MSc/PgDip/PgCert Engineering Project Management (online)
ApplyKey facts
- Start date: September
- Accreditation: Association for Project Management
- Study mode and duration: Part-time, 36 months
Study with us
- developed alongside industry to create in-demand graduates who can fill this skills gap and benefit from the plethora of available roles
- gain advanced engineering skills and project management expertise, including procurement knowledge, financial engineering competency and strategic awareness
- participate in industry inspired case studies for application of theory into scenario practice
Why this course?
Engineering project management has been identified as an area with a rocketing increase in global demand, and a huge diversity of roles.
It's predicted that there are more project manager positions in the manufacturing and construction sectors than any other – 9.7 million to be exact. While many of these will become available as large numbers of project managers approach retirement, there is also predicted to be a high volume of newly-created positions due to the well-publicised skills gap (The Project Management Job Growth and Talent Gap (2017-2027) report).
It is further highlighted that engineering talent, specifically those with skills in project management is scarce and in short supply.
What is engineering project management?
Essentially, the purpose of an engineering project manager is to plan and manage projects of almost any kind or size, making sure that they are completed on time and within budget. No surprise, then, that the role is absolutely vital to any company.
Our MSc in Engineering Project Management has been developed alongside industry to create in-demand graduates who can fill this skills gap and benefit from the plethora of available roles.
This degree will offer you a unique combination of advanced engineering skills, project management expertise, and industry-inspired case studies for application of theory into scenario practice. This skillset is not only beneficial for those aiming to become engineering project managers though. Many engineering projects are now undertaken by multidisciplinary teams who are responsible for the whole project life cycle in a complex multi-project or programme management environment. As a result, team members are expected to have a range of project management skills, including procurement knowledge, financial engineering competency and strategic awareness.
Benefit from further refining your technical ability and managerial skills while allowing you to gain a range of project management skills. This will both prepare you for a career as a modern professional engineer and assist your progression into more technical-managerial roles.
Additionally, the degree has a strong practical element, drawing on case studies and projects with local industry, which means you will graduate with an increased range of skills and the confidence to apply them in the real world.
Accreditation
The Engineering Project Management Masters course is accredited by Association for Project Management (APM).
Students on accredited academic courses are eligible for free APM Student Membership, offering access to APM events.
The Experience plus qualification route to APM Full Membership (route 1) will be available to any student who has successfully completed an accredited module or course, subject to meeting any eligibility date ranges that may be applied.
What you’ll study
This Engineering Project Management course will primarily appeal to engineering professionals wishing to move into project management. This degree has been designed with modules that cover a wide range of engineering management topics.
You’ll gain a thorough understanding of a range of topics affecting how engineering projects are managed. In addition to the tools and techniques that are used by project managers, you’ll examine the issues and challenges they currently face and consider them in a “whole life project” context. You’ll look at topics such as engineering risk management, systems thinking, modelling and optimisation, people, organisation and technology and digital manufacturing among many others.
You’ll also focus on key topics such as financial information, especially for major infrastructure projects, as well as strategic procurement management and supply chain issues. The process of value engineering, the concepts of value management and risk management will also be covered in depth.
The modular nature of the degree allows for the completion of individual modules or, the attainment and Masters levels. Flexible study options ensure our delegates can balance their studies with work commitments.
Industrial experience
During your course, you'll undertake an industrial group project. This will help you to develop and apply your skills as an engineering project manager within the real world.
The Industrial Group Project will give you the opportunity to work as part of a team. You'll develop your people, project management and leadership skills. You'll do this by applying engineering project management principles to address a practical problem for an industrial client, gaining direct industry experience.
The Project works in conjunction with major organisations that face challenges with the management of major design engineering projects and have a demand for the skills gained from this course.
Through this module, you'll gain experience to add to your CV, develop skills, manage a project through to completion and practice working in a multidisciplinary group preparing you for collaborative work throughout your future career.
