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Strategic Management of Projects MSc

London, Bloomsbury

For professionals who aspire to lead in the management of projects and programmes, this intensive executive development MSc will enable you to move into leading roles in shaping and delivering corporate and project strategy.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£24,100
£12,050
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£47,100
£23,550
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

The normal minimum qualifications are a lower second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Candidates with significant relevant experience and impact in their industry may be exempted from this requirement.

A minimum of two years experience in project-based work or project-based organisation.

Evidence of achievement and/or impact in your industry (e.g. promotion, project scope, professional recognition, etc.)

The English language level for this programme 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

The Strategic Management of Projects MSc helps you develop a critical understanding of the challenges that project executives face in designing and implementing strategy, explores how the Management of Projects approach leads to improved value-creation and effective outcomes, and provides tailored, one-to-one professional advice that focuses on your career development specifically.

Through this unique executive development master’s course, you will learn how to make difficult decisions, while developing lifelong relationships with peers who will move into executive roles in project-based organisations around the world. You will also expand your knowledge and understanding of strategic and project management, through a wide range of readings in the areas of business and organisation studies, political philosophy, sociology and economics. 

Who this course is for

The programme is designed for those who currently design and deliver project-based work and who aspire to develop their own unique competitive approach to the management of projects. The programme will help you transform your career and the way you think about business and projects. 

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

What this course will give you

Expert guidance: The programme brings together distinguished, thoughtful professionals, academics, and policymakers from across sectors and industries who share the ethos and philosophy of the programme and UCL. With their guidance you will explore the key political, strategic and relational challenges that project executives face and develop your own unique competitive approach in strategically managing projects in the context of international geopolitics, climate change, and evolving power relations within and beyond project teams and organisations. 

Opportunities to share knowledge and experience: The class is a space where you will have the opportunity to reflect on your previous experience and discuss with your peers, tutors, alumni and experts, how to manage difficult decisions. 

Leadership skills: This is an MSc designed for developing the project and programme leaders of tomorrow. Our alumni influence the corporate world, are involved in social enterprise and frequently become entrepreneurs, or change their careers entirely.   

Unique learning sessions: The programme delivers sessions led by leading academics, practitioners, policymakers, entrepreneurs and students; a twin focus on strategically managing projects and critical thinking throughout the programme; so that you have the opportunity to engage deeply with experts, academics and fellow classmates; and the SMP Alumni - a community of professionals that will support you in the first steps of your professional development and career following graduation.

Based in London: Studying in London's centre of excellence for the management of projects and our progressive teaching and learning culture will help you create your own unique, professional approach to managing capital investment and strategic change across a wide range of industry sectors.

Expand your network: Following your graduation, you become part of the SMP Alumni - a strong community of professionals.

Top Ranked: For the second year in a row, The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment was ranked #1 in the world for ‘Architecture and Built Environment’ (QS World University Subject Rankings 2024). 

Find out more about the benefits of studying at The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction.

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

The foundation of your career

Following graduation you will join the Strategic Management of Projects MSc (SMP) Alumni - a community of established, experienced and aspiring project executives where you will find support from wherever you are based in the world. Our graduates have built and lead their own companies, are involved in strategic positions in major multinational organisations across sectors and industries in the world, and have changed industries/careers based on our academic and professional support.

96% of Bartlett graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduation.

Top industry sectors for Bartlett graduates in work are construction, built environment and property (37% of graduates); engineering (17%); finance (8%); academic research and higher education (7%); and other scientific and technical professions (5%).

Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction graduates are working in 45 countries around the world.

Example employers:

  • ARUP
  • Balfour Beatty
  • British Land
  • Deloitte
  • UK Government
  • Skanska
  • Turner & Townsend
  • AtkinsRéalis
  • TfL  
  • Mace
  • Tetra Tech Europe  
  • Vodafone  

(Data from Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-2021)

Employability

Recent graduates of the programme have changed their career, industry and/or sector, have started their own companies, are involved in the government, and are changing the way the corporate world thinks and works. 

Networking

The SMP MSc programme and the School actively supports students and alumni in establishing their professional network, recognising the importance of networks in providing graduates with opportunities and support throughout their careers.

Teaching and learning

The programme is seminar-based with an emphasis on case and problem-based learning. This is supported through readings and class exercises in the taught modules.

The programme is delivered through a combination of case-based learning, interviews, peer-based learning and lectures and workshops from leading practitioners, policymakers, entrepreneurs and academics. Students are required to have sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge to challenge and inform others. Assessment is through a combination of written coursework, examinations, presentations and a dissertation.

