As organisations’ day-to-day operations and business requirements become more complex, project managers are in ever-increasing demand across a vast range of industries.
Here’s a guide to help you better understand project management and what’s involved in an Online MSc in Project Management.
What Is Project Management?
Almost any medium to large-scale business – no matter their industry or location – has a need for some degree of project management. That’s why many businesses around the world employ project managers to help manage their day-to-day operations and drive their success.
Project management involves managing a project from end-to-end – from planning, resourcing and budgeting through to delivery. It also involves overseeing teams’ work to ensure project goals and deadlines are met.
Essentially, project management is crucial to the success of an organisation in achieving their operational and financial goals.
Roles and Responsibilities of Project Managers
A Project Manager is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of an organisation’s projects – including project planning, management and delivery.
Project managers may be employed to work on a specific project, or they might work on several projects at a time. They can work on small-scale projects that run for a few days or weeks, right through to large-scale projects that may span over several months or years.
A project manager’s responsibilities typically include:
- Project planning and organising
- Defining project tasks and timelines
- Setting and managing project budgets
- Identifying and mitigating risks
- Managing the quality control process
- Resourcing, including hiring appropriate staff
Why Study a Project Management Master’s Degree?
While you can enter the project management field without a degree, studying project management can enhance your expertise and skills and subsequently boost your career opportunities and potential for growth.
Given you’re likely to encounter complex challenges during your career as a project manager, some skills you’ll learn with a project management degree that will help ensure your success include:
- How to strategically align all stakeholders involved in a project
- How to set clearly-defined project goals, and get buy-in from all relevant stakeholders
- How to develop resource plans that will enable you to achieve project goals on time and within budget
- Leadership skills to successfully manage teams and projects from ideation through to delivery
Online MSc Project Management Course Structure
Online MSc Project Management courses can be made up entirely of compulsory modules, which give you essential knowledge and skills, and some can also have a project module, which can enable you to apply your knowledge and skills to a real-life business challenge.
Some examples of core modules include:
- Corporate sustainability and ethics
- Quality management
- Project management case study
- Project planning
- Project Management Careers
Because so many organisations around the world, regardless of their industry, have complex day-to-day operations and deliverables, the demand for highly-skilled project managers is high across a wide range of industries.
Just some industries you could work in as a qualified project manager include:
- Construction and mining
- Engineering
- Information technology (IT)
- Financial services
- Manufacturing
- Hospitality
- Retail
- Education
- Healthcare
How Much Can You Earn in Project Management?
Entry-level project management roles typically start at around £35,000 a year. Senior-level project management consultants, however, can charge over £1,000 a day for their services. The average salary you can expect to earn in project management is around £56,000 a year.
MSc Project Management Start Dates
Start dates for online MSc Project Management courses are usually in January and September each year, although some UK universities offer monthly start dates – check your preferred course page for more detailed information on start dates.
MSc Project Management Accreditation
In the UK, the Association for Project Management (APM) is the chartered professional body for project managers. APM-accredited courses can qualify you for chartered APM membership, which can further enhance your career opportunities and earning potential in the field. You can find out more about APM-accredited courses.
It’s also important to note when exploring MSc Project Management course options that for a university to have degree-awarding authority in the UK, they need to be recognised and accredited by the UK Government – find out how to check if a university is accredited in the UK.
Entry Requirements
Qualifications Needed
To apply for an MSc in Project Management, you’ll usually need:
- A second-class UK honours degree or equivalent
- An IELTS score of 6.5 or above, if English isn’t your native language
If you don’t already have a degree, some universities may consider your relevant work experience. It’s a good idea to check with the university you’re interested in whether you meet their entry requirements based on your professional background and/or qualifications.
Application Deadlines
Places in online MSc Project Management courses can be very competitive, so it’s a good idea to prepare and submit your course application as early as possible.
Check your preferred course pages for their specific course application deadlines – we recommend you prepare your course application at least 3 months before the application deadline to give you adequate time to prepare the documents you need and organise funding for your course.
The documents you’ll need to apply for an online MSc Project Management usually include:
- An online application form
- CV
- Personal statement
- Previous certificates and transcripts
Learning Format
Online MSc Project Management courses give you the flexibility to study online on your own terms – when and where it suits you.
Most online MSc Project Management courses offer asynchronous course content, so you don’t need to attend live lectures or tutorials, and can simply watch these online in your own time. But other courses may have live tutorials and/or lectures that you need to attend – you can usually attend these remotely, though.
Remote/Online Learning
With an online MSc Project Management, you can continue to work full-time and earn a full-time income while you study.
You’ll have online access to all the resources and support you need to help you throughout the course – including online access to tutors, academics, and your global student cohort made up of like-minded project management professionals.
With an online MSc Project Management, you can also set your own study schedule so that it works best for you around your work and personal commitments.
Age and Experience
Online MSc Project Management courses are very popular among mature age students already working in project management and looking to build on their existing knowledge and skills.
Studying an online MSc Project Management as a mature age student enables you to:
- Gain a promotion and higher salary within your current organisation, or pursue senior project management roles with other organisations
- Leverage your existing experience to achieve success in your studies
- Expand your knowledge through the diverse perspectives and insights of your global student cohort
- Harness the professional skills you’ve gained in the workplace to help you successfully manage your studies alongside your work and personal commitments
Duration and Time Commitments
MSc Project Management courses are usually made up of 180 Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) points, or ‘credits’, which is equivalent to around 1,800 total study hours.
Because of work commitments, mature age students often choose to study online MSc Project Management courses part-time – this lets them break down their study hours into more manageable chunks. You can use our part-time study calculator to find out how long it may take to finish your MSc based on your study hours.
Effective time management is particularly important when you’re studying an online MSc Project Management alongside your work and personal commitments – setting up a clear study schedule before your course starts can help ensure you stay on-track.
Course Costs
General Costs
Costs involved in studying an online MSc Project Management include:
Tuition fees – These can range from £8,000 to £25,000, depending on the university. Check your chosen course page for specific details on tuition fees.
Other costs – If your chosen MSc course requires you to complete exams, you may also need to pay exam fees (plus any travel-related costs if you have to travel to an exam centre).
Funding Options
If you’re a UK resident studying an MSc, you may be eligible for a Master’s Loan – a government-funded loan that can cover the cost of your course. With a Master’s Loan, you’ll only need to make loan repayments once you earn over a set amount.
You can find out more about student finance options.
Scholarships and Grants
Many UK universities offer scholarships and grants, so it’s a good idea to check with your chosen university if they offer any before you decide how you’ll fund your MSc studies.
You can also check The Scholarship Hub for more information on UK scholarships, grants and bursaries that may be available.
If you’re a registered subscriber to UK Study Online and meet the eligibility criteria, you’ll go into the draw to win a scholarship that can go towards your MSc Project Management tuition fees.
