Facilities Management, BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

The University of Central Lancashire's (UCLan) BSc (Hons) in Facilities Management is a three-year, in-person program that focuses on sustainable and progressive facilities management practices. The curriculum includes core modules in construction technology, project management, health and safety, and facilities management. Students can opt for a 48-week sandwich placement in industry between Year 2 and Year 3 and have access to state-of-the-art engineering facilities. The program is accredited by CIOB and RICS, providing graduates with high career prospects in the facilities management industry.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This program is a BSc (Hons) in Facilities Management offered by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). It is a full-time, three-year program delivered in-person on the Preston Campus. The program is designed to keep pace with the changing and progressive facilities management industry, focusing on sustainability and the new demands placed on facilities managers. The program aims to provide a broad and rigorous program of study appropriate for a first degree in Facilities Management. Students will learn how the nature of a built space and the efficient control of non-core facilities affect the productivity of an organization and the well-being of the people who use it.

Outline:

The program is structured into three years, with a possible 48-week sandwich placement in industry between Year 2 and Year 3 for full-time students.

Year 1:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Construction Technology 1:
Introduces principles of construction methods used in low-rise construction in the UK, focusing on material properties.
• Sustainability and Science: Reviews key environmental and service requirements for building services systems in buildings, examining design principles, technical performance, and component selection for utility services.
• Management and Economics: Introduces basic economic and management principles applied to construction.
• Professional Practice: Develops key and degree-specific personal and professional competencies.
• Interdisciplinary Project: Develops understanding of complex issues involved in a construction project and provides professional competencies for subsequent years of study and career.

Year 2:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Construction Technology 2:
Considers construction knowledge for framed buildings and multi-storey developments, focusing on material technology and structural analysis.
• Building Services: Investigates the integration of building services in medium and high-rise structures, studying sustainable energy generation and monitoring techniques, building services science, and requirements of high-rise buildings.
• Production Economics: Develops critical awareness of cost implications of resource allocation in construction procurement, examining factors involved in identifying and pricing construction work at the tender stage and during construction.
• Contract Administration: Examines contractual provisions governing the administration and management of construction and engineering projects.
• Management and Project Planning: Introduces project management systems, sustainable and safe approaches to construction, and planning and management of site activities and resources.
• Health and Safety Management: Introduces processes for effective management of occupational health, safety, and welfare in the workplace, developing principles for hazard identification and control, and monitoring, control, and management of safety and health risks within the legislative framework.
• Professional Practice - CPM: Introduces an integrated project scenario, considering project design and organization with respect to the requirements of the construction professional in the project planning and program process.

Year 3:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Maintenance Management:
Develops understanding of repair and maintenance of existing buildings, examining problems in the care and management of existing buildings and deciding on refurbishment, reuse, or demolition.
• Facilities Management: Introduces and explores concepts of total facilities management, emphasizing the development of a managerial role for the Building Profession working within corporate environments.
• Project Analysis and Appraisal: Acquaints students with the overall concept of "a project," considering its phases and constituent parts from inception to completion.
Analyzes and appraises the project in relation to the four aspects of Whole Life-Cycle Appraisal: Project Design Appraisal, Project Value Appraisal, Project Cost Appraisal, and Project Environmental Impact Appraisal, and in relation to new-build, refurbishment, and regeneration projects.
• Business Practice and Law: Provides understanding of business management concepts and the legal framework within which construction businesses operate, covering the business environment, legal issues relating to the construction industry, and ethical responsibilities of a construction professional.
• Dissertation: An independent study using theoretical, experimental, or investigative analysis (or a combination) to produce original work.
• Professional Practice: CPM: Develops knowledge in Construction Project Management, covering areas and skills relevant to the contemporary Construction Project Management Professional and how to apply these skills within a simulated project environment.

Assessment:

Most modules are assessed through a combination of examinations and coursework, with the final mark being the average of the two. Some modules are assessed solely by coursework, such as group projects, modeling exercises, or time-controlled assignments.

Teaching:

The program is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions, and independent study. The program is delivered in conjunction with the programs in Construction Project Management, Quantity Surveying, and Building Surveying, allowing students to share knowledge across programs and the opportunity to transfer if they wish to.

Careers:

The program is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), which can lead to high-level career opportunities in large organizations and private practice. Graduates are sought after and work in a variety of facilities management service provider organizations, including hotel companies, retail chains, estate management offices, the health service, and government departments.

Other:

The program is based in the School of Engineering and Computing. Students can take a one-year industrial placement during their studies to increase their employability. Most placements are UK-based, but opportunities exist for global placements. The program is delivered in the new £35 million Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) building, which provides an integrated teaching space in state-of-the-art facilities.

UK Full-time £9,250 per year Sandwich year £1,500 for the sandwich year Part-time £1,540 per 20 credits International Full-time £16,500 per year