Project Management

Stages 1 & 2

You will develop the technical, commercial and business knowledge, skills and competencies in key areas of project management including management of strategy, processes, project life cycle management, maturity models and project management software. Transferable skills in communication, team working and leadership will be established.

Stage 3

The Capstone module is designed to provide you with an opportunity to integrate master's level knowledge and skills by independently working on a research focused project from a degree related discipline. Personal and professional skills such as research, communication and presentation skills will be developed.

Extended Master's

We offer an extended Master’s route, starting in September, on our traditional 1-year route which incorporates a 12 month placement. This route has a duration of 24 months, and will follow the same teaching programme as the 1 year course. You will receive training, guidance and support to support you through the recruitment and selection stages for the jobs on offer from our dedicated Employability and Enrichment Hub team.

Student stories

Hear from our students and graduates about their experiences studying this course:

On Campus Study

You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshop sessions. These comprise of a mix of group study, discussion, simulation and presentations of findings by teams and individuals. You will work as an individual and also as part of a team on case studies, team activities, presentations and discussions. 

Access to our virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle, is also provided giving you access from home to learning materials (including videos, e-books and journals).

On Campus Day Release Part-time courses are delivered in parallel with the On Campus Full-time cohort but you will only study 2 modules (30 credits) per term.

Part-time on-campus courses are delivered during the working week. Our part-time students attend classes at the same time as our full-time on campus students. This course delivery format then requires the part-time student to be released by their employers during the working day

Online Learning

Our virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle offers you flexibility of where and when you can study, offering full and open access to tutors and other class members. You have the benefit of being part of a group of learners with the invaluable opportunity to participate in active, group-related learning within a supportive online community setting. The online campus provides you with lectures and course materials, discussion forums and live chat.  

Activity Summary

This summary represents full-time on-campus delivery. Online learning and part-time delivery may differ.

• Lectures - 10-30 students per group, 96 hours per term
• Tutorial - 10-30 students per group, 48 hours per term
• Project Supervision - 1-4 students per group, 12 hours per term
• Independent Study - 456 hours per term

How long is a Project Management course?

This Project Management course can be successfully completed within 1 - 3 years.

Independent Study

The course encourages you to work autonomously and to take responsibility for your own learning and professional development. The main vehicle for independent learning is the Capstone Project where you will develop your learning in many aspects: the nature of research, writing a proposal, sourcing relevant information, data collection and analysis, research ethics and presenting work.

Staff delivering on this course

Academic staff who teach on this course have worked in a range of professional backgrounds, are ‘business-connected’ and use professional networks and their academic research to ensure teaching is professionally relevant.

Our staff have either achieved Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, or are working towards this. This is a professional recognition of lecturer practice, impact and leadership in teaching and learning. In addition, many have featured in the annual Support and Teaching staff with Appreciation and Recognition (STAR) awards voted by the students and organised by RGU:Union.

We have a proactive Industry Liaison Group who provide input to course redesign and may contribute to classes through guest lectures and masterclasses.

Assessment

Please note the below represent full-time on-campus delivery, online learning and part-time delivery will differ.

Typically students are assessed each year:

• 2 written assignments, including essays
• 2 reports
• 1 Capstone project
• 3 practical skills assessments
• 1 presentation

Feedback

We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.

Job Prospects

You will have the opportunity to take up membership with the APM and PMI during your studies which will provide excellent networking and career opportunities.

Project Management is very flexible, with the project management process being able to be applied globally and cross sector. The subject are encompasses competencies, skills and knowledge required for most management roles and you can build on these to meet your own career aspirations.

Is Project Management a good career choice?

Previous graduates have gone on to successful careers in a variety of industry sector including:

• energy
• engineering
• built environment
• construction
• education
• film
• research and development
• local government
• financial services

Typical roles include project engineer, quality manager, finance manager, web design manager, contracting manager, procurement /purchasing manager and project/programme coordinator. 

12 Month Placement

For those on our Extended Master’s route (24 months Full Time On Campus) you will have the opportunity to embark on a 12 month placement on completion of the teaching programme.

Placement opportunities are real jobs in an extensive range of organisations from small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to global multinationals, and is an excellent way to test your academic knowledge, develop transferable skills and develop your business networks. The employing organisation is likely to be a source of rich data for the Capstone module and you will be encouraged to research an organisational issue of your choosing – likely identified through discussion with the placement employer.  You will also complete a reflective e-portfolio which captures the skills development through the placement period.  

Throughout the placement you will be assigned both a workplace mentor and an academic mentor and will receive ongoing support to enhance your career development.

N.B. You are responsible for finding the placement, with support from the placement team, and as such the University cannot guarantee that all students will be successful in securing a placement. If unsuccessful, your course fee attached to the work experience element will be refunded.

What is needed for an MSc in Project Management?

• Applicants normally hold a 2:2 undergraduate honours degree or its equivalent in any subject discipline.
• Applicants with a lower degree classification and/or relevant work experience will be considered on a case by case basis.

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS of 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5, or an equivalent.

We accept a variety of in-country and secure English language tests, find out more:

Please note, some courses may require a higher standard of English than stated in this page. Contact admissions@rgu.ac.uk for further information.

International Students 

International students who do not meet our direct entry requirements for this course can gain additional entry points through our International College at Robert Gordon University.

Additional Costs

• You can join the PMI as a student member at a cost of approx £30

Student Story