Course overview

This course aims to give students a broad understanding of project management including its current tools and techniques and the ability to contribute to project and business effectiveness. The course provides a grounding in the principles and practice of project management, and is designed to prepare students to manage projects in a wide range of sectors and environments.

Professional accreditation

The course is fully accredited by the Association for Project Management.

Learning materials and facilities

A handbook is provided with each unit. The University Library provides access to printed and electronic information for the subject, and has created a dedicated subject page. The library also has a study suite reserved for postgraduate students.

Is this the right course for me?

Project management has grown into more than just a specialist subject in the education of managers, engineers and others. Its place as a mainstream management discipline in many organisations is supported widely through academic, government and both public and private sectors.

Benefits of this programme to students

• A broad understanding of project management including its current tools and techniques.
• Increased ability to contribute to project and business effectiveness.
• An understanding of implementing change through projects.

Benefits the course brings to employers and organisations

• Project managers with a thorough understanding of project management techniques and concepts.
• Project managers capable of managing change successfully.
• Project managers with a proven ability to analyse project problems, assess needs and devise and implement solutions.

Find out more

For further information, please contact our Admissions Team (details above). We also hold regular postgraduate and part-time open evenings at which you can see our facilities, enjoy a guest lecture and meet the academics and current students over drinks and canapés. Applicants will be interested to know that each year Portsmouth Business School offers a number of scholarships for self-funding students.

Course content

Credit is given for each unit achieved and a range of exit awards are available for those who do not complete the full programme:

• Postgraduate Certificate (PgC): attendance for an induction and two units (total: two units).

• Postgraduate Diploma (PgD): in addition to PgC units, attendance for a further two units (total: four units)

• Master of Science (MSc): Successful progression from PgD stage, a period of personal study and the submission of a dissertation will be required for the award of MSc.

Course structure

The course is structured as five units:

• Project Environment and Planning
• Budgets and Commercial Management
• People Management and Risk
• Project Investigation and Systems Methods
• Dissertation

The first four units are taught from September to March with the dissertation running from April to September. The four units are taught in sequence with no overlap. Each unit has six days of classroom teaching, which is divided into three blocks of two days (9am to 5pm). The timetable for the course aims to provide a full week of self study between each teaching block. The classroom teaching involves a mix of lectures, activities, exercises, group work, role play scenarios, student presentations and invited speakers.

For each unit there are one or two assignments to be completed before the start of the next unit. The assignments are designed to deepen your understanding of subjects covered in the unit. The assignments 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.

The dissertation is different to the other units. In the dissertation you study and research an aspect of project management over six months. The dissertation is an opportunity to make contacts and to collaborate with organisations and many students propose a dissertation topic which will be beneficial to their career. After the Christmas break you will be encouraged to discuss ideas for your dissertation with the course team. During the Project Investigation and Systems Method unit you will develop the objectives, scope and approach of your dissertation.

Units of study

The course follows an innovative modular format involving attendance in each unit for six or eight days full time.

Project Environment and Planning

This unit introduces projects and project management, with an emphasis on the importance of planning to successful projects . You will develop an understanding of the relationship between project and business management, as well as  the project management environment and the factors that influence project outcomes.  Strategic aspects of projects are addressed, including project selection and portfolio design. You will also learn how project managers must understand the benefits to be delivered by projects, the requirements of stakeholders and how to work within the constraints of cost, time and quality. Estimation methods and planning techniques are taught together with quality management.  Approaches to the planning and control of projects that have been developed in different sectors are also covered, including agile methods and fast tracking.

Budgets and Commercial Management

This unit introduces you to:

• raising project finance
• building, monitoring and controlling project budgets
• measuring Earned Value of project deliverables

It also covers the commercial aspects of procurement including tendering, contracting and the skills and practices of contract and bid negotiation, providing you with the tools and techniques for managing project budgets. The units also  examines  the key roles that project managers, budget managers and key project personnel play in managing project budgets.

People Management and Risk

This unit develops a critical understanding of individual, team and organisational working in order to deliver project goals successfully. It covers:

• 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
• the development of creative and credible leadership

It also examines the key challenges in the application of risk management frameworks and models in project management, crisis management and corporate governance.  Risk management strategies and the development of effective project mitigation and contingency action plans are critically evaluated.

Project Investigation and Systems Methods

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 and to illustrate how appropriate research methods can be identified for specific types of research problems.  You will also look at tools for the modelling and analysis of complex problem situations (including systems thinking, soft systems methods and influence diagrams) and how these can be used to diagnose problem situations to identify relevant areas for further investigation.  Project management methodologies including PRINCE2, Partnering and Programme Management as a wider context for project management research issues are examined.

You will produce a research proposal that brings together the use of research methodology and project systems in identifying, justifying and investigating a research question that will feed into the research conducted in your final dissertation.

Dissertation

This unit enables you to deepen your understanding of an aspect of project management of your own choice.  Many students choose to investigate topics which they intend to focus on in the next stage of their career. The unit is structured as a research project so you can demonstrate your ability to identify, design, plan and undertake research on a specific project management issue and effectively communicate your findings in an appropriate manner for a Master’s degree.  The ability to critically review and assess previous literature and research, and to demonstrate sustained intellectual effort in analysing a topic, are key elements of the dissertation. 

Teaching and assessment

Teaching and learning is through intensive blocks of two days of lectures, seminars and interactive syndicate work. There are three of these for each unit, except the dissertation. Credit is given for each subject passed. Credit may also be used on other courses or at other institutions, subject to their regulations.

Assessment for all units is by coursework assignments.

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. Opportunities for research in the related areas of risk, programme and business management also exist.

Facilities and features

Our teaching rooms provide for stimulating and rewarding group-based learning. Close at hand are computer labs which are used for interactive sessions on project analysis tools. 

Throughout the course practicing project managers are invited along to speak about their experiences and give guidance on project management.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MSc Project Management are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: Portsmouth Business School
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 8200
Email: pbs.postgradadmissions@port.ac.uk