Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management
Develop postgraduate competence in planning and governing projects.
About the course
Develop postgraduate competence in planning and governing projects. You will evaluate delivery approaches, coordinate resources and produce evidence-based controls for cost, risk, quality and stakeholder expectations.
What you'll learn
Develop a justified project scope and delivery plan.
Analyse schedule, resource and cost relationships.
Select controls for project risk and quality.
Compare predictive and adaptive approaches for a case.
Evaluate project benefits and communicate decision-ready reports.
Requirements
Entry requires a relevant bachelor’s degree or an assessed equivalent. English Language is required. BMIT assesses any professional registration, prior practice or supervised-placement requirement specific to this postgraduate diploma.
African Kalanga is a compulsory graduation subject in every year of this programme. BMIT confirms the approved entry route, any recognition of prior learning and access to required practical facilities before enrolment.
Course Content
The complete subject sequence below moves from foundations to specialist application. Levels show learning progression. Practical work and the final project draw together the subjects studied.
2 learning levels 16 subjects
Select a subject to read its learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment.
Level 1: Foundations
Africa Indigenous Language: African Kalanga 101Compulsory graduation subject · Year 1
Develop African Kalanga through foundations for economic and management sciences. Practise with authentic tasks, feedback and reflection across the programme year.
Learning outcomes
- Use African Kalanga accurately for Year 1 study and practice.
- Explain language choices to the intended audience.
- Revise your work using speaker and facilitator feedback.
Main topics
- Pronunciation
- Everyday vocabulary
- Listening
- Reading and respectful introductions
Practical task
Record a short introduction and explain its meaning to a peer.
Assessment
Submit the practical work, a brief reflection and evidence of language review. Assessment checks meaning, audience fit and improvement after feedback.
Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation 101Compulsory core module · Level 1
Identify a real need, study the people affected and develop a responsible idea for a product, service or process. Apply critical analysis and relevant research to a specialist setting. Apply this learning to Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management through an authentic brief and feedback from an appropriate audience.
Learning outcomes
- Investigate a defined opportunity and explain the evidence behind it.
- Develop and refine a creative response that fits the people and setting.
- Evaluate feasibility, ethical implications and the quality of the result.
Main topics
- Opportunity recognition
- Creative problem framing
- Community and user research
- Ethics and inclusion
- Idea generation and selection
Practical task
Investigate a need related to Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management. Interview or observe intended users with consent, compare possible responses and present one justified concept.
Assessment
Submit an opportunity brief, research notes, a concept sketch and a reflection on feedback. Support your decisions with current research and a critical account of limitations. Assessment considers the quality of the evidence, the response to feedback, feasibility and your individual explanation.
African History and Pan Africanism 101Compulsory core module · Level 1
Study African history through oral, written and archaeological evidence. Examine the diversity of African societies, knowledge and exchange, then trace the emergence of Pan African ideas about identity, solidarity and self-determination.
Learning outcomes
- Place selected African societies and events within a supported historical timeline.
- Compare historical sources and identify perspective, evidence and uncertainty.
- Explain the foundations of Pan Africanism and the contributions of Africans and the diaspora.
Main topics
- Historical inquiry, chronology, oral traditions and source evaluation
- African civilisations, states, trade, livelihoods and knowledge systems
- Southern African history, including Mapungubgwe and Great Zimbabwe
- Slavery, the African diaspora and changing ideas about identity
- Origins of Pan Africanism, solidarity, self-determination and cultural expression
Practical task
Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.
Assessment
Submit the timeline or poster, an annotated source list and a short explanation of the evidence. Assessment considers chronology, historical accuracy, source judgement and the clarity of your interpretation.
Learning resources
Project Management Foundations
Organise a defined piece of work with a clear objective, scope and responsibilities. You will distinguish projects from continuing operations and prepare basic plans for time, resources and communication. The module develops practical records for monitoring progress and recording agreed changes.
