Contracts are at the centre of construction, government and engineering works. Within these sectors there has been a significant shift towards outsourcing and sub-contracting. In this environment there is an ever increasing emphasis on understanding, negotiating and administering contracts to deliver the best possible result for all stakeholders.

This unique program will equip you with the skills and knowledge, not only to manage projects effectively, but also to manage contracts within the context of the Australian legal framework.

This specialisation is a blend of project management, business and law courses that will help you form a body of knowledge in both project and contract management. Courses introduce core and advanced concepts which continually reference current industry operations to prepare you for contract roles in the workplace.

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), 15.7 million new project management jobs will be available by 2020 in project-intensive industries, including manufacturing, business services, finance and insurance, oil and gas, information services, construction, and utilities.

This degree uses A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK® Guide) and other international standards as a framework. It is the international industry-standard approach to project management that can be applied across different industries, businesses and government institutions.

You will graduate with the skills and knowledge to apply both project and contract management methodology to specific professional field(s) of expertise; work in interdisciplinary project teams; and assume the role of project or contract manager from inception to commissioning.

You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to network, exchange ideas and share experiences with practicing project managers as well as other professionals.

This postgraduate degree is offered as part of a suite of four programs (graduate certificate, graduate diploma, a 1 ½ year and 2 year master). Each qualification extends to the next, so you can easily transition to a master level qualification. At master level, you may choose to complete an additional six months of study to expand your academic knowledge and explore an area of interest within the project management field.

If you decide to exit this degree having completed the first eight courses, you will receive the Graduate Diploma in Project Management (Contract Management).

What you'll learn

Over the course of this degree you will learn the fundamentals of project and contract management, which will include how to:

• establish a project and prepare project plans to meet objectives and requirements
• use appropriate strategies to establish, mitigate risk and control the contract process
• understand and effectively manage contracts using strategic techniques such as control methods and negotiation

Your studies will also include courses such as:

• Project Leadership and Teams
• Construction Claims and Disputes Resolution*
• Commercial Contract Management*
• Contract Law and Management

* Please note: Commercial Contract Management, Construction Claims and Disputes Resolution are construction/civil engineering industry focused elective courses.

With a Master of Applied Project Management (Contract Management) graduates will advance in their chosen professional field in industries where contracting and subcontracting are key to project delivery. This degree is particularly useful to employees or employers in construction, IT, defence, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) related organisations such as:

• Government departments
• Construction/Civil Engineering industry
• Mining industry  
• Defence Industry
• Lead contractor organisations
• Project management firms
• Engineering firms
• IT industry
• Corporate enterprises
• Consulting Firms
• Municipal councils
• Professional consultancies
• Public utilities