Project Management Degree Apprenticeship (PMDA)
Course details
The BSc Project Management degree equips future Project Managers with the skills to lead and implement positive change within organisations. Apprentices will master the planning and management of projects throughout their lifecycle, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy. As effective communicators, they will engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, fostering collaboration in cross-disciplinary teams to achieve project goals.
Specific career paths aligned with this degree apprenticeship include, but are not limited to:
- Project Officer/ Assistant/ Coordinator/ Manager/
- Business Change Manager
- Business Analyst
- IT Support Technician
- Operations Assistant
The course follows the apprenticeship standards ST0411.
The content has been designed to be delivered in interactive workshops over 4 days on-campus per 20 Credit Module (day release format). This is also a chance to network with fellow learners from a wide range of organisations. Face-to-face study sessions give apprentices the opportunity to enrich their learning through discussion of current business issues.
In line with Skills England guidelines, approximately 20%* of an apprentice’s contractual working hours will be dedicated to off-the-job training, equating to a minimum of 6 hours per week. Our delivery model is designed with flexibility at its core, allowing apprentices to balance study and work effectively through a structured day-release approach.
This ensures that learning fits around business demands while providing meaningful time for apprentices to gain new knowledge, build essential skills, and embed positive workplace behaviours. By attending scheduled sessions on campus, apprentices benefit from face-to-face support and timely feedback from academic staff with extensive real-world industry experience.
Employers can be confident their apprentices are progressing in a supportive, high-quality learning environment that complements their professional development and aligns with national standards.
*Exact hours can vary slightly by course. Specific details are providing in the onboarding and enrolment process.
First year:
- Foundations of Project Management
- Exploring Professional Practice
- Business Environment and Organisational Strategy
- Introduction to Finance
- Stakeholder Communication Management
- Leading and Managing Dynamic Teams
Second year:
- Leading and Managing Change
- Risk and Resilience
- Procurement and Contract Management
- Project Management Methodologies
- Monitoring and Evaluation and Developing Professional Practice
Final year:
- Project Management End Point Assessment
- Sustainability Management
- Emerging Technologies in Project Management
- Consultancy Project and Conflict Resolution
No, this course is currently only offered on campus.

Yes. The course is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
Upon successful completion, Apprentices will also be eligible to become full members of the Association for Project Management (APM), the Chartered Body for the Project Profession, marking their readiness to lead and innovate in various sectors.
Upon completion of the course you will receive:
- IfATE Level 6 Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship
- University of Northampton BSc (Hons) Project Management
- Chartered Association for Project Management (APM) Project Management Qualification (PMQ)
- CMI Level 5 Certificate in Project Management
The course is assessed through a range of mechanisms at each level utilising written assignments, individual projects and presentations. The assessments are designed to incorporate a wide range of authentic, work-relevant assessments that reflect the diverse demands of the Project Management profession. These include reports, presentations, multiple choice exams, reflective portfolios, group assessments, debates, blogs and infographics.
The assessments provide opportunities for Apprentices to apply their learning directly to their workplace contexts, ensuring both immediate value to employers and enhanced experiential learning for apprentices throughout the programme.
All learners including apprentices studying at the UON campus in Northampton will receive academic skills development at each level of the course of study. These will be shared across modules and will cover academic and digital skills from Library and Learning Services teams, and employability skills development from Student Futures.
Additional Course support:
- Initial induction/ returning course sessions for all levels.
- A dedicated Virtual learning environment, “NILE” for course and modules sites, used to create a sense of belonging and cohort identity. It will be used as a communication channel to promote and support UON events, networking, and career development opportunities.
- Ensuring Nile sites are designed to optimise accessibility.
- Embedding study skills throughout the whole period of study through collaborating closely with the Learning Technologists and Learning Development teams.
- Apprentices with identified additional needs will receive an Academic Inclusion Report (AIR), so the necessary adjustments will be made, as advised by the University’s Additional Student Support and Inclusion Services Team (ASSIST).
- Each apprentice will be allocated a Personal Tutor (PAT) and invited to regular 1:1 meetings, with their PAT.
- A tripartite review meeting between university tutor, workplace mentor and apprentice once every three calendar months.
- Careers support in conjunction with Student Futures and Career Development Consultants at all levels.
- Student Union representation and facilities.
- Participation in Quality Assurance (QA) processes such as the annual review process and the Student Voice Meetings.
- Open (or appointment) access to course and module tutors.