Programme

The first year focuses on the development of core knowledge and skills while the second year focuses on application and synthesis of this knowledge through a graduation project. Students are provided with a coherent overall perspective, giving them a capability to integrate processes, phasing and different scales, while addressing stakeholder concerns.

Academic year 2023-2024

First year      
1st semester   2nd semester  
1st quarter 2nd quarter 3rd quarter 4th quarter
Research Methods 1
(5 EC)
Building Economics
(5 EC)

Building Law
(5 EC)

Building Information Management
(5 EC)
Design and Construction Management
(10 EC)
Real Estate Management
(10 EC)
Redesign of Complex Projects
(10 EC)
Urban and Infrastructure (Re)development Game
(10 EC)

During the first year you will acquire advanced knowledge and skills in managing the entire life cycle of the built environment. 

The first semester is oriented towards knowledge acquisition, drawing from both academic sources and illustrative case studies. Two courses offer an introduction to respectively Design and Construction Management and Real Estate Management. Both courses use real life cases. Courses are also offered covering Research Methods (including Data Management and Data Ethics) and Building Economics (including Financial feasibility of real estate investments).

During the second semester, students will continue with academic coursework with a course on Building Law (including Planning Law) and a course on Building Information Management. However, the focus shifts primarily from knowledge obtainment (first semester) to skills acquisition (second semester). This is achieved through two projects: the first is the Urban and Infrastructure (Re)development Game, which is a simulation game in which students assume different stakeholder roles in a real urban development project. The second is Redesign of Complex Projects, which is a project consisting of practice-based case studies in which students are challenged to provide and explain alternative solutions to optimise building processes and their management. 

Video impression of the The urban (re)development Game:

Video Impression of Sustainable Human Habitats:

Students can specialise in Sustainable Human Habitats in the second year of the MSc programme by choosing specific electives and joining a graduation theme group.

Second year      
3rd semester   4th semester  
1st quarter 2nd quarter 3rd quarter 4th quarter
Research Methods 2
(5 EC)
Graduation Laboratory (30 EC)





 
Graduation Laboratory 
(10 EC)
Free electives
(5 EC)
Free electives
(10 EC)

Graduation 
In the final year students work on their individual graduation project. They can choose from several graduation themes. There is a methodological programme that is directed at providing students with sound research methods in support of their graduation project work. 

In addition they choose 15 ECTS electives for the purpose of broadening their academic perspective, knowledge and skills, or to allow for further specialisation in connection with the individual graduation project.

Almost all students of MSc track Management in the Built Environment carry out their graduation research project in a company or (non) governmental organisation. This enhances the real life application of the results of the graduation thesis project.

Detailed information on graduation

Cross domain graduation studios
Master students Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences can, instead of the regular studio’s or graduation themes, choose during their second year for one of the cross domain graduation studios. Students from the Management in the Built Environment track can choose for:

One academic year = 60 EC (1680 hrs study, 1 EC 28 hr)
EC = European Credits 
Total amount of credits MSc programme = 120 EC
For more information on all courses, please visit the study guide.

Core disciplines

  • Design & Construction Management targets the development and management of design and construction at the scale of a building. Management issues regarding the design and the construction of a building are examined on the basis of a real life case.
  • Real Estate Management is concerned with the supply of and demand for building stock, for private firms as well as public institutions and housing.
  • Urban Development Management looks at the processes involved with the development of larger urban projects.