International Project Management

This programme prepares experienced professionals from construction, infrastructure and engineering backgrounds to lead complex international projects. Taught in English and attracting postgraduates from around the world, the MA focuses on advanced project management knowledge, practical organisational methods and the interpersonal skills needed to drive multinational project teams and partnerships.

Students pick one of two specialisations. International Building Project Management (IBPM) concentrates on planning and managing complex superstructure projects and prepares graduates to work as independent practitioners, lead consultants within international firms, or senior architects/engineers. International Infrastructure Technology & Management (IITM) develops the technical and managerial competencies required to devise and implement strategies for large-scale infrastructure programmes. While most courses are shared across the cohort as general project management modules, a dedicated portion of the curriculum delves into each specialisation to ensure depth in the chosen field.

Alongside up-to-date tools, processes and organisational approaches, the programme emphasises soft skills essential for delivering successful international projects. There is also an option to obtain an additional MBA from Edinburgh Napier University by completing an extra semester in the UK.

Requirements / key facts (concise)

• Target audience: experienced postgraduates and professionals in construction, infrastructure or engineering
• Language of instruction: English
• Students must choose one specialisation: International Building Project Management (IBPM) or International Infrastructure Technology & Management (IITM)
• Curriculum: majority joint project-management modules plus specialist courses for each track
• Skills developed: leadership and soft skills, latest tools/processes and organisational methods for international projects
• Optional pathway: additional semester in the UK to earn an MBA from Edinburgh Napier University

This program is structured over three semesters and organised into nine modules that combine technical and managerial training with international, practice-oriented learning. In the first (summer) semester you build core foundations: technical basics, management fundamentals, people leadership, and project management methods. The second (winter) semester deepens technical and sector-specific skills through modules on managing real estate and infrastructure, business and finance for projects, information management, and international workshops — including an international case study that lets you apply classroom learning to a real project. The final semester is reserved for an independent Master's thesis, completed under the joint supervision of academic and industry experts and aimed at producing work that advances international project management practice.

The curriculum is designed to develop both hard and soft competencies needed for international project delivery: technical understanding of civil engineering contexts, financial and business acumen, information and project-control skills, and effective people and stakeholder management. The international case study and workshops emphasise cross-border collaboration, real-world problem solving and critical reflection on actual projects. The supervised thesis offers an opportunity to contribute original insights or practical solutions relevant to international project management.

Key modules and structure

• Total of nine modules across three semesters
• Summer semester: Technical Basics; Management Basics; Effective People Management; Project Management
• Winter semester: Managing Real Estate/Infrastructure; Managing Business and Finance; Managing Information; International Workshops (includes an international case study)
• Final semester: Master's thesis supervised by academic and professional experts

Learning outcomes (what you will be able to do)

• Apply technical and managerial fundamentals to plan and run engineering projects in international contexts
• Lead and manage people and stakeholder relationships effectively in project teams
• Analyse and manage financial and business aspects of infrastructure and real-estate projects
• Utilise information and project-control tools to support decision-making and project delivery
• Critically evaluate real-world projects through an international case study and translate findings into improved practice
• Produce a research-informed, practice-relevant Master's thesis that contributes to international project management knowledge or methods

Graduates are prepared for leadership and specialist roles in international construction and infrastructure projects. Typical career paths include project manager, lead consultant, construction or infrastructure programme manager, and senior roles in engineering or architectural firms where technical delivery must be balanced with cross-border coordination and stakeholder management.

The programme’s combination of technical modules, management and soft skills training—and the optional MBA—also supports transitions into strategic roles in real estate development, infrastructure planning, consultancy and public-sector project leadership, especially in organisations involved in international projects.