MSc/Postgraduate Diploma/Postgraduate Certificate Business and Human Resource Management

Content

The course content has recently been reaccredited by the CIPD and the modules listed are aligned to core knowledge and behaviours on the new Profession Map.

This course is ideal if you are looking to change career or want a professional qualification that will help you resume working after a break. Contact the Programme Leader for more details.

Option to study for a Postgraduate Diploma instead

You'll have the option of working towards a Postgraduate (PG) Diploma if you are not concerned about achieving a full master's. You will complete the same taught course as master's students. The only differences are that you don't complete the Research in HRM module and the Research-based placement.

Compulsory modules

The course provides an introduction to the theory, practice and context for human resource management and consists of the following four compulsory modules:

• HR Design: Fairness and Performance
• Career Catalyst: Developing Skills for Long Term Success
• Navigating Organisational Complexity
• The Anatomy of a Business.

Elective modules

We offer a contemporary choice of elective modules, which allow you to focus on more specialist interests. Full-time students can choose from a range of international and comparative modules at this stage of the course. You'll select one elective from the following list although they may be subject to change:

• Research in Human Resource Management
• Enterprise Project
• Management Project and Research Methods.

Research in HRM module

If you wish to complete the full master's course, then you'll need to complete this module, which is designed to develop your applied understanding and research skills and prepare you to conduct research (organisation-based, issue-based, desk-based or group-based) from a range of qualitative and quantitative perspectives. The work-based research project you work on should be of real value to your host organisation.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.

Learning and Teaching

MSc Business and Human Resource Management is offered as a one-year intensive course of study, which will particularly appeal to those students who want to gain a postgraduate qualification, graduate and progress their career within 12 months.   

You'll learn through formal lectures, seminars, group work, mentor meetings and further independent study to consolidate your learning. 

The course is designed so that the different modules interrelate allowing you to build your knowledge and skills. 

Support is available in a variety of formats both in person and online. You're expected to conduct independent study and to prepare for each session to be able to engage in meaningful discussions.   

See our glossary of teaching and learning terms.

Study time

The MSc starts in September and runs for 12 months.

Taught modules are delivered over two teaching terms (between September and April), with the final research project forming the main element in the summer term.

The full-time Postgraduate Diploma can be completed within eight months.

You'll typically need to attend four days per week, so you can seek part-time employment on a regular weekday if you wish to.

Study support

As some students join the course without an undergraduate degree, or after a long break from education, there is plenty of tutorial support while you adjust to master's level study. This includes a study skills course in the early weeks and assessment activities, with access to tutors' advice and feedback on your progress.

Assessment

The skills you'll need to succeed in your assessments are the same skills you'll need to succeed in your business management career. These include:  

• collaborative teamwork
• evidence-based discussion
• advanced communication skills
• information processing
• strategic decision-making
• deadline management.

All assessments are designed to enable you to develop a range of skills and insights which can be applied in a future career. We encourage you to reflect through your journey on the skills that you are learning and how they might be useful in the future.   

Learn more about our assessments.