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Project Cost Estimating and Budgeting

An estimate built on optimism rather than method is a budget overrun waiting to happen. This course teaches practical estimating techniques, from analogous and parametric estimating through to bottom up costing, and shows how to turn an estimate into a defensible project budget with contingency that reflects actual risk, calibrated to South African cost data and supplier realities.

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What you will be able to do

  • Select an estimating technique appropriate to the information available at each project stage.
  • Build bottom up cost estimates from a validated work breakdown structure.
  • Apply parametric and analogous estimating methods where detailed data is limited.
  • Calculate contingency and management reserve based on quantified project risk.
  • Convert an approved estimate into a time phased budget and cash flow.
  • Track budget performance and explain variances to sponsors in plain terms.

Course outline

  1. 01Estimating techniques and their limits
  2. 02Bottom up costing from the WBS
  3. 03Parametric and analogous estimating
  4. 04Contingency and management reserve
  5. 05Building a time phased project budget
  6. 06Cash flow forecasting for projects
  7. 07Budget tracking and variance explanation
  8. 08Estimating lessons for future bids

Who should attend

Project managers, cost engineers, quantity surveyors, financial controllers and project accountants responsible for estimating and budgeting project work.

Dates, venues and fees

DatesVenueDaysFeeCalendarRegister
28 to 30 Sep 2026Dar es Salaam3US$1,500Closed
29 Sep to 1 Oct 2026Kigali3US$1,500Register
30 Sep to 2 Oct 2026Kampala3US$1,500Register
5 to 7 Oct 2026Accra3US$1,500Register
6 to 8 Oct 2026Lagos3US$1,500Register
7 to 9 Oct 2026Cairo3US$1,500Register
12 to 14 Oct 2026Mauritius3US$1,500Register
13 to 15 Oct 2026Dubai3US$1,500Register
14 to 16 Oct 2026Online3US$900Register
10 to 12 Nov 2026Johannesburg3R13,000Register
11 to 13 Nov 2026Cape Town3R13,000Register
16 to 18 Nov 2026Durban3R13,000Register
17 to 19 Nov 2026Pretoria3R13,000Register
18 to 20 Nov 2026Windhoek3US$1,500Register
23 to 25 Nov 2026Gaborone3US$1,500Register
24 to 26 Nov 2026Maseru3US$1,500Register
25 to 27 Nov 2026Mbabane3US$1,500Register
30 Nov to 2 Dec 2026Lusaka3US$1,500Register
1 to 3 Dec 2026Harare3US$1,500Register
2 to 4 Dec 2026Lilongwe3US$1,500Register
7 to 9 Dec 2026Blantyre3US$1,500Register
8 to 10 Dec 2026Mozambique3US$1,500Register
9 to 11 Dec 2026Nairobi3US$1,500Register

Fees are per delegate. South African venues are priced in rand; other locations and online in US dollars. Fees exclude 15% VAT where applicable. Group bookings of three or more delegates from the same organisation qualify for a reduced rate; contact us for a quotation.

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Next session
19 to 21 Oct 2026
Venue
Johannesburg
3 day programme
FromR13,000
See all Project Management courses