SCEM Postgraduate Programmes

School of Construction Economics and Management Postgraduate Programmes

Welcome to the next chapter of your academic career!

HISTORY OF WITS

University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) located in Johannesburg means that Wits is close to the economic powerhouse of the whole African continent. It was oneof the founders of the African Research Universities Alliance and has an active programme of collaborative projects right across Africa and beyond.

Highly research-intensive, it has made a major contribution to applied areas such as healthcare and the challenges of deep-level mining but performs strongly in subatomic physics and other fields of fundamental science.

The University of Witwatersrand (WITS) has offered building science and quantity surveying courses since 1928. Up until the 1960s, the Quantity Surveying and Building Science programmes were housed in different departments. The Department of Building was established in 1969. The Department of Quantity Surveying arose out of the original Department of Architecture and Quantity Surveying in 1965 and operated as an independent department within thefaculty until it merged with the younger Department of Building Science in 1992.

POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES

BSc (Hons) in Construction Management

The BSc (Hons) CM is a one year full time degree. The course will result in a professional qualification as a Construction Manager. Construction managers plan, organise, and control all aspects of large and complex construction projects. They have highly developed managerial skills and advanced technical knowledge of construction processes.

Graduates will satisfy the criteria for accreditation in terms of the requirements of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP), the Project Management Institute (PMI), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP).

BSc (Hons) in Property Studies

The BSc (Hons) in Property Studies is a one-year full-time degree. The degree enables graduates to apply their knowledge in various property related fields and specialise in areas such as property management, property development and property valuations, among other fields.

BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying

BSc (Hons) QS is a 1-year, full-time degree. The degree enables graduates to apply quantity surveying techniques to building and civil engineering projects; carry out property development and portfolio administration and perform applicable professional quantity surveying management roles.

PG Diploma Construction Management

PG Diploma

Property Development & Management in Facilities Management

Facilities Management is designed to enable prospective students to obtain the academic preparation that would enable them to access facilities management careers. Facilities management is the coordination and harmonisation of various specialist disciplines to manage buildings and non-core services.

You will be responsible for the total management of all services that support the core business of an organisation. You will ensure that a firm has the most suitable working environment for its employees and their activities.

Your tasks will include:

• procurement & contract management

• building and grounds maintenance

• cleaning

• catering and vending

• health and safety

• security

• utilities & communications infrastructure as well as

• space management.

If these are done well, a firm’s operating costs can be reduced while its productivity is increased.

MSc (Building) PMC

The MSc (Building) in the field of Project Management in Construction is offered over two years of part-time study and is directed towards applicants with an honours degree in Real Estate, Property, Economics, Finance, Commerce, Accounting, Building Technology, Civil Engineering and Planning.

Teaching and learning strategies respond to the unique nature of the different courses and emerging trends, locally and internationally.

Lectures, cases and projects that facilitate study of the discipline on a deep level are used. Students typically work in small groups and apart from knowledge of the subject, group work facilitates financial modelling, team, communication and business skills.

Guest speakers from industry provide practical perspectives on some of the issues discussed in class.

MSc (Building) PDM

The MSc (Building) in the fields of Property Management or Property Development Management is offered over two years part-time and is directed towards applicants with an honours degree in Real Estate, Property, Economics, Finance, Commerce, Civil Engineering and Planning.

The MSc PDM’s objectives are to engage in independent research and write concise reports of acceptable scientific quality in addition to knowledge in property development management at postgraduate level. Apart from knowledge of the subject, group work will enable you to develop financial modelling, communication and business skills. A significant part of the work for the taught MSc will be a research report.

Preparation for the research report consists of Quantitative Methods, advanced Topics in Real Estate and Research Methodology courses, which will ensure you have a feasible research proposal at the start of your research project.

The research report gives you the opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired from the courses in a scientific manner to a problem chosen within the research profile of the School.

MSc (Building) by Research

The MSc by Research is a one-year full-time programme which allows you to pursue your research interests.

Research candidates are offered a distinctive opportunity to explore knowledge to a high level, supervised by established researchers in their chosen field.

The MSc by Research involves the submission of a completed thesis based on an independent research project. With academics from all over the globe, you will be well poised to receive the best of both industry and academic excellence, including formulation of enquiries, research questions, critical thinking, academic writing as well as research methodology.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Completing a postgraduate research degree at the School of Construction Economics and Management (SCEM) is a richly rewarding experience. If as a research student, you are looking for a research environment that enables you to develop your ideas for you to succeed, then you are in the right place.

SCEM’s dynamic, research-intensive, and specialised position means our research students can study exciting projects that have an impact globally and make a practical difference to the world. Our passion for the areas we operate in and our long-standing relationships with some of the most prestigious companies in industry mean that studying at our school will open doors for you.

Completion of a PhD involves original research work which results in either developing entirely new areas of study or is concerned with the application of novel and existing ideas in new ways and new fields of activity.

A programme of support and a dedicated supervisor, together with research training programmes, are provided to help you achieve your PhD.

Before you start the application process, you should engage with a potential supervisor that can provide support to your research interests.

Our academic staff are actively engaged in research therefore you will receive supervision by experienced researchers who are eminent in their field.

A list of potential supervisors and their research interest can be found on our website under CEM Research. https://www.wits.ac.za/cem/research/cem-research-unit/

Teaching and Learning

The School of Construction Economics and Management uses lectures, cases and projects that facilitate study of the discipline on a deep level. Students typically work in small groups.

Apart from knowledge of the subject, group work facilitates financial modelling, team, communication and business skills.

Guest speakers from industry provide practical perspectives on some of the issues discussed in class.

Our Team

Head of School: Prof. Samuel Laryea samuel.laryea@wits.ac.za

Coordinator for Postgraduate Affairs: A/Prof. Ehsan Saghatforoush ehsan.saghatforoush@wits.ac.za

Programme Coordinator (Research degrees): A/Prof. Kola Ijasan kola.ijasan@wits.ac.za

Programme Coordinator: MSc (Building) Project Management in Construction: Dr Oluwayomi Babatunde oluwayomi.babatunde@wits.ac.za

Programme Coordinators: MSc (Building) Property Development & Management, PG Diploma Property Development and Management, PG Diploma (PDM) in Facilities Management:

Dr Prisca Simbanegavi prisca.simbanegavi@wits.ac.za

Rirhandzu Maluleke rirhandzu.maluleke@wits.ac.za

Programme Coordinator: BSc (Hons) Construction Management, Quantity Surveying and Property Studies: Ms Pride Ndlovu pride.ndlovu@wits.ac.za

Programme Coordinators: PG Diploma Construction Management: Rolien Terblanche rolien.terblanche@wits.ac.za

School Administrator: Mrs Ruth Billett ruth.billett@wits.ac.za

Postgraduate Officer: Mrs Michelle Kirsten michelle.kirsten@wits.ac.za

IT Administrator: Mr Vela Ntoto Vela.Ntoto@wits.ac.za

011 717

Important Notes

• Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.

• Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.

• Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place.

• Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

• Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC). Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment. Visit website to see an overview of the Wits applications process.

Please apply online. Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal.