#1 Melbourne university for course satisfaction
Accredited globally in 50+ countries
#1 Melbourne university for facilities and resources
Why choose construction management at Deakin
Deakin’s Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) equips you with market-ready skills for construction management, quantity surveying and property development. You will develop an in-depth understanding of the business of construction, including economics, finance, law, technology, and sustainability.
With a strong focus on practical learning, you will develop the initiative to work confidently from day one across projects large and small. Industry placements, site visits and studio-based work help you gain professional experience while building professional networks, technical knowledge and skills. You will also collaborate with Deakin’s architecture students to gain a sound understanding across both disciplines. This experience prepares you for the real world and ensures you graduate with the well-rounded and adaptable skill set employers are looking for.
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Graduate workplace-ready
Develop practical skills in cost planning, contracts, project management and digital tools through projects, site visits and placements with leading construction companies, and quantity surveying firms.
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Globally recognised qualification
Study a professionally accredited degree with pathways to careers in over 50 countries.
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Fast-track your career
Complete your degree in three years by taking selected Trimester 3 units, giving you an early start in the construction industry.
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Industry connections built in
Collaborate with architecture students and practising professionals to build networks and gain cross-disciplinary experience.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Build the practical, technical and management skills to deliver construction projects with confidence. Graduate ready for careers across construction management, quantity surveying and property development, with a globally recognised qualification.
Construction manager
Plan, coordinate and oversee construction projects from start to finish. Manage budgets, schedules, contractors and resources while helping ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently and to required standards.
- $185k
Typical salary in Australia
- 4.3/5
Job satisfaction in Australia
Quantity surveyor
Manage the financial and contractual aspects of construction projects. Estimate costs, prepare budgets and monitor expenses to help deliver projects efficiently while balancing quality, resources and financial requirements.
- $110k
Typical salary in Australia
- 4.2/5
Job satisfaction in Australia
Other jobs
- Project manager
- Site manager
- Property developer
- Quality manager
- Safety manager
- Project coordinator
FAQs
Deakin's campuses in Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool are set in vibrant, multicultural communities where it is easy to connect and feel at home. As the #1 university in Australia for international student happiness and student satisfaction, you will be supported at every step of your journey. You can join clubs and societies through the Deakin University Student Association (DUSA), attend social events, go on trips and live on campus to meet people from around the world. Each campus has fitness centres, cafes and 24-hour security, as well as prayer rooms and multifaith chaplains.
Deakin offers a range of merit-based scholarships that can reduce your tuition fees by 20%, 25%, 50% or 100% for the duration of your degree. Eligibility varies by scholarship and the degree you choose, but you will automatically be considered for most scholarships when you apply to Deakin. Use the Find a scholarship tool and filter by 'citizenship' to see what is available to you, or explore Australia Awards scholarships if you are from an eligible country.
As an international student at Deakin, you can work part time according to the conditions of your visa. On a Student Visa (Subclass 500), you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during trimesters. When you are on a trimester break you can work as much as you want. Compulsory work experience that forms part of your degree does not count toward this limit. Find part-time roles and internships through DeakinTALENT and learn more about working in Australia.
Most students studying full time at Deakin need a Student Visa (Subclass 500). You can apply for this visa after you accept your offer and receive your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). To apply, you will need a valid passport, your CoE, proof of Overseas Student Health Cover and any other documents required by the Department of Home Affairs. Apply as early as possible, but do not book travel until your visa has been granted. Find out more about student visas.
Australia is widely regarded as one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the world for students, with strong legal protections, reliable public services and a multicultural community. In fact, Melbourne is ranked the #4 student city in the world! At Deakin, you will be part of a supportive community, with 24/7 help, dedicated campus security and practical tools to help you feel safe, confident and connected. Deakin’s SafeZone app also connects you directly to campus security and support services if you ever need help. Find out more about studying in Australia.
