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MSc - Project Leadership

This unique postgraduate programme provides practising project professionals with the opportunity to enhance their skills as leaders in a complex project environment, and is the first university programme to be recognised by the Association for Project Management (APM) as meeting both the technical knowledge and professional practice requirements for chartership.

Apply Now September Register Interest

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Accredited by:

Association for Project Management (APM)

Course Overview

Led by the University of Cumbria’s nationally acclaimed Project Management team, and developed in collaboration with the Project Academy Ltd., this programme has been aligned to the APM Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) Standard. Students who complete this programme will also be eligible to apply for Chartered Project Professional status.

On this course you will...

Study a unique postgraduate programme, designed to elevate the skills and knowledge of professionals currently working in a Project, Programme or Portfolio setting.
Apply your learning directly back to your organisation with a flexible delivery pattern that complements the workplace environment.
Study a range of interactive project topics, developing knowledge of fundamental project management concepts and principles, and maximising opportunities for professional development and collaboration.
Work with the leading providers of Project Management education in the UK, partnering with employers such as Sellafield Ltd., BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, the NHS, and the BBC in recent years.
Learn from our academic staff, who have a wealth of hands-on experience from a multitude of different sectors, including IT, Engineering, Finance, and the Armed Forces.

Apply Now September

Download our Prospectus

Key Details

Recruiting toUK / RoI / Settled in UK
Course LocationOnline
Blended Learning
Institute Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership
Delivery StyleOnline
Course Duration Part-time: 2 Years
Course Start PointSeptember
AwardMSc
More informationProgramme Specification
Prospectus
Open DaysAll

Minimum entry requirements

1st or 2nd class

Honours degree

Tuition fees

£14,150

UK | Per course - 2025/6

Billed 50% yr1 / 50% yr2

Tuition Fees Policy

Working with

What our course participants have to say

I would definitely recommend the University of Cumbria. I’ve had a really positive experience studying for my degree in project management. I’ve been given the opportunity to combine academic learning and practical experience in the workplace – which makes the learning so much more interesting.

Bethany McKee

Project Controls Engineer, LLWR
Studying at the University of Cumbria has allowed me to gain an invaluable understanding of project management theory which I can then apply in the workplace. University ensure that we have good understanding of various elements in project management to give us the best subject knowledge as possible. I would recommend studying at UoC to other students and organisations. There are endless qualifications available for the project delivery profession to enable constant continual improvement

Ashleigh Williamson

Project Management Degree Apprentice at Sellafield Ltd.
I have found that the knowledge, skills and behaviours that I have gained through my studies with the University of Cumbria have provided me with the confidence and ability to work in a professional environment, focusing on all aspects of project management. I would recommend studying with the University of Cumbria to other students and organisations, while it has been hard work, the delivery has been engaging and well delivered.

Ryan Wilkie

Assistant Project Manager working for Carveti Consulting Limited (CCL Solutions)

Course Structure

What you will learn

This postgraduate programme is designed to enable you to develop your technical knowledge and professional skills as leaders in a project, programme or portfolio setting.

This MSc Programme has been developed in collaboration with the Project Academy Ltd. and aligned to the Association of Project Management’s Chartered Project Professional (APM ChPP) Standard.

Please note that the order in which modules are taken will vary according to the intake point.

Modules

The MSc Project Leadership programme incorporates six 20-credit modules and one 60-credit module. Each module will contribute appropriate evidence to support an application for APM Chartered Project Professional status. Modules are delivered sequentially and you will study one module at a time over 8 weeks, including a study week.

Students on this programme will study a range of core topics underpinning Project, Programme and Portfolio management and aligned to the APM’s Chartered competencies, including:

Budgeting and cost control
Financial management
Change control
Conflict management
Consolidated planning
Governance arrangements
Leadership
Reviews
Risk and issue management
Stakeholder and communications management
Team management

Year one

Leadership and Professional Practice
Project Leadership and Communication
Leadership in Business Case Development
Leadership in Monitoring and Project Quality

Year two

Successful Leadership of Complex Projects
Research Methods and Industry Project
Self-directed Study

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

In order to allow our students to continue to engage in, and apply their learning to, the workplace environment, the MSc Project Leadership programme has been designed to be delivered fully online, with opportunities for a blended delivery model to be utilised where possible. This allows you to study from any location and plan your studies around workplace commitments.

Students will engage in two x 1.5 hour taught sessions per week and will typically complete an independent study task prior to each session.

In the first year of the programme, you will begin to enhance your professional practices, exploring the concepts and theories behind both leadership and transformative reflection. You will expand on this learning through the exploration of leading project teams - exploring the tools and methodologies for forming and managing high performing teams, negotiating and resolving conflicts, and employing effective communication techniques to engage internal and external stakeholders. In addition, you will explore the role and impact of project leaders in developing a project Business Case, and monitoring the progress of projects throughout the Project Life Cycle with particular focus on managing quality, risks, and opportunities.

In the second year, you will study the different approaches to delivery of a complex project and the impact on governance and change control processes. You will also continue to apply and embed your learning into the workplace environment, culminating in the completion of an industry project where you will explore how changes in leadership approaches can bring about beneficial transformation in the workplace.

As a student on a programme, you will have access to a range of informative and interactive online resources. In addition, students on the programme are able to make use of the resources and facilities for self-study and extra-curricular activities at our University campuses.

How you will be assessed

Each module usually involves two pieces of assessment based around the APM Chartered Standard, and each module will contribute appropriate evidence to support an application for ChPP status. Full details can be found in the programme specification.

Online delivery

A highly interactive student experience, our online learning sessions are delivered live by our expert tutors, and you are encouraged to contribute your thoughts, knowledge and experience to all the information that is being presented. Interaction continues after the scheduled live sessions with tools embedded into Blackboard, our Virtual learning Environment. Between taught sessions you can upload your work, observations and critical reflections to an online journal which your tutor can then read and provide feedback on, allowing you to progress at your own pace and pull out and focus on the aspects of learning that are most appropriate for your context and situation. Additional discussions can also take place with the teaching team utilising online tools such as Blackboard Collaborate or MS Teams.

Blended Delivery

Where possible, cohorts will be able to supplement their learning with scheduled face-to-face sessions on campus using our blended delivery model, maximising opportunities for networking and collaboration. These sessions will be limited in number in order to accommodate and make most effective use of any travel and accommodation requirements.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2025 - 2026

£14,150 - UK

The cost of the full course for 2024/25 is £13,700. 50% will be billed in Year 1 and then the remaining 50% will be billed in Year 2.

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

Funding

The fee for the MSc programme in 2023/24 is £13,300. This covers all tuition and assessment for the MSc, and all support in portfolio preparation. It does not include fees payable to APM for an application for Chartership.

More Information

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000..

Student Finance

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs. For example all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some text books. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. although such features are usually options within the course.

Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.

Books and Journals

Most core text books are available via the University's library, however students may wish to buy copies of any texts used to support your learning on your course. This could cost between £50 - £100 per year.

Stationery

Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.

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Location
Online Learning
Online learning at the University of Cumbria is an interactive experience that makes use of a range of technologies and media types to provide a rich learning environment.
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MSc - Project Leadership