The assignments are individual essays, presentations and centrally managed in person examinations. The dissertation is an independent piece of research that will be supported by tutorials. 

In terms 1 and 2, full-time students can typically expect between 8 and 15 contact hours per teaching week through lectures, workshops and tutorials. In term 3 students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors.

Outside of lectures full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

Modules

The MSc SMP comprises six compulsory modules in the following three categories and two optional modules. All modules have to be attended and you are assessed on these 8 modules and a dissertation.

Capstone Modules: These compulsory modules explore themes that lie at the very heart of MSc SMP: Management of Projects. 

Project Lifecycle Topics: These modules deal with management issues that come to the fore at particular stages the development and delivery of a project, for instance, project requirements, design and operational legacy.

Key Knowledge Areas: These modules encompass topics that permeate the management of a project throughout the lifecycle, such as supply chain management, marketing and innovation.

Dissertation: This is a piece of original research that you will carry out.

Part-time (2 years)

The MSc SMP comprises six compulsory modules in the following three categories and two optional modules. All modules have to be attended and you are assessed on these 8 modules and a dissertation.

Year 1: Students attend 3 compulsory modules and 1 optional module throughout Terms 1 and 2.

Year 2: Students attend 3 compulsory modules and 1 optional module throughout Terms 1 and 2.  Students will study on the Dissertation module throughout Terms 1, 2 and 3.

Capstone Modules: These compulsory modules explore themes that lie at the very heart of MSc SMP: Management of Projects.

Project Lifecycle Topics: These modules deal with management issues that come to the fore at particular stages the development and delivery of a project, for instance, project requirements, design and operational legacy.

Key Knowledge Areas: These modules encompass topics that permeate the management of a project throughout the lifecycle, such as supply chain management, marketing and innovation.

Dissertation: This is a piece of original research that you will carry out. 

Modular/Flexible study (2-5 years)

The MSc SMP comprises six compulsory modules in the following three categories and two optional modules. All modules have to be attended and you are assessed on these 8 modules and a dissertation.

Capstone Modules: These compulsory modules explore themes that lie at the very heart of MSc SMP: Management of Projects.

Project Lifecycle Topics: These modules deal with management issues that come to the fore at particular stages the development and delivery of a project, for instance, project requirements, design and operational legacy.

Key Knowledge Areas: These modules encompass topics that permeate the management of a project throughout the lifecycle, such as supply chain management, marketing and innovation.

Dissertation: This is a piece of original research that you will carry out.

In the case of Modular/Flexible students, the 2-year part-time study mode is the fastest route to completion. However, a slower route may also be taken. The sequence of modules can be discussed in close coordination with the Programme Leader. 

The Dissertation module is the final module to be attended.

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 Strategic Management of Projects.

Fieldwork

As part of the 10,000-word dissertation you will conduct primary research and will need to abide by the UCL Research Ethics Committee.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £24,100 £12,050
Tuition fees (2025/26) £47,100 £23,550

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme 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 a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.

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

Students are expected to bring their own laptop.

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 £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. 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

UCL offers a range of financial awards aimed at assisting both prospective and current students with their studies.

Any additional funding available from The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction and the Built Environment Faculty Office are advertised on the respective websites.

In our faculty, The Bartlett Promise Scholarship aims to enable students from backgrounds underrepresented in the built environment to pursue master's studies. Please see the UK Master's scholarship and Sub-Saharan Africa Master's scholarship pages for more information on eligibility criteria, selection process and FAQs.

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

UCL East London Scholarship

NOW CLOSED FOR 25/26 ENTRY
Value: Tuition fees plus £16,000 stipend ()
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

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 programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we are interested in:

  • the type of project(s) that you have been involved in and your role in their management
  • where you see yourself professionally in 10 years
  • how the MSc in Strategic Management of Projects will help you achieve your goal.

Your personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate how the MSc in Strategic Management in Projects will help you lead tomorrow's projects.

Can you tell us about what led you to consider the MSc Strategic Management of Projects as a programme of study? Tell us about an experience that influenced your intellectual and professional development. What experience and values do you think you can bring to the MSc in Strategic Management of Projects? What are your expectations from studying on the MSc in Strategic Management of Projects, and how will they help your future career development? (600 words)

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (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: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction
Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction

bssc.enquiries@ucl.ac.uk

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