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Management of Complex Projects MSc

London, Bloomsbury

In today's fast-moving, global marketplace, traditional project management techniques based around strategic planning and control are not enough. Many modern projects are not only complicated (tough technical problems needing co-ordination across many suppliers) but also complex (with unclear requirements). The Management of Complex Projects MSc has been designed to produce project managers equipped to lead the most challenging of projects.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£25,300
£12,650
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£46,700
£23,350
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. At least two years' experience working in a project environment is expected.

The English language level for this course is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Students gain a systems view of project management, so they can develop effective technical solutions within a constrained commercial context. We teach students a number of guiding principles to enable them to manage complex projects and help them to develop key skills such as risk management, requirements management, conflict resolution, effective communication and leadership.

The MSc programme requires completing of eight 15-credit modules and one 60-credit module.

The 15 credit modules include five compulsory taught modules, one option taught module, and two minor research modules: the Project Concept module and the Project Simulation. The 60-credit module is the final research.

It is recommended to choose one of Transformation for Sustainability or Lifecycle Management as the option module, although there are other alternatives.

Who this course is for

The programme is for ambitious project managers and those wanting to move from engineering roles into project management roles. The programme is targeted at relatively experienced individuals working in industry and who are supported by their employers. Independent students with appropriate industrial experience will also be considered. If you are uncertain whether your experience will be sufficient please get in touch with the department to discuss this.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

Standard project management courses are no longer a differentiator. Completing this programme at one of the world's leading universities will give students a competitive edge, putting them on the fast track for a career in project or programme management.

Participants gain the skills and knowledge needed to get ahead - from academic theories of conflict and motivation to practical tools for managing risk and tracking project progress.

Students will meet like-minded individuals from other industries, and through extensive group work and classroom interaction will share experiences, learn new approaches, and build contacts that will contribute to future career development.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Graduates progress into diverse careers across consultancy, technology, systems and project management. Employers value the programme’s emphasis on managing complexity and applied project delivery, which enables graduates to stand out in competitive markets. 

Alumni have secured roles with leading organisations including PwC, Goldman Sachs, Jaguar Land Rover, Siemens, WSP, GE Aviation and PA Consulting, as well as with sponsoring partners such as Network Rail. (Graduate Outcomes Survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017 - 2022 cohorts.)

The combination of practical skills, industry insight and professional awareness ensures graduates are well prepared for both technical and managerial roles across sectors where innovation, delivery and leadership are critical.

Employability

Students develop a wide-ranging portfolio of professional and subject-specific skills that are highly sought after by employers. Building on our experience of delivering professional training, including for the European Space Agency Project Management training, students gain particular expertise in managing complexity within project management, going beyond standard approaches to tackle real-world challenges. They also strengthen their communication, negotiation and leadership abilities, alongside decision-making and the capacity to motivate teams. Practical experience of managing complex projects under time and resource constraints is embedded throughout the programme, ensuring graduates are well equipped with technical knowledge, problem-solving ability, and strong organisational skills.

Networking

Our programmes attract students who are already in work from a variety of companies and sectors. There are opportunities during teaching events to discuss and compare experiences. In some modules we invite industry speakers as part of the teaching. Alongside the module teaching we have a Professional Skills development series which typically includes talks from industry professionals, from alumni now in work and industry visits.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, case-studies, discussion sessions, workshop activity, and project work.

Assessment is through a combination of course work, in-class tests and written examinations. The research modules are assessed through a written report and a short presentation.

A taught module (15 credits) is assumed to require around 150 hours of study. This time is made up of formal learning and teaching events such as lectures, seminars and tutorials, as well as independent study.

Around 24 of these 150 hours will be taken with live teaching events and group work, but a significant proportion is independent study time. This includes working through the reading and recorded lectures, researching and responding to the assignment and, where applicable, revision for the exam.

For students on this programme, taught modules are delivered in a block format with contact hours of around 24 hours per block week. Modules in block mode are delivered from Monday to Thursday, and the number of block weeks will depend on the modules selected. This is different from the style of teaching you may be used to where modules would be delivered with a few hours per week spread over a number of weeks.

Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, students are expected to use their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments. Students are expected to interact with tutors via the Moodle forums before and after class sessions. There are also additional welcome and wrap-up sessions online totalling three to four hours per taught module.

In Term 3 and the summer period students will be completing the final report of the research project, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisor.

Modules

Over a calendar year you will complete all of the modules. The five compulsory and one option taught modules occur across Terms 1, 2 and 3, with most of the teaching within the first two terms. The Project Concept is introduced in Term 1 and concludes at the start of Term 2, Project Simulation (PS) starts in Term Two and concludes early in the Summer period. The final report starts at the end of the Project Concept and runs until the end of the Summer period.

In the first year you will need to complete four to six taught modules. The five compulsory and one option taught modules occur across Terms 1, 2 and 3, with most of the teaching within the first two terms. In the second year you will complete any remaining taught modules and undertake the Project Concept, Project Simulation and the Final Report.

You can choose to complete the programme over the 5 years or less. In each year you will choose which of the five compulsory and one option taught modules you want to complete that year. Project concept and Project Simulation are typically taken in the penultimate or final year. The Final Report is conducted in the final year.

Compulsory modules










Optional modules







Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Management of Complex Projects.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

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Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £25,300 £12,650
Tuition fees (2026/27) £46,700 £23,350

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a £350 deposit will be charged.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a £500 deposit will be charged.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

UCL does have computing facilities available, including department study spaces, but you may prefer to purchase your own laptop, which will require additional costs. Beyond owning your own standard specification laptop, approximately £500-£1,500, there is no requirement to purchase specific books or equipment for this course. Sometimes certain books or reading resources may be recommended, but not required. Essential readings are available online through the UCL library or posted on the electronic learning environment. Student's will require a computer to access the course learning materials and to prepare assessments. Access to Microsoft office applications is provided.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Management of Complex Projects at graduate level?
  • why you want to study Management of Complex Projects at UCL?
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme?
  • how your academic and professional background and skills meet the demands of this challenging programme?
  • where you expect to go professionally with your degree?

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Space and Climate Physics
Space and Climate Physics

scpinfo@ucl.ac.uk

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