Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Oxford Leading Strategic Projects Programme

Revamp your approach to project management and redefine project success with a strategic approach.

Start date

30 July 2025

Price

$3,360 USD

Installment Plan

Course duration

6 weeks

Excluding orientation

Language

English

Access resources from start date

Effort

7–10 hours per week

Self-paced learning online

ABOUT THIS COURSE

Programme overview

67%

The increase in the number of projects that fail outright in organisations that undervalue project management as a strategic tool for driving change.

PMI (2020).

36%

The percentage of organisations that report that their projects mostly or always deliver their full benefits.

Wellingtone (2021).

Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)

With the rapidly evolving business landscape, traditional approaches to project delivery are no longer sufficient. To account for digital transformation, business innovation, and changing customer needs, professionals must adapt their project strategies to accommodate the complexity and uncertainty that accompanies constant change.

The Oxford Leading Strategic Projects Programme stands out with its contemporary approach, providing the leadership and strategic project management skills required to ensure successful project delivery. The programme will help you understand the advantages of strategic project leadership and provide you with the necessary tools to redefine and achieve organisational success in today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments.

Is this programme for you?

This programme offers a range of strategic approaches and techniques for professionals looking to enhance their project leadership skills. It's designed to help anyone interested in creating a sustainable environment for project success and achieving organisational objectives.

No matter your role in the company, whether in a senior strategic position or working within a project environment, this programme provides practical skills and knowledge. Managers can benefit from learning a more strategic approach, which can lead to increased project success. Business and operations professionals can also learn how to implement strategic projects effectively. Furthermore, professionals can improve their leadership abilities to manage project teams and strategic initiatives efficiently.

GetSmarter is approved by the Project Management Institute (PMI®) as an Authorized Training Partner (ATP), a partnership that enables you to join the world’s largest project management network. This Oxford Leading Strategic Projects Programme will count for 21.5 PDUs in total, and the division of hours is as follows: Technical - 4.75, Leadership - 4.00, Strategic - 12.75.

PMI is responsible for setting project management standards and providing certification. By taking this programme, you’ll gain PMI-endorsed skills that are globally recognised. You can also use these learning hours towards furthering your professional project management development. See PMI.org for more information.

Please note that GetSmarter and Oxford Saïd bear no responsibility for the reporting of these PDUs and/or hours to the PMI. The onus, therefore, falls on you to do so.

The PMI® Authorized Training Partner seal is a mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

This Oxford Leading Strategic Projects Programme is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The programme has an estimated 60 hours of learning.

Note: should you wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is on you. Oxford Saïd and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.

Programme overview

Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)

Please note that GetSmarter and Oxford Saïd bear no responsibility for the reporting of these PDUs and/or hours to the PMI. The onus, therefore, falls on you to do so.

The PMI® Authorized Training Partner seal is a mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Get this course for your team

Leading organisations recognise the value of this course and invest in it to enhance their employees' skills and expertise.

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What will set you apart

On completion of this programme, you’ll walk away with:

A set of personalised leadership skills to help you guide teams through uncertainty to successful project delivery.

Tools to manage potential project risks, capitalise on opportunities, and achieve organisational objectives.

The ability to respond to complexities faced when dealing with people, power, and politics.

Guidance from leading industry experts and Oxford Saïd faculty and unlimited access to both the official Oxford Executive Education Alumni group on LinkedIn and 2U’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.

Programme curriculum

As you progress through the weekly modules of this online programme, delve into the principles and methodologies of leading strategic projects.

Orientation module

Welcome to your Online Campus

Module 1

Strategic projects: Understanding complexities and risks

Module 2

Reinterpreting success and performance in strategic projects

Module 3

Structural complexities: Responding to the challenges of scale and pace

Module 4

Sociopolitical complexities: Responding to the challenges of power, people, and politics

Module 5

Emergent complexities: Responding to the challenges of uncertainty and change

Module 6

Success by design

What past students
think

Kay McEvilly

Business Operations Manager, NHS

For anyone leading complex projects or planning to in the future, this programme is a must. From start to finish the programme has been a tremendous experience. Delivered by noted academics from the University of Oxford and industry experts, the quality and breadth of content has been outstanding. The online format provided a flexible mode of learning, supporting the combined demands of work pressures and studying. The programme materials, with their relatability to real-world deliverables, have been first class, and the interactive class discussions have provided excellent insights into applying learning and sharing experiences across a wide spectrum of industries. Initially, I had high expectations and I wasn't disappointed; I thoroughly enjoyed the mental stimulus to exercise critical thinking, and challenge myself and be challenged to stretch beyond the learning material, allowing me to really explore the research. Having completed a number of development and leadership programmes, including the Oxford Leading Strategic Projects Programme, this far surpassed any I have undertaken previously. In just six weeks, I have come away with a whole new toolkit of skills and tools that are highly relevant to my current and future aspirations.

Programme Directors

The design of this online programme is guided by Oxford Saïd faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the programme. View the prospectus to see all the industry thought leaders featured on this programme.

Harvey Maylor

Associate Professor in Management Practice, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Alexander Budzier

Fellow in Management Practice in the Field of Information Systems, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

About the certificate

Embark on a journey to learn strategic project leadership and earn an official certificate of attendance from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the programme handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the programme.

Your digital certificate will be issued in your legal name and sent to you upon successful completion of the programme, as per the stipulated requirements.

Oxford Leading Strategic Projects Programme certificate

YOUR INFORMATION

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Answer a few questions and get more information about the programme.

FAQ

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We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.

Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.

Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.

You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.

GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.

At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.

By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?

Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.

If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.

As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.

To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.

The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.

On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.

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