Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management)

The Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management) at Curtin University is a four-year degree that prepares you to manage building projects from the first sketch to the final handover. You study how construction works on site and how projects are priced, scheduled, contracted and kept safe. Core subjects cover building technology, construction law, estimating and tendering, project planning, cost control, and contract administration. You also learn about sustainable building practices and how digital tools such as BIM are used to coordinate design and construction teams. Later years let you specialise through electives, and the degree finishes with a capstone project where you tackle a real construction problem, often with an industry partner.

Australian bachelor degrees are structured around units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. At Curtin the academic year runs across semesters, and you normally enrol in a full-time load of units each semester. Over four years you accumulate the credit points needed to graduate, with the final year weighted towards advanced project management subjects and your capstone. This is a four-year degree rather than the usual three because construction management carries a heavy technical and professional load, and the extra year gives you room for work-integrated learning. You complete a professional placement in a construction or consultancy organisation, which is how most students get their first real taste of site meetings, subcontractor coordination and client reporting.

Graduates are eligible for membership of relevant Australian professional bodies, and the degree is recognised for careers in the built environment. The skills you build are practical: reading and interpreting drawings, preparing estimates, programming works, administering contracts, managing site safety, and communicating with clients, consultants and trades. You also learn to use industry software for scheduling and cost management. Curtin has strong links with Western Australian construction companies, government agencies and engineering consultancies, and these connections feed into guest lectures, site visits and placement opportunities.

This course suits school leavers who like solving practical problems and want a career that mixes office work with time on site. It also suits people already working in construction, trades or drafting who want to move into management. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. After graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia. Check the official Curtin page and the CRICOS register for current entry requirements, English proficiency details and fees.

• Construction project manager – planning and delivering building projects for contractors, developers and government agencies.
• Site manager – running day-to-day operations on residential, commercial and civil sites.
• Estimator – preparing cost plans and tenders for construction companies and consultancies.
• Contract administrator – managing contracts, progress claims and variations on behalf of clients or head contractors.
• Project planner – programming works and monitoring schedules using industry software.
• Building surveyor or certifier – checking compliance with the National Construction Code and local regulations (additional accreditation may apply).
• Property and facilities manager – overseeing building operations, maintenance and upgrades.

Employers include commercial and residential builders, civil contractors, engineering and project management consultancies, government infrastructure agencies, and property developers across Australia.