AIPM endorsed
Endorsed by the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM), aligned with the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)
Tailored degree
Choose electives in areas such as accounting, business, engineering, health services and information systems.
Outstanding student support
#1 in Australia for Education Student Support 1
Top 100 Young Universities
Ranked in the top 100 universities in the world that are 50 years old or younger 2
1 Good Universities Guide 2023
2 Times Higher Education 2024 Young University Rankings
The SCU Online Master of Project Management difference
Are you thinking about studying a Master of Project Management degree? At SCU, we’re cultivating the leaders of tomorrow, today, right in our very own backyard. We aim to provide an exceptional education experience through our unique learning model and innovative online platform. We’re committed to lifelong learning and providing equal access to education for everyone, regardless of background or location.
As one of the top universities in the world at only 25 years young, we’re pioneers in online education and have been doing so since 2015. We’re a rising, dynamic university that is proud to be a game changer and leader in education. That’s the SCU Online difference and why you should study a project management masters degree with us.
Quick facts
- Units
12 - Duration
24 months part-time - Fees
$3,142 per unit, FEE-HELP available - Intakes
Jan, Mar, May, July, Aug, Oct
The SCU Master of Project Management online benefits
Get qualified sooner
With our accelerated learning model, you’ll graduate sooner than you would in the traditional part-time semester or trimester structure. Complete your degree in just 16 months, studying part-time.
Gain practical skills
Embrace an exciting opportunity to develop skills you can apply instantly to real-world scenarios by completing an Industry Research Project, alongside learning through case scenarios and other practical examples.
Expand your network
Engage in our learning platform, building your global network of professional contacts, business connections and other like-minded peers.
A recognised degree
Endorsed by AIPM and aligned with the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), graduate with a highly reputable qualification.
Unique learning model
Find the ideal balance between work, life and study through our unique seven-week study units. Apply the knowledge & skills you learn immediately to real-world situations.
Unparalleled support
Receive academic and non-academic support to assist with your study from enrolment through to graduation. Have full access to SCU campuses, including the library and other facilities.
How does the online Master of Project Management degree work with SCU?
- With no exams, you’ll learn through quizzes, videos, interactive presentations and more.
- Connect with academics and students through online chat platforms and discussion boards.
- Access support throughout the course, including feedback from a learning coach and a dedicated student success advisor from enrolment through to graduation.
- Live classes are optional but encouraged for networking, while the course is self-paced.
- To make the most of your learning experience, we recommend dedicating around 20 hours per week to your studies.
A typical study period at SCU Online
Career and salary outcomes
Project Manager, typical annual salary: $135,000
IT Project Manager, typical annual salary: $150,000
Civil Project Manager, typical annual salary: $165,000
Construction Project Manager, typical annual salary: $140,000
Project Leader, typical annual salary: $125,000
Project Director, typical annual salary: $235,000
* Salary outcomes captured by Seek.com.au, accurate as of July 2023.
Early exit options
We know that plans change, which is why we’ve flexible completion options with a Graduate Certificate in Project Management or Graduate Diploma in Project Management.
Graduate Certificate
4 Units, or continue studying
Graduate Diploma
+ 4 Units, or continue studying
Master degree
+ 4 Units
Entry requirements
To gain entry into the Master of Project Management online, you must:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum of two years’ work experience in a professional environment; or
- Have over five years’ work experience/professional standing that is regarded by the Academic Board as equivalent to an undergraduate degree.
- Be proficient in English.
Find out more about Rules Relating to Awards and Specific Award Rules.
Units of study
This unit covers the foundation elements of managing business projects.
This unit will guide you through the project management process, from initiation to planning and development.
Learn how to implement project plans that mitigate risk, establish controls and ensure quality projects.
An introduction to the history, approaches, and roles in an Agile project management environment. This unit will also provide students with an understanding of the most appropriate situations in which to employ Agile practices, the benefits and challenges of Agile, and the growing use of hybrid forms of project management.
This unit explores theories and practices behind effective management of people and projects.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of contract types and their relationship with performance.
Learn how to skillfully negotiate, map and design systems, as well as evaluate project management processes.
Get detailed information about each unit in our course guide.
Learning outcomes
Develop your problem-solving skills to adapt resources and improve efficiencies, expertly working around project timelines from planning through to completion.
Critically assess leadership styles, explore theories and practices behind effective management, while honing your communication and ethical decision-making skills within the context of managing projects.
