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This dynamic course will develop your knowledge and skills to manage projects effectively in the commercial, public and voluntary sector. To ensure it reflects current and best practice, the course content has been developed with reference to the project management professional bodies, and with input from project management specialists from a range of organisations.
The management of complex projects can be challenging, and requires a multidisciplinary skill set including planning and resource management but also soft skills, such as interpersonal and leadership skills. The course covers a range of study areas to reflect the responsibilities of todays project manager, including managing projects for modern global companies over international boundaries.
The course will also provide you with access to PRINCE2 training, giving you an additional professional qualification that is attractive to employers. You will have access to course materials and discussion groups through the University's virtual learning environment to support your study. A range of assessment methods are used across the course, including coursework and exams. Coursework will include writing reports, planning and review exercises, research, presentations and group work, to reflect the work of a project manager.
Project-based working is traditional in engineering and information technology, but this approach is now widely used across all sectors. This course will give you a valuable qualification that is attractive to employers as project management professionals are in demand. The course is open to graduates of all disciplines seeking to develop their career in project management, as well as managers looking to enhance their skills. Graduates from this course will have the flexibility to work in a range of organisations, as a manager, project manager or in a consultancy capacity.
During the course you will:
Areas of study you may cover on this course include:
A range of assessment methods are used across the course, including coursework and exams. Coursework will include case study analyses, writing reports, planning and review exercises, research, presentations and group work, all typical activities that a project manager would be expected to undertake. Assessment methods have been selected to support the development of project management skills and knowledge, whilst satisfying unit and course learning outcomes.
Formative assessment will be used to provide students with the opportunity for feedback, to enable them to review and improve their work, before summative assessment wherever possible.
Project management involves significant team working and hence, there is a significant amount of group work required on the course. It is important that an individuals contribution to group work is recognised. Hence, a range of techniques will be used to identify individual work, for example, by contribution to presentations / reports, self / peer assessment and identification of on-line contribution to discussion boards.
The Project unit is one of the later units and provides students with the opportunity to use the culmination of their knowledge and skills, managing a larger scale project, as part of a team, experiencing the role of the project manager and reflecting on the process.
The management of complex projects can be challenging and requires a multi-disciplinary skill set, including planning and resource management, but also soft skills, such as interpersonal and leadership skills. The course will cover a range of study areas to reflect the responsibilities of todays professional project manager.
The course aims to develop students knowledge and skills, to manage projects effectively in the commercial, public and voluntary sector, whilst evaluating the issues in managing projects at a distance, over international boundaries, ensuring the students cultural awareness for today's global companies.
The course is delivered with an emphasis on current project management practice using:
The course will provide students with access to PRINCE2 training, providing an additional professional qualification, which is attractive to employers.
The course prepares and / or develops students for a range of careers in management, or specifically as a programme / project management.
The University has a number of formalised and specialised support structures and departments.
All students have access to the full range of student services and support offered by the university including:
Careers; Chaplaincy; Counselling; Financial Advice and Student Housing.
Students will be introduced to the expectations of Level M study in Induction, identifying the study skills required and supporting students in identifying their own learning style and how to develop their higher order academic skills. Students will be directed to seek further advice and support on study skills from the Professional and Academic.
Students requiring help with ICT tools will be directed to ICT support within the Learning Resources Centres and to the on-line materials available, http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/help/it-training, including guides on using MS Word, Powerpoint, and Excel.
Students will be introduced to the Universitys virtual learning environment, BREO, in induction, in order that they can access Unit resources. Some units will use the more advanced features of BREO, including on-line discussion boards and WIMBA. Tutors will introduce and support students in using these facilities wherever they are used.
Students will be advised to raise any course specific issues with their Unit Tutor in the first instance. In the event that the Unit Tutor is unable to satisfactorily resolve the issue, it will be brought to the attention of the Course Leader for appropriate action.
Students will have their elected student representative, who can raise issues formally at course management boards.
Team working is fundamental to a career in project management and hence, the course seeks to develop excellent inter-personal skills, including leadership and negotiation skills.
Students have the opportunity for team work in most units, and are expected to develop and enhance skills in self and peer assessment. Students will work in groups on complex projects / scenarios, and need to solve business problems and issues, make decisions and anticipate future challenges.
Projects and teams notoriously encounter difficulties at times and students are encouraged to resolve difficulties themselves with minimal staff intervention, as part of the learning process.
Students have the opportunity to reflect on their team working and critically evaluate their teams performance.
It is anticipated that many students will be actively engaged in paid employment, but all students will be able to access resources available within the University to help with your continued career management. Over the duration of the course students will network with their peers, the course team as well as have opportunities to go to presentations and lectures provided by the Knowledge Network which is a vibrant and lively meeting point for business people to share their knowledge and opportunities. More information can be obtained on http://www.theknowledgenetwork.co.uk/
The Centre for Personal and Career Development is available to support and advise all students. The Careers Advisors meet the students in Induction, to introduce them to the Careers Service. At masters level, students are encouraged to take greater responsibility for their career management, with the support of the Careers Service, which offer one-to-one career coaching. However, the course will include career development and management, and students, as professional learners will feel better equipped to make more informed decisions and career moves in line with their personal and career goals Students are encouraged to use the various Career Management online tools available for self assessment and identification of career opportunities.
On completing this course students are likely to progress within the following areas:
Career:
Project/programme management, management, consultancy, quality management
Further study:
Graduates could pursue a PhD in the area, or seek further professional qualifications through, for example, the Association of Project Management.
Standard:
In exceptional circumstances, alternative qualifications may be considered by the Course Leader, on an individual basis.
A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.
Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.
Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.
We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
The general requirement is one of the following:
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.
(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)
We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.
Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.
Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section
APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.
Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `
The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.
We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.
Return your completed application to:
University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk
The course team is aware of the requirements of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 and seek to ensure that, the practices the Act seek to encourage, are followed.
Concerning special educational needs (e.g. dyslexia) special provision is made for assessment for course work depending on the individual needs of the student.
All formal teaching and learning is undertaken on premises that provide reasonable access.
Advice on the nature of specific disabilities and the reasonable adjustments which can be made to accommodate disabled students is available from the Disability Advice Team.
Communication
To help with the development of this you will:
Information Literacy
To help with the development of this you will:
Research and Evaluation
To help with the development of this you will:
Creativity and Critical Thinking
To help with the development of this you will:
Students will be introduced to Blooms Taxonomy (or equivalent), the Level M descriptors and the subject benchmark in Induction, to enhance their understanding of the requirements of studying at masters level and to support those students who are returning to learn as mature students.
Students have the opportunity to assess their own learning style, for example using Honey and Mumford and/or the Effective Lifelong Learning Inventory. This will support students in the transition to becoming more independent autonomous learners.
All students receive transcripts of their results at the end of each semester, for their records.
Students are encouraged to make use of the range of support within the university, such as careers advice and study skills support. As indicated above, these elements are central to the course objectives and key to supporting students in their Personal Development Planning.
The course is informed by the codes of conduct and professional standards of the following professional bodies:
Students will be expected to demonstrate the following behaviours:
The Professional Standards for the course, identified above, will be shared with all new students and reviewed and developed annually in the induction period.
The course team will seek to encourage students to adhere to the above course professional standards.
Students will be made aware of codes of practice and professional body standards, to support students personal development and in order to recognise the skills, values and behaviour required of professional practitioners.
With the focus on career management and lifelong learning, students are made aware of the professional courses available, such as PRINCE2 and through the APM and CMI.
