Major Programme Management

The MSc is the only masters degree to focus entirely on the management of major programmes, which are far more than simply scaled-up projects and need to be seen as temporary organisations in their own right.

Distinct from the traditional practices of project management, the MSc in Major Programme Management provides you with the broad range of competencies central to the successful delivery of integrated solutions, which can be found amongst the best executive officers and general managers in organisations around the world.

Benefits to you

Knowledge gained, skills learned, and relationships made on the programme will elevate your career potential and directly benefit the organisations that you work for now, and in the future:

• Take a broader view of major project management from organisational structure to risk management and enhance your ability to lead transformative programmes
• Develop the tools, skills and concepts to deliver successful major projects and progress to the highest level in your career
• Access the latest research and thinking in major programme management from world-leading University of Oxford and Saïd Business School faculty
• Enhance your career prospects with this masters degree from the University of Oxford without interrupting your current work commitments
• Exchange experiences and discuss strategic issues with a senior peer group from around the globe
• Gain exposure to the top ranks of programme management practice through forums, seminar and guest lecture series, and other networking opportunities
• Build your professional network with lifelong membership of your Oxford college and the Oxford Business Alumni network.

Benefits to your organisation

Whilst major programmes have the power to transform a company, a city and even a country, they frequently fail to deliver on their promise with significant consequences for people and organisations.

Informed by cutting-edge research, the MSc combines the highest standards of academic rigour with a practical approach to managing successful large-scale, complex and transformational projects to deliver real and significant value to your organisation.

The MSc in Major Programme Management offers a number of benefits to your organisation including:

• Your increased confidence, expertise and ability to lead major programmes successfully
• Better management of the risks inherent in major programmes through your understanding and focus on risk and complexity
• Greater likelihood of success derived through your enhanced ability to manage performance and engage with internal and external stakeholders
• Your exposure to world-leading faculty and talented peer group which will immediately refresh your own thinking and also the range of ideas that your organisation has access to
• The modular format which enables you to integrate study into your working life, while remaining a productive and contributing member of the management team
• You can add value to your organisation from the very first module by applying your learning directly when you return
• You gain the knowledge and insight you need to navigate the complexities major programme management and make the broadest possible contribution to the success of your organisation

Informed by cutting-edge research and grounded in the best of international practice, the Oxford Masters is built on eight core courses which are completed module by module within two years, and a dissertation.

Each module begins on a Tuesday and concludes on a Friday, allowing participants to combine work with study. The first module commences with an additional two-day induction, and the final module concludes with a one-day capstone event.

The study is intensive, using a range of teaching methods including interactive lectures, small group workshops, and real world case studies.

1. Designing and managing successful programmes

Dr Eamonn Molloy

This course develops participants’ understanding of major programmes as a governance structure and a distinctive organisational form. You will consider the relevance of organisational theory to major programmes and reflect on organisational design in the context of programme performance.

Topics covered:

• Programmes as organisations
• Organisation design
• Theoretical perspectives
• Practical challenges
• Recurrent themes.

2. Major programme risk

Professor Bent Flyvbjerg

Informed by the globally renowned research from Major Programme Management, this module will investigate the challenges, causes and cures of risk in the major programme management environment. Participants will explore how risk manifests across a range of programme sectors, and develop a sound understanding of the role of policy, planning, and management in pre-empting risk.

Topics covered:

• How risk fools you
• Risk in context
• The planning fallacy
• Strategic misrepresentation
• The outside view
• ‘De-risking’.

3. Systems engineering

Dr Janet Smart

This course will introduce participants, from technical and non-technical backgrounds, to the central concepts and assumptions of systems engineering. You will explore real-world issues affecting systems engineering, with a particular emphasis on the effects of complexity.

Topics covered:

• System design
• Coping with change
• Choosing metrics
• Coping with complexity
• Factors for success.

4. Financial management

Professor Paolo Quattrone

Cost overrun is one of the significant concerns facing the delivery of projects and programmes. This course will enable programme managers to acquire and articulate a deep understanding of the financial performance of their programmes.

Topics covered:

• Assessing viability and evaluation methods
• Performance measurement and financial metrics
• Risk perception
• Organisational, political and social context of large project financial management
• Communication and stakeholder management.