Build your capacity to employ Agile practices, while understanding the value of applying/employing a hybrid of agile and traditional approaches in managing projects.
Meet our course coordinator
Dr Chris Lawler is a seasoned professional with an exceptional track record spanning over four decades, specialising in projects, programs, and portfolios across diverse industries. She now pursues her passion for developing emerging to advanced practitioners as a sessional lecturer, online facilitator and mentor. By utilising her experience and expertise, Chris is available to assist SCU Online Master of Project Management students through:
- Industry experience
Gain a deep understanding of how project management principles are applied in different contexts, including the nonprofit sector. - Mentoring
Receive one-on-one guidance and support in your academic and career journey. As your course coordinator, Chris can offer career advice, share insights and help you develop essential skills for success in the field of project management. - Networking opportunities
Be connected to a network of professionals within the field of project management and expand your industry connections and opportunities for mentorship, internship and job prospects.
My current role involves interfacing with many other disciplines. Studying Southern Cross University's Master of Project Management has proven to be the perfect way for me to advance my knowledge and opportunities.
The whole experience was excellent from start to finish. Lecturers were knowledgeable, supportive and encouraging, recognising the challenges faced by most of the students in balancing work demands, home life and study.
I've been practicing as a project manager for around 10 years and decided that I wanted to attain a more formal recognition in the profession. I thought of various options for this recognition and determined that a masters would be the best fit for me.
Frequently asked questions
Set yourself apart from your peers with Master of Project Management, demonstrating your depth of understanding, critical and analytical skills, and serious commitment to your profession. Endorsed by the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM), through Southern Cross University’s Master of Project Management, you’ll learn core competencies associated with risk, control, planning, implementation, evaluation, collaboration, and systems analysis, all adaptable to your chosen industry.
With SCU Online, you will undertake seven-week study periods in which to complete each unit, with the ability to focus on a single unit every study period and as many as six units every year.
The total duration of this course is 2 years, part-time. You will complete 12 units in total during this time.
To qualify for entry into the Master of Project Management online, you must:
- Hold a Bachelor degree in any discipline with a minimum of two years’ work experience in a professional environment; or
- Have over five years’ work experience/professional standing that is regarded by the Academic Board as equivalent to an undergraduate degree.
- Be proficient in English.
Find out more about Rules Relating to Awards and Specific Award Rules.
We may recognise and grant credit for past education or qualifications in a process called advanced standing. If you're eligible for advanced standing, this can impact the number of units you need to study, reducing the time and cost of your overall degree. To find out more about advanced standing, get in touch with one of our Enrolment Advisors on 1300 863 819.
From engineering to IT and from defence to finance, and almost every industry in between, project managers are in increasing demand.
Whether they’re ensuring the smooth management of a major urban infrastructure project, overseeing the delivery of a new mining development, bringing to life a new community health initiative, or implementing a cloud-based software system for a client, project managers are a vital ingredient when the working environment becomes complex.
A two-year, 100 per-cent online, part-time course, the Master of Project Management is endorsed by the Australian Institute of Project Management. It combines vital core units with industry-specific elective units, plus a powerful industry research project to create the ultimate project management experience.
Candidates take units focussing on principles, planning, quality control, risk, leadership, contract management and more. Elective units include accounting, business management, engineering management, health services management, information and knowledge management and people leadership.
Along the way, each student’s critical and analytical thinking processes will be developed, particularly in areas such as planning, implementation, collaboration and evaluation. This is important as successful project management is not just about practical application, but is also about considering, through critical thinking and reflection, which skills to apply.
Upon completion of the Master of Project Management, entirely new career opportunities open up. From the startup environment (in 2018 StartupAUS reported project management as one of the five most in-demand jobs, globally) to multinational corporations, talented, experienced and well-educated project managers are an essential ingredient for success.
Want to learn more? Read our blog about how to become a Project Manager.
Endorsement by the Australian Institute of Project Management takes our Master of Project Management to an entirely new level in terms of resources and opportunity.
Whether their job is to plan a wedding or a railway system project, a corporate revitalisation or a child’s birthday party, project managers from all industries have long been provided leading, real-world knowledge by Southern Cross University’s Master of Project Management.
Advanced standing focuses primarily on receiving credit from previous academic study, such as an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, while RPL encompasses a wider range of learning experiences as well as professional work experience. Both processes provide the opportunity for you to have your prior learning recognised, thereby reducing the amount of time and effort required to complete the online Master of Project Management.
