Advanced Diploma in Project Management QLS Level 7

BOLC Academy offers an Advanced Diploma in Project Management for learners who want a detailed understanding of how complex projects are planned, coordinated, led and controlled. Across 20 modules, you will explore scope, scheduling, budgets, quality, people management, procurement, risk and international project delivery.

This self-paced programme is designed for experienced professionals developing wider project responsibilities and motivated newcomers seeking comprehensive subject knowledge. You can also browse our complete course catalogue to compare professional development options, or explore our Project Management courses for different learning levels.

About This Advanced Project Management Course

Effective project management involves more than keeping activities on schedule. Decisions about scope, resources, costs, quality, stakeholders and risk influence one another throughout a project. This Level 7 programme takes a connected view of these responsibilities, moving from core project concepts to team leadership, operational challenges and international coordination.

For example, changes in scope can alter budgets and deadlines, while a procurement delay may affect both workforce allocation and quality assurance. Understanding these dependencies helps project leaders ask better questions, plan realistic responses and communicate decisions clearly. You will study the management principles behind these situations through flexible online learning.

What You Will Learn

• Explain project constraints and the stages of the project life cycle.
• Describe how scope, schedules, costs and quality requirements are planned and controlled.
• Identify approaches to managing human resources, rewards, communication and meetings.
• Examine practical responses to change, crisis, conflict, stress and project risk.
• Understand procurement, resource allocation and international project coordination.

Study Format and Course Information

The programme contains 20 modules and approximately 620 hours of online study. Study is self-paced, allowing you to progress around professional and personal commitments. Enrolment is available throughout the year, and the current course listing states that there are no particular entry requirements. Online tutor support accompanies the learning experience.

Applying Your Learning at Work

The syllabus is relevant to professionals who contribute to project planning, reporting, coordination or management. For example, a project coordinator may use scope concepts to clarify deliverables before a meeting, while a departmental manager may draw on risk and resource planning to assess the consequences of a proposed change. These are illustrations of how course knowledge may be applied, not claims that the programme includes workplace placements or practical project assessments.

Progression and Further Learning

If you are comparing levels before enrolling, our Advanced Diploma in Project Management QLS Level 5 covers a shorter advanced syllabus, while the International Diploma in Project Management QLS Level 4 provides another route to developing project management knowledge. These programmes have different curricula and should be considered against your current experience and learning aims.

If you are exploring longer-term professional development, our guide to becoming a project manager explains the responsibilities and considerations involved in the career.

Explore Advanced Project Management Training

Build a more connected understanding of project planning, leadership, control and delivery through BOLC Academy’s 20-module Level 7 programme. Review the curriculum and choose the online learning pathway that best fits your experience and professional objectives.

Module 1 - Overview of Project Management

Explore what makes a project different from routine operations and why clear objectives, boundaries and accountability matter. You will examine project constraints, the characteristics of an effective project manager and foundational management tools. This provides the vocabulary needed to understand more advanced decisions later in the programme.

Module 2 - Project Life Cycle

Follow a project from early selection and goal setting through planning, delivery and closure. The module considers how historical information, selection criteria and clear objectives support early decision-making. You will see why the activities performed at one stage affect the options available at the next.

Module 3 - Project Integration Management

Understand how separate planning and delivery activities are coordinated into a coherent project approach. You will examine project plan development, execution and change control, including the manager’s responsibility to reconcile competing priorities. Integration management helps prevent local decisions from undermining overall project outcomes.

Module 4 - Project Scope Management

Study the difference between the work required and work that falls outside agreed boundaries. The module introduces scope planning tools, scope statements and the development of scope documentation. Clear scope definition supports realistic estimates and helps teams assess proposed changes with greater consistency.

Module 5 - Project Time Management

Examine how project activities are defined, estimated and sequenced to support dependable delivery. You will explore work-package decomposition and practical considerations when building a schedule. The emphasis is on understanding assumptions and identifying schedule pressure before it affects major milestones.

Module 6 - Project Cost Management

Develop an understanding of financial planning, resource-related costs and budget development. You will consider how initial estimates are translated into a broader project budget and why forecasts must be revisited as project information changes. The module connects cost decisions with project scope and resource requirements.

Module 7 - Project Quality Management

Explore quality objectives, quality policies and how a project’s requirements influence assurance activities. You will study approaches to developing a quality framework and reviewing the scope statement against expected results. This module shows why quality needs to be designed into project processes rather than inspected only at completion.

Module 8 - Effective Planning & Scheduling

Study work breakdown structures as a means of dividing complex deliverables into manageable components. You will also examine estimating, aligning resources with activities and the benefits of structured planning. Particular attention is given to the relationship between a workable plan and practical coordination across teams.

Module 9 - Human Resource Management

Consider how staffing requirements, organisational planning and project interfaces shape project delivery. The module examines how managers identify suitable roles and plan workforce capacity around project constraints. You will develop a clearer understanding of why people planning must be coordinated with timelines and operational needs.

Module 10 - Rewarding Employees

Explore the relationship between motivation, recognition, incentives and employee ownership. You will compare approaches to reward and consider how empowerment can support engagement and responsible performance. The module encourages evaluation of reward arrangements in the context of fairness, team needs and organisational goals.

Module 11 - Organising Meetings

Examine the purposes of different professional meetings and the preparation needed to make them useful. Topics include meeting structure, conference planning and common scheduling difficulties. You will consider how agendas, clear decisions and follow-up actions contribute to communication and project accountability.