5. Contract management

Lindsay Henshaw

This course addresses the crucial role of contractual documentation in the creation and management of a major project. Using practical, business-focussed activities, you will build effective contract management skills that can be applied throughout the programme lifecycle.

Topics covered:

• Identifying legal risk
• Strategic alliances and cooperative ventures
• Dispute resolution
• Intellectual property
• Due diligence and contractual protection.

6. Research methods

Dr Kate Blackmon

This module is an essential introduction to the business and management research methods that are appropriate for researching major programme management, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The module will prepare participants for planning, executing, and writing up their dissertations for both managerial and academic stakeholders.

Topics covered:

• Research design and general approaches
• Literature search
• Data collection
• Data analysis
• Writing up research proposals and results
• Research ethics.

7. Managing performance

Dr Paul Chapman

This course allows you to consider your role as manager and leader in delivering the outcomes expected of a major programme. Working across individual, team, organisation and programme perspectives, you will examine your own leadership style and understand how your personal approach affects programme performance. You can view a taster of the module here.

Topics covered:

• Leadership models
• Framing and reframing perspectives
• The ‘reflective practitioner’
• Developing personal insights
• Leadership in a programme context.

8. Globalisation and major programmes

Dr Atif Ansar

A differentiating characteristic of major programmes is the global context in which they operate. This course explores the international and transnational dimensions of major programmes and how they may be understood, anticipated and managed and consider the particular risks that may be associated with operating in emerging economies.

Topics covered:

• Global strategy development
• Navigating political environments
• Stakeholder management
• Corporate social responsibility
• Emerging economies.

Dissertation

Students will build their dissertation around an intellectually challenging question that will encourage them to explore the subject matter of their thesis in depth. The dissertation will be up to 10,000 words long.

An undergraduate degree or equivalent professional qualificationAs evidence, we ask applicants to upload their University degree academic transcripts/mark-sheets to the online application form. These must outline the subjects studied or grades obtained from each academic year. A certificate of completion is not sufficient.Relevant professional experienceA minimum of seven years' relevant work experience. Please note the specialised nature of this degree programme and contact us directly if you have any queries about the relevance of your professional background.A TOEFL or IELTS if English is not your native languageHow to proceed with your application:Contact the MPM enquiry team to discuss your suitability for the programme or find out more about the application process.Complete your application online. Please note that all applicants are required to pay a non-refundable processing fee of £75.All applicants are required to supply transcripts of their previous higher education qualifications as part of the online application. A transcript is an official document showing the modules taken and the marks/grades awarded. A certificate of completion is not sufficient. Proof of test scores is also required where applicable.As part of the online application we require the details of two referees who will be contacted to provide references for you. We would normally expect one of these to be your current line manager; the second may be a professional or academic reference as appropriate. We are unable to accept previously prepared reference letters.Completed applications are reviewed at the next scheduled Admissions Committee meeting following their submission.We operate a rolling admission process, and reserve the right to close admissions when the programme becomes full.Successful applicants at the first review stage will be invited for interview. Interviews can take place on the phone or by Skype, or in person in Oxford. Applicants will be notified of their admissions decision as soon as possible following their interview.We will speak to candidates individually about selecting a college once they have been offered a place on the programme. Visit the College Membership page to find out more.In order to secure your college place, you will need to provide a Financial Guarantee to the University. Visit the Dates & Fees page to find out more about this process, and to view the payment arrangements for the programme.Please ensure your application is complete upon submission. The Admissions Committee can only consider a candidate once all supporting documentation has been received.We conduct spot checks on a regular basis to ensure the authenticity of applicants' references, work experience and academic background. We also reserve the right to ask for supporting evidence if necessary. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7.5 TOEFL iBT® test: 110 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.

Graduate scholarships

The University, its departments and colleges offer a wide variety of scholarships, giving the brightest candidates from around the world the opportunity to pursue graduate study.

The majority of our scholarships do not require you to make an additional application; all applicants who apply to the University by the relevant deadline will be considered automatically. However, you should read the scholarship details carefully to find out if there are any additional requirements. Most scholarships are only available to students who are about to start a new course, so it is vital to explore your options early.