Why Choose Lincoln
Engage with fundamental theories and best practices
Graduates have worked at Sky, Accenture, and BAE Systems
Hear from expert industry speakers
Learn to design, plan, and execute projects
Part-time study available
MSc
Project Management
Key Information
Campus
Brayford Pool
Start Date
September 2025
Typical Offer
Duration
1 year
Part-time
2 years
Validation Status
Academic Year
Course Overview
Today's global businesses list project management skills as one of the most desirable when hiring new talent. Projects are now ubiquitous for businesses. They formalise the way in which organisations implement the constant improvements required to successfully operate in competitive markets and usually involve high risk and uncertainty.
Our MSc Project Management responds to this by providing an opportunity to engage with fundamental theories and best practices in a systematic, critical, and creative way.
This course has been developed for both recent graduates and those seeking a change in their career path. It is therefore not restricted to students with a business-related background. Irrespective of current levels of project management knowledge or experience, students on this programme have the opportunity to gain the confidence needed to plan complex projects, lead and inspire teams, manage difficult stakeholders, and cope with the most unpleasant or unexpected risks. They are able to develop practical skills relating to design, planning, and execution of projects, in addition to conflict resolution and effective multi-functional project integration.
How You Study
The comprehensive and intellectually challenging curriculum is informed by professional best practice and is designed to meet the expectations of contemporary global organisations. The curriculum covers a range of project and programme management theory, including effective methods of project initiation, planning, execution, and close-out. The overall aim is to optimally balance the acquisition of both hard and soft skills.
The programme consists of eight core modules and concludes with a dissertation, which encourages innovation and diverse pathways to the final assessed product. In this respect, the dissertation is an extended project that can accommodate a range of independent work.
Students may also have the opportunity to work the whole semester on a real-life project as part of the Teams and Leadership module. Previous projects included working with Network Rail, Lincoln City Council, Doddington Hall, local libraries, churches, and cultural. There may also be opportunities to participate in research projects conducted by academic staff. Recent topics have included Project Leadership, Self-organising Teams, Project Success, PM Methodologies, PMOs, Governance, Risk Management, Irrationality, and Quality
Methods of delivery include lectures, seminars, workshops, IT lab sessions, and external visits. A number of innovative teaching approaches are also used such as flipped classroom, challenges, simulations, and role plays.
Each module typically consists of two weekly teaching hours over a teaching term. Four modules are usually studied per term, equating to eight to 12 hours per week. Part-time students usually study two modules per term, equating to four to six hours of contact time per week. Hours of study can vary from term to term for both full and part-time students and the University aims to timetable all PGT contact hours into two days for full time students.
Postgraduate level study involves a significant proportion of independent study, exploring the material covered in lectures and seminars. As a general guide, for every hour spent in class, students are expected to spend at least three to four hours in independent study.
Modules
Module Overview
In this module you can deepen your understanding of traditional project management tools and techniques by critiquing their assumptions and proposing a number of alternative philosophies, emerging and experimental methodologies, and more adaptive methods to better account for the apparent dynamics, complexity, uncertainty, and variability of the project environment. The material in the module encompasses global best practices from major professional bodies, such as: Agile Alliance, PMI, APM, GPM, IASSC. However, the established, Westernised project management conventions are also juxtaposed in the module with a diverse methodological knowledge base from around the world and their empirical lessons.
Module Overview
In this module you can explore the intersection of business analysis and technology transformation, focusing in particular on how organisations can leverage IT to create value to their customers and achieve business success. You'll be able to learn by concocting digital transformation strategies and by experimenting with the key digital capabilities. The main topics addressing the technology aspect include: enterprise architecture, data management, IT strategy, and Industry 4.0 technologies. You can learn to analyse and improve business processes, plan IT-empowered business change, and implement innovative solutions through authentic practical exercises and case studies. Covering areas as diverse as data warehousing, business intelligence, ERP systems, and business process re-engineering, the module equips students with the skills to propose, evaluate, and implement technological solutions.
Module Overview
The aim of this module is to enhance the students’ decision capabilities when confronted with strategic or operational choices. Students will have the opportunity to learn how decision analysis tools can be used to structure and analyse decision problems and how a mix of data and judgement can help decision makers to better achieve their objectives.
Module Overview
The Independent Project (Pathways) module enables you to undertake a substantive project in the context of your chosen degree specialism, and within the Lincoln International Business School’s commitment to sustainable and responsible management practice. The aim of the module is to clearly illustrate your ability to synthesise the different business domains and management perspectives studied during your course and apply them through an independent project. You can engage with contemporary business and research themes as you explore innovative and creative ways to complete their chosen pathway.
Module Overview
The module provides students with the opportunity to explore relevant theory and practice in the areas of project risk, governance, sustainable procurement, and contract management. Students can examine the impact of complexity, uncertainty, and ambiguity on projects and the ways of how various inherent risks and opportunities can be managed– both at the project and organisational levels. Methods of risk assessment, response, and monitoring to manage the project to a successful completion will be proposed and scrutinised. To complement a more conventional risk analysis perspective, futures thinking will play a role in this module.
Module Overview
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the introduction of new technologies, products, infrastructures, or systems is essential yet increasingly complex. This complexity arises from conflicting stakeholder requirements, irreversible investments, operational constraints and associated risks. Consequently, effective project management has become crucial for businesses to respond flexibly and swiftly to customer demands. Managers now need project competence and a systems-oriented management style that transcends traditional functional roles throughout the project lifecycle. Project management is thus a vital management philosophy for navigating dynamic business environments and achieving innovative or unprecedented outcomes.
