PhD Management of Projects: The University of Manchester

Course description

Research in Management of Projects is is strongly aligned with the taught programmes in the fields of Commercial Management, Configuration Management, Engineering Management, Project Management, and Life Cycle Management in the School.

The Research Group is part of the Centre for Research in the Management of Projects (CRMP), with corresponding Research Groups at University College London and Manchester Business School.

The aim of the Group is to support research into diverse aspects of the management of projects.

The groups research relates to several major research themes in mechanical, aerospace, civil engineering and built environment fields. It predominantly falls within the disciplines of:

• Commercial Management
• Project, Program and Portfolio Management

Current research interests include:

• Conflict and dispute resolution
• Contract price prediction and cost estimating
• Knowledge management and organisational learning
• Procurement strategy and systems
• Project finance
• Risk management
• Supplier decision-making: decision to bid and bid price determination
• Value management
• Application of neural networks, fuzzy logic, regression analysis
• Application of problem structuring methods (PSMs) in project management (eg. soft systems methodology)
• Management of emergency and urgent projects

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview:

A student may be admitted to a PhD degree only if an appropriate research environment is available for the duration of the degree. This should include the availability of appropriate academic staff to provide supervision and training, other research-support staff, research facilities and learning resources.

Applicants for admission will normally hold a Bachelors degree or equivalent qualification, a Masters Degree or equivalent qualification, or both. The level of attainment for the Bachelor's degree will normally be equivalent to that of a First Class or Upper Second Class Honours UK Bachelor's degree. Some areas of study may require a Master's level qualification in a relevant discipline for admission to a PhD.  Professional qualifications other than a Bachelor's Degree and/or relevant and appropriate experience may be taken into account for entry to a PhD degree.

Applicants for admission to PhD who do not meet the above criteria, but who hold a Bachelor's degree with Lower Second Class Honours or equivalent qualification, may be admitted to the degree of MPhil in the first instance. Following completion of one year's registration, candidates will be required to demonstrate, through a formal progress report and meeting that they have achieved a satisfactory performance in terms of a standard consistent with the award of the degree of MPhil, in order to be allowed to progress to year two of PhD registration.

English language:

All applicants will need to demonstrate competency in the English language. Applicants who do not already posses a recognised English Language qualification will need to take a recognised test such as IELTS or TOEFL and attain a minimum of IELTS 6.5 ( with no sub test less than 5.5), TOEFL 570 with 5.0 in the TWE (Computer-based 230 or above or Internet-based 88-89 or above).