M.Sc in Construction Management

M.Sc in Construction Management at Nepal Engineering College (nec)

The M.Sc in Construction Management at Nepal Engineering College (nec) is a postgraduate program affiliated with Pokhara University. The program has been conducted at nec since 1999 and is based at the nec Center for Postgraduate Studies (nec-CPS), Prayag Pokhari, Lagankhel, Lalitpur. It has an intake of 30 seats.

The course combines engineering knowledge with the managerial, economic, legal, financial, organizational, and administrative sides of construction. Students complete 45 credits of coursework and a 15-credit research project, giving the program a total academic load of 60 credits.

Course Overview

Pokhara University's M.Sc. Construction Management curriculum is organized across four semesters. The regular program covers three semesters of coursework followed by a fourth semester centered on thesis research. Each regular semester is structured for 15 weeks excluding examinations.

Academic Focus of M.Sc in Construction Management

Construction projects involve more than engineering design and site execution. They also require planning, resource allocation, contract administration, financial decisions, personnel management, safety control, equipment management, documentation, and coordination among the parties involved in a project.

The program develops this managerial side of construction while retaining its connection with engineering practice. Its academic purpose includes strengthening analysis, decision-making, implementation, leadership, and communication in the context of construction projects.

The course addresses areas such as:

• construction project planning and management;

• construction economics and finance;

• human resource management;

• construction policies and law;

• procurement and contracts;

• project administration;

• construction equipment management;

• construction safety;

• research methodology; and

• construction management within developing-country conditions.

Who May Consider This Program?

The course is intended for graduates from relevant engineering and architecture backgrounds who want to move further into the management and administration of construction projects.

It may be relevant to graduates interested in combining their technical background with subjects such as project management, construction finance, contracts, procurement, safety, organizational management, and construction business.

Students should expect study that moves beyond calculations and engineering design into questions such as how projects are organized, financed, contracted, administered, monitored, and completed.

Eligibility

At Nepal Engineering College, the stated eligible academic backgrounds include:

• Bachelor of Civil Engineering;

• Bachelor of Civil and Rural Engineering;

• Bachelor of Hydropower Engineering;

• Bachelor of Architecture; or

• equivalent qualification.

Applicants must have secured a minimum CGPA of 2.0 or 45 percent at bachelor's level.

The Pokhara University M.Sc. CM curriculum also requires the appropriate bachelor's-level academic background and includes an entrance test within its admission procedure.

Duration and Credit Structure

The M.Sc in Construction Management is a two-year program spread over four semesters.

Students complete:

The research component accounts for one-quarter of the total academic credits. Students undertake research involving fieldwork and empirical analysis and prepare a thesis in the prescribed academic format.

Curriculum Structure

Pokhara University's 2013 M.Sc. Construction Management curriculum organizes the academic cycle into foundation, analytical, core, functional, integrative, elective, and research components. Students complete 15 three-credit courses before undertaking the 15-credit thesis.

Semester I

The first semester establishes the analytical and managerial foundation for later construction-management study.

Semester II

The second semester moves into construction policy, finance, project management, equipment management, and elective study.

Semester III

The third semester concentrates on project administration, construction safety, research, and management issues associated with construction in developing-country settings.

Semester IV

Elective Study

The curriculum includes two three-credit electives. The identified elective areas include subjects connected with environmental assessment, GIS, operations research, concrete technology, bridge inspection and maintenance, water resources, mountain risk, conservation management, hydropower systems, and power plant systems.

The elective component gives students space to add a sector-related subject alongside the main construction-management curriculum.

Construction Project Management and Administration

Project management forms a substantial part of the course.

Construction Project Management addresses project execution from pre-bid activities through construction documentation, commissioning, operation, materials management, project evaluation, and auditing. The curriculum also examines the roles of clients, consultants, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, government bodies, communities, and other parties involved in construction projects.

