Response to Covid-19: As a result of Covid-19 and social distancing requirements, we are intending to teach this course using a mix of on-campus and online teaching. For students unable to travel due to travel restrictions in place in their country, students will be able to start online and join us when travel to London is possible. More information about our response to Covid-19 and FAQs are available here.
Managing international projects presents unique challenges. This Masters programme addresses the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to successfully manage projects that span organisations, national boundaries and cultural differences.
In this programme you will explore the impact on project management of culture, language variations, religious, contractual, regulatory and legal practices, technology penetration, temporal orientation, gender issues, corruption, ethics, personal liberty and political contexts. We learn how to meet international project challenges through efficient use of practices and technology. The programme will utilise available case studies and examples from global companies to help you sharpen the skills needed to recognise and foster a successful international project environment.
The Advanced Practice option integrates an Internship, Consultancy Project or Research Project into the Masters programme, offering the opportunity to spend three months gaining all-important work experience and employability skills in a professional work setting.
You will learn how culture affects how teams perceive each other, lead, solve problems and execute tasks. Although the world is increasingly connected, the people behind the projects have biases, expectations and a perception of life that impacts all decisions. You will also learn how to effectively manage international teams including how to build trust and collaboration across various cultures, time zones and technological settings. You will learn how to design communication channels and project structures effectively in an international project environment.
This programme is also available as MSc International Project Management which lasts for one year.
You will become familiar with the issues underlying the problem of corruption, which is the abuse of trusted power for private gain. Reducing the risk of corruption strengthens a company’s reputation, builds the respect of employees and raises credibility with key stakeholders. Finally you will learn how the adoption of collaboration tools can enhance the international project experience. The programme is designed to teach you how to successfully deliver projects in an international environment.
To accelerate your learning, you will be exposed to theories and principles relating to financial and contractual management, leading teams including those that are geographically diverse, strategic leadership and the management of change, risk and opportunities. You will also be exposed to the fundamental concepts, principles of leadership theory, contractual arrangements, budgeting and forecasting and business case analysis. You will subsequently be able to apply this knowledge and skill in your own context, and subsequently critically analyse the implementation and recommend potential future improvements in the context of leading projects and programmes. Recognising that stakeholder management, risk assessment and management of projects and portfolios are critical to achieving business objectives that in turn achieve enhanced organisational performance, you will also cover fundamental concepts, principles, techniques and tools of how to manage projects from the perspectives of time, costs and quality.
The Advanced Practice version of this course offers you a valuable opportunity to secure a work placement or complete an individual research activity, giving you experience of the workplace environment or being part of an academic research team, and an excellent way to put your learning into practice or developing your research career potential.
This stage of the programme will take place between your second and final semester, and is a semester long (15 weeks) in duration. Internships as part of the Advanced Practice stage may be paid or unpaid.
The alternative to the Internship, the Research Project or Consulting Project, will successfully develop your business skills and further enhance your employability.
The full duration of your programme will depend on your start date:
The programmes are structured as below:
| Sept-Jan | Jan-May | May-Sept | Sept-Jan | Jan-May | May-Sept | Sept-Jan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September starts | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer break | Advanced Practice stage | Final semester | ||
| January starts | Semester 1 | Summer break | Semester 2 | Advanced Practice stage | Summer break | Final semester | |
| May starts | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Advanced Practice stage | Final semester |
You will be taught through a mix of lectures, seminars and workshops, totalling around 10 hours per week, to enable you to grow your knowledge of project management frameworks and skills. In addition, you will be expected to engage in independent study involving directed and self-directed learning, around 28 hours per week.
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) is embedded throughout the course with tools such as the ‘Blackboard’ eLearning Portal and electronic reading lists that will guide your preparation for seminars and independent research.
During your studies you will be assessed via coursework including critical report writing, practical exercises and research project work.
This course will open up opportunities in project management roles in many industries. Past Northumbria University graduates have gone on to work for multinational companies such as BAE Systems, Volvo Car Group, NHS, Siemens, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Shell and Virgin Money. Job roles have included project managers, programme managers, project portfolio managers, management consultants, business developers, entrepreneurs, quality managers and directors.