Deakin offers a wide range of support to help you settle in and succeed throughout your studies – we are ranked the #1 university in Melbourne for student support. You can access 1:1 study support, English language support, career planning help, disability services and free counselling, as well as financial assistance if you need it. On campus, the SafeZone app and 24/7 security services mean help is always within reach. You can explore the full range of support services for international students or start an online chat with a student ambassador before you arrive.
To enrol in an undergraduate degree at Deakin, many degrees require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent). Some degrees require higher scores so check the entry requirements tab on the degree page for details. You may also meet the requirement through recent secondary or university study completed in English, or by demonstrating five or more years of living and working in an English-speaking country. Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis. If you do not yet meet the requirement, the Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) offers pathway programs to help develop your English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Completion of DUELI’s English for Academic Purposes can give you the minimum English language requirements for most Deakin degrees.
Deakin is the #1 university in Melbourne for international student graduate employment. Our degrees are developed with industry insight, so you will gain career-ready skills from the beginning. Each Deakin student can access work-integrated learning through opportunities including placements, internships and projects with well-known industry partners. Our dedicated international student career support program helps you learn about the Australian workforce, make connections and build your network through placements. You will get support with your resume, help looking for an internship or a job after graduation and even advice about your career options overseas.
There is more than one way to study at Deakin. If you do not meet the academic requirements, Deakin College offers a guaranteed pathway to Deakin with small, supportive classes on campus. If you meet the academic requirements but not the English requirements, you can enrol in a Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) English pathway program and progress to your chosen Deakin degree upon successful completion. Deakin also has formal pathway agreements with partner institutions in countries like China, India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and the United States, so you can start your studies locally before transferring to Australia to complete your degree.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours)?
This degree builds your expertise from core construction knowledge to advanced project management, preparing you to lead projects with confidence.
Build essential construction knowledge
Explore core construction principles
Develop a foundation in building materials, structures, site safety and construction finance.
Understand building processes
Investigate how residential building projects are planned, documented and delivered within regulatory frameworks.
Develop practical skills
Apply learning through observations, sketches, hands-on activities and teamwork to bring projects to life.
Deepen expertise in project planning and delivery
Master building measurement and cost management
Apply industry-standard techniques to quantify works, manage documentation and support accurate project costing, while understanding contracts and design economics.
Navigate building processes
Explore the planning, documentation and delivery of commercial and industrial building projects, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks.
Engage with environmental considerations
Investigate sustainable building practices, energy efficiency strategies and environmental impacts on construction.
Focus on advanced project delivery for large-scale projects
Advance project management skills
Plan, schedule, monitor and deliver construction projects using industry tools and techniques.
Develop technical expertise
Apply measurement, estimating and building information modelling skills to commercial and industrial buildings.
Integrate building services knowledge
Explore the design, coordination and performance of essential building services in complex commercial projects, and their impact on overall building performance.
Consolidate your learning
Apply professional standards
Explore contract administration, procurement, risk management and ethical decision-making in construction projects.
Conduct construction research
Design and investigate a research project that addresses real construction challenges.
Integrate and evaluate knowledge
Use your capstone project to combine technical, management and research skills on a large-scale building project.
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours), you must pass 32 credit points.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
You are required to complete 28 core units (these are essential units for this degree).
In your first trimester you must also complete three 0-credit point units which are compulsory for this degree.
Year 1 - Trimester 1
Year 1 - Trimester 2
Year 2 - Trimester 1
Year 2 - Trimester 2
Year 3 - Trimester 1
plus one open elective unit (1 credit point)
Year 3 - Trimester 2
plus one open elective unit (1 credit point)
Year 4 - Trimester 1
plus one open elective unit (1 credit point)
Year 4 - Trimester 2
* available at Burwood campus from 2028
+ available at Burwood campus from 2029
The Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) may be taken as an accelerated program at the Waterfront campus. By taking selected units in Trimester 3 the course can be completed in three years instead of four (refer to the accelerated course map available in the Handbook).
Choose three open elective units (one must be level two or above) from across the University, including from a completely different study area (subject to meeting the unit prerequisites).