Construction Project Engineering and Administration develops another side of project management. Its coverage includes setting up contracts, contractor selection, variations and change orders, risk and uncertainty, claims, disputes, procurement, and contract administration.

Construction Economics, Finance, and Law

Construction decisions have financial and economic consequences as well as technical ones.

The curriculum includes economics and financial management alongside construction policies, environment, and law. Topics within these areas include construction-business conditions, economic analysis, project appraisal, financial decisions, environmental considerations, contracts, regulatory requirements, and construction-related legal issues.

This part of the course is particularly relevant to the transition from purely technical engineering work toward project-level management and decision-making.

Safety and Equipment Management

Construction Safety Engineering addresses safety planning and management at construction sites. Its study areas include accident prevention, emergency response, workplace safety, safety documentation, equipment safety, worker training, reporting, and safety costs.

Management of Construction Plant and Equipment covers the selection, use, monitoring, cost, maintenance, productivity, and safety of construction machinery and equipment.

These areas connect project management with practical questions about resources, equipment, working conditions, and construction-site operations.

Research and Thesis

Research Methodology is included before the thesis semester and develops knowledge of research design, research problems, qualitative and quantitative approaches, data collection, variables, sampling, and research methods.

During the fourth semester, students undertake a 15-credit research project in an approved area of Construction Management.

The research process includes a thesis report, seminar presentation, and viva-voce examination. Evaluation involves both internal and external academic assessment.

The thesis gives students an opportunity to examine a construction-management issue through structured research rather than completing the master's degree only through taught coursework.

Teaching and Assessment

The program uses classroom discussions, presentations, group work, case analysis, guest lectures, and research project work.

Academic evaluation includes continuous internal assessment and semester-end external examinations. The curriculum assigns 60 percent weight to internal evaluation and 40 percent to external evaluation, with students required to qualify separately in both components.

A minimum attendance requirement of 80 percent is also specified for classes held under the curriculum framework.

Skills Students May Develop

Through coursework and research, students may develop abilities related to:

• construction project planning and control;

• project administration;

• construction economics and financial analysis;

• human resource management;

• contract and procurement processes;

• construction documentation;

• equipment and plant management;

• safety management;

• project evaluation and auditing;

• research design and analysis;

• construction-related decision-making; and

• professional communication.

These abilities develop through academic performance, project work, research, case analysis, and individual experience.

Career Direction

The program is designed around the management of construction activities and projects rather than a single technical engineering specialization.

Graduates may explore work connected with:

• construction project management;

• project planning and control;

• construction administration;

• contract and procurement management;

• construction finance and economics;

• construction safety management;

• plant and equipment management;

• project monitoring and evaluation; and

• construction-related research and consultancy activities.

Career outcomes depend on prior professional background, technical competence, management skills, research experience, employer requirements, and available opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the M.Sc in Construction Management at nec?

The regular program lasts two years and is organized across four semesters.

How many seats are available?

The M.Sc in Construction Management at Nepal Engineering College has an intake of 30 seats.

How many credits are required?

Students complete 60 credits: 45 credits of coursework and 15 credits of research or thesis work.

Where is the program conducted?

The program is conducted at the nec Center for Postgraduate Studies, Prayag Pokhari, Lagankhel, Lalitpur.

Which university is the course affiliated with?

The M.Sc in Construction Management at Nepal Engineering College is affiliated with Pokhara University.

What is the eligibility for M.Sc in Construction Management at nec?

The stated eligible backgrounds include Civil Engineering, Civil and Rural Engineering, Hydropower Engineering, Bachelor of Architecture, or equivalent. Applicants need a minimum CGPA of 2.0 or 45 percent at bachelor's level.

Does the program include an entrance test?

Yes. An entrance test forms part of the admission procedure under the Pokhara University M.Sc. Construction Management curriculum.

Does the course include a thesis?

Yes. The fourth semester includes a 15-credit thesis based on research in an approved area of Construction Management.

When did nec start the M.Sc in Construction Management program?

The program has been conducted at Nepal Engineering College since 1999.