Master of Facilities Management
Admission Requirements | Core Units of Study | Option Units & Electives | Professional Development Courses | Career Profiles | Master of Commerce / Facilities Management | What Goes On?
Facilities Management
Every organisation uses buildings of some sort and their occupation incurs recurrent costs for rent, rates, cleaning, energy consumption, water, security, etc, amounting in time to more than the capital cost of creating the buildings in the first place. Facility Managers have the responsibility of ensuring that their employers’ premises assist them in fulfilling their core business objectives, retaining their capital value through appropriate maintenance, as well as obtaining value from their day-to-day operating costs. This program recognises that the facilities manager requires an understanding of business finance and management information as well as the technical areas of buildings. Emphasis is placed on understanding the strategic objectives of the organisation, and the way that facilities contribute towards their realisation. You will be encouraged to direct your learning to your working situation where appropriate, through your assignments.
Program Coordinator: Dr David Leifer
Professional membership
Australian Institute of Building (AIB) has accepted graduates of the Masters program for corporate membership as Chartered Building Professionals if possessing the requisite professional experience. The Australian Institute of Building NSW Chapter Medal in Building is awarded annually to the outstanding graduate from the Masters program.
Admission Requirements
Masters and Graduate Diploma applicants should hold a bachelors degree. Graduate Certificate applicants should hold a bachelors degree or possess experience which is considered to demonstrate the knowledge and aptitude required to undertake the course.
Core Units of Study
Total credit points required
Graduate Certificate 24
Core 24, Options 0, Electives 0
Graduate Diploma 48
Core 24 Options 12, Electives 12
Master 72
Core 36, Options 18, Electives 18
Strategic Facility Management
DESC 9047, 6 credit points, semester 1, classes: intensive
This unit is an introduction to Facility Management. It is a management discipline,
and as such relies on the central topics of business finance, information systems,
and management.
Financial and Managerial Accounting
DESC 9049, 6 credit points, semester 1, classes: intensive
Facilities Management is a subset of business management and as such, no management can be exercised without first matching the need for resources against the resources available. This necessarily involves the financial and accounting information systems of the organisation, and the tools necessary to extract information in order to make informed decisions. The unit covers Managerial Accounting in its first half and Cost Accounting in the second.
Organisational Analysis & Behaviour
DESC 9071, 6 credit points, semester 1, classes: intensive
The aim of this unit is to provide an integrated approach to both micro and macro aspects of organisational behaviour. The unit examines actions at three different levels of analysis: the individual, the group and the organisation.
Operational Facility Management
DESC 9048, 6 credit points, semester 2, classes: intensive
The first part of the course looks at external constraints on Corporate priorities; including the theoretical issues influencing why an organisation locates where it does. The second part will take an overview of four of the major facility operational areas that are amenable to management; Security, Cleaning, Energy, and Repairs & Maintenance, which between them consume the major portion of facilities costs.
Project and Contract Management
DESC 9074, 6 credit points, semester 2, classes: intensive
An understanding of project management skills is an essential requirement for successful practice by professionals and managers engaged in creating and using buildings. The unit is designed to provide an introduction to the necessary skills and the fundamental principles and practice of them.
Risk Management
DESC 9183, 6 credit points, semester 2, classes: intensive
Organisations exist to fulfill missions. Everything they have to do to reach their goal carries an element of risk, therefore these risks have to be assessed. Risk must be examined and accepted by the most senior management and measures put in place to minimize it. This may involve taking out insurance, increasing security, having 100% redundancy, or any other innovative but practical solution. As organisations rely on their premises, Facility Managers must have an understanding of the risks associated with their organisations, and have programmes and procedures in place should the worst happen to ensure business continuity. The unit will work through the process of Risk Management addressing AS/NZS 4360:1999.
Option Units & Electives
Building Asset Management
DESC 9172, 6 credit points, semester 1 intensive
Service Provision
DESC 9112, 6 credit points, semester 1 intensive
Introduction to Building Services
DESC 9151, 6 credit points, semester 1 intensive
Energy Management in Buildings
DESC 9111, 6 credit points, semester 2 intensive
Computer Aided Facility Management
DESC 9113, 6 credit points, semester 2 intensive
Services Control Systems
DESC 9170, 6 credit points, semester 2 intensive
Building Construction Technology
See Building Design
Conservation Methods & Practices
See Heritage Conservation
Planning Procedures
See Urban & Regional Planning
Electives
Students are encouraged to choose electives from any graduate program. Students must refer to the web for timetables.
