MSc Engineering Project Management

Fees for entry in 2027 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2026 were as follows:

• MSc (full-time)
  UK students (per annum): £17,400
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £36,800

The fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs.

Fees for entry are subject to yearly review. The University reserves the right to increase your tuition fee by up to 7% each year for courses lasting more than one year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our educational and wider student experience. Postgraduate fees information .

Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

We offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and awards to outstanding UK and international students each year.

The University of Manchester is committed to widening participation in master's study, and allocates £300,000 in funding each year. Our Manchester Master's Bursaries are aimed at widening access to master's courses by removing barriers to postgraduate education for students from underrepresented groups.

We also welcome the best and brightest international students each year and reward excellence with a number of merit-based scholarships. See our range of master’s scholarships for international students .

And, if you have completed an undergraduate degree at The University of Manchester, or are currently in your final year of an undergraduate degree with us, you may be eligible for a discount of 10% on tuition fees if you choose to study on a taught postgraduate course here. Find out if you're eligible and how to apply .

For more information on master's tuition fees and studying costs, visit the University of Manchester funding for master's courses website to help you plan your finances.

The dissertation largely involves in depth self-study (self-directed independent learning), to acquire coherent and detailed knowledge of relevant project management-related concepts, and/or techniques. A project topic area is allocated to each student early in Semester 2. Where possible the allocation of the project topic area is based on student preference. Students will also be allocated a Dissertation supervisor. In consultation with their allocated Dissertation supervisor, students are required to develop a specific project within their allocated project topic area.

The Project Topic Allocation Process requires students to review a limited number of project topic areas and bid on suitable ones. Bidding takes place at the end of Semester 1. There may also be an opportunity to apply for a small number of industry-linked projects (separate application and interview process). There will be two lectures and three workshops conducted in Semester 1 to help introduce students to the unit and support them in developing their research and study skills.  

The research proposal is due at the end of Sem 2 and the dissertation is submitted in the first week of September. Both components assessed by the Supervisor and a second marker, and may be subject to further assessment and/or moderation.

The Dissertation is a year-long unit worth 60 credits and represents 600 hours of work, requiring a substantial commitment throughout the year.  

The preparation of the dissertation is the outcome of the student’s own work, and requires significant self-study, time management and planning. The student is wholly responsible for developing their project specific knowledge, and for the planning, preparation, contents, quality, presentation of the dissertation, and for meeting the submission deadlines. The Dissertation Supervisor provides guidance via a limited number of supervision meetings, and online communication.

This unit aims to provide students with the opportunity to undertake an independent, significant piece of research within the area of project management/ management of projects. Students will design an original research project including a robust methodology, collect and analyse relevant data, and report on the findings. Students will demonstrate advanced subject knowledge, methodological rigour, critical thinking, and academic professionalism related to the topic area of project management at postgraduate level.

On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Research a topic relevant to project management by searching for and critically analysing relevant literature, information and data.
• Develop and demonstrate an understanding of the theories, current concepts and issues relevant to their chosen project topic area.
• Critically evaluate and synthesise academic literature to establish a clear research context and rationale.
• Develop coherent arguments and insights that contribute to academic and/or professional understanding of project management.
• Formulate a coherent and viable research questions or set of objectives based on theoretical and empirical gaps.
• Collate and critically analyse information and data from a range of sources including published work, databases and, where appropriate, their own empirical research.
• Compare, contrast and synthesise data critically and examine the links between the data compiled or analysed and the current theory and concepts to provide an insight into the current knowledge in their topic area.
• Critically evaluate and justify the selection of appropriate research methodologies and methods.
• Design and apply appropriate research methods and analyse research material systematically.
• Understand ethical considerations in research and apply them appropriately.
• Communicate findings effectively through a well-structured research proposal and dissertation that adheres to academic conventions and professional standards.
• Manage time and resources effectively to meet deadlines and project milestones.
• Research independently, develop knowledge and understanding of a specific topic area via self-study, and plan, organise and manage the preparation of their dissertation.
• Discuss their work with their allocated supervisor.
• Communicate complex ideas, methods and findings effectively, including the ability to respond constructively to feedback and clarification questions.
• Present written academic work (research proposal and dissertation).

Other - Research proposal (20%)

Verbal feedback is provided continuously during the duration of the project work, with regular face-to-face meetings between the student and his/her supervisor.

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8. Shenhar, Aaron; Dvir, Dov. (2007). PROJECT MANAGEMENT RESEARCH-THE CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY. Project Management Journal. DOI: 10.1177/875697280703800210
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12. Söderlund, Jonas. (2004). Building theories of project management: past research, questions for the future. International Journal of Project Management. DOI: 10.1016/S0263-7863(03)00070-X