Overview
Designed to meet the increasing demand for effective project management across all industries, this course focuses on the key principles behind project management methodology.
Project management is crucial in all business fields, from the financial sector and information technology, to healthcare and public services. This course helps equip you with the skills and expertise required to to undertake complex business planning in the modern global business environment.
This course is an ideal choice if you’re interested in progressing into a new career or if you’re already a professional who is hoping to gain formal accreditation of existing knowledge and skills.
Real-world challenges and tasks such as product development, change management, software development and event management all benefit from a structured management approach, and this course can teach you how to master this skill. You’ll balance theoretical analysis with practical experience to develop a critical and questioning approach to the conceptual underpinnings of project management. You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake an in-depth dissertation, allowing you to focus your studies on an area that’s of interest to you or relates to your current line of work.
Key features
- Learn about the key principles behind different project management methodologies. You will analyse real case-based project situations to develop valuable transferable attributes.
- This course provides the opportunity to develop key skills crucial for career progression.
- Develop your understanding in key areas of project management including, risk management, research methods, organisational change and business and creation innovation.
Applicants will normally hold an undergraduate degree in any subject with a minimum pass of 2:2, or equivalent overseas qualification.
Work experience is desirable but not essential.
If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.
English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.
Course modules
You will engage with the current theory and practice of project management and develop an advanced level of skills relevant to the international work environment. You will develop skills relating to teamwork and gain an awareness of the complexities involved in managing projects on time and to budget.
The programme is particularly relevant to those who wish to further their career in both the business and public sectors including undertaking work in multi-national companies and international organisations.
Core modules may include:
Project Management – considers the scope and definition of a project, its significance as an instrument of change and the roles and responsibilities of people within it. Organisational issues are explored, and the application of a range of project management tools is critically evaluated for the execution, management and control of project management throughout all its phases.
Accounting for Managers – provides an overview of accounting and finance issues. You will look at company accounts from both the shareholder and the company perspectives
Research Methods – explores research in management and business as a strategic activity that occurs within the context of limited resources and within a framework of ethical, legal and social constraints. Attention is focused on data collection techniques appropriate for research in management and business, along with techniques for the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data.
Risk Management – it is now recognised that the business agenda has moved away from risk avoidance towards the recognition that risk, if correctly managed, can lead to competitive business advantage. You will learn how to identify and manage risks within an organisation in a variety of contexts.
Project Management Case Study Analysis allows students to analyse the planning phase of a real case-based project situation (15 credits).
Project Management Skills is a reflective module about being a project manager (15 credits).
Plus two elective modules (30 credits) from the indicative list:
- Global Supply Chain Management (currently under review)
- Business Creation and Innovation
- Managing Organisational Change
During the final semester you will complete a:
Project Management focussed Dissertation
Modules will be taken at different times if you start in Semester 2.
Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching will be delivered through formal lectures, informal seminars, tutorials, workshops, discussions and e-learning packages. Assessment is usually a combination of individual and group work, presentations, essays, reports and projects.
Teaching contact hours
Full time option
For the full time option you should be prepared to devote approximately 38 hours a week to your studies. You will typically have up to 14 hours contact hours of teaching most weeks for semester 1 and 2. Teaching is through a mix of lecturers, tutorials, seminars and lab sessions and the breakdown of these activities is shown in each module description.
In addition each module provides a 2 hour surgery each week available for individual consultation with the lecturer. You may also have some scheduled meetings with your programme leader, personal tutor, and/or careers throughout the year to discuss your academic progress and personal development.
Self-directed study: In order to prepare for, and assimilate, the work in lectures and seminars you will be expected to make regular use of our on-line resources, participate in classroom discussions including on our virtual learning environment (VLE) and engage in personal study, revision and reflection for approximately 24 hours per work during semester 1 and 2
In semester 3, you will undertake independent research for your dissertation (or In-company project), and again should typically allow around 38 hours per week for this. You will be allocated a dedicated academic supervisor to support you, who you will be able to contact on a regular basis.
Part time option
For the part time option you should be prepared to devote approximately 19 hours a week to your studies. You will typically have up to 7 hours contact hours of teaching most weeks. Teaching is through a mix of lecturers, tutorials, seminars and lab sessions and the breakdown of these activities is shown in each module description.
In addition each module provides a surgery hour each week available for individual consultation with the lecturer. You may also have some scheduled meetings with your programme leader, personal tutor, and/or careers throughout the year to discuss your academic progress and personal development.
Self-directed study: In order to prepare for, and assimilate, the work in lectures and seminars you will be expected to make regular use of our on-line resources, participate in classroom discussions including on our virtual learning environment (VLE) and engage in personal study, revision and reflection for approximately 12 hours per work during teaching weeks
Once you have completed all the taught modules, you will then undertake independent research for your dissertation (or In-company project), and should typically allow around 19 hours per week for this. You will be allocated a dedicated academic supervisor to support you, who you will be able to contact on a regular basis.
Meet your programme leader