We work with around 50 organisations per year and previous students have worked with organisations such as: Adidas, Airlie Ice Cream, Drink Baotic, Promedics Orthopaedics, Rolls-Royce, Spirit AeroSystems (Europe) Inc, Unilever, Alexander Dennis, Belle Bridal, Chivas Brothers Ltd, HATSUN Agro Products (India), Johnstons of Elgin, and Terex Trucks.
Engineering Risk Management (10 credits)
This module aims to introduce the basic principles and techniques of engineering risk management and demonstrates the appropriate application of this knowledge within an engineering context.
The module covers: Risk definitions and basic risks in engineering; Risk management processes; Reliability - achieving reliability; Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) cycle; failure rate; Mean Time Between Failure; Mean Time to Fail; Mean Life; failure stages within bathtub distribution; downtime; repair time and availability; Risk classification - failure rate; severity and detection; As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP); Risk identification - Failure Modes and Affects Analysis; Hazard and Operability Study; Fault and Event Tree Analysis; Risk-based decision making – uncertainty, decision trees, Pareto optimality, Analytic Hierarchy Process and Risk legislation and litigation in engineering.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
- Demonstrate awareness of and ability to make general evaluations of risk issues in the context of the particular specialisation, including health & safety, environmental and commercial risk
- Demonstrate awareness of relevant regulatory requirements governing engineering activities
- Demonstrate ability to work with information that may be incomplete or uncertain, quantify the effect of this on the design and, where appropriate, use theory or experimental research to mitigate deficiencies
Assessment and feedback is in the form of a group coursework to show understanding of the risk management process in practice (100% for group contribution and submission of main reports).
Total Quality Management (10 credits)
This module aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the key principles, concepts, tools and techniques of total quality management and continuous improvement together with an awareness of how these can be used to design and deliver an integrated continuous improvement programme.
It covers an Introduction to Total Quality Management including definitions, basic elements and quality costing; ISO Quality Management System Standards; Quality improvement tools; Reliability Engineering and Continuous Improvement Concepts (FMEA, Lean methodologies, Kaizen, Poka Yoke, Theory of constraints).
At the end of this module students will be able to:
- understand the key principles, concepts, tools and techniques of total quality management and continuous improvement
- apply key principles, concepts, tools and techniques of total quality management and continuous improvement, including planning for real-life application of tools and techniques
- formulate improvement strategies within a particular context
Assessment and feedback is in the form of one group work (a case study report, 40%) and one individual coursework (a journal article, 60%).
Advanced Project Management (10 credits)
This module aims to provide students with skills and knowledge relating to the use of engineering practices in Project Management with particular respect to the project triple constraint: time, cost and quality.
The module covers: project management principles, concepts and processes; organisational influences, project stakeholders and project lifecycle; project scoping such as project definition, project objectives, project deliverables, and work breakdown structure; Project planning and scheduling: definition of events, activities and nodes, network diagram, analysis of critical path, PERT method and use of industry standard software packages; Project controlling: cost estimate, budget setting, risk identification and assessment and contingency planning.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
- demonstrate a good understanding of project management practices and practical skills to manage project scope – including translating project specifications into work packages
- define and schedule project activities using tools such as critical path and PERT methods; estimate cost and determine budget using analogous and three-point estimating methods; identify and control quality standards using cost of quality and other tools
- develop a good understanding of the inter-dependency between various project management knowledge areas, such as managing projects under constraints; identifying and assessing risks and developing contingency plans
- understand the importance of project stakeholders and their impact on project management, including managing stakeholder relationships
Assessment and feedback is in the form of a group report (50%) and an individual project (50%).
Strategic Procurement Management (10 credits)
This module aims to provide students insights into Strategic Purchasing Management, focussing on the Excellent Purchasing Model (EXP), which summarises purchasing functions and processes at strategic, tactical and operational levels.
