Sept 2024 Entry
1 year (Full-time)
2.5 years (Part-time)
30
Programme Aims
- To integrate the necessary knowledge in construction management and law for the needs of construction professionals;
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To cut through disciplinary barriers by integrating the various skills and strengths of the different professions to make a specialised contribution to the construction industry;
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To apply theory to practice by providing training in the key dispute resolution skills offered by approved trainers; and
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To attract construction graduates and lawyers who wish to specialise in construction law and alternative dispute resolution.
Characteristics
The philosophy of this programme is to promote better understanding among different areas of professional practice and to explore the theories in the interfaces between law, construction technology and management. Part of the programme is designed in the context of international construction projects to acknowledge the need for knowledge of cross-cultural practice and for knowledge of projects in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland. The programme is targeted at practising construction professionals; hence, it is designed with flexibility to allow part-time study and to allow students to attend lectures and other in-class activities for discussion and experience sharing. To combine theory and practice, the programme also provides practical training in the main dispute resolution skills, namely arbitration and mediation.
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The MSc programme is fully accredited for Associate Membership of the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators. The MSc programme is also recognised by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) as meeting their academic requirements for membership.
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Those students who opt to complete Mediation Training will be exempted by various professional institutions overseas and in Hong Kong from the accredited mediation course qualification usually required for membership, subject to assessment.
Programme Structure
Students who opt for the Dissertation must complete 7 subjects, including 5 Compulsory Core Subjects and the Core Subject: Research Methods for Construction & Real Estate, plus an MSc Dissertation (equivalent to 3 subjects).
Students who opt not to do a Dissertation must complete 10 subjects, including 5 Compulsory Core Subjects and Construction Law Project (3 credits) and Dispute Resolution Project (3 credits) and/or Mediation Training (3 credits).
Core Areas of Study
Students can follow the suggested progression pattern shown below. The Core Subjects that are marked with an asterisk (*) are compulsory. There are no pre-requisite or co-requisite requirements unless specially noted in the syllabus for individual subjects.
Year One
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Principles & Practice of Law* (lawyer candidates are required to study an approved construction technology/management (non-legal) subject selected from the Core Subject list instead)
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Statutory Framework for Construction Practice*
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Construction Law*
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Select one Non-Compulsory Subject from the Core Subject List.
Year Two
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Dispute Management & Law for International Projects*
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Arbitration Law & Practice*
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Dispute Resolution Project
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Mediation Training or select 1 non-compulsory subject from the Core Subject list.
MSc candidates can commence part of their Year Three study in Semester 2 (see alternative approaches below). Mediation Training is normally held in Semester 2.
Year Three
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The additional 9 credits that MSc students require for their awards may be gained by following one of the two approaches.
Alternative 1
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Dissertation (9 credits)
Alternative 2
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Construction Law Project (3 credits) + Dispute Resolution Project (3 credits) and/or Mediation Training (3 credits) + one non-compulsory Core Subject (3 credits) from the list shown below.
Corollaries to the progression pattern: as an alternative to the Dispute Resolution Project, students can opt for Mediation Training, which involves 42 hours of mediation practice training run by approved trainers, for which students are required to pay an extra fee. Students can also undertake both Mediation Training and the Dispute Resolution Project.
Core Subjects of the Programme
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Property Law
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Mediation Training
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Legislative Aspects of Fire Safety Management
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Construction Law*
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Dispute Management & Law for International Project*
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Statutory Framework for Construction Practice*
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Arbitration Law & Practice*
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Principles & Practices of Law^
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Principles of Project Management@
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Construction Practice in China@
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International Construction Projects@
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Construction Technology@
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Construction Law Project**
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Dispute Resolution Project**
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Research Methods for Construction & Real Estate#
* Compulsory Core Subject
^ Compulsory Core Subject (limited to and compulsory for non-lawyer candidates)
@ Available for lawyer candidates as a replacement for Principles & Practices of Law
** Compulsory for MSc students who opt not to do the Dissertation
# Compulsory for MSc students who opt to do the Dissertation
30
Dr Esther H.K. Yung
BArch, MSc CPM, Dip Legal Studies, PhD (HKU) , MRICS
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A Bachelor's degree in a construction-related discipline or the equivalent (including recognised professional qualifications such as those from the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS), the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE), the Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP), the Hong Kong Institute of Construction Managers (HKICM), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), etc.);
OR -
Qualified lawyer status.
Candidates are expected to have some background knowledge of construction law.
If you are not a native speaker of English, and your Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification is awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is not English, you are expected to fulfil the University’s minimum English language requirement for admission purpose. Please refer to the "Admission Requirements" section for details.
For further information on academic matters and the curriculum, please contact:
Dr Esther H.K. Yung (tel: (852) 3400 8196; email: esther.yung@polyu.edu.hk).
For general enquiries, please contact:
Ms Connie Yap (tel: (852) 3400 3819; email: connie.yap@polyu.edu.hk).
Industry Scholarship
A scholarship is provided by ARCADIS to recognise the student who obtains the highest mark in the subject of Construction Law. In addition, there are Prizes donated by the Society of Construction Law Hong Kong for the outstanding graduating student. (Nomination of students for the above scholarships is subject to the final decision of the programme team.)
Continuing Education Fund (CEF)
| CEF Course Code | CEF Course Title | Notes |
|
31Z139675 |
Construction Practice in China (BRE527) (Module from Master of Science in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution) |
This course has been included in the list of reimbursable courses under Continuing Education Fund. The mother course Master of Science in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution of this module is recognised under the Qualifications Framework (QF level [6]). |
|
31Z139683 |
Mediation Training (BRE546) (Module from Master of Science in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution) | |
|
31Z139667 |
Arbitration Law and Practice (BRE549) (Module from Master of Science in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution) |
The above 3 CEF reimbursable courses are core subjects of the MSc in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution.
Details of CEF can be found at www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/cef.
12 (Full-time)
6 (Part-time)
HK$6,360 per credit for local and non-local students
(Note: An additional training fee of HK$4,000 will be charged to students who opt for Mediation Training.)
Entry Scholarships are available. For details, please visit
https://www.polyu.edu.hk/bre/experience-and-opportunities/scholarship/
PolyU reserves the right to change or withdraw the scholarship at any time. In case of any dispute/disagreement, PolyU’s decision is final.
This taught MSc programme not only provided me with extensive access to the Construction Law profession, but also prepared me for solving disputes in my field through the in-depth learning of fundamental issues. It has undoubtedly been beneficial to my personal development and has fully prepared me for my future career.
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