Course Title: Master of Science in Applied Building Information Modelling & Management
The MSc in applied Building Information Modelling & Management is a two and a half-year part-time re-skilling programme for construction professionals, with options for exit with Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma awards after 1 and 2 years, respectively.
The course builds on the discipline-specific knowledge of individuals and enables upskilling or facilitates a return to employment for individuals who are not yet experienced in the new construction paradigm of collaborative BIM.
The primary philosophy of the programme is that of breaking down barriers between construction disciplines and, via project and task-based learning, enabling professionals to work within a multidisciplinary, collaborative design and management process based on international standards and associated professional guidance.
The course is open to professionally-qualified architects, engineers, surveyors, technologists, and construction managers who have some basic level BIM knowledge. Graduates of related discipline areas with appropriate experience are encouraged to apply.
Stage 1 of the course will focus on providing students with the ability to use BIM technologies in a multidisciplinary collaborative design and management process. Stage 2 of the course focuses on developing these collaborative skills further via the effective use of appropriate information management and communication tools and strategies while utilising appropriate, standards-based BIM processes. In the final year of the course , students are occupied with an individual Capstone Experience project where the skills developed over the previous 2 years are utilised to solve active industry problems and challenges.
An NFQ Level 8 Bachelor Degree with 2.2 award or equivalent in an engineering, built environment or related programme, or a level 7 ordinary degree plus 5 years relevant experience. Applicants may be required to attend interview or to produce an ePortfolio of relevant evidence. Applicants are required to produce evidence of the minimum English language proficiency requirement for overseas applicants i.e. a minimum score of 6.0 in IELTS or equivalent.
The MSc in Applied Building Information Modelling and Management is a unique NFQ level 9 course in Ireland and the approach to MSc-level education is distinctive in relation to courses available internationally. The demand for professionals skilled in the application of Building Information Modelling technologies and for the management of Building Information Modelling processes is very strong both nationally and internationally. It underpins the needs of a wide range of disciplines in the Built Environment and Engineering for professionals skilled in collaborative design, build, and management processes. It is expected that graduates of the course will find employment both within their own disciplines and in emerging collaborative careers as BIM processes become more widely adopted.
The domains of application of Applied Building Information Modelling and Management relevant to this course include:
- Architecture & Architectural Technology
- Construction Management and Technology
- Engineering: Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical, Building Services, and associated Geomatics
- Surveying: Quantity and Property
This course prepares the graduate to act at wide, and possibly unpredictable, professional levels and within ill-defined contexts in positions of leadership in the area of Building Information Modelling and Management.
The programme is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
Stage 1 Postgraduate Certificate in BIM Technologies
15-credits (ECTS) of streamed, discipline-specific modules focussed on BIM Technologies plus 15 credits of Lean & Digital Construction Collaboration. Streams in Architecture/Architectural Technology; Mechanical & Electrical Engineering; Surveying (Quantity) & Construction Management.
Stage 2 Postgraduate Diploma in Collaborative BIM
5 credit electives related to specific BIM challenges; 10-credits of Collaborative BIM Processes; 15-credits of Multidisciplinary Collaboration Project.
Stage 3 MSc in applied BIM and Management
5-credits of Research Skills plus 25-credits of Capstone Experience.
A "research" stream of the course is also available where students undertake 35 credits of taught modules plus 55 credits of a major Capstone Experience. This stream enables students to focus intensively on the solution of an industry-based problem or problems while also developing significant research capability, potentially preparing candidates for transfer to level 10 PhD studies.
Semester 1
- BIM in Mechanical & Electrical Engineering [Mandatory]
- BIM in Architecture [Mandatory]
- BIM in Quantity Surveying & Construction Management [Mandatory]
Semester 2
Semester 1
- Virtual and Augmented Reality for Engineering & Built Environment [Elective]
- Visual Programming for Engineering and Built Environment [Elective]
- Virtual and Augmented Reality for Engineering & Built Environment [Elective]
- Visual Programming for Engineering and Built Environment [Elective]
Semester 2
Runs typically as follows: Stage 1 Monday and Wednesday and Stage 2 Tuesday and Thursday; evenings from 18:00-21:00 with additional asynchronous directed and self-directed learning outside of these times.
Students should plan to assign ~10-14 hours per week for study (which includes the scheduled class times) during the two 12-week semesters.
Stage 3 meets once every 2 weeks in Semester 1 from 18:00-21:00 on a Thursday evening.
Applications will open in February 2025
All access to the MSc in applied BIM and Management / Postgraduate Diploma in Collaborative BIM / Postgraduate Certificate in BIM Technologies is via the TU415 application portal.
Non-EU Students
Non-EU students, not resident in Ireland, are not eligible to apply for part time programs that are delivered on-campus. Applications for part time courses that require on-campus attendance will not be processed and the application fee will not be refunded.
The fact that the course joins up all the different stakeholders in construction is one of the best aspects.
The job opportunities when you complete the course are excellent.
The MSc in applied BIM and Management provides exit award opportunities at each of its three key stages of learning to suit a varied range of learners. These include:
- TU415/1 - Postgraduate Certificate in BIM Technologies (1 Year), which is a re-skilling programme that addresses a significant market deficit for construction professionals by providing them with the ability to use BIM technologies in a multidisciplinary collaborative design and management process. Students can exit with this award or progress to TU415/2.
- TU415/2 - Postgraduate Diploma in Collaborative BIM (2 years), which focuses on providing students with a critical understanding of the collaborative BIM information cycle via the effective use of appropriate information management and communication tools and strategies while utilising appropriate, standards-based BIM processes. Students can exit with this award or progress to the final stage of the MSc, which can be completed in 0.5 / 1 year, depending on the selected capstone submission date.
- TU415/3 - MSc in applied BIM and Management (2.5 or 3 years), which is the accumulation of the student's masters journey where they will source, evaluate and recommend new theories, practices and systems appropriate to BIM collaboration, processes and technologies by adopting a project based, solution-oriented approach.