The module covers: Purchasing management including impact on a company’s competitiveness, Balance sheet and P&L account, contract management; Excellent Purchasing Model to highlight a controlled process for defining purchasing management including Total Cost of Ownership; Operational processes of the Excellent Purchasing Model including legal implications and ethics in procurement, corporate social responsibility, supplier selection, implementation and management and purchasing BSC & KPI management; Category Management strategy and development including an introduction to Kraljic Matrix and supplier/customer power matrix.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
- understand why procurement is a strategic influence of an organisation and determine the building blocks that are essential to this
- demonstrate how purchasing systems may facilitate decision making at organisational levels
- identify how the purchasing strategy is defined and deployed and to prepare a strategic purchasing plan
- identify the skills and attitudes necessary to build a strategic procurement structure and the functions that make it imperative to the organisation
Assessment and feedback is in the form of a group presentation (15%) and a two-part assignment (essay) consisting of an individual assignment focusing on an evaluation of a critical procurement topic (35%) and a group analysis of a major organisation’s procurement practices case study (50%).
Postgraduate Individual Project (60 credits)
The aim of the individual project is to allow students to combine the skills learned in other modules of the course and apply them within a significant project in a specific area of design, manufacture, or engineering management. This will be achieved through students carrying out work into a particular topic relating to their course and preparing a dissertation that documents the project.
On completion of the module the student is expected to be able to:
- define a valid project in a cutting-edge field of study relevant to the student’s degree – with an appropriate methodology and work plan for the project
- plan, manage and complete project, involving where appropriate technical analysis and independent critical thinking. This involves giving a thorough, logical and critical review of the subject matter; using appropriate tools, processes and levels of analysis in the project and applying project management techniques to manage a successful project
- document their project using suitable presentation techniques (such as language, figures, writing, layout, structure etc.); showing clear evidence of the value of the project and its outcomes and describing the project with clarity
Based on the work of a project, a student will submit an individual dissertation that will account for 90% of the final mark for the class. An interim project justification report will account for the remaining 10% of the mark.
Financial Information (10 credits)
This module aims to provide students with an understanding of strategic aspects of finance in relation to the decision-making process and analysis necessary for efficient management of organisations.
The module will cover:
Part 1. Financial Management
- Financial organisation
- Financial accounting
- Financial planning
Part 2. Cost Engineering
- Classifications of costs
- Costing methods
Part 3. Performance Evaluation
- Financial ratios
- Limitations of financial management techniques
- Non-financial performance measurement techniques
Part 4. Financial Analysis
- Investment decisions
- Investment analysis
Part 5. Other aspects of Financial Management
- Risk Management
- Finance and Project Management
At the end of this module students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the financial organisation of industrial enterprises.
- Understand, interpret and prepare financial statements and costing models of industrial enterprises.
- Evaluate financial models to facilitate economic decision making
- Evaluate the application and impact of performance measurement tools in a business environment
Assessment and feedback is in the form of:
- An online quiz under exam conditions to assess understanding of product costing, cost model development and financial management (50 % of overall mark)
- Working in groups (pre-assigned) you need to carry out a detailed study on an aspect of contemporary financial management. Each group will be assigned a topic to carry out an in-depth analysis of the subject. The outcome of this analysis will be communicated through a report and pre-recorded group video presentation (50% of overall mark).
Introduction to systems thinking, modelling and optimisation (10 credits)
The objective of this module is to introduce the participants to the theories and principles behind the discipline of Systems Thinking. The module will also introduce the participants to the methods, tools and techniques for modelling, analysing, improving and designing systems in a variety of organisations, including industrial, commercial and public sector.
The module will cover:
Systems theory, concepts and approaches
- Connectedness, complexity, hierarchy & emergence
- Understanding and modelling the concepts of value, variation, time and constraints
- Hard and soft systems analysis
- Peter Checkland’s soft systems methodology
- Viable Systems Model
- Systems Dynamics
Systems & organisational performance
- Systems thinking and its impact on personal vision and professional role
- Deming’s theory of profound knowledge & organisational learning
- Understanding and managing complexity
- Leadership in a systems environment
- Seddon’s systems thinking concepts - Purpose-Measure-Method
- ‘Design’ in a systems environment
Practical application of Systems Thinking
- Industrial case study
- Public sector case study
- Service sector case study
- People Organisation and Leadership (10 credits)
- Technology and Innovation Management (10 credits)
- Postgraduate Group Project (40 credits)
At the end of this module students will be able to:
- Discuss and critically evaluate various organisational and engineering systems across a variety of organisations, including industrial, commercial and public sector
- Model, analyse and design various organisational and engineering systems across a range of organisations
- Perform systems based forms of organisational analysis and intervention in a complex organisational problem situation
Assessment and feedback is in the form of:
Group video presentation on the development of a business system model (40%) and an individual report on two comparable business within the same industry, modelling their systems, reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses, and possible improvements (60%)
People Organisation and Leadership (10 credits)
This module aims to introduce students to the “softer” aspects of engineering management. Given some key organisational and technological issues, the main focus is to examine the relationship between “human” elements and change management from an engineering-oriented perspective.