Module 12 - Managing Resources

Review the practical principles of resource management and their relationship to different business environments and ownership models. You will examine how the organisation’s structure and context influence the availability and control of resources. This wider view supports more informed allocation and coordination decisions.

Module 13 - Change Management

Study organisational change as a managed process rather than a one-off announcement. The module examines factors that support successful change, including timing, communication and making constructive use of emerging opportunities. You will consider how project leaders can respond when priorities, processes or expectations shift.

Module 14 - Crisis Management

Explore how organisations prepare for disruption and respond when normal operating arrangements are interrupted. You will examine crisis plans, the purpose of crisis audits and the potential role of an emergency operations centre. The focus is on clear responsibilities, timely information and coordinated responses under pressure.

Module 15 - Conflict Management

Learn how differences in objectives, expectations and perspectives can affect project teams. The module explores types and stages of conflict, common workplace triggers and communication-based approaches to resolution. You will consider how constructive disagreement can improve decisions when managed respectfully.

Module 16 - Stress Management

Examine the causes and consequences of workplace stress, including the relationship between workload, time management and individual responses to pressure. You will consider practical management approaches that support more sustainable working practices. Understanding these issues can help project leaders recognise pressure points in delivery environments.

Module 17 - Communication Management

Explore how communication needs change across stakeholders, functions and project phases. You will study communication requirements, constraints, planning decisions and different communication methods. This module highlights the importance of reaching the right people with relevant, accurate information at appropriate times.

Module 18 - Procurement Management

Study procurement as a wider process than purchasing individual goods or services. The module covers procurement planning, market considerations, product descriptions and the relationship between purchasing decisions and project scope. You will consider how clear requirements help control delivery risks and supplier expectations.

Module 19 - Risk Management

Develop an understanding of risk identification, categorisation, prioritisation and responsibility. You will examine tools such as SWOT analysis and the purpose of project-charter information in establishing a shared context. The module connects early risk recognition with realistic responses and continuing oversight.

Module 20 - International Project Management

Consider additional coordination challenges when projects involve multiple countries, cultures, time zones or remote teams. You will explore global project leadership, international knowledge areas and approaches to managing distributed working relationships. This concluding module brings together communication, leadership and planning considerations in cross-border delivery.

At the end of this course successful learners will receive a Certificate of Achievement from the Quality Licence Scheme and a Learner Unit Summary (which lists the components the learner has completed as part of the course).

This course and/or training programme has been endorsed by the Quality Licence Scheme for its high-quality, non-regulated provision and training programmes. This course and/or training programme is not regulated by Ofqual and is not an accredited qualification. Your training provider will be able to advise you on any further recognition, for example progression routes into further and/or higher education. For further information please visit the Learner FAQs on the Quality Licence Scheme website.

Frequently Asked Questions
 

What is the focus of this Level 7 project management programme?

It provides a broad study of integrated project delivery, combining planning, scope, schedule, cost, quality, people management, procurement, risk and international coordination across 20 modules.

How many modules are included?

There are 20 modules, starting with core project management principles and concluding with international project management.

How long does the course take?

The learning duration is 620 hours. Actual calendar time depends on your study routine and how quickly you progress through the material.

Is the Advanced Diploma in Project Management studied online?

Yes. The course is delivered online and is designed for self-paced study, enabling you to fit learning around other commitments.

Do I need a previous project management qualification?

The course that there are no particular entry requirements. The detailed syllabus may also interest professionals with prior project experience.

Will I study project budgets and scheduling?

Yes. Separate modules examine time management, cost management, effective planning and scheduling, including work breakdown structures and resource alignment.

Does the course cover leadership and team performance?

Yes. Human resource management, rewarding employees, organising meetings, conflict management, stress and communication are all included.

Are risk and crisis management both covered?

Yes. Risk management examines identifying and prioritising uncertainty; crisis management considers preparation for disruptive events and coordinated organisational responses.

Will I learn about international projects?

Yes. The final module discusses international project leadership, global knowledge areas and coordinating remote teams.

What certificate is awarded on successful completion?

The course successful learners receive a Quality Licence Scheme Certificate of Achievement and a Learner Unit Summary.

Is the Level 7 certificate an Ofqual-regulated qualification?

No. It is a QLS-endorsed, non-regulated course and should not be described as an Ofqual-regulated qualification or a professional licence.

Can I use this training as evidence of professional development?

You can include the completed learning in a CV or professional development portfolio. Acceptance for specific professional or employer requirements depends on the organisation concerned.

Whether pursuing a career as a project manager or simply looking to fast-track your progression in a business setting, this endorsed course could prove invaluable.  Suitable for newcomers and experienced personnel, our Level 7 Project Management Diploma is open for enrolment all year round.  Typical job titles in the field of project management include Project Assistant, Project Administrator, Project Management Specialist, Project Scheduler, Project Planner, Project Risk Manager, Project Procurement Manager, Project Quality Manager and many more besides.  All with fantastic earnings potential and broad scope for progression.

This programme is relevant to project coordinators preparing for broader responsibility, practising project managers updating their knowledge, team leaders who supervise cross-functional work, business owners who commission projects, and professionals involved in change or complex delivery. The course also provides a comprehensive subject overview for newcomers who are comfortable studying an extensive curriculum.