Upon successfully completing your course, you may undertake further professional development and training through Professional Pathways programmes. These are offered to our graduates for free, from our partner, QA. Find out more about Professional Pathways and your eligibility.
Applicants should have the following:
Applicants who do not meet the academic requirements but who do have substantial experience of working in a business organisation and/or possess a relevant professional qualification will also be considered. If you are unsure if you meet the entry criteria, please contact us and our team will be able to advise you.
Alternatively, you may also be eligible for our Pre-Masters courses. These are pathway programmes designed specifically for students who are looking to progress on to a Masters degree.
Please visit our entry requirements page for country-specific qualifications.
Students require IELTS 6.5 (or above) with no single element below 5.5 or equivalent.
If you have IELTS 5.5 – 6.0, you may be eligible to join our Pre-Sessional English and Study Skills before starting this programme.
All modules on this course are core.
It is very important for future Project and Programme Managers to understand Strategic Management and how projects deliver the Strategy of an organisation.
The business world today is considerably different and more complex than it was in the previous years. Both the challenges and opportunities facing organizations of all sizes today are greater than ever. Organizations are required to continuously find better ways to compete in the rapidly changing global business environment. Survival and competition have become imperative for organizations in the current global scenario.
In this context, the module develops the strategic thinking and decision making abilities of students, especially in relation to understanding the employability of various strategies in different situations.
It is very important for International Project Managers to possess the knowledge and understanding as to how projects are successfully delivered in an International context.
The international business world today is considerably different and more complex than it was in previous years with many global multi-national organisations delivering projects in up to 150 different countries. The challenges and opportunities facing global organizations to deliver successful projects in order to deliver their strategy requires project managers with a knowledge and understanding of the key issues when working in an international environment. Organizations are required to continuously find better ways to compete in the rapidly changing global business environment. Survival and competition have become imperative for organizations in the current global scenario.
In this context, the module develops the thinking and decision making abilities for you to effectively deliver strategic programmes and projects in different cultural and country situations.
This module will provide a general introduction to the subject matter of international project feasibility and economics as located within the project, programme and portfolio environments of global organisations including the relevant financial drivers affecting option selection and project selection, procurement and contract strategies in international markets. It will also explore the key features of contracting, performance monitoring and the management of claims and disputes. You will achieve an understanding of (1) the different facets of feasibility including financial, economic, environmental, and social feasibility; (2) the different economic environments surrounding projects including, macro and micro environments, and regulatory/legal environments, and (3) stakeholder environments including the Sponsor, Professional, and Contracting environments, all contextualised in an internationalised project management environment.
This knowledge and understanding is essential for future employment working on international programmes and projects. Employers are looking for graduates with project feasibility and economics skills who can work individually and as members of a team in tackling problems and at the same time being able to make difficult decisions relating to projects. The module has been designed to satisfy several of the programme learning outcomes related to technical knowledge, employability, critical thinking and problem solving innovation.
A ‘project’ is a temporary undertaking of some uniqueness, whose likelihood of success is enhanced if carried out using Project Management knowledge, methods, and processes, to accomplish planned objectives, such as outputs, outcomes or benefits. Programmes are collections of such projects which are also targeted at higher-level deliverables that will often require greater levels of coordination and present different types of opportunities and risks. This module explores aspects of ‘P3 management’, the management of projects, programmes and portfolios, in this wider context. Taught content is constructed around a research-led curriculum (i.e. current knowledge in the field), and through its study you will gain knowledge and develop a conceptual understanding around P3 Management, including the relevant approaches available to a project manager and the project team as a whole. You will also critically evaluate project management knowledge and competencies, reflect on lessons from project case studies, and embrace the relevant ethical and professional standards associated with competent P3 management.
This module is designed to ensure you have the skills and knowledge to complete a postgraduate research project which is relevant to International Project Management and career or future aspirations. As such, in the early part of your studies you will work closely with careers and professional development specialists to consider your career or future learning opportunities post completion of your degree. You will subsequently develop a career plan and reflective log considering how your learning from the programme can accelerate the achievement of this plan.
The impact of the people element of a project are often overlooked. It is this element which is the main focus of this module, which will include theories and concepts suggested by key academics as means of improving the management of international project teams. Based on a fundamental understanding of self and the impact of the individual on others it will include aspects and influences of international social, cultural and organisational psychology and international human resource management (IHRM). It will also have a very practical basis with examples from a range of industries, countries and cultures. The overarching objective is to develop effective team working and enhance skills required to understand and participate in leading real and virtual international project teams.
