Features : Project management: What's on offer

Written by Jordan Butler, Editor, Graduate Prospects, November 2012

If you see yourself as the person in a company who makes sure work is done on time, below budget and within the defined scope, a course in project management could be for you

Project management is an invaluable part of business, but there are many people who don’t know exactly what it means.

A typical definition of project management is taking care of all the elements necessary in making a project a success, from planning and execution to monitoring and closing.

So, basically helping an organisation - in any sector - run smoothly and efficiently.

But what's a project? Projects come in all shapes and sizes and are generally any set of activities that have a defined start and end, have specific objectives and are to be completed within a certain time and cost.

Many people naturally have the skills necessary to succeed in this area of business.

However, in a lot of cases, those characteristics need to be developed, and complemented with academic study and industry experience. That's where a postgraduate course comes in.

Postgraduate courses in project management

With so many career pathways available in this field, it's interesting to note that there are currently over 200 postgraduate courses in project management.

Many of these courses are general and comprehensive, helping people learn the skills they will need to succeed in project management in any sector; ideal for individuals who want to keep their options open after graduation.

Ian Ridley, programme leader for the University of Sunderland's MSc Project Management, explains graduates of the programme 'have gone into a range of jobs due to the fact that the course takes a general project management route rather than focusing on a specific industry'.

'A full module is given over to managing people in projects, where students learn the skills and knowledge that they need to understand and be confident when it comes to managing people in work situations.

'Closely linked to this is the module on commercial and contractual issues and the importance of negotiation in business and organisations, which looks at the entrepreneurial nature project management can take at times.'

Like many other taught Masters courses, the programme is brought to a conclusion with a dissertation.

The work is based on students' research into an appropriate project management-related topic, focusing on the particular needs of an organisation or company.

Courses to help you specialise

Some postgraduate courses channel candidates towards a specific career. For example, The University of Manchester offers a selection of product management Masters targeting the commercial, construction, engineering and IT sectors.

Nottingham Trent University's MSc Project Management (Construction) is another niche course, designed for graduates or managers in the construction industry who want to heighten their employability and gain specific skills.

'Student interest in the course ranges from students who have just completed undergraduate degree courses to mid-career professionals wishing to change career,' says Chris Coffey, principal lecturer in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, Nottingham Trent University.

'Students choose this course because of the flexibility of modes of delivery,' states Chris. Students have access to the 'blended learning' route, where they receive distance learning material and are also able to attend weekend schools.

What's more, they can take individual modules on a part-time basis as a continuing professional development (CPD) option.

Some modules are delivered online, while students continue with full-time careers. In such instances they are allowed up to five years to complete the MSc.

The course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES), which ensures industry relevance.

Career prospects

According to the University of Sunderland, a global survey of senior business executives carried out by the Economist Intelligence Unit found the vast majority of respondents identified the following qualities as being important for making a business successful:

• Execution adaptability,
• Project risk identification and mitigation,
• Communication,
• Planning and team building.

'These skills will be taught in a good Masters project management course,' Ian says.

Such core skills can go a long way to securing a position within the industry of your choice.

The National Careers Service shows average salaries for project managers can range from between £25,000 to £50,000 a year.

Some jobs will even offer upwards of the £70,000 mark for experienced candidates, while freelance project managers can receive up to £300-£400 a day.

A postgraduate degree in project management won't guarantee you a five-figure wage, but it will certainly give you a firm shove in the right direction.

Whether you want to be industry-specific or keep your options open by studying something more general, project management is definitely a course worth considering for graduates interested in business.