Property and Facilities Management - MSc

Facilities Management (FM) is one of the fastest growing professions within the UK providing a holistic, integrated approach to the delivery and management of property and associated support services; enabling both the organisation and individual to pro-actively and effectively manage assets, contents and components for the benefit of the users.

Course Overview

The course offers a stimulating part-time pathway, allowing flexibility for individuals with responsibilities and commitments, to progress to Master’s level within the field of: Facilities, Property and Asset Management. The programme is modular, containing both core and elective options within Part One and a Dissertation; generally work related, in Part Two. The latter is often completed remotely but with full workplace support being provided by an experienced supervision team and specialist University support staff.

This is the only post-graduate F.M. related qualification offered within an educational establishment in Wales and the south-west of England. The programme is eminently suited to those working within or aspiring towards a senior management position, addresses cutting edge, strategic and operational issues that impact upon estates, property, facilities and corporate business services. The current mode of attendance for Part One occurs at the Mount Pleasant campus in Swansea, generally taking place on a Wednesday afternoon, between 2.00pm and 8.00pm.

Existing and past students have entered the programme from a range of specialist discipline areas, including engineering, building services, surveying, hotel services, general business administration, hard and soft F.M. property, project management, town planning, health-care etc. Their employers have included international PLCs, central government, local authorities, professional practices, Universities, Further Education colleges, Housing Associations, outsourced F.M. organisations, Welsh Government Agencies etc.

Modules

Candidates study at a high level, a range of inter-related topics that will typically include:
-Strategic Property Management and Procurement,
-Management of Human and Organisational Resources,
-Building Maintenance and Property Asset Management,
-Services and Energy Performance of Buildings
-Health & Safety Management
-Research Methodology
-Dissertation

Individual modules can be studied on a semester basis to meet an individual or professional body’s CPD requirements, and used to build subsequently onwards to more formal academic qualifications.

Key Features

Effective FM is critical where highly serviced buildings and spaces are provided but has many other applications that embrace the commercial property, housing and business support areas. Many candidates use the programme to enhance their management and business skills whilst underpinning technical and professional subject knowledge, in areas such as the environment, asset management and building technologies, waste management, energy use, health and safety as well as developing core business and people management skills.

Few who currently operate in this fast moving field have received formal training or qualifications within this highly rewarding industry and hence major opportunities exist for Master’s graduates.

Assessment

Assessment is via industry related case study based assignments, some formal examinations, presentations to panels and a dissertation that can be very closely focussed to the candidate’s current employment or area of career aspiration.

Career Opportunities

Most candidates are employed full-time and a number of students past and present have gained considerable career enhancements, as a consequence of their formal studies with the University. Candidates work for major international PLCs, central and local government funded bodies/agencies, social housing, education and health-care.

Candidates are interviewed and come to this programme from a diverse range of backgrounds; possibly, an Honours degree or higher, in a facilities, property, built environment or business management related discipline offers the more suitable entry, but candidates with considerable practical experience and/or other relevant technical or professional qualifications are actively encouraged to apply and will be interviewed and mentored on a personal basis. Consideration will also be given where prior learning or experience exists at this level.