2025 Postgraduate Diploma in Programme Management (PGDipPM) – NQF L8

Cranefield College’s Postgraduate Diploma in Programme Management course is designed for working professionals who wish to deepen their knowledge and understanding of programme-managing the entire cross-functionally shaped organisational value chain in the prevailing fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0 or 4IR) economy. Momentous changes are occurring in the 4IR environment, and value chain management is now more than ever before a vibrant and extremely valuable field of study. In today’s world, one cannot be a successful leader without possessing project and programme management acumen. Cranefield graduates gain access to the Postgraduate Diploma studies via the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or Advanced Diploma in Project Management. Prospective students who achieved their NQF L7 qualifications from other academic institutions may also apply. The Postgraduate Diploma is an accredited NQF Level 8 qualification.

  • Read More

    Aspects most affected by Industry 4.0 are customer expectations, product and service enhancement, collaborative innovation, and organisational forms. These aspects are comprehensively addressed in the course, and students learn how to best maximise organisational benefits of strategic importance that lead to success. The Postgraduate Diploma’s distance learning format and structure allow for flexibility and meet the needs of working professionals with limited time to study.

    Cranefield College is an ISO-9001-certified leader in private higher education and selects only the best in terms of highly qualified and experienced lecturers who are at the cutting edge of development in their fields. This ensures that students enjoy first-class tuition and derive maximum practical benefit from their studies. Moreover, history has proven that they are positively influential in the job market very early in their studies.

    Successful Postgraduate Diploma students are given a solid foundation for more advanced studies through which they can continue to achieve greater heights. Graduates who further their studies through Cranefield may next enrol for the Master of Commerce in Programme Management (completed part-time in two years, depending on module choices and personal progress). Exceptional students may later in their careers progress to the Cranefield PhD in Commerce and Administration, which signifies the highest level of attainment.

After completing the Postgraduate Diploma, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate with advanced knowledge and insight the behavioural strategic advantages of creating and operating effective and efficient project and process teams in the organisational value chain, to improve its performance in the 4IR economy.
  • Demonstrate with advanced knowledge and insight the management of infrastructural assets across its entire life cycle; distinguish between the various facets of strategic infrastructural asset management; and apply world best practices (by ISO 55000) to the management of infrastructural assets in the 4IR economy.
  • Demonstrate with advanced knowledge and insight the application of organisational strategy practices to meet challenges in the internal and external environments in a predominantly emergent manner to enhance the value creation ability of 4IR learning organisations, or alternatively –
  • Reflect with advanced knowledge and insight on the role of quality and performance management in the 4IR organisational value chain, particularly its cross-functional programme-managed supply chain and project components, to achieve optimal benefits of strategic importance.
  • Communicate accurately and appropriately in the English language, particularly in terms of written communication in the business context, with advanced insight and understanding.
  • Modules

    NQF level 8, with 135 credits:

    The Postgraduate Diploma consists of THREE modules of 40 credits each, plus Module M7 entitled ‘Advanced Business English’ of 15 credits.

    Module Order of Precedence

    Step 1: Complete THREE of the following modules which may be undertaken in any order of precedence:

    PGB1 Transformational Corporate Strategy (formerly M4)

    PGB2 Creating High-Performance Project and Process Teams (formerly M5)

    PGB3 Infrastructural Asset Management (formerly M6)

    PGB4 Strategic Manufacturing Management in the Evolving Economy (new)

    Step 2: *Complete Module M7: Advanced Business English as part of Step 1.

    *The Advanced Business English module is completed simultaneously with step 1, starting with the first module for which a student enrols. There are no formal classes for this module. 

  • *Academic Programme Fees

    Registration Fee:
    R 4, 500.00

    Advanced Business English (Module M7) Fee:
    R9, 800.00

    Fee per module (for remaining Modules):
    R 21, 500.00

    Academic Programme Fee Calculation:
    R 4, 500.00 + (3 x R 21, 500.00) R 64, 500.00 + R 9, 800.00 (Module M7) = R 78, 800.00

    Payment Options:
    Pay the full fee or pay per module. Note that either way it is advisable for your employer to sponsor the payment(s) and claim back the fees from the relevant SETA (South Africa).

