What is the duration of an MSc in Project Management?
The MSc in Project Management at EDC Paris Business School follows a structured timeline that alternates between academic teaching, applied projects and professional immersion. Before committing, it is important to understand the pace and overall duration of the programme in order to plan your academic journey effectively.
Total duration of the MSc programme
The MSc duration varies depending on the applicant’s entry level:
● 12 months for candidates holding a Bac+4 degree, who enter directly into the second year;
● 24 months for candidates holding a Bac+3 degree, who complete the full programme.
This full-time MSc timeline is structured over four progressive semesters covering management fundamentals, project management specialisation, professional experience and the final dissertation defence. Two intakes are available: September, and in some formats, a spring intake in March.
The programme is available as an initial full-time course with internships, or as a work-study track (apprenticeship or professionalisation contract), depending on the candidate’s profile and career situation.
Academic structure and learning rhythm
The academic structure of the MSc is designed to progressively train operational project managers step by step.
The first semester focuses on core foundations: project management, strategic management, corporate finance, entrepreneurial ecosystems, ethics and responsible management, Business English and soft skills. This common core ensures that all students—regardless of their academic background—share the same baseline before entering the specialisation phase.
From the second to the fourth semester, the MSc in Project Management shifts towards full specialisation: advanced planning, risk management, agile methodologies, budget control, cross-functional team coordination and project governance. Lectures gradually give way to case studies, group projects and real-world missions carried out with partner companies.
The master’s study rhythm becomes more intensive towards the end of the programme with the preparation of the final dissertation and its defence before an academic and professional jury.
Internship and professional experience period
The MSc internship is a mandatory component of the programme for students in the initial training track. This professional immersion period, typically lasting several months, allows students to apply the skills acquired in class to real-life situations involving deadlines, budgets and quality constraints.
The most significant professional assignment in the programme is the consulting mission carried out with a major company. Students take responsibility for a real business issue, work under academic and professional supervision, and present their recommendations directly to the client. This experience often leads to job offers, as companies are able to assess students’ capabilities in real working conditions.
For students on a work-study track, the structure is different but equally formative: a rhythm of three weeks in company and one week at school creates a continuous back-and-forth between professional practice and academic learning throughout the 12- or 24-month programme.
International options and flexibility
The international MSc in Project Management at EDC Paris Business School offers academic mobility opportunities through partnerships with foreign universities. Students wishing to enhance their profile with international experience can benefit from double-degree agreements with:
● McGill University (Canada);
● Dublin Business School and Griffith College (Ireland);
● Academia de Studii Economice of Bucharest (Romania).
These partnerships allow students to complete part of their studies abroad within recognised institutions, strengthening their employability in international markets.
The programme’s flexible duration also adapts to working professionals: the work-study format enables students to fund their studies while gaining experience without interrupting their careers. For experienced candidates, a prior learning assessment procedure (VAE – Validation of Prior Experience) is available under certain conditions, with a minimum duration of nine months before the graduation jury.
The MSc in Project Management at EDC Paris Business School adapts to a wide range of profiles and situations, offering 12- or 24-month pathways in either full-time study or work-study format. To view the detailed academic calendar and explore programme duration according to your chosen format, download the official brochure from the EDC Paris Business School website or contact the admissions office.