If you successfully complete all elements of the course, you will be awarded the RICS Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management and will be entitled to use the designatory letters PGDipProjMan (if you are a Member of RICS) or PGDipProjMan(RICS) (if you are not yet a Member of RICS).

You may have the option to transfer to The Open UniversityMBA in Real Estate and Construction Management. If you are eligible, you will be invited to take up this opportunity at the end of Part 1 to transfer at the start of Part 2.

RICS

If you possess a cognate degree, there are circumstances in which the RICS Postgraduate Diploma can be used towards RICS Membership. If this is relevant to you, please ask us for details. Existing chartered surveyors from other disciplines will find the course of great help towards passing the project management APC to become a chartered project management surveyor.

CIOB

Successful diplomates may apply for individual assessment through the Chartered Institute of Building.

You should have a good property-related degree and/or relevant professional qualifications. Three years’ post-qualification experience is also desirable, as experience in some aspects of project management and/or a planned career in project management are considered important. Priority will be given to candidates already in senior management positions in the construction and property industries.

Part 1

December Semester

principles of marketing; buyer behaviour; marketing research; service management; product management; promotional mix; pricing; marketing planning; international marketing.

concepts of organisational behaviour; theory and practice of managing people; strategic issues; general management and decision making; defining management; organisational environment; groups and teams; motivation; leadership; performance management; managing marginal performers; reward management; conflict management.

June Semester

introduction to business; introduction to accounts and finance; partnerships and companies; accounting principles and issues; cash flow statements and value added statements; evaluation of accounting information; cost volume profit and short-run tactical decision making; introduction to budgeting; principles of cost accounting; long-term decision making; industrial and commercial finance; summarising data; sampling; probability and probability models; risk analysis in the construction and development industries; decision making using management science tools; risk analysis using simulation; network analysis.

integrating academic and professional knowledge; developing personal and professional practice; reflection, learning and professionalism in the workplace.

Part 2

December Semester

strategic functions of project management; practical issues and management functions associated with development strategies; carbon footprinting; town planning; value and risk management; procurement systems; audit review; facilities management; strategic processes; culture, ethics and management of international construction; dispute resolution; legal aspects; the strategic domain.

role of corporate strategic management within construction and real estate industries; evolution of strategic management ideas; how organisations should grow to suit the economic and political environment; strategy; systems, structure and styles; stakeholders; context; innovation through research, development and business ethics; new organisational paradigms; models; open systems approach; political and legal influences; skills and competencies of the change agent.

June Semester

aspects of accounting directly relevant to project management, including investment decisions; sources of finance; development appraisal; contractor appraisal; project cost control; international project financing; risk management; tax; viability; case studies. Note: One module only is required in the June Semester to reach the 120 credits required for Postgraduate Diploma level.

There are two optional local workshop sessions for each module on the course of study. Availability of locations will be based on the number of module registrations received. Overnight accommodation is not provided as part of these optional sessions. Other media formats may also be offered as an addition/alternative to face-to-face sessions.

Assessment consists of assignments and examinations in each module at Parts 1 and 2 (apart from International Professional Practice, which has two assignments and no exam).

Assignments

You will complete and submit two assignments per module for assessment according to the timetable of the course. (Marketing module – one assignment only.)

Exams

Exams are normally held in May and November and are as follows:

• Part 1: One 1½-hour written paper for Marketing and one 3-hour written paper each for Leading and Managing Organisations and Management Finance and Science. There is no exam for International Professional Practice

• Part 2: Two 3-hour written papers for December Semester modules, plus one 3-hour written paper for the June Semester module

Please click here to apply.