Just want to study one unit of study as professional development?
Career Profiles
Graham Marr
How did you find out about FM at the University of Sydney? Initially I found an article advertising FM studies in a magazine. I was interested in studying with a view to furthering my career, so I decided to contact all the Universities that offered FM courses on the internet or by course work to enquire about the requirements, structure and costs of the course. Living interstate was a concern with some courses, but not an insurmountable concern. After speaking with several Admissions Advisers at various universities, the advice and guidance I received from the Faculty of Architecture at The University of Sydney was the deciding factor in my choice.
Coming from an Engineering background I found the University of Sydney FM Studies program was more in line with what I perceived FM to be. Working within the Faculty of Architecture provided a more active environment and was closer to a real world FM outlook.
The student to course ratio (small and often entertaining), the varied working background and the cultural diversity of fellow students provided an enriching environment in which to study and increase my knowledge in FM. The subjects, core courses and electives provided a stimulating and challenging learning experience. The support and advice provided by the Coordinator of the Facilities Management Program and the Lecturers of the various subjects were exemplary. The prestige of being involved in tertiary studies at The University of Sydney was also a contributing influence. Gaining a Masters Degree from the University of Sydney would provide prospective future gains in my career path.
Anthony Stack, CFM, Director of Planning, FMStrategies
What did you study at university?
I studied Facilities Management at Sydney University. Originally enrolled in the Graduate Diploma program in 1994, I converted to and completed the Master's program in 1996.
What attracted you to Facilities Management? Facilities Management is the discipline that most closely aligns with the direction I saw my career advancing. I had experience in HR, Process Development, Business Process Redesign, Site Selection Strategies, Product and Brand Management and relocation strategies. I saw the FM course as a way of formally recognizing my experience amongst my peers and clients. The FM course provided and extension to my existing professional experience that has allowed me to move from the tactical to strategic level of FM, where it has the highest impact.
What does your job involve? Management of Corporate Real Estate for multi site, multi function clients. Development of Corporate RE Strategies based on self developed Integrated Asset Management. Development, alignment and integration of Real Estate procurement and disposal strategies to maximize the potential of the work environment, reduce overhead, realize asset valuations and reduce dependence on asset creation.
What is the best project you have worked on? The merger of two of America's largest banks - Bank of America and Nations Bank. I was responsible for strategic Real Estate planning for the Midwest, a project involving approximately 3 30 million square feet and 100,000 people. I ran a Corporate Real Estate Division of 25 people including asset managers, facility managers, relocation specialists, and planners.
What are your future goals? Upon receipt of my Green Card (which allows me to work for any company), I am planning on starting my own consultancy in the Midwest based in Integrated Asset Management with an emphasis on larger, multi location corporate real estate users.
[b||What is the one thing that sticks in your mind about your masters degree in Facilities Management?]] The diverse range of students in the course and their differing responses to the same problem. This showed that not every problem had one solution and has allowed me (in my current position) to develop strategies for multiple scenarios.
Careers in Facilities Management
- Facilities Manager
- Facilities Planner
- Facilities Designer
- Asset Manager
- Facilities Operations Managers
- Facilities Planning Consultant
- Facility Management Consultant
- Facilities Engineer Venue
- Manager Event Manager
Master of Commerce / Facilities Management
The Master of Commerce/Facilities Management program is a path-breaking initiative in cross-disciplinary postgraduate education between the Faculty of Economics and Business and the Faculty of Architecture, Design & Planning. Integrating specialised study in facilities management with carefully tailored study in key areas of contemporary business thought and practice, the program offers facilities managers, general business managers and entrepreneurs alike a specially crafted and cohesive program of study that draws together knowledge from the fields of strategic management, business decision-making, project management, organisational studies, risk management, human resource management, accounting principles and processes, business law and marketing, and facilities management. Although built around a core of essential knowledge, the program also allows students scope to undertake advanced study in one of more areas of business practice.
For details of the Master of Commerce in the Faculty of Economics and Business please see: Faculty of Economics and Business website
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The NSW chapter of the RAIA runs an ongoing programme of weekly talks, taking place on Tuesday evenings. These Tuesday Night Talks, or TNT, are intended as a valuable forum for members to raise, discuss and explore important developments, issues and ideas relating to architecture and urban design, as well as being a way for members and the profession generally, to engage with the public, to promote architecture more generally.