.

We give you experience with real-world scenarios and settings, so you graduate ready to apply your high-demand skills in industry and community.

VU’s Learning Hubs are welcoming spaces where you can improve your study and employability skills.

Our students can attend Learning Hubs at one of five VU campuses.

We offer maths, writing, careers and English-language advice and can show you effective ways to study and manage your time.

Our programs include:

  • workshops
  • drop-in sessions
  • peer mentoring
  • maths and writing resources
  • resume and career guidance.

We also have accessibility support services and counselling services available to all students.

Builders Academy Australia students please note:

  • 96 credit points of study is available to students who have less than 5 years' industry experience
  • 144 credit points of study is available to students who have more than 5 years' industry experience

At VU you can spend part of your degree studying overseas all while gaining credits towards your course.

Immerse yourself in a new culture and learn from a new perspective, while building experiences that will help you to stand out in the competitive job market.

Course e-Brochure

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Careers in building and construction management

On completing Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours), possible job opportunities include:

  • construction manager
  • project manager
  • quantity surveyor 
  • building technician
  • building surveyor
  • building contractor
  • estimator
  • contract administrator
  • facilities manager
  • property developer.

Graduates have a wide range of employment opportunities in the private and public sectors, working for:

  • building proprietors
  • contractors
  • developers
  • government bodies
  • consultancy practices
  • self-employed entrepreneurs.

You’ll also have skills and knowledge that can be applied in other industries such as mining, petrochemicals and infrastructure development.

Salaries & job prospects

Check the government job-date site, Labour Market Insights, for the average salary and employment prospects for construction managers.

Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) students will be required to complete 384 credit points consisting of:

  • 96 credit points First Year Core studies;
  • 240 credit points Professional Core studies, and;
  • 48 credit points from the Building Compliance Minor OR Quantity Surveying Minor

 
First Class Honours:
To be eligible for completion with First Class Honours student must achieve:

  •  A minimum weighted average of 60% over year levels 1 to 3;
  •  A minimum weighted average of 80% in year level 4;
  •  A HD grade for the final year NEF4201 Research Project 2.

First Year Core Units

Year 2, Semester 1

24 credit points from the selected minor - Building Compliance OR Quantity Surveying

Year 2, Semester 2

Year 3, Semester 1

Year 3, Semester 2

Year 4, Semester 1

Year 4, Semester 2

24 credit points from the selected minor - Building Compliance OR Quantity Surveying

Minors

We are the first Australian university to use a 'block' model of learning, where you study one unit at a time rather than juggling several at once.

Introduced in 2018, the VU Block Model has improved our student results and achievements, and has won awards for innovation and excellence. Initially for first-year students, it now applies to all students studying at our Melbourne campuses.

You'll study in short bursts, called blocks, of three 2-3 hour face-to-face teaching sessions per week.

Each block focuses on one unit (subject) and is only four weeks long, with up to four days between. Our two semesters have four blocks each, and there are optional blocks over winter and summer where you can catch up on a missed unit.

Some courses have labs and pracs too, and these are generally scheduled on the same days as teaching sessions. There are also workshops where you'll develop your study skills and prepare for your future career.

Find out more about the VU Block Model.

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Plan, implement and manage the delivery of efficient and effective strategies over the course of construction processes in diverse contemporary contexts using independent thinking and judgement;  
  2. Generate creative solutions to a range of complex construction problems, taking into account issues of constructability, financial and human resources, compliance with relevant codes and standards, ethics and environmental sustainability (commercial and environmental) with initiative and professional judgement;  
  3. Critically evaluate sources and validity of information and use established processes for information management including international perspectives and codes of practice as appropriate;  
  4. Advocate design and management objectives and outcomes effectively to specialist and non-specialist stakeholders using a variety of professional oral and written forms;  
  5. Exemplify collaboration and requisite interpersonal and supervisory skills and characteristics to influence personal work, community and networks;  
  6. Apply personal and interpersonal competencies including organisational and collaborative skills necessary to operate within broad parameters in the immensely divergent and complex global and Australian cultures;  
  7. Advocate, respect and value cultural diversity and indigenous rights and develop capacities and creative solutions to contribute to a sustainable world;  
  8. Exhibit responsibility and accountability for own learning and professional practice in collaboration with others and within broad parameters.  

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Admissions

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Entry requirements

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English (or equivalent).
OR:
Completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent).
PLUS:
IELTS (or equivalent): Overall score or 6.0 (with no band less than 6.0 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking).
OR:
Completion of a Foundation course or equivalent.

Find out if you meet the entry requirements, including English language and academic requirements.

Pathways & credits

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

You will be credited for up to 120 credit points of study.

You will be credited for up to 144 credit points of study.

You will be guaranteed entry only.

You will be guaranteed entry only.

You will be guaranteed entry only.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)

Builders Academy Australia, Australia

You will be credited for up to 144 credit points of study.

Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)

Builders Academy Australia, Australia

You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

Bachelor of Science (Hons) Quantity Surveying

SEGI University, Malaysia, Malaysia

You will be credited for up to 192 credit points of study.

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

National University of Civil Engineering, Vietnam

You will be credited for up to 192 credit points of study.

Bachelor of Science in Construction Economics

National University of Civil Engineering, Vietnam

You will be credited for up to 192 credit points of study.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.

How to apply

We are currently accepting international applications, and we welcome you to apply for this course.

Click 'apply' to begin, and we will guide you through the application process.

Apply

If you have questions, please get in touch:

Information and fees listed above are for non-resident students. Fees are accurate at the time of viewing and will be subject to annual increases. Some courses require students to purchase equipment or clothing that they will need in the course. These equipment or clothing costs are not included in the course fees listed above – check your Letter of Offer for an estimate on non-tuition-fee-related expenses.

VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this course information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that course information is current with the Student Contact Centre.