Project Management MSc

About the project

Postgraduate course

Project Management MSc

If you want to develop the key skills needed for the contemporary business world and implement organisational change then this is the course for you.

Develop your skills and knowledge of project management in a range of professional environments. Learn about the principles and practice of project management. You will have the option to undertake a placement year to put your knowledge into practice, gain valuable industry experience and build your professional network. This course is also a Recognised Assessment for the Association for Project Management Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) Standard.

Association of Project Management (APM) Please note accreditations may be subject to change, and are dependent on fulfilling the awarding bodies criteria.

York campus

• Duration – 1 year full time, 2 years with placement year
• Start date – February 2027, September 2027, February 2028, September 2028
• School – York Business School

Minimum entry requirements

2:2 honours degree from a UK ENIC listed institution

Experience Evidence of relevant experience if your degree is in an unrelated subject

Tuition fees

UK 2026-27 £8,800 full time International 2026-27 £11,800 full time

International 2026-27 £11,800 full time

Course overview

Whether you are just starting your career or looking to take your next step, this course will be relevant in businesses in any sector and of any size, from local to global. You will study project management from an academic perspective, alongside exploring the innovative and effective project management solutions used by some of the largest companies in the UK.

You will examine issues which impact organisations and their projects, drawing on your own experiences and those of your fellow learners. You will study and evaluate key theories and concepts, while investigating strategic and operational processes in project management.

This course will allow you to develop critical thinking and business skills, valuable in any career, as well as specialist project management skills. You will benefit from working with experienced practitioners, and focusing on real case studies to help you apply your learning to authentic business contexts. You can also choose to study this course with a placement year in industry to apply these skills in an industry environment. If you choose a Year in Industry you will be studying for a total of 2 years. Your first year will be a teaching year and your second year you will be on placement.

We encourage the sharing of knowledge and experience between students and staff with a wide range of professional backgrounds. This fosters a collaborative learning community which will provide both support and varied perspectives throughout your study.

How you will study

If you choose to study full time the course will take 1 year to complete, or 2 if you choose a year in industry. You will study:

If you study part time then the course will take you 2 years to complete and the modules will be spread across the 2 years.

You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications .

• 4 compulsory modules
• A final Capstone Project module or, if you have undertaken a year in industry, a Business Consultancy Project

Modules

30 credits | compulsory

On this module you will gain an overview of global business strategy, including contemporary global economics, business issues and uncertainties and the challenges they pose for managers. Using recent research, case studies and observations on real world events, you will use data to consider the impact on both the internal and external business environment.

By enhancing your critical awareness of the major contemporary global business issues and debates, you will learn how these impact strategies in ways that both enable and constrain managers working across international contexts. By doing so, you will develop as an independent critical thinker and business professional.

30 credits | compulsory This module is an overview of the technical aspects of project management. Develop a toolkit of theory knowledge, techniques and analytical skills to help you become a successful project manager. Gain an understanding of how to identify, assess and manage projects and their associated risks. Project Management Simulations will assess you on how you apply your theory knowledge to a project management environment.

30 credits | compulsory

To offer a comprehensive and holistic account of contemporary business ethics and sustainability, theoretical perspectives will be underpinned in this module. You will explore evidence-informed case studies sourced from a range of international perspectives.

You will weigh evidence, assess risk and utilise data to examine how wealth is generated. Looking at how economies develop unevenly and how economic futures are modelled to manage sustainability, business ethics and integrity.

30 credits | compulsory

Explore the relationship between human resource issues and project management. This includes concepts of leadership, people management and organisational politics. You will also learn about client and contractor relationships and management needs. Through this you will gain an understanding of how leadership, team development and change management are key skills in implementing and delivering projects successfully.

60 credits | compulsory

During the Capstone Project you will develop your studies in an area of your choice, through negotiating and developing an in-depth research topic with an allocated supervisor. This will be in the form of individual study and tutor led lectures and workshops.

You will select one of the following routes:

60 credits | compulsory

During this module you will work independently to produce a consultancy project with the support of an appropriate academic supervisor during your placement year. This vocational opportunity is aimed at enhancing your future employability.

You will engage with issues such as career decision making, the recruitment cycle, applying for jobs and sourcing and embarking on a placement or a group or individual project.