Learning outcomes
- Define a project scope
- Build a work breakdown structure
- Report project progress
Main topics
- Project purpose
- Life cycle
- Scope
- Work breakdown
- Responsibilities
- Progress reporting
Practical task
Prepare a project charter, work breakdown and progress report for a small initiative.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Project Scheduling and Resource Planning
Translate project work into a realistic schedule and resource plan. You will examine activity dependencies, estimate effort and assess the consequences of resource constraints. Activities require visible assumptions and comparisons between an initial baseline and changes affecting delivery dates or available capacity.
Learning outcomes
- Construct a project schedule
- Calculate a critical path
- Resolve a resource conflict
Main topics
- Activity definition
- Dependencies
- Estimation
- Critical path
- Resource loading
- Schedule control
Practical task
Develop a linked project schedule with a resource-adjustment scenario.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Project Finance and Cost Control
Plan project expenditure and monitor the relationship between cost and progress. You will estimate resources, develop a budget and analyse changes against a baseline. Cases distinguish cash flow, committed expenditure and performance measures, with clear explanations of the assumptions supporting forecasts.
Learning outcomes
- Prepare a project budget
- Analyse cost performance
- Forecast completion expenditure
Main topics
- Cost estimation
- Budgeting
- Cash flow
- Cost baselines
- Performance measures
- Forecasts
Practical task
Produce a project budget and a cost-control report from supplied progress data.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Project Risk, Quality and Procurement
Coordinate uncertainty, quality requirements and purchased resources within a project. You will develop risk responses, plan quality checks and define supplier responsibilities. Cases connect these decisions with project scope and schedule so controls support delivery rather than becoming detached administrative records.
Learning outcomes
- Prepare a project risk response
- Define an acceptance criterion
- Plan a project purchase
Main topics
- Risk identification
- Risk responses
- Quality planning
- Acceptance criteria
- Project procurement
- Supplier control
Practical task
Compile a risk, quality and procurement plan for a fictional project.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Project Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement
Coordinate project work through clear responsibilities, constructive communication and stakeholder participation. You will analyse interests, manage team relationships and prepare responses to conflict. Activities connect leadership choices with project constraints, stakeholder expectations and the need to document decisions and unresolved concerns.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse stakeholder interests
- Plan project communication
- Resolve a simulated team conflict
Main topics
- Team roles
- Stakeholder analysis
- Communication planning
- Conflict
- Negotiation
- Engagement review
Practical task
Prepare a stakeholder and team working plan and facilitate a simulated project meeting.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Level 2: Core subjects
Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation 201Compulsory core module · Level 2
Turn a promising idea into a testable proposal using evidence, creative methods and basic resource planning. Apply critical analysis and relevant research to a specialist setting. Apply this learning to Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management through an authentic brief and feedback from an appropriate audience.
Learning outcomes
- Investigate a defined opportunity and explain the evidence behind it.
- Develop and refine a creative response that fits the people and setting.
- Evaluate feasibility, ethical implications and the quality of the result.
Main topics
- Co-design and prototyping
- Value proposition
- Feasibility and costs
- Risk and responsible practice
- Testing and iteration
Practical task
Develop a small prototype or service model for a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management problem. Test it with relevant users, record feedback and revise the proposal.
Assessment
Submit a prototype, a feasibility note, user feedback and a record of revisions. Support your decisions with current research and a critical account of limitations. Assessment considers the quality of the evidence, the response to feedback, feasibility and your individual explanation.
African History and Pan Africanism 201Compulsory core module · Level 2
Examine colonial change, resistance and liberation across Africa, with attention to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Compare Pan African movements, organisations and debates, including contributions from women, workers and diaspora communities.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse the effects of colonial rule on land, labour, institutions and social relations.
- Compare liberation movements and Pan African arguments using contextual evidence.
- Explain how different groups shaped independence, solidarity and debates about freedom.
Main topics
- Colonial rule, land, labour, education and forms of resistance
- Nationalism, liberation and the end of colonial rule and apartheid
- Pan African congresses, organisations and contrasting interpretations
- Women, labour movements and diaspora participation
- The Organisation of African Unity and debates about unity, sovereignty and development
Practical task
Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.
