Why Study Project Management in London?
If you’re considering a degree in project management, London is undoubtedly one of the best places you could choose to embark on this journey. The UK’s capital has been named the most influential city in the world, beating the likes of New York and Hong Kong, and the City of London has once again been awarded the coveted title of the business capital of Europe. It’s home to some of the world’s most established companies and institutions, such as Unilever, HSBC, and Deloitte, as well as a growing number of exciting new startups and small businesses.
As the largest financial exporter in the world, London’s finance industry is a hub of productivity, networking, and extensive employment opportunities. The city’s long history of banking and trading renders it a global hotspot for employment with a high earning potential, but its business prospects don’t just stop at finance. Construction, law, and service industries are just some of the other sectors at work in London, each one with its own demand for project managers and a university-educated workforce.
Outside the classroom, London is consistently found to be the best city in the world for students to thrive and learn about the world. Its dynamic and inclusive environment makes it ideal for meeting new people and immersing yourself in a rich culture, and you’ll definitely never be bored.
For a prospective job applicant, undertaking an MSc in Project Management opens up a breadth of opportunities. Tailored knowledge will set you up for a buoyant career as a project manager, while the general skills and techniques learned will leave you well-equipped to go into any industry.
Overall, the social and professional benefits of studying in London are multifarious, and the decision to move to London’s coveted capital could well be one that transforms your life!
Professional Accreditation
The MSc course in Project Management here at UWS London is accredited by the Association for Project Management (APM). Completion of the programme entitles you to free APM membership, welcoming you into a major organisation comprising over 35,000 professionals and more than 500 corporate partners. There’s a specific APM London branch with a growing community of nearly 20,000 members, and they hold regular meetings and networking events for learning and discussing all things project management.
If you go on to forge a long-term career in project management after university, there are several further qualifications you can achieve with the APM. Experienced professionals can gain chartered status and work as a Chartered Project Professional (ChPP), which can signify a huge career benchmark and open up a world of new opportunities in the industry. Chartered status gives you international recognition and is well-received by top employers like the BBC, so there’s no doubt that becoming a part of the London and UK-wide project manager community could be transformative for your career.
Project Management in the UK
Unlike a degree in something expansive like English Literature or Biology, Project Management is a refined course with the more specific goal of becoming a project manager. It will furnish you with everything you need to know for starting a career in the industry and put your application firmly above others who might not have the same educational experience. Companies are ultimately looking for the brightest applicants with the most potential, but if they can see that you won’t require the same training as a different candidate who studied on, say, an International Relations course, it will certainly work in your favour.
You are not, of course, restricted by any degree to take a job in the same thing you studied, and often people actually end up doing something completely different to what they did at university, but a more vocational course could definitely be worth it – especially for something like project management.
The People of London
London is a city renowned for diversity and vibrancy. In both your personal and work life you will come across myriad cultures, with people from different backgrounds and educational paths bringing new ideas and perspectives.
Studying at a London university will introduce you to people you might never have met otherwise, with each course uniting you with like-minded students from across the world. A thriving group of friendships and a sturdy support network is not just beneficial to your social life, it can open up doors in your career, too. You might be familiar with the phrase ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ and this is certainly true of London. Expanding your network and hearing about the experiences of others could point you in the direction of a graduate career, or at least help you understand more about certain industries and whether you would be a good fit.
Forging connections is what university’s all about, and it can teach you things about the world even if you don’t realise it. Whether you’re interacting with future employers or simply chatting amongst friends, positive attitudes towards inclusivity and diversity can demonstrate your values as an individual.
Learning on the Go
Your education certainly isn’t over when you leave university and no longer have weekly reading and assignments to complete. Regardless of what you do after graduation, everything is a learning curve and there are so many life lessons to learn.
For international students, studying and working in London will also be transformative for learning English, if it’s not your first language. Conversing with native speakers is great for improving your conversational abilities while reading and writing for your course will help the more formal aspect of vocabulary and grammar.
