Key Project Management Techniques You’ll Learn in Your Degree

Your project management degree: an overview

 

A project management degree is an educational programme designed to prepare students for leading and overseeing projects.

 

It combines practical skills and theoretical knowledge to help students effectively manage human, financial, and material resources to complete projects on time and within budget. 

 

A project management degree takes around three years to complete (depending on your school and whether you study full-time or part-time). With it, you can work in several industries, including IT, marketing, healthcare, construction, and business. 

 

Some of the careers you can pursue include the following: 

 

• Project Administrator
• Marketing Project Manager
• IT Project Manager
• Office Manager
• Project Planner
• Branch Manager
• Bank Supervisor
• Systems Analyst
• Construction Manager
• Operations Manager
• Project Coordinator

 

This degree also provides you with essential skills employees look for, including organisation and time management, problem-solving, adaptability, attention to detail, and collaboration. Not only do these skills help you effectively run projects, but also deal with issues when they arise. 

 

One of the main advantages of this degree is that you’ll have the opportunity to step into entry-level roles and advance your career over time. This can lead to very lucrative positions where you can earn a good living. 

 

5 Essential techniques you’ll learn in your project management degree

 

A project management degree will teach you several skills and techniques to help you manage projects and help companies achieve their goals. Below are some of the most important techniques you’ll learn during your studies. 

 

1. Effective planning and scheduling

Planning and scheduling are the backbone of every successful project. Without a clear roadmap, even the best ideas can fall apart. 

 

You’ll learn to break down complex projects into manageable tasks as part of your degree. Techniques like using Gantt charts or the Critical Path Method (CPM) show how to organise tasks effectively.

 

You’ll also focus on creating realistic timelines. This involves assessing task dependencies, estimating durations, and planning milestones and timelines. Most importantly, you’ll learn how to set achievable goals that keep projects on track from start to finish.

 

2. Risk assessment and mitigation

What if things go wrong?

 

Unfortunately, problems are a reality for any business. Problems are bound to happen sooner or later, from market shifts to poor communication. 

 

You’ll learn to identify potential risks, assess their impact, and develop strategies to minimise issues. This will allow projects to continue without too much disruption. 

 

For example, you might plan backup suppliers if materials don’t arrive on time. Understanding how to handle uncertainty keeps projects moving forward with fewer surprises.

 

3. Resource allocation

For projects to succeed, you need to have the right resources in place, including: 

 

• People
• Time
• Finances
• Materials

 

You’ll study methods to avoid overloading team members or overcommitting budgets. Techniques like resource levelling and capacity planning will become second nature. 

 

By learning to balance resources appropriately, you’ll ensure projects stay within scope while maintaining quality.

 

4. Communication and stakeholder management

Projects don’t exist in isolation. 

 

Good communication is essential for all team members and clients. You’ll learn strategies for keeping everyone informed, from progress updates to setbacks. Clear communication reduces misunderstandings and helps align project goals with expectations.

 

Stakeholder management is equally important. You’ll practise identifying key stakeholders, understanding their interests, and adapting your approach to meet their needs. 

 

For instance, senior executives may only want high-level summaries, while team leads may need detailed breakdowns. Developing tailored communication strengthens relationships, keeps everyone in the loop, and aligns with project objectives.

 

5. Quality control and assurance

Delivering projects isn’t just about meeting deadlines. It’s also about providing high quality and maintaining proper standards. 

 

Quality control ensures that a project meets standards at each stage — from beginning to end. During your studies, you’ll learn methods for setting quality standards and conducting regular checks to ensure project deliverables meet expectations and industry standards.

 

You’ll learn about frameworks like ISO standards and methods like Six Sigma, which focuses on preventing defects rather than fixing them later. 

 

Useful project management courses

To secure a project management professional certification, you can pursue many different project management courses, from higher certificates to diplomas and degrees. 

 

If you’re looking for robust training — where you learn the ins and outs of project management (and set yourself up for career advancement), a bachelor’s degree is your best option. 

 

With MANCOSA’s Bachelor of Commerce in Project Management, you’ll learn all of the skills and techniques mentioned above, including: 

 

• Planning and time management
• Risk management
• Stakeholder management
• Communication
• Quality control
• Resource allocation

 

You’ll also learn other valuable skills needed for effective business and project management, including financial analysis, micro and macroeconomics, implementing digital tools, research methods, and so much more. 

 

Alternatively, if you aren’t quite ready for more comprehensive studies, you could also consider doing the Higher Certificate in Project Management, which teaches you critical project management abilities without focusing so heavily on the theory portion.  

 

Register for MANCOSA project management courses online 

If you’re ready to pursue project management and gain comprehensive knowledge of resource allocation, time management, risk management, and more, consider looking at MANCOSA’s Bachelor of Commerce in Project Management. 

 

This degree provides you with all the techniques and abilities you need to build a thriving career in project management. Alternatively, you can also look into MANCOSA’s other online project management courses, including a higher certificate or postgraduate diploma.