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MSc Human Resource Management

Start date
September
Duration
1 year full-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees
For 2024-2025
£15,030 (UK)
£29,340 (International)
Attractive scholarships and funding opportunities are available

Our MSc Human Resource Management course places responsible business, decent work and good people management at the forefront of teaching and research.

Championing responsible employment and ethical people management

Globalization means that effective and fair management of people is more vital than ever. Graduates will be engaged with critical thinking to, ideally, become more ethically aware and morally responsible managers, employees and citizens, equipped to promote good people management ideas and practices in workplaces and wider society.

Human Resource Management graduates are in high demand from a wide range of top employers for their specialist skills. Our ever-growing relationship with key employers in the sector will provide you with the opportunity to meet and network with leading national and global organisations.

You will begin your studies with a Human Resource Module (HRM) module that provides a foundation of the four core pillars of HRM function: resourcing organisations, developing organisations, reward at work and employment relations. You can then explore a variety of other topics through innovative modules such as The Future of Work and Managing Equality and Diversity. Modules cover theory and practice with guest speakers and practical exercises, as well as research-led academic insights and perspectives.

Why study at Birmingham?

Students walking through campus on a sunny day
  • The MSc HRM programme is distinctive in providing critical understanding of people management and the employment relationship in a ‘big picture’ national and global comparative context.
  • Birmingham Business School is home to one of the strongest research-led teaching groups of HRM, employment relations and organisation studies academics in the UK. It is also home to the Work Inclusivity Research Centre (WIRC).
  • Birmingham Business School is part of an elite group of global business schools and holds the Triple-Crown accreditation from leading bodies AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB. 
  • You can develop your understanding of business in a practical way, by working on real-time projects with top global companies through our Future Leaders Certificate. 

Accredited by the CIPD

The logo for a CIPD approved CentreAccredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the professional body for HR practitioners, the MSc HRM programme at University of Birmingham provides students with the opportunity to initially become CIPD student members, granting access to CIPD resources in addition to existing academic resources through the University.

Upon successful completion of the MSc HRM, students who have already signed up for CIPD student membership are upgraded to Associate Member (Assoc CIPD), a professional qualification which can be used after their name. This is equivalent to the CIPD Level 7 standard. This only applies to students who exit with the full award. Students with HR work experience at the required level at this point can apply for the higher-level Chartered member (Chartered MCIPD) membership.

Discover our unique scholarship offers

Students walking on University campusAt Birmingham Business School we offer a wide variety of scholarships for our new MSc students in 2024.

These awards are available to both UK and international applicants and range in value from partial to full tuition fee support.

Find out more about our scholarship offers

Modules

Unless indicated otherwise the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2024.

The following modules must be taken, each is worth 20 credits:

You must also choose one module from the following options:

During the year you will also undertake a Dissertation incorporating Research Methods (worth 60 credits)


Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Fees for 2024 - 2025

  • £15,030 (UK)
  • £29,340 (International)

Please note that you will be required to pay a £50 non-refundable application fee for all of the above courses.

  • For further information on programme fees and information please visit our Fees and Financing page.

Scholarships

  • For information on scholarships you may be eligible to apply for, please use our PG Funding Database.
  • Business School Scholarships may be available, find out more about our scholarships.

Additional Course Costs

  • In addition to the Tuition Fees you will need to consider accommodation, living expenses and daily costs. You can find financial advice and support on our Finance pages.
  • For information on our accommodation and services, including the support we offer to students wanting to rent privately, please visit the Accommodation pages.
  • Questions about funding? Use our Student Help knowledge base to find the answer.

How To Apply

7 May 2024 is the application deadline for international students applying through the student route who wish to study in the United Kingdom. We are not able to consider applications for 2024 made after this date. The deadline for Home students is 30 August 2024.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

In order to be considered, applicants will have or should be expecting to achieve an Honours degree (2:1 or higher) or postgraduate diploma from a UK university (or overseas equivalent) in any subject.

Applicants who demonstrate being able to exceed the minimum entry requirements will be given preference.

Find out more about entry requirements

International Requirements



International Students

English language scores of 7.0 IELTS (no less than 6.5 in any band)


  • IELTS 7.0 with no less that 6.5 in any band
  • TOEFL: 95 overall with no less than 22 in any band
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: PTE Academic 76 with no less than 67 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced or Proficiency – minimum overall score of 185, with no less than 176 in any component

If you are currently studying at a Chinese university, please view our specific entry requirements including our list of acceptable universities for further study at Birmingham.

English Presessional Programmes 

If you’re looking to improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham, our pre-sessional English courses are for you. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications. Find out more 

The programme is suitable for those with an Honours degree in any subject intending to start a career in HR/Employment Relations and also HR professionals who wish to further expand their knowledge.

The modules in this programme cover theory and practice with guest speakers, practical exercises and simulations as well as research-led academic insights and perspectives. The links with practice both in teaching as well as in assessment will enhance students’ employability and transferable skills. 

As well as providing you with the skills and knowledge to become effective HR practitioners, we will help you to become more ethically aware and responsible organisational citizens, equipped to develop and promote good people management ideas and practices (including, fairness at work; equality, diversity and inclusion; employee voice and influence at work). You will have the opportunity to investigate these issues during the HRM and Ethics at Work, and Managing Equality and Diversity modules, for example.  

The programme also promotes an international comparative focus on HRM and the employment relationship, enabling you to have a better multi-level ‘big picture’ understanding of the world of work. You will develop a greater comparative  understanding during the International Perspectives on Employment Relations and International HRM modules, for instance. 

We also offer the option for students to be awarded with a CIPD accreditation, subject to students being successful on taught modules and completing the policies and practices chapter in their dissertation. 

Graduates will leave Birmingham perfectly placed to take up key HRM and employment relations positions. Employers have included: TotalEnergies, BP, Tiktok, Ramboll, Novartis, Randstad, Siemens, Deloitte, Honeywell, Shakespeare Martineau LLP and County & Local Councils.

Top jobs in this area

  • HR Executive
  • Talent Acquisition Specialist
  • HR Business Partner
  • Recruitment Partner
  • P&O Business Partner
  • Associate Recruiter
  • Change Management Partner
  • HR Manager
  • Human Capital Senior Consultant
  • Senior HR Generalist
  • HR Learning Consultant 

BBS Careers and Careers Network 

As a Birmingham Business School student, you will benefit from two award-winning Careers teams.   

Careers Network is the University of Birmingham careers and employability team offering: career fairs, employer events with top firms across the UK, start-up and entrepreneurial activities, and support. Internships and bursaries are also available exclusively to University of Birmingham students.    

BBS Careers is a dedicated service for Birmingham Business School students. The team provides guidance, support, and work experience opportunities, tailored to business school students, to help you succeed during and after university. We offer workshops, alumni and employer events, and 1-to-1 consultations. These will help you to develop your skills and learn how to submit high-quality internship and graduate applications.   

BBS Careers is one of a few, if not the only business school career service to offer life-long support.  We are here to support you! Whether you are applying for postgraduate end-of-study internship, a graduate job, or applying for a management role five years after graduation. 

Future Leaders Certificate

The postgraduate Future Leaders Certificate, run by the Business School’s Careers in Business team, is an extra-curricular programme which is designed to prepare our MSc students for the potential impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). This is intended to equip students with the skills they need to stand out and succeed within this increasingly competitive market. As part of this, students will be encouraged to increase their awareness of responsible business and ethical considerations.

The Certificate culminates in our Gold Award, where students will receive expert coaching, mentoring and industry insight, and work on a group project set by multi-national companies which place high importance on their social and corporate responsibility.