The aim of this module is to support your study, language and communication skills for academic purposes in the study in your chosen discipline. The module is designed to enable you to become and independent learner. The module is supported by a teaching and learning plan which outlines the formal sessions, together with the tutor-directed study and independent reading. Interactive seminars will be tailored to address some of the specific issues that you meet within your discipline. Directed learning will require a range of activities including pre-reading, preparation for interactive activities and use of the e-learning platform. You will be expected to identify those skills which you need within your programme, and to develop these independently through a range of learning activities that might include extended reading, and reflection.
For students doing an internship
This module aims to you with an experiential learning opportunity in a workplace setting that utilises skills and knowledge acquired during the taught part of your study programme. You will develop resilience and flexibility as you adapt to a different learning environment, and gain a new perspective through comparison with your taught studies.
Assessment on the module is designed to focus on the awareness of the impact of the time spent in an external learning environment, on your knowledge and understanding of the discipline. You will be encouraged to critically engage with outside practices, and to reflect on your educational development in the context of the challenges posed by an unfamiliar social, cultural and economic environment.
For students not doing an internship, you will choose one of the following
This module aims to provide you with an opportunity to work on a live research study that utilises skills and knowledge acquired during the taught part of your study programme. You will develop resilience and flexibility as you adapt to a different learning environment, and gain a new perspective through comparison with your taught studies. The module will help you develop your abilities as a researcher with valued investigative, data analytical, theoretical and practical skills to implement a research project.
Through this research project you will develop hand-on experience that is directly transferrable to be utilised to the world of work after your graduation.
This module aims to provide you with an experiential learning opportunity where you will work on a group consultancy project that utilises skills and knowledge acquired during the taught part of your study programme. You will develop resilience and flexibility as you adapt to a different learning environment, and gain a new perspective through comparison with your taught studies. The module will help you develop your abilities as a problem solver with valued investigative, theoretical and practical skills to implement a work based consultancy project.
All students will then progress to:
This module provides a process which will enable you to use and extend the knowledge and skills you have acquired during your programme of study. Using appropriate research methodologies and data collection methods, you will critically synthesise a body of knowledge relevant to the taught programme and apply this to an area relevant to your continued career development in the area of project management.
Please note that your tuition fees do not include the cost of course books that you may choose to purchase, stationery, printing and photocopying, accommodation, living expenses, travel or any other extracurricular activities. As a Northumbria University London Campus student, you will have full access to our online digital library with over 400,000 e-books and 50,000 electronic journals.
The modules you will study do not require you to purchase additional textbooks although we recommend you allow an additional £120 for the duration of your studies should you choose to purchase any additional reading materials.
Your tuition fees cover far more than your time in class with our expert academics, it covers the cost of providing you with excellent services and student experience.
Depending on the country you are from, you may be eligible for a country bursary and/or scholarship when studying the MSc International Project Management with Advanced Practice programme.
All of our scholarships and bursaries are automatically applied when we process your application and one of our team will be able to confirm your eligibility.
If you need support to spread the cost of your tuition, you may be eligible for our payment plan.
If you are a UK or EU student, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan of up to £10,000+ from the UK Government. Click here to find out more about the loan and whether you are eligible to receive it.
Enquire now to find out more information about the course, studying with us, the application process, and to ask any other questions you may have.
Students can apply online for this course by clicking the button below.
Alternatively, please download a PDF application form and send it to london.admissions@northumbria.ac.uk.
We strongly recommend that you submit your application as early as possible to allow you to complete all of the preparations needed to study your programme. Please refer to the Dates and Fees page.
Supporting documents
For us to assess your application in a timely manner, it is important that you provide us with the following documents:
You can check more information on how to apply here, including guidelines for the application forms.
Postgraduate
UK/Home Fee: £10,170
International Fee: £18,500 (20/21)
Minimum 2:2 (second class) honours degree or equivalent
IELTS 6.5 with no component less than 5.5
Full-time classroom
16 - 24 months
Coursework
Available
Available
Available
January, May, September
Next application deadline