Fluency in more than one language is an incredibly rewarding skill to have and will prove invaluable in your job search, particularly among larger companies that operate on an international scale. Multilingualism opens up an integral part of the industry known as global project management, where project managers with a strong worldly understanding are particularly in demand. In order to function more efficiently, companies need to adapt to the multiculturalism and diversity of the business environment – as a job, this could mean exciting opportunities to meet new people, learn new skills, and travel across the world!
Career Opportunities
The opportunities for career progression and business growth in London are unrivalled. The city is home to the European headquarters for over 30% of the world’s leading companies, and is considered to be a more prominent economic base to Europe than New York is to North America. Many of the big businesses who call London their home offer impressive placement programmes, internships, and graduate schemes for newcomers to the professional industries, as well as various talks and insight days to share handy tips.
A degree in project management paves the way for a career in pretty much any sector, including:
- Finance
- Construction
- Real Estate
- Engineering
- Architecture
You might have your sights set on working in a specific industry, or maybe you’re unsure and instead hope to gain work experience at a variety of companies in order to find the role that best suits you.
Regardless of your aspirations, with a degree in MSc, you won’t have to worry about employability – 97% of graduates from this course at UWS find employment or continue their studies within just six months of graduation.
International Recognition
Graduating with a degree from a UK university will really stand out on your CV. London and UK educational institutions are regularly found at the top of global rankings, largely due to the exceptional teaching and nurturing environments. Many of the world’s best and brightest find themselves studying at a UK university, bringing with them insightful knowledge and experiences to share with peers.
A degree from London holds cultural and social value as well as intellectual, and any employer will look at it as a marker of prestige. The multidisciplinary education system also makes London the ideal place to continue your studies, in your twenties and beyond.
Life in London
If the professional opportunities in London haven’t quite convinced you to make the move, maybe the lifestyle will. The UK’s capital is one of the most exciting destinations in the world, full of endless excitement for students, tourists, and employees alike. Amongst the many green spaces, historical attractions and high-quality restaurants you can find the perfect spot to wind down after a busy day or gear up for a weekend of fun. The city’s transport system (TFL) makes getting around easy, and even opens up the possibility of travelling around the UK too. Furthermore, London’s airports are some of the best connected to Europe and beyond, so returning home or visiting other international friends can be made that bit easier.
Museums and Attractions
Unlike many of Europe’s capital cities, London boasts free entry to dozens of its top museums and galleries. For the creative types, Kensington’s Victoria & Albert Museum is home to a wealth of historical fashion artefacts and intriguing art and design dating back hundreds of years. The Tate Modern on South Bank also has a constantly changing display of unique artwork
Alternatively, continue your education outside the lecture theatre with a trip to the Imperial War Museum or British Museum. There’s so much to learn about the intricate history of London and beyond, and anyway you can broaden your mind is sure to benefit your studies too.
A Fantastic Food and Drink Scene
Some may bemoan London for its seemingly ridiculous number of coffee shops, but for students on the hunt for caffeine, this is no bad thing. Many of the city’s libraries and bookshops also have café areas, where you can settle down for the afternoon with a flat white and literary giant – try the infamous Foyle’s in Charing Cross or London Review Bookshop in Holborn.
It’s not necessarily the most budget-friendly way to spend an evening, but for a special occasion, you should treat yourself to dinner out at one of London’s fabulous eateries. The diversity of the city’s people lends itself to diversity in cuisine, so whether you’re craving Korean stir fry or Greek kebabs, there is so much to choose from. If your student mantra is to ‘work hard, play hard’ then you’re in the best place to continue the fun into the early hours – London’s not short of bars and clubs, or people looking for a good time!
Health and Social Care
This might not top your list of priorities as you consider relocating to London to study, but it’s definitely something you should think about.
With a little paperwork, you can gain access to NHS healthcare, which is not just affordable but of an excellent standard, too. It offers just the peace of mind you need when miles from home.
There’s also a substantial focus on mental health in the UK too, particularly in recent years. University pastoral care continues to improve, and there will always be someone to turn to if you’re starting to struggle. A new and contemporary university like UWS London has been designed according to student needs and welfare, so you can rest assured that your health and well-being is a top priority for the university.
