Project managers plan, manage and monitor a project’s progress from start to finish, coordinating with various departments through different phases of development.

Whether it's banks upgrading eWallet services, real estate developers constructing skyscrapers or tech firms launching new apps, most companies utilise project managers to ensure their initiatives run smoothly.

What do project managers do

Project managers oversee key aspects of a business’ project life cycle, including budget planning, milestone and deliverable scheduling, stakeholder coordination, risk assessment and quality control.

Through theory and industrial training, accredited project management courses will equip students with essential skills for this profession.

What you will learn in project management courses

Project management courses cover topics that prepare students to handle different aspects of a project across any industry. Here are some of the main topics in the curriculum:

• Cost estimation and budgeting: Students will learn to estimate costs and allocate financial resources in projects, ensuring that tasks are completed within budget.

• Risk management: This topic explores the process of identifying, analysing and evaluating the risks that may arise during projects. Students will develop the skills to adapt and respond to challenges like delayed deliverables, equipment breakdowns and staff issues.

• Project scheduling: Project management courses teach students how to establish feasible start and finish dates and deliverable milestones while taking into consideration a team’s resources.

• Quality management: Students will learn to conduct tests and inspections on project deliverables, ensuring that the project meets the business’s quality requirements and objectives.

• Communication and stakeholder management: The best project managers are experts in organising regular reviews of a project’s status, schedule and costs between team members and stakeholders. This is a skill that students will learn in their studies.

Career opportunities in project management

With a project management degree, graduates can pursue job opportunities in a broad scope of sectors, including construction, finance, tech and engineering.

Project coordinator

• Project coordinators liaise with project managers, stakeholders and clients to establish project objectives and deliverables.
• Their responsibilities include monitoring project timelines, budgets and resources to ensure deliverables are completed on time.
• Average salary range: RM3,100 to RM3,800 monthly.

Business analyst

• Business analysts conduct data-driven analyses of companies’ work processes, organisational structures and staff development.
• These analytics professionals consolidate their findings into reports for stakeholders. The reports feature proposed strategies for improving the organisation’s operational efficiency and reducing business costs.
• Average salary range: RM4,300 to RM6,800 monthly.

Project manager

• Project managers collaborate with project coordinators to ensure the successful completion of multiple projects.
• They facilitate communication between management, clients and project teams to monitor each project’s progress.
• Highly competent project coordinators can advance to project manager positions.
• Average salary range: RM7,550 to RM10,050 monthly.

Resource manager

• Resource managers work with project managers to secure the necessary staff members, equipment and other resources for projects.
• Their job involves evaluating the company’s capacity to handle new projects and collaborating with management to hire team members.
• Average salary range: RM7,000 to RM9,400 monthly.

Scrum master

• Scrum masters are tasked to lead their teams using Agile project management methods.
• They incorporate Agile methodologies into the team’s workflow, carry out successful short-term development cycles and help team members adapt to new challenges during the project.
• Average salary range: RM11,000 to RM12,000 monthly.

Top institutions offering project management degrees

What degree do you need to be a project manager?

Malaysian universities offer industry-relevant undergraduate and postgraduate project management courses that prepare students for the job market.

Undergraduate level

Postgraduate level

FAQs about project management degrees in Malaysia

Find out more about studying project management

Project management is a fast-growing field and Malaysian universities provide a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses to address this demand. For specific programme details, explore the project management courses at the top of this page.