MA Human Resource Management

Effective management to maximise the performance of human resources (HR) is central to any business success. Employers need managers who can proactively and positively influence organisational strategy, developing and implementing the policies, benefits, employee relations and engagement that helps them recruit and retain the best talent.

Acknowledging the importance of considering different perspectives and cultural dimensions, our broad-based, integrated curriculum includes the employer, employee and other stakeholder perspectives, when covering issues such as employee resourcing and development, employee relations, communications and pay.

You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of managing people and, importantly, how best to handle the challenges posed by employer interventions, the workers themselves, trade unions or government. This will give you the edge over other candidates in the job market, whatever field of management you choose.

People management skills are needed in all types of jobs and industries; having appropriate knowledge of HR strategies and tactics from this master’s will provide a useful top-up to the knowledge gained from various degrees and regardless of your desired profession. We therefore welcome applicants from a wide range of undergraduate disciplines; past students have joined us having studied subjects as diverse as law, history, psychology and various management disciplines.‌

This professionally-focused master’s course provides an excellent grounding in the theory and practice of HRM, the evolution of labour management and latest practices in employment relations. You’ll gain a greater appreciation of the challenges posed by globalisation, including the economic, social, legal and ethical implications of HRM interventions and how to respond to an ever-changing employment market.

HR is by its nature a multidisciplinary field, which makes it fascinating to study, drawing from a diverse range of subjects, including employment law, politics, economics, psychology, health and safety, and sociology of work.

In semesters 1 and 2 of the programme, you will study seven core modules and choose one elective module from a choice of two. If you opt for the Dissertation in your final semester, you must take the Research Methods module, while those taking one of the other three pathways must take the Creativity and Personal Development module.