Professional recognition
Graduate in demand in the growing construction management industry, equipped with the practical skills and professional experience employers value. As a graduate of this course you'll have completed the academic requirements for membership of:
- Australian Institute of Building (AIB)
- Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS)
- Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
This course is recognised for practice in more than 50 countries, so you can take your career across Australia and around the world.
What to expect while studying
Students may be required to purchase minor equipment such as drawing media, model making tools, large format printing, or digital fabrication such as 3D printing. The indicative cost can vary on quality or execution but is expected to be nominally $500 over the duration of the course.
Students are also recommended to have access to a personal computer (laptop of desktop) in order to engage with their units. Some software required for the course can be purchased by students to install on their own device, it is in the order of $50 for the 12-month license. Students currently have access to specialist Deakin computer labs that are used for teaching some software in the course. Where possible, the course uses software that provide education licensing for students to access at no cost.
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, workshops, site visits and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Elective units may be selected that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.
You can apply to undertake a discipline specific industry placement as an elective option as part of your course. Explore the SEBE WIL program.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Students enrolled at Burwood should note the following as units are being phased in:
- The second year units will be available at Burwood from 2027, third year units from 2028 and fourth year units from 2029.
Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL)
- Students commencing at Burwood with RPL may need to study part-time as second year units will be available at Burwood from 2027. Students will need to be assessed on a case by case basis.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Develop a broad and coherent knowledge of construction materials, structures, construction practices, estimating, cost planning, regulatory, legal, construction economics and construction management frameworks to manage construction projects. Integrate knowledge of technology, management, economics, regulatory and legal systems in implementing a construction project from small residential to large complex and high-rise buildings. Integrate well-developed knowledge of contextual factors that impact on construction management including regulatory requirements, industry environment, professional practice and sustainability to finalise construction management decisions. Acquire and apply research skills to initiate and formulate a research plan an undertake research that contributes to scholarly knowledge, based on current research directions. |
| Communicate clearly, professionally and responsibly with specialist and non-specialist audiences in a variety of contexts using oral, written, graphical and interpersonal skills to inform, negotiate, lead and motivate a project team. |
| Utilise a range of digital technologies including building information modelling to locate, select, analyse, use, evaluate, and disseminate a variety of information. |
| Use critical and analytical thinking and judgment to identify and evaluate appropriate principles and procedures in technology, law, management and economics for construction projects. |
| Apply analytical thinking and judgment to make decisions to identify a variety of problems and recommend solutions related to technology, law, management and economics for construction projects. Generate solutions to construction management problems using a framework of accountability and professional practice in the construction industry environment. |
| Use appropriate strategies including reflective evaluation to develop independence and demonstrate responsibility for professional learning. |
| Work in multidisciplinary teams and develop leadership skills to manage construction projects and use appropriate team processes to collaborate, communicate, and negotiate solutions. |
| Engage ethically and productively with diverse stakeholders, communities and cultures in the global construction industry. |
- Award granted
- Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours)
- Year
2027 course information
- VTAC code
- 1400415573 - Waterfront (Geelong), International full-fee paying place
1400515573 - Burwood (Melbourne), International full-fee paying place - Deakin code
- S346
- CRICOS code?Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students
- 080117B Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Fees
Estimated tuition fee
$44,400
for 1 yr full-time AUD
The estimated tuition fee above is based on a typical first-year full-time enrolment of 8 credit points and is provided as a guide only. Your tuition fees are determined by your course and unit enrolment. Your tuition fees will vary depending on your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning.
Scholarships
Deakin scholarships recognise your hard work and achievements. Our support can ease the financial pressure of studying in Australia so you stay focused on your success. Numbers are limited, so apply early for the best chance.
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
Applications can be made directly to the University through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's International Student Application Service.
We recommend engaging with a Deakin Authorised Agent who can assist you with the process and submit the application.
Apply through VTAC
If you are an international student completing an Australian Year 12 in Australia or overseas, you must submit an application through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). In addition, you may also apply directly to Deakin through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's international student application service.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.