Programme content
The MSc in Project Management is made up of 11 taught modules, an integrating case study exam and an applied project management research project.
In the first term you build up your knowledge of the fundamental principles of the discipline; in the second and third terms you are increasingly exposed to the contexts and realities of practical project management, through interaction with professional project managers and through action-based projects.
Assessment for the individual modules varies according to the nature of the material covered. For further details, follow the links below to the individual module descriptions.
Term 1: October to December
Fundamentals and Foundations
The programme begins with an Induction Week, which sets the scene for the programme as a whole. Through groupwork exercises and other activities you get to know your fellow students, meet the teaching staff and learn more about the School and its facilities. You are also allocated to a learning set – a small group of students who will support one another during the learning process.
Principles of Project Management provides an introduction to the nature and purpose of project management, to relevant academic theory and to key project management processes, tools and techniques used by practitioners, including MS Project software. more info…
Behavioural Aspects of Project Management explores the human and behavioural aspects of undertaking change initiatives, examining these within the environment of project management. more info…
Delivering Stakeholder Value explores the project management skills associated with entering a client organisation, appreciating the context and ‘problem situation’ requiring resolution and determining the scope of the intervention. more info...
Term 2: January to March
Contexts and Realities
Developments in Project Management explores latest research and methodologies for project management and their application to key stages of the project management process. more info…
Advanced Project Management explores a repertoire of sophisticated approaches to key project management challenges. In this module you will develop critical frameworks to facilitate scoping of the project, embedding quality in the project, scheduling and control of the project and undertaking the trade-off between time, cost and quality of the project. more info...
Commercial Aspects of Project Management explores key aspects of the organisational context. This modules provides frameworks for aligning the project to the needs and expectations of the organisation, assessing the benefit of the project to the organisation and a wider community, negotiating appropriate external contractual relationships and reviewing the project through a holistic governance framework. more info...
Project Management in Action provides a dedicated space for the exploration of projects in action. This experiential module will set a challenge to the participants; one that will require them to appreciate a dynamic context, assessment possible projects against a variety of criteria, select and define a project. Once this foundation is established the project will be planned, executed and delivered to the client organisation and closed down in a thorough and professional fashion. more info...
Business Analysis & Process Consultancy provides a range of tools and approaches for structuring a business consultancy engagement. Considering aspects of task and process this module will provide a framework for the identification and structuring of the problem situation as well as process elements that focus on the way the consultant engages with the client and stakeholder communities. more info...
Project Manager as Change Agent explores the dynamic nature of change and change management within projects. Adopting a stance that is inquiring, critical and reflexive the module seeks to provide a robust framework for appreciating and structuring this crucial (although often over looked) aspect of the project management life-cycle. more info...
Strategic Management is about making distinctive choices concerned with the direction and scope of the organisation over the long term. This module focuses primarily on issues related to ‘business-level’ strategy and how competitive advantage is created and developed in response to complex and turbulent environmental change. more info...
Term 3: April-September
Theory into Practice
In the first part of the Summer Term, you take an integrating case study examination and two further taught modules. You also complete your final element of research skills training, in readiness for the summer project which rounds off the year.
Case Study Examination aims to integrate the various aspects of management covered in the first two terms. It involves a specific complex problem situation which requires students to bring together holistically techniques and concepts learnt in previous modules. more info…
Research Methods designed as a bridge between the more formal taught parts of the programme, this module will provide students with insights into the philosophical and practical issues involved in conducting research. more info...
Applied Project Planning this module acts as a precursor to the Applied Project Management Research Project in that it constructs the definition and plan of the project that is then executed and reflected on during the subsequent module. As such this module sees practical implementation of the core knowledge that you have learnt through the year. more info...
Applied Project Management Research Project the culmination of the year's exploration of the discipline of project management, the dissertation seeks to integrate the various streams of taught knowledge, action learning and reflective practice into a structured piece of academic research and writing. more info...
You have a choice of two routes for your dissertation:
- an Action Learning route, in which small groups of students engage in a specific project for a real client
- a research project, where you conduct in-depth research into an issue of individual or organisational importance more info…