This module aims to equip students with the skills to deliver change or transformation through effective project management. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of tools and techniques required for project initiation, planning, execution, control and termination. Through diverse teaching methods, students will learn to plan and execute projects efficiently and effectively, considering the broader business context in which they operate.
Module Overview
This module prepares you to undertake a substantial independent project. It introduces you to the core principles of research design and methods you are likely to encounter during independent study. The module seeks to develop your competency and confidence in research methodology to a Master's level.
Module Overview
The module provides you with an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills across strategic and P3 management: to articulate and execute a suitable organisational strategy and manage any change initiative to effectively deliver complex business solutions or improvements. The key aim of this module is to deepen an understanding of strategic aspects of project management and governance within organisations and develop your ability to align change with organisational purpose and strategy. Emphasising the significance of programme and portfolio management as well as project governance and assurance, the designed syllabus aims to enable you to prioritise and manage multiple and often interdependent projects to accomplish strategic and project objectives.
Module Overview
This module aims to provide you with an understanding of how to create and sustain high-performing teams. Through a review of existing and emerging theories and models of leadership, team formation, motivation, communication, power, and diversity, you can gain theoretically sound knowledge of team behaviour and effectiveness. A variety of engaging practical exercises seek to enable you to develop you skills as an effective and empathetic team leader and valuable team member.
† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.
What You Need to Know
We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, and contact hours.
PM4.0 Innovation Challenge
Students may have the opportunity to participate in the PM4.0 Innovation Challenge. Run in collaboration with industry partners, students tackle real-life problems with creative and innovative thinking related to the use of Industry 4.0 technologies.
How you are assessed
A variety of assessment methods are used during this course including reports, tests, oral presentations, portfolios, and practical projects. These assessments are designed to develop the skills needed for a career in business.
There is a focus on action learning as well as immediate practical application of any learned skill or technique, which helps students to critically appraise various solutions to a real-life problem and make a robust managerial decision.
The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly - usually within 15 working days of the submission date.
From conventional theories of project management to present day and experimental approaches, a wide and informative overview was presented in the programme in a way that inspires confidence and prepares you for entering the workplace as a project professional.
David Lawrence-Ayres
MSc Project Management graduate
Industry Expertise
Students on this programme can benefit from working alongside an experienced team of staff consisting of academically and professionally qualified lecturers with relevant industrial experience and wide-ranging research interests.
The programme has links with project management teams (PMOs) in the University’s Estates and ICT departments. It also invites practising project managers and consultants as guest speakers and career advisors from the Association for Project Management, BBC, Export Development Canada, BAE Systems, Jacobs, and Siemens.
The School hosts a series of visiting speakers each year, enabling students to hear and learn from industry experts. Previous speakers have included representatives from organisations such as Deloitte, Santander, HSBC, Innocent, The Institute of Internal Auditors, and Sir David Tweedie (ex-Chairman of the IASB).
Students can also participate in real-life projects within local, project-based organisations. There may also be opportunities to explore research areas such as project leadership, self-organising teams, project success, governance, and risk management.
How to Apply
Postgraduate Application Support
Applying for a postgraduate programme at Lincoln is easy. Find out more about the application process and what you'll need to complete on our How to Apply page. Here, you'll also be able to find out more about the entry requirements we accept and how to contact us for dedicated support during the process.
Entry Requirements 2025-26
Entry Requirements
Lower second class honours (2:2) degree or equivalent professional experience in project management.
If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/ for information on equivalent qualifications.
Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/.
If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-session English and Academic Study Skills courses. https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/pre-sessionalenglishandacademicstudyskills/ . These specialist courses are designed to help students meet the English language requirements for their intended programme of study.
Course Fees
You will need to have funding in place for your studies before you arrive at the University. Our fees vary depending on the course, mode of study, and whether you are a UK or international student. You can view the breakdown of fees for this programme below.
The University offers a range of merit-based, subject-specific, and country-focused scholarships for UK and international students. To help support students from outside of the UK, we offer a number of international scholarships which range from £1,000 up to the value of 50 per cent of tuition fees. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.
Funding Your Study
Postgraduate Funding Options
Find out more about the optional available to support your postgraduate study, from Master's Loans to scholarship opportunities. You can also find out more about how to pay your fees and access support from our helpful advisors.
Career Development
Although specific responsibilities will vary dependent on an industry, the role of a project manager always requires the same practical skills to deal with design, planning, and execution, while being able to resolve conflicts and integrate across a range of functional areas.
Previous graduates from MSc Project Management have taken up roles at BAE Systems, Accenture, Nottingham Trent University, Network Rail, Sky, Mace, Nuclear AMRC, Defence and Security Accelerator, and ESL.
Academic Contact
For more information about this course, please contact the Programme Leader.
Dr Artem Khudenko
akhudenko@lincoln.ac.uk
Working in Partnership
Lincoln International Business School works with students and organisations to enhance the contribution of business to society. For students, that means developing their business skills and knowledge to improve their career readiness.The University of Lincoln is a member of AACSB, a global nonprofit association connecting educators, students, and businesses to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders.
Postgraduate Events
To get a real feel for what it is like to study at the University of Lincoln, we hold a number of dedicated postgraduate events and activities throughout the year for you to take part in.