• Dissertation
• Structured literature review
• Business Consultancy Project

Teaching and learning

All of your modules will be delivered using a variety of different teaching sessions. This includes:

Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages .

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Guest speakers
• Workshops
• Events

Assessment

You will be assessed using methods that test your theory knowledge, the skills you have developed and reflect industry scenarios. This could include:

Each module tutor will provide opportunities for formative assessment feedback to inform your work prior to submission. Support with study skills, conventions of academic analysis and writing will be available for you from the start of the course and will continue throughout your studies.

• Project Management Simulations
• Presentations
• Critical essays and reports
• Portfolios
• Reflective journals
• Case study work

Optional placement year

Choosing the placement year option can give you a competitive edge in your future career. It is an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills you have learned in the workplace.

You will be on placement for a full academic year, after you have successfully completed all of the taught modules. During your placement, you will also work towards and complete your Business Consultancy Project.

Minimum entry requirements

2:2 honours degree from a UK ENIC listed institution

Experience Evidence of relevant experience if your degree is in an unrelated subject

The minimum entry requirements for this course are:

If your degree is in an unrelated subject, but you can provide evidence of relevant professional experience, your application may still be considered.

• 2:2 in an undergraduate degree from a UK ENIC listed institution

International students

If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.

Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.

If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.

International entry requirements

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)

If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment would need to be presented to support your case for admission.

Terms and conditions

Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page .

UK

The tuition fee for 2026 - 2027 entry to this postgraduate course without Professional Experience is:

The tuition fee with Professional Experience is:

The tuition fee for 2027 - 2028 entry to this postgraduate course without Professional Experience is:

The tuition fee with Professional Experience is:

These costs apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.

Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

Funding opportunities

• £8,800 for 1 year of full time study
• £8,800 for your first year, and £1,400 for your Professional Experience year (£10,200 in total)
• £9,000 for 1 year of full time study
• £9,000 for your first year, and £1,600 for your Professional Experience year (£12,000 in total)

International

The tuition fee for this postgraduate course without Professional Experience is:

The tuition fee for this postgraduate course with Professional Experience is:

The tuition fee for this postgraduate course without Professional Experience for the 2027-2028 academic year is:

The tuition fee for this postgraduate course with Professional Experience is:

These costs apply to all students living outside the UK.

Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.

Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

International Fees and Funding

• £11,800 for 1 year of full time study
• £11,800 for your first year, and £3,600 for your Professional Experience year (£15,600 in total)
• £12,000 for 1 year of full time study
• £12,000 for your first year, and £3,600 for your Professional Experience year (£15,600 in total)

Tuition fees

UK 2026-27 £8,800 full time International 2026-27 £11,800 full time

International 2026-27 £11,800 full time

Alumni Scholarships

If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.

Scholarships for alumni

Course-related costs

While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery and books.

Where could Project Management take you?

With the skills you gain on this course you can go on to make valuable contributions to organisations of any size and in any sector. Project Management is an essential element of any industry. Some sectors where Project Management graduates may be especially in demand are:

The course could also lead you to undertake further postgraduate study through an MPhil or PhD.

• Construction
• Engineering
• Financial Services
• IT

Alumni stories

Visit our YSJ Snapshots blog to see what our past students from across the University have done with their York St John degrees.

Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study

Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market.

Our careers service, Future You, provides support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:

This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.

• Employer events
• LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
• Workshops on application writing and interview skills
• Work experience and volunteering opportunities
• Personalised career advice

Apply for this course

For postgraduate degrees you must apply directly to York St John University using the links below. This will take you to the application form you need to fill out for this specific course.

To complete the online application form you will need to create login details.

Fees and key information

Course highlights

Industry Expertise

Experienced practitioners will give talks on their projects and discuss the challenges they face, giving you insight into solving problems in industry.

Professional body qualifications

You will have access to learning materials for a range of project management certifications. You will need to pay the relevant examination fees for the qualifications you choose to take.

Phil Project Management

The course structure and content has been excellent. While challenging, it provides opportunities to compare and evaluate theory and the practice of strategic project management.

Tony Project Management

As someone who worked in project management for years without the high-level qualification to support it, this provides me with the true expression of my abilities and gives me the ability to move on to the next tier.

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