    Cancellation Fee:
    Contact Cranefield’s Financial Coordinator.

    Module Repeat Fee:
    Contact Cranefield’s Financial Coordinator.

    *Fees may be claimed back from your organisation’s SETA (South Africa).

  • Programme Availability

    The Postgraduate Diploma commences every quarter starting in January, April, July, or October. New enrollments start with any of the modules PGB1, PGB2, PGB3 or PGB4. The sequence of the modules depends on which quarter the initial enrollment commences. For details, please view the Academic Calendar (or click on “Academic Calendars” at the top of the HOME page). Learning modules are offered in series, with ONE module at a time being completed per quarter.

    Lectures are streamed live online as follows:

    PGB1 Transformational Corporate Strategy (Apr-Jun) 

    PGB2 Creating High-Performance Project and Process Teams (Jan-Mar)

    PGB3 Infrastructural Asset Management (Jul-Sep) and (Oct-Dec)

    PGB4 Strategic Manufacturing Management in the Evolving Economy (Jul-Sept)

    Note that all lectures are streamed live online globally via Cranefield’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).  The online system also caters for viewing recordings of all classes afterwards. 

  • Accreditation and Certification

    Accreditation
    The Postgraduate Diploma in Programme Management (PGDipPM) is accredited by the Council on Higher Education at NQF level 8, with 135 credits (consisting of three modules of 40 credits each plus Advanced Business English of 15 credits). The qualification is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training. It particularly serves to meet the need for a professional qualification on the graduate level in project, programme and portfolio management.

    Certification
    The Postgraduate Diploma (PGDipPM) is fully aligned with the Project Management Institute’s PMBoK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) and the International Project Management Association’s ICB (International Competency Baseline). It is an ideal route towards gaining international certification as an OPM3 (Organisational Project Management Maturity Model) professional by the Project Management Institute. Moreover, the Postgraduate Diploma is fully aligned with the International Project Management Association’s ICB (International Competency Baseline) 4-level certification model. Such candidates qualify for ICB levels C and B certifications.

  • Learning Mode

    Cranefield College offers technology-enhanced distance learning. It entails the integration of self-study, live interactive online classes, and recordings of classes online. Cranefield’s learning mode is supported by its online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

  • Class Attendance Requirements

    Cranefield’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or Advanced Diploma in Project Management. Moreover, candidates who hold degrees or diplomas obtained from other recognised academic institutions and have relevant experience may also apply. All relevant information and documentation, including a detailed curriculum vitae and the applicant’s work experience, must be submitted to the Registrar (Academic). Hence, applicants must meet the following criteria:

    • Completion of Cranefield’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or Advanced Diploma in Project Management, or any qualification recognised by the Admissions Committee as being equivalent, is a prerequisite for admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Programme Management.
    • An ‘equivalent qualification’ means any NQF level 7 or higher qualification with similar content as Cranefield’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or Advanced Diploma.
    • If certain subjects were not sufficiently covered in the ‘equivalent qualification,’ relevant modules from the Advanced Diploma learning programme will have to be undertaken in addition to those of the Postgraduate Diploma learning programme.
    • Every case will be evaluated on its own merits.
    Submission of Documents Process:
    1. Submit certified copies of your highest qualifications.
    2. Submit a curriculum vitae, which must reflect all your qualifications and the latest grades received.
    3. The Admissions Committee may, however, require you to provide certified copies relating to all courses/programmes attended at any other institution, prior to approving admission to the learning programme involved.

    EVERY APPLICATION WILL BE ASSESSED ON ITS OWN MERITS!

