Master of Project Management

This postgraduate qualification is offered as part of a suite of four programs (Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, a 1.5-year Master and a 2.0-year Master). Each qualification extends to the next, so you can easily transition to a Master level qualification. 

If you decide to exit this degree having completed the required four core courses, you will receive the Graduate Certificate in Project Management. If you have completed the required eight core courses, you will receive the Graduate Diploma in Project Management. If you have completed the eleven core required courses, you will receive the Master in Project and Program Management.

You will graduate with the advanced skills and knowledge to apply project, program and portfolio management methodology to specific professional field(s) of expertise; work in interdisciplinary project teams; and assume the role of project manager from inception to commissioning.

You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to network, exchange ideas and share experiences with practising project managers as well as other professionals. As part of this degree you will do a major integrated research project which could focus on a real issue in your workplace.

This degree utilises the Standard for Project Management and A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) as a learning framework as well as relevant other industry standards in the field that are widely recognised and applied across different industries, businesses and government institutions.

Project management is a highly regarded discipline, with demand increasing for individuals with project management skills in the Australian workforce1. Many industries rely on specialist project and program professionals with excellent practical skills and essential knowledge to plan and deliver projects on time, within budget, objectives, specifications, and outcomes that ultimately deliver value to their organisation and stakeholders.

Degree overview

• This is a STEM-centred project management graduate degree.
• Gain advanced knowledge, methodologies, tools and techniques in project, program and portfolio management to address the growing complexity of projects across various industries.
• Enable you to deepen knowledge in your field of interest, background and past professional experience. Concentrations allow you to use three elective courses to focus on a specific discipline such as Data Analytics and Business, Environment, Energy, Sustainability, Construction, Contracting, Engineering, Manufacturing, Defence or Health and Allied Contexts.
• Program curriculum and learning framework based on the Standard for Project Management and A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) as a learning framework as well as relevant other industry standards in the field.
• Study with a University who ranked no. 2 in Australia for graduate employability1.

What you'll learn

• Throughout this program, you will learn advanced knowledge in project, program and portfolio management, its widely applicable tools and techniques, and attain a versatile range of skill sets that you can apply to any complex project.
• Our lecturers and facilitators come from both academia and industry. They are project management experts and practising industry professionals with extensive knowledge and experience.
• You’ll get unconventional teaching and industry-relevant materials that support learning and upskilling needs.
• You will learn the fundamentals of project management and take advanced courses such as Portfolio and Program Management, Managing Complexity in Projects, and Sustainability in Project Management.

Your studies will also include advanced elective courses within specific expertise enabling you to deepen your knowledge in your field of interest or professional background from these five concentrations:

• Data Analytics and Business
• Environment, Energy and Sustainability
• Construction, Contracting and Engineering
• Defence, Manufacturing and Supply Chain
• Health and Allied Contexts

Study hours

• For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects, as well as to contribute to online discussion forums (independent study). So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12–26 hours of study when at university and 14–28 hours of independent study per week.

Your studies at UniSA will incorporate both practical, professionally-focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:

• Reports and project documentation
• Essays and assignments
• Quizzes or tests
• Individual and group projects
• Thesis
• Presentations

Global opportunities

• Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. You may have the option to undertake an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas while you study. We have links with universities worldwide, as well as a range of travel grants available to make going overseas much more accessible.
• You can choose short-term or semester-long study from a range of universities and countries depending on your area of study and cultural interests.

Research
You will benefit from access to UniSA's renowned research centres, including the Sustainable Infrastructure and Resource Management concentration.

• Our researchers work in partnership with industry; local council; government; charitable, not-for-profit and social organisations; media; communities; and other research organisations to address the knowledge gaps and problems of our natural and built environments. The aim is to develop equitable and just, healthy, safe, thriving and sustainable communities. 

Research includes:

• Digital technologies and smart buildings
• Energy efficient industries and communities
• Planning, safety and modelling
• Project and risk management
• Sustainable, desirable, adaptive and resilient communities

Your career
With a Master of Project Management, you’ll be well qualified to apply for roles such as Project Manager, Program Manager, Project Officer or Project Consultant. These professionals are employed in diverse areas such as:

• Information technology
• Construction
• Engineering
• Maritime
• Planning
• Aid
• Health
• Defence
• Finance
• Mining
• Assets and facilities
• Infrastructure
• Biopharmaceuticals
• Resources
• The arts
• Government
• Community development