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Strategic Management of Projects MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The Strategic Management of Projects MSc at UCL is an executive development course designed for professionals aiming to lead complex projects and programmes. The postgraduate course combines management theory, systems thinking, and real-world application, preparing graduates for leadership roles across industries by focusing on innovation, collaboration, and long-term value creation.

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)
£50,600
£25,300
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

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 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

The MSc in Strategic Management of Projects at UCL is an executive development course designed to equip you with the critical insight and leadership skills needed to navigate the complex challenges of strategy implementation in project-based environments.

This unique course explores how a Management of Projects approach can drive value creation and deliver effective, long-term outcomes. You'll gain a deeper understanding of the strategic, organisational, and socio-political dimensions of projects, supported by a multidisciplinary curriculum that draws on business, organisational theory, political philosophy, sociology, and economics.

Throughout the course, you'll benefit from one-to-one professional development tailored to your career ambitions, and you'll join a diverse global network of peers who are progressing into senior roles across industries. You’ll also develop the confidence to make high-stakes decisions and shape strategic agendas in complex, dynamic contexts.

Who this course is for

The UCL Strategic Management of Projects MSc appeals to ambitious professionals and graduates from diverse backgrounds—including engineering, architecture, business, and the built environment, who seek to lead complex projects and drive strategic transformation across industries. It suits those passionate about innovation, leadership, and delivering impact through collaborative project environments. 

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

What this course will give you

Expert guidance: You will learn from a distinguished network of professionals, academics, and policymakers across a range of sectors and industries—each aligned with the course’s ethos and UCL’s values. With their mentorship, you’ll explore the political, strategic, and relational challenges faced by senior project leaders. The course empowers you to develop your own competitive approach to managing projects in the context of global forces such as geopolitics, climate change, and shifting power dynamics within and beyond organisations. 

Collaborative learning: The course fosters a reflective and inclusive classroom environment. You’ll engage with peers, tutors, alumni, and visiting experts to share experiences and explore how to make complex decisions in real-world project settings. This collaborative space encourages critical dialogue and deep learning.

Leadership development: This is a course for the project and programme leaders of the future. Our graduates go on to shape the corporate world, lead social enterprises, launch their own ventures, or pivot to entirely new careers. You will be challenged and supported to grow into a confident, strategic leader.

Innovative learning approach: Sessions are delivered by leading academics, industry practitioners, policymakers, and even fellow students. The course blends rigorous academic content with critical thinking and real-world insight, providing a dual focus on strategic project management and reflective leadership practice. You will engage deeply with expert perspectives and diverse viewpoints.

London location: Study in one of the world’s most globally connected cities. London is home to major construction firms, consultancies, think tanks, and governmental bodies—offering a rich professional ecosystem and countless opportunities to learn, network, and grow.

Lifelong professional network: Upon graduation, you join the SMP Alumni—a vibrant, supportive community of professionals worldwide. This network will be a lasting source of insight, opportunity, and mentorship as you take your next professional steps.

Globally top ranked: For the third 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 2025).

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

Graduates of UCL’s Strategic Management of Projects MSc pursue dynamic and impactful careers across a wide range of industries. They typically go on to roles such as project and programme managers, strategy consultants, transformation leads, and innovation specialists in sectors including construction, infrastructure, technology, finance, and government. Many also join leading global firms or launch their own ventures, applying their strategic thinking, leadership skills, and systems-based approach to drive complex projects and organisational change.

91.7% of Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Surveys 2017-22).

Top industry sectors for Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction graduates in work are construction, built environment and property (34.9% of graduates); accountancy and financial services (24.4%); manufacturing (6.9%); IT, technology and telecommunications (5.1%); and consultancy (4.8%).

Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction graduates are working in 43 countries around the world.

Example employers:

  • PwC
  • EY
  • Huawei Technologies
  • Mott Macdonald Ltd
  • Turner and Townsend plc  

Employability

This postgraduate degree equips students with a dynamic blend of leadership, analytical, and organisational skills essential for navigating complex project environments. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students develop the ability to align projects with strategic goals, manage stakeholder expectations, and lead transformative initiatives across sectors. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, real-world problem-solving, and understanding the broader socio-economic context of projects, preparing graduates to drive value and innovation in their organisations. 

Networking

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.  

The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction hosts numerous events throughout the year that feature industry guests and networking opportunities. These include lectures, seminars, and workshops.

Additionally, there are a broad range of university-wide career events to help current students and recent graduates develop their employability skills, explore different sectors, increase commercial awareness, build professional networks and more. 

Teaching and learning

The course 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 course 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.

In addition to contact hours, full-time students typically spend 22 to 29 hours per week on self-directed study and coursework, equivalent to the time commitment of a full-time job.

Modules

The course 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 the course: 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 (two years)

The course 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 the course: 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 (two-five years)

The course 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 the course: 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.  

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.

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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All open days and events

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Graduate Open Events: Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction

Join our virtual event to explore our postgraduate courses, hear from academic staff and current students, and learn about the application process, scholarships, and career support. A live Q&A will give you the chance to get your questions answered. Take the next step toward shaping a more sustainable built environment with us.

Watch on demand event

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Bartlett Promise UK Scholarship

Join our virtual event to explore our postgraduate courses, hear from academic staff and current students, and learn about the application process, scholarships, and career support. A live Q&A will give you the chance to get your questions answered. Take the next step toward shaping a more sustainable built environment with us.

Watch on demand event

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) £50,600 £25,300

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.

There are no mandatory additional costs expected for the course. If you have questions relating to costs, please get in touch by e-mailing bartlett.pg-bssc@ucl.ac.uk

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

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

Deadline: 25 June 2026
Value: Tuition fees plus £17,096 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 course 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 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

Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction
Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction

bartlett.pg-bssc@ucl.ac.uk

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