Professional Certificate

Project Planning, Scheduling & Cost Control

Professional Certificate · Level 7 · APM Recognised Diploma Pathway

Master the technical planning, scheduling and cost control disciplines that determine whether projects are delivered on time and within budget. This course equips practising project managers with the quantitative tools, digital platforms and analytical frameworks to plan projects with precision and maintain financial control throughout delivery.

In-person£1,990
Virtual£990
Self-paced£490
Regionalised Pricing Available
Experienced TrainersDelivered by qualified industry-practitioners
Awarded by
Project Planning, Scheduling & Cost Control
About this course

Why This Course

Most project failures can be traced to the same root causes: unrealistic schedules, poor cost estimation and inadequate performance monitoring. This course tackles those causes directly, building the technical planning and controls capability that separates consistently successful project managers from those who rely on contingency and hope.

Participants will develop practical proficiency in project scheduling techniques including Critical Path Method and PERT analysis, build and manage project budgets using established cost estimation approaches, and apply Earned Value Management to monitor and control project performance in real time. The course also addresses how AI-assisted planning tools and predictive analytics are reshaping project controls, equipping participants to work effectively with the current generation of intelligent project management platforms.

This course is derived from LIBT's Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management, which holds APM Recognised Assessment status under Pathway 2 for the Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) designation. Participants wishing to pursue the full ChPP pathway may progress to the complete diploma through LIBT's structured academic route.

What you'll cover

Course Content

Inside the programme

Your Learning Journey

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Develop realistic, detailed project schedules using Critical Path Method, PERT and industry-standard scheduling tools.

  • Apply cost estimation techniques to build accurate project budgets aligned with scope and resource requirements.

  • Use Earned Value Management (EVM) to monitor project performance, forecast completion and identify variances early.

  • Apply corrective action frameworks to bring projects back on track when cost or schedule deviations occur.

  • Evaluate how AI-driven planning tools and predictive analytics can improve scheduling accuracy and cost forecasting.

Who should join

Who this programme is designed for

  • Project managers and project analysts responsible for schedule and cost performance
  • Planning engineers and project controls leads
  • PMO analysts and project coordinators preparing for senior project management roles
  • Project managers in construction / infrastructure / technology and professional services sectors
  • Finance professionals embedded in project delivery environments
Accreditations and Memberships

Our Recognitions

Chartered Management Institute

This course is based on the Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Leadership and Management (Level 7), which is accredited by the CMI towards gaining the Chartered Manager status.

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

London Institute of Business & Technology is a member of the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Association for Project Management

Pathway 2 APM Recognised Assessment for the Chartered Project Professional (ChPP)

Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)

London Institute of Business & Technology is a full member of the ⁠Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

Continue your journey

Where this takes you next.

On successful completion you may progress directly into:

Awarding Body

Why choose the London Institute of Business & Technology

The London Institute of Business and Technology (LIBT) is a British institution with over a decade of experience delivering professional and executive education to organisations and individuals across the world. We work with more than 200 companies globally, delivering programmes in the UK, UAE, Thailand, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Jamaica, the Isle of Man and beyond. Our reach is international; our standards are uncompromisingly British.

Our Track Record

LIBT has been delivering professional and executive education for over ten years. We have worked with organisations across the private, public and third sectors, from regional government bodies and development agencies to multinational corporations and financial institutions. Our programmes have been delivered across four continents, and our trainers bring deep practitioner experience to every cohort they work with.

We do not treat corporate training as a commodity. Every programme we deliver, whether to an individual learner or a cohort of fifty senior leaders, is held to the same standard: rigorous in content, practical in application and relevant to the challenges leaders face today.

Quality and Regulation

LIBT is a full member of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), the UK's independent body responsible for safeguarding standards in higher education. This membership confirms that our programmes, processes and academic practices meet the standards expected of a recognised UK higher education provider - an assurance that matters to corporate clients evaluating training providers for senior and executive cohorts.

Professional Accreditations

LIBT holds accreditation and endorsement from the UK's most respected professional bodies.

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accredits and endorses a range of LIBT programmes, confirming they meet CMI's standards for management and leadership education. Participants completing a CMI-accredited programme at LIBT become eligible for Chartered Manager status, one of the most widely recognised professional designations in management worldwide.

The Association for Project Management (APM) has recognised LIBT's Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management under its Pathway 2 Recognised Assessment for the Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) designation, placing LIBT among a select group of institutions whose assessment meets APM's professional standard.

Academic Progression

For participants who wish to convert professional achievement into formal academic qualifications, LIBT's programmes provide direct pathways to postgraduate and undergraduate degrees at partner universities including the University of London, Coventry University, the University of Lancashire, the University of Portsmouth, the University of Essex, the University of Wolverhampton and Acacia University in the United States. Progression is based on each university's independent review of LIBT's programmes and outcomes.

From our community

Reviews from students across programmes we offer.

Hear from the professionals who studied with LIBT, the skills they gained, the goals they reached, and the moments that changed how they work.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What level of prior project management experience is expected?
This course is designed for practising project managers and project analysts with some hands-on project experience. Familiarity with basic project management concepts is assumed. It is not an introductory course for those new to project management, but prior formal training is not a prerequisite.
Does the course require proficiency in specific software tools?
Participants will work with scheduling and cost tools during the course, including MS Project and/or Primavera. Prior proficiency is not required, but familiarity with spreadsheet tools is helpful. The focus is on applying the tools to real scheduling and cost scenarios rather than software training in isolation.
Can this course be delivered for our organisation's project team?
Yes. LIBT offers bespoke in-house delivery for corporate project teams, with scheduling scenarios, cost models and EVM exercises built around your organisation's project environment, methodology and sector. This format is particularly effective for PMO teams and project controls functions seeking a structured technical development week. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Take the next step

Ready to lead at the next level?

Register in minutes and start whenever suits you. If you would like to discuss the course, your delivery options, or how it fits into your development plan, our team is happy to talk it through beforehand.