The module will cover organisational and technological issues in the workplace, human element in organisations and leadership considerations.
At the end of this module students will be able to:
- Discuss key issues in organisation and technology.
- Understand modern people management concepts and practices.
- Appreciate the challenges and consequences of change.
- Understand the impact of organisational issues on people when managing projects
Assessment and feedback is in the form of:
- Online class test (50%)
- Individual essay (50%)
Technology and Innovation Management (10 credits)
This is an interdisciplinary strategic technology and innovation management course. It integrates insights from research on strategy, management control, innovation and technology, and organizational behaviour. Imagine for a moment that you are a consultant/product manager and you have been asked to develop a strategy for a major innovation initiative for a large and successful company. Based on your research, you devise a business plan and present it / pitch it to the CEO. The CEO likes it, and decides to invest on the basis of your recommendation. This course is about what happens next. We will focus on the challenges faced by the leaders of innovation initiatives, as well as how CEOs and other senior executives can either help or get in the way.
The module will cover creating, capturing, and delivering value with technology strategy. The 11 topics will cover:
a) How should one define a strategy for a technology driven company?
b) How to make innovation happen?
c) What are the three models to make innovations happen?
d) How to build innovation teams and manage partnerships?
e) How to run innovations as ‘disciplined experiments’?
At the end of this module students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the role and importance of technology in business strategy formulation process
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of managing the innovation process within organisations
- Develop the ability to critically assess concepts, tools and techniques of managing innovation for both stable and turbulent business environments
- Diagnose complexity and develop appropriate innovation management mechanisms for specific cases
Assessment and feedback is in the form of an individual report (100%).
Postgraduate Group Project (40 credits)
This module aims for students to integrate and apply design, manufacturing and engineering management knowledge and skills to an industry based product and process development project and to develop project management skills.
The module consists of a team-based industrial project where an outline project brief is set by an industrial client. The team is expected to manage all aspects of the project through to a finished solution. This can be a product, system or process depending on the nature of the project. Teams meet with academic staff and industrial clients regularly through the project. At the end of this module students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the various elements associated with the respective course disciplines
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of products and management practices in industry
- Demonstrate knowledge and ability in applying and using various analysis and modelling tools and techniques in product and process realisation
- Demonstrate project planning and management, data collection and analysis, presentation, consulting and team working skills
Assessment and feedback is in the form of three milestones submitted during the project, with a final project submission at the end of Semester 2. This includes a project report, a presentation to the client and any other deliverables specified in the project brief.
Facilities
This course is delivered entirely online, using MyPlace (Moodle) as the delivery vehicle. The course itself comprises of videos, articles, polls, discussions, tutorials, quizzes, activities which mirror the learning objectives of the residential course. MyPlace is required to teach the proposed degree, along with a conferencing software such as Zoom (or similar).
Online education has numerous benefits, for instance, many students can’t make enough time for on-campus courses due to their full-time work schedules, family, and other personal responsibilities. However, online delivery offers the flexibility increasingly required by professionals in the field.
Academic staff
You'll learn from leading experts in the field of engineering project management. All our staff have great experience working in both industry and research.