Assessment
Submit the case study, a source comparison and a reflection on your conclusions. Assessment considers context, evidence, recognition of different perspectives and the quality of your argument.
Learning resources
Agile and Adaptive Project Delivery
Organise iterative work where requirements develop through feedback. You will compare predictive and adaptive approaches, prioritise a backlog and review completed increments. Cases require a reasoned choice of approach and show how governance, quality and stakeholder accountability still apply during adaptation.
Learning outcomes
- Compare delivery approaches
- Prioritise an iteration backlog
- Evaluate an increment and improvement action
Main topics
- Delivery approaches
- Backlogs
- Iteration planning
- Team coordination
- Reviews
- Retrospectives
Practical task
Run a simulated delivery iteration and submit its backlog, review and retrospective.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Programme and Portfolio Management
Coordinate related projects and choose investments against organisational priorities. You will examine dependencies, benefits and resource competition, then design governance and review arrangements. Cases emphasise the difference between completing project outputs and achieving the wider change or service improvement expected from a programme.
Learning outcomes
- Compare project investment priorities
- Map programme dependencies
- Design a benefits review
Main topics
- Portfolio selection
- Programme governance
- Dependencies
- Benefits
- Resource balancing
- Programme assurance
Practical task
Prepare a programme business case with portfolio choices and benefits measures.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Procurement Contracts and Negotiation
Prepare and administer purchasing agreements with clear requirements and responsibilities. You will plan negotiation, examine performance provisions and manage variations or disputes. Cases distinguish a commercially useful agreement from unsupported legal assumptions and use the jurisdiction specified in the assessment materials.
Learning outcomes
- Prepare a negotiation plan
- Evaluate a contract provision
- Document a contract variation
Main topics
- Contract specifications
- Negotiation planning
- Terms and responsibilities
- Performance clauses
- Variations
- Dispute processes
Practical task
Produce a negotiation brief and contract administration file for a fictional purchase.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Quality Management and Improvement
Examine how quality is designed, monitored and improved in goods and services. You will define requirements, analyse variation and investigate causes of failure. The module connects improvement tools with customer evidence, process ownership and the practical need to verify whether a change works.
Learning outcomes
- Specify a quality requirement
- Analyse process variation
- Evaluate an improvement result
Main topics
- Quality requirements
- Process variation
- Quality costs
- Root-cause analysis
- Improvement cycles
- Quality systems
Practical task
Complete a quality improvement investigation with baseline and follow-up measures.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Research Methods and Evidence Analysis
Plan an enquiry suited to a specific social or organisational question. You will compare qualitative and quantitative approaches, prepare ethical data collection and assess evidence quality. The module connects research questions to sampling, analysis and clear reporting of uncertainty and limitations.
Learning outcomes
- Formulate a research question
- Select a defensible research design
- Prepare an ethical data collection plan
Main topics
- Research questions
- Literature review
- Design choices
- Sampling
- Ethics
- Data analysis
Practical task
Submit a research proposal, instruments and a worked analysis of a pilot dataset.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Applied Project Management Portfolio
Integrate planning, delivery and evaluation in a complete project management case. You will maintain consistent scope, schedule, cost and risk records, then explain changes and lessons. The portfolio demonstrates how management decisions respond to evidence throughout a project's life cycle.
Learning outcomes
- Integrate a project baseline
- Control a documented change
- Evaluate project results
Main topics
- Business case
- Integrated baseline
- Delivery controls
- Change management
- Handover
- Lessons and benefits
Practical task
Submit a complete project file and present a handover and lessons briefing.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Practical Learning
Authentic e-learning at BMIT
BMIT uses Authentic E-Learning to connect your studies with practical problems in your field. You use digital resources to investigate a realistic brief, make decisions and produce work for a defined purpose and audience. Your qualification's activities below put this approach into practice.
How you will learn
The approach draws on nine elements of authentic learning:
- Realistic contexts: Work with situations relevant to your profession or community.
- Purposeful tasks: Investigate a substantial problem with more than one possible solution.
- Expert examples: Examine demonstrations and examples of professional reasoning.
