As a management discipline, Project Management has evolved in order to enable managers to successfully plan, coordinate and control the often complex and diverse activities of modern industrial and commercial projects.

Projects can range from organising a company’s move into new premises to such activities as the building of a multimillion dollar petrochemical plant, the development of a new hotel complex, or the implementation of a new computer system.

The ability to manage projects is an essential skill which major employers expect their senior and middle managers to possess. As a guide to the importance of the subject, Project Management now forms part of many MSc and postgraduate programmes.

Course Structure

Subjects

1. Computers & Project Management
2. Managing Work & Costs
3. Nature & Organisation of Project Management
4. Planning & Scheduling
5. Purchasing & Materials Management
6. The Financial & Commercial Framework

Programme Objectives
This programme is designed for those students who wish to develop project management skills. In addition, the qualification is designed to assist students by:

a) increasing their employment opportunities

b) providing them with a qualification which will enable them to progress to higher level general management or specialised business programmes at a later stage in their business or academic careers.

The programme is also suitable for managers who require a recognised business studies qualification for career advancement and promotion purposes.

Recommended Course Duration
It is recommended that these courses are delivered over a suitable period of time to give learners the best opportunity for success. A standard delivery structure would involve six units per academic year, although 5-8 units per year are acceptable depending on the weekly timetable used. Thus, this Advanced Diploma programme would normally take one year full-time to complete.

Examination Grades

Status of Qualification
Professional Vocational Diploma. Students obtaining A & B grades will have reached an academic level equivalent to the first year of a business studies degree.

Examinations
Externally set and marked by the Institute. Examinations are held in March, June, September and December each year. Candidates must be registered and paid-up Student Members of the Institute at the time they undertake the examinations.

Examination Closing Dates
Candidates entering for examinations must ensure that their completed Examination Entry forms and fees reach the Institute at least eight weeks before the date of the examinations. Examination timetables indicate the closing date for receipt of entries for each sitting.

Examination Results
These are normally distributed twelve weeks after each examination date.

Subject Exemptions
Students holding relevant recognised qualifications from other professional bodies may apply for exemptions on a subject-for-subject basis.

Entry Requirements
The minimum age for registration for this programme is 18. The Institute operates an ‘Open Entry’ policy in respect of many of its vocational programmes but prospective students should note that the following entrance qualifications are recommended for those wishing to undertake this programme:

1. The ICM Business Studies Group Certificate
2. Two GCE ‘A’ levels (or equivalents)
3. Five GCSEs at grades A, B or C (or equivalents)
4. A suitable BTEC National Award
5. Any qualification equivalent to one of the above.

Applicants over the age of 21 who do not hold one of the recommended entrance qualifications may also register for the programme providing they have been in full-time employment for a minimum of two years.

Certification
On successful completion of all the examinations students are awarded the ICM Advanced Diploma in Project Management.

Study Methods
Your Teaching Centre has been provided with a detailed syllabus and reading list for each subject area. Each subject syllabus clearly defines the areas that you will be required to cover for each subject and your examination questions will be based on the areas and topics detailed for each subject. It is important to ensure that you obtain a copy of each subject syllabus from your Teaching Centre.

Each subject syllabus is normally linked to one main textbook and the examiners base their questions on the contents of the nominated text.

The subject syllabuses also give details of ‘Alternative Texts’ and texts recommended for further reading. Where possible you should read one or more of the ‘Alternative Texts’ in order to broaden your knowledge of the subject area.

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