Staff teaching on this course include:
Staff | Interests |
Professor Jörn Mehnen |
Internationally renowned expert in Industry 4.0 technology, Internet of Things and Through-Life Engineering as well as Cloud Manufacturing. |
Professor Jillian MacBryde |
Has a focus on the areas of innovation, process improvement and performance measurement and teaches in the areas of Engineering Management. |
Staff | Interests |
Dr Andy Wong | Apart from being a fellow of HEA, Dr Wong is a member of IEEE and BAM which are both leading academic communities in the world. He has published over 40 journal and conference papers in the areas of Management Science, Operations Research and Soft Computing |
Mr Jose Luis Hernandez | Mr Hernandez is passionate about operational excellence and his research and industrial engagement activities are aimed at helping organisations perform better. |
Dr Ian Whitfield | An internationally recognised expert in collaboration within large engineering projects, knowledge and information management through life, and modular systems design |
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city
Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements | MSc: First or second-class Honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant engineering, technology or science discipline. PgDip: Degree, or good HND plus relevant industrial experience, may be considered for entry to the Postgraduate Diploma. Depending on satisfactory progress, students may transfer from the Diploma to the Masters course. |
---|
Pre-Masters preparation course
The Pre-Masters Programme is a preparation course held at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre, for international students (non-UK/Ireland) who do not meet the academic entry requirements for a Masters degree at University of Strathclyde.
Upon successful completion, you'll be able to progress to this degree course at the University of Strathclyde.
Please note: Previous Maths & English qualifications and your undergraduate degree must meet GTCS minimum entry requirements as well as the pre-Masters course and an interview will be conducted before an offer can be made.
Fees & funding
All fees listed, unless otherwise stated, are per 60 credits, individual module fees are charged pro rata.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Annual revision of fees
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study and any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 10% per year.
Scotland | £5,100 |
---|---|
England, Wales & Northern Ireland | £5,100 |
Republic of Ireland |
If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process. |
International | £5,100 |
Non-graduating (per 10 credits) | Scotland: £850 England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £850 International: £850 |
Available scholarships | Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities. |
Additional costs | International students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information. |
Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.
Chat to a student ambassador
If you want to know more about what it’s like to be an Engineering student at the University of Strathclyde, a selection of our current students are here to help!
Our Unibuddy ambassadors can answer all the questions you might have about courses and studying at Strathclyde, along with offering insight into their experiences of life in Glasgow and Scotland.
Careers
Our MSc in Engineering Project Management is designed to support your career ambitions and progression.
Graduates from the MSc Engineering Project Management degree would have the skills enabling them to undertake an engineering project management based role, or to gain a competitive edge and advance to a higher level management role. These roles could be in a variety of engineering fields including electronic, electrical, chemical, civil, mechanical, design, research and development.
Engineering has an impact on all aspects of our lives and, as a result, it supports almost all industries. The discipline could lead to you working for any major organisation, with a competitive starting salary. Roles include, but are not limited to:
- Engineering Project Manager
- Project Engineer /Manager
- Technical Team Leader/Manager/Director
- Development Manager
- Engineering Consultant
In addition, studying at Masters level will further enhance your prospects, creates networking opportunities with like-minded peers, allows you to specialise in a niche area and opens up opportunities to progress further in your career.
Alternatively, our programme will provide you with the skills, knowledge and experience to take up further study at PhD level and begin a career in research, exploring innovative, cutting-edge areas of the engineering discipline.
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
Apply
During the application process, you must upload the following supporting documents. If these are not provided, we will not be able to process your application:
- certified individual semester mark sheets/academic transcript showing subjects taken and grades achieved for all qualifications. If you're still studying, please provide your individual semester mark sheets to date
- certified degree certificate for all qualification. If youre still studying, please provide this after completing your qualification
- provide evidence of suitable English language proficiency if English is not your first language, or you're not from a “UKVI recognised "Majority English Speaking" country”; check the University’s language requirements
- if you have been out of full-time education for over two years, provide a CV, detailing employment history, organisations worked for and a brief description of roles and responsibilities
- a copy of your passport containing your photo and passport number
- a copy of your sponsor letter/scholarship award (if appropriate)
- names, job titles and email addresses for two nominated referees
Start date: Sep 2025
Engineering Project Management (online)
Start date: Sep 2025
Engineering Project Management (online)
Start date: Sep 2025
Engineering Project Management (online)