MSc
Project Management and Leadership
Lead and implement change through proficient project management
Course Overview
Why take this course?
Project management is now a mainstream management discipline in many organisations.
This course emphasises a practical managerial approach covering both the principles and techniques of project management. Specifically designed for the busy working professional, it will train you to manage projects in a wide range of sectors and environments.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Gain a thorough grounding in how to be a confident leader, enabling effective management of whatever project you are working on
- Attend lectures by practising project managers who speak about their experiences and give guidance on project management issues
- Tap in to our Library’s vast selection of electronic resources, which can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection
What opportunities might it lead to?
This course is fully accredited by the Association for Project Management. It will provide you with the advanced ability to lead or act as part of a team progressing project issues from initiation through to completion. It covers the necessary systematic and strategic skills needed to achieve a competitive advantage – essential for your career development.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- project management
- consultancy
- project planning
- logistics
- product development
I was impressed from the outset by the course at Portsmouth because it was one of very few that allowed you to balance studying for a qualification with working full-time.
Tom Senior, MSc Project Management and Leadership student
Key Facts
- Duration
- 3 years part time
- Entry
A good honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject, plus relevant managerial experience. Practising managers without an honours degree, who have substantial relevant experience and the academic potential to achieve the award will also be considered.
English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 in all individual components, or equivalent.- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man part-time students: £2,000 p/a* (3 years)
International part-time students: £3,500 p/a* (3 years)
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- pbs.postgradadmissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 8200 - Department
- Portsmouth Business School
Structure & Teaching
You will complete a total of five units (including your dissertation) involving attendance totalling 14 days in the first year and 12 days in the second. You will study several key topics covering areas of project management theory and methods, while gaining an insight into their practical application in a business context.
Here are the units you will study:
- Project Environment and Planning: This unit introduces projects and project management and develops an understanding of the relationship between project and business management. The nature of projects and the strategic setting, the relationship between goals, tasks and resources whilst balancing time, cost and quality, and the need for communication, commitment and control are presented.
- Financial and Commercial Management: This introduces you to the raising of project finance, building, monitoring and controlling project budgets and measuring earned value of project deliverables. Also covered are the commercial aspects of procurement including tendering, contracting and the skills and practice of contract and bid negotiation. You will examine key roles that project managers, budget managers and key project personnel play in managing project budgets.
- Project Leadership and Risk Management: On this unit you will develop a critical understanding of individual, team and organisational working in order to deliver project goals successfully. You will look at how individual characteristics such as personality, intelligence, ability and skills, motivation and attitudes affect individual performance. Empowering individuals and teams to achieve quality standards which enhance personal team and organisational performance together with the development of creative and credible project leadership is covered.
- Methodologies for Projects and Research Investigations: This unit explores the investigation of project issues through the use of a structured research methodology and project management analysis tools to enhance the research process. Wider strategic issues are explored to place the research process into context to illustrate how appropriate research methods can be identified for specific types of research problems. Tools for the modelling and analysis of complex problem situations and how these can be used to diagnose problem situations to identify relevant areas for further investigation are presented. You will examine PRINCE2, Partnering and Programme Management as a wider context for project management research issues.
- Dissertation: The overall aim is to enable you to demonstrate your ability to identify, design, plan and undertake research on a specific project management issue and to effectively communicate your findings. The ability to critically review and assess previous literature and research and to demonstrate sustained intellectual effort in analysis and decision making are key elements of the dissertation.
Teaching and Assessment
Teaching and learning is through two intensive three-day blocks of lectures, seminars and interactive syndicate work for each unit. Within these you will participate in group work, role play scenarios, presentations, and attend lectures by invited speakers.
How are you assessed?
For each unit you will be assessed in a way that will deepen your knowledge of the subjects covered. This can involve analysing case studies, critiquing current knowledge on an aspect of project management, creating a detailed project plan, or assessing the advantages and disadvantages of project management practices. You will also complete a self-directed research dissertation.
Facilities & Features
Flexible Learning
Benefit from web, email or phone access to many of our facilities and services
Support
Tutors are available to support your studies via online tutorials, email and telephone conferencing
Academic Skills Unit (ASK)
Our workshops are designed to improve a number of essential academic skills
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information including thousands of online ejournals
Flexible Learning
You will benefit from web, email or phone access to many of our facilities and services. Our student website, LookUP, will be your one-stop shop for all news, information and links to other services, and 24/7 online access to the University Library’s vast electronic book, journal and database collections will help you find the right resources for your research.
Support
We aim to provide you with as much support as possible. There are tutors available to support your studies via online tutorials, email and telephone conferencing. You will also be assigned a personal tutor who will offer support and guidance throughout your studies.
Academic Skills Unit (ASK)
The ASK unit will help you become a successful university student. Our workshops are designed to improve a number of essential academic skills from essay writing and understanding plagiarism to revision and exam techniques. This is a great way to refresh yourself on university study ensuring you perform to your full potential.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
This course can provide a platform for a career in project management in many high profile organisations in both the public and private sectors. This course provides you with the essential skills in planning, scheduling and budgeting to become an effective project manager. You will also develop an understanding of implementing and leading the management of change through projects.
Alternatively, you may wish to pursue opportunities for research in the related areas of risk, programme and business management.
Career planning
One of the benefits of studying at Portsmouth is the support that we provide to our Master's and Research Degrees students in career planning. Our careers and recruitment service – Purple Door – can assist you in career research and finding employment opportunities. Help is also available if you wish to find a part-time job while studying your degree. We offer our postgraduate students and alumni one-to-one appointments with a careers adviser, or an online service for those not able to travel back to the University. Our alumni can call on our career services for five years after graduation.
In addition, regular employability events offer you the chance to meet employers, find out about different career sectors and improve your applications or CV. The Graduate Summer Programme provides a range of guidance and employability seminars and workshops.