  • Entrance Requirements

    ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

    Cranefield’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or Advanced Diploma in Project Management. Moreover, candidates who hold degrees or diplomas obtained from other recognised academic institutions and have relevant experience, may also apply. All relevant information and documentation, including a detailed curriculum vitae and the applicant’s work experience, must be submitted to the Registrar (Academic). Hence, applicants must meet the following criteria:

    • Completion of Cranefield’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or Advanced Diploma in Project Management, or any qualification recognised by the Admissions Committee as being equivalent, is a prerequisite for admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Programme Management.
    • An ‘equivalent qualification’ means any NQF level 7 or higher qualification with similar content as Cranefield’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or Advanced Diploma.
    • If certain subjects were not sufficiently covered in the ‘equivalent qualification’, relevant modules from the Advanced Diploma learning programme will have to be undertaken in addition to those of the Postgraduate Diploma learning programme.
    • Every case will be evaluated on its own merits.
    Submission of Documents process:
    1. Submit certified copies of your highest qualifications.
    2. Submit a curriculum vitae, which must reflect all your qualifications and the latest grades received.
    3. The Admissions Committee may, however, require you to provide certified copies relating to all courses/programmes attended at any other institution, prior to approving admission to the learning programme involved.
    EVERY APPLICATION WILL BE ASSESSED ON ITS OWN MERITS!
  • General Admission Regulations

    General Admission for all academic programmes:

    • Possession of prescribed qualifications for admission to any learning programme does not automatically qualify a student for registration.
    • The prospective student may be requested to comply with additional requirements such as a special assignment or an oral or written examination.
    • The admission policy is reviewed annually, and the admission requirements from the previous year may not apply.
    • It is the responsibility of prospective students to keep abreast of developments.
    • Because of the nature of the admission procedures, deadlines are enforced strictly.
    • All relevant documentation must be provided by the specified deadlines.
    • Application for any programme implies acceptance by the applicant of the admission policies and procedures.
    Submission of Documents:

    Applying for admission to any academic programme:

    1. Submit certified copies of your highest qualifications.
    2. Submit a curriculum vitae, which must reflect all your qualifications and the latest grades received.
    3. The Admissions Committee may, however, require you to provide certified copies relating to all courses/programmes attended at any other institution, prior to approving admission to the learning programme involved.
    All documents must be submitted to the Registrar (Academic).

    Note: When undergraduate courses are still in progress at the time of application, or graduate programmes have not been completed, and are not reported on the certified copies, applicants must provide a ‘statement of registration’ to the Registrar (Academic).

ACADEMIC CALENDAR: POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA (2025)

The Postgraduate Diploma in Programme Management (PGDipPM) comprises THREE modules to be selected from PGB1, PGB2, PGB3 or PGB4.
Modules can be undertaken in any order.

CLASS DATES:

  • Module PGB1: “Transformational Corporate Strategy” (formerly M4).
  • Module PGB2: “Creating High-Performance Project and Process Teams” (formerly M5).
  • Module PGB3: “Infrastructural Asset Management” (formerly M6).
  • Module PGB4: “Manufacturing Management in the Evolving Economy” (new).
QUARTERS

MODULES

Q1

2025

Q2

2025

Q3

2025

Q4

2025

PGB1

Transformational Corporate Strategy
(formerly M4)

14 April
29 April
12 May
26 May
17 Jun
PGB2

Creating High-Performance Project
& Process Teams (formerly M5)

23 Jan
06 Feb
20 Feb
06 Mar
20 Mar
PGB3

Infrastructural Asset Management
(formerly M6)

10 April
24 April
08 May
22 May
12 June
09 Oct
23 Oct
06 Nov
20 Nov
10 Dec
PGB4

Manufacturing Management
in the Evolving Economy (New)

24 Jul
07 Aug
21 Aug
11 Sept
02 Oct

NOTE that there are 5 online lecture dates per Module per quarter from 09h00 to 12h00.

Apply Now

Diploma Fee

 R 78, 800.00

Pay full fee or R 4, 500.00 registration fee plus Advanced Business English R9, 800.00 and R 21, 500.00 per module. *May be claimed back from your organisation’s SETA (South Africa)

Payment Options

Full or 3 part payments

Classes Per Module

5 live interactive online classes
09H00 – 12H00 RSA time (Greenwich +2)

Live Online-Attendance

Globally

Starts Every Quarter

January
April
July
October

Registration Closes

7 days prior to
starting date

Programme Duration

9 months (3 modules plus the Advanced Business English short course)