Project Management (online)



Overview

This intensive course gives you the strategic mindset and tools every project manager needs to lead projects successfully, from early planning through to final delivery. 

Many projects struggle from the outset, with common challenges like cost overruns, delays and benefit shortfalls. These issues are often made worse by rigid, one-size-fits-all processes. This course takes a different approach, focusing on the core questions that help you adapt your approach to different projects and lead them successfully, whatever their size or complexity. 

You’ll learn how to select, prioritise and deliver the right projects that directly support your organisation’s strategy, and how to manage them flexibly in today’s fast-moving, resource-conscious environment. With growing pressure to increase efficiency and reduce costs, making the right investment decisions around projects has never been more important. 

Effective project management is critical to ensuring those investments succeed. This course gives you a clear framework to improve how projects are scoped, managed and delivered, helping your organisation stay a fit for the future. 

Programme details

This course was designed and developed by the CPD Centre in conjunction with faculty from the University of Oxford's  Saïd Business School.

The course offers a condensed, yet comprehensive, overview of current and emerging best-practice methodologies and techniques for meeting the challenges of managing multiple, complex projects in a range of fields, such as construction, digital, technology, science, energy, defence and other sectors. 

Over the three sessions, you will be taken through the critical elements of project management:

Session 1 - Re-thinking project management

  • Why we need different approaches
  • Your success formula
  • Defining your project scope

Session 2 - Key technical issues

  • Managing schedule
  • RAIDs (risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies)
  • Resources

Session 3 - People-power politics

  • Good project governance
  • Shaping human behaviour
  • Project culture

Dates, Times and Delivery

The Project Management (online) course will run over three days, from 2 - 4 December 2025.

Sessions will be 90 minutes, delivered online via Microsoft Teams, from 10:30–12:00 (UK time).

Session days:

  • Tuesday 2 December
  • Wednesday 3 December
  • Thursday 4 December

A world clock, and time zone converter can be found here: https://bit.ly/3bSPu6D

This is a ‘virtual classroom’ course.

To replicate the experience of a classroom, the sessions are ‘live’ and are not recorded.

No attendance at Oxford is required and you do not need to purchase any software.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed specifically to benefit engineers, scientists, managers and other staff in large or small public and private sector organisations.

It is designed for those who have responsibility for project and programme management who want to improve their knowledge of the latest developments in this area. Some prior experience of project management is expected.

If you're uncertain whether this course is suitable for your requirements, please email us with any questions you may have.

Accessing Your Online Course 

Details about accessing the private MS Teams course site will be emailed to you during the week prior to the course commencing.  

Please get in touch if you have not received this information within three working days of the course start date. 

Digital Certification

In order to be eligible for a certificate of attendance, you will need to attend the whole course. Participants who meet this criterion will be emailed after the end of the course with a link, and instructions on how to access their University of Oxford digital certificate. 

The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate, as well as share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £615.00

Payment

Fees include electronic copies of course materials. 

All courses are VAT exempt. 

Register immediately online  

Click the 'Book now' button on this webpage. Payment by credit or debit card is required. 

Request an invoice 

If you require an invoice for your company or organisation, please email us to request an online enrolment form. Payment is then accepted online, by credit/debit card, or by bank transfer. 

Tutor

Dr Alexander Budzier

Fellow in Management Practice, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Alexander Budzier’s research focuses on transformative projects and their management challenges in the field of IT, construction, energy and events.

To secure impact for his research outside academia, Alexander is widely engaged in advisory activities for the top management of several of the largest and most complex projects around the globe.

Prior to coming to the University of Oxford, Alexander worked as a consultant with McKinsey's in Düsseldorf and Chicago, and at T-Mobile International, London.

Alexander is teaching on the MBA, MPP and MSc for Major Programme Management, a part-time executive degree at the University of Oxford, as well as the Major Project Leadership Academy, a leadership development programme for the top 300 project managers in the UK civil service.

His work has been widely covered by the Financial Times, Forbes, BBC Radio 4, MIT Technology Review, ComputerWeekly, McKinsey Quarterly, InformationWeek, BBC News, and many others.

Application

If you would like to discuss your application or any part of the application process before applying, please click 'Ask a question' at the top of this page.

IT requirements

This course is delivered online using Microsoft Teams. You will be required to follow and implement the instructions we send you to fully access Microsoft Teams on the University of Oxford's secure IT network.

To participate you must be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet. You will also need regular access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification.

It is advised to use headphones with working speakers and microphone.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support