- Different perspectives: Compare sources and consider the needs of different people.
- Collaboration: Share ideas and review work with peers, while showing your own contribution.
- Reflection: Record what worked, what changed and what needs improvement.
- Explanation: Present your reasoning and support your decisions with evidence.
- Guidance: Use tutor feedback and structured support as you develop independence.
- Authentic assessment: Demonstrate learning through the task and its practical outcome.
From a brief to a practical outcome
Start by identifying the problem, intended audience and assessment criteria. Investigate relevant evidence, plan your response and develop an initial solution. Use discussion and feedback to test your ideas, then revise your work and explain your choices.
Digital tools support research, collaboration, simulation and the presentation of evidence. Your output depends on the module. Examples include a business proposal, technical design, tested program, investigation report or community resource. Keep drafts, calculations, test results and reflections to show how your work developed.
The module brief sets the required tasks, individual and group responsibilities, submission format and assessment criteria. The practical activities and supervision requirements for this qualification are set out below.
Research informing this approach
- Herrington, J. Authentic Learning: nine elements of authentic learning.
- Lombardi, M. M. (2007). Authentic learning for the 21st century: An overview. EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative.
- Parker, J., Maor, D. and Herrington, J. (2013). Authentic online learning: Aligning learner needs, pedagogy and technology. Issues in Educational Research, 23(2), 227–241.
Use guided online cases, realistic briefs and feedback to develop practical work. Any workplace or community activity requires suitable supervision and permission.
What you will practise
- Project Finance and Cost Control: Produce a project budget and a cost-control report from supplied progress data.
- Quality Management and Improvement: Complete a quality improvement investigation with baseline and follow-up measures.
- Project Management Foundations: Prepare a project charter, work breakdown and progress report for a small initiative.
Applied project
Produce a proposed project dossier from a realistic organisational brief. Include a business case, scope, schedule, budget, risk register, communication arrangements and a benefits-review plan.
Evidence and feedback
- Planning, scheduling and cost exercises.
- Project-risk and delivery-method case assessments.
- An integrated project dossier and oral defence.
Assessment considers the practical work you submit, the evidence behind your decisions and how you respond to feedback.
African History and Pan Africanism practical learning
- African History and Pan Africanism 101: Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.
- African History and Pan Africanism 201: Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.
Career Prospects
These examples show work across this qualification pathway, from support roles to specialist and management posts. Your entry point depends on your study, experience and employer requirements. Regulated roles require separate recognition or registration.
Top Career Paths and Job Titles
- Project support assistant: Tracks tasks, documents and agreed milestones.
- Project coordinator: Organises schedules, resources and stakeholder updates.
- Project manager: Manages delivery risks, decisions and performance across a project.
- Programme analyst: Tracks several linked projects and reports on benefits and dependencies.
- Programme manager: Coordinates projects, budgets and decisions to deliver an agreed outcome.
Growth and Leadership Trajectory
- Starting practice: After meeting entry and any registration requirements, begin with the work represented by Project support assistant. Build supervised experience and keep a record of reliable work.
- Specialist progression: Relevant study and evidence from more complex projects support a move towards Project coordinator or Project manager.
- Leadership: With substantial experience, a role such as Programme manager adds responsibility for people, quality, budgets or service decisions.
Further Education to Boost Prospects
- Next study step: A relevant master’s degree in project management is a possible next step. Research preparation or bridging study may be required.
Professional Certifications and Registrations
- PMI CAPM: An entry-level project-management credential with an education requirement and no prior project experience requirement. Check official requirements.
- PMI PMP: A later-career option requiring documented project leadership experience and the current PMI education and examination requirements. A diploma alone does not award PMP. Check official requirements.
Potential Government and Industrial Employers
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management: Start or manage a small venture related to this field. Regulated work still requires the relevant professional registration or licence.
- Private and commercial organisations: Project delivery consultancies.
- Specialist employers: Construction and technology firms.
- Research and community organisations: Development NGOs.
- Government departments and public bodies: Government programme and infrastructure units.