Human Resource Management MA

Course Content

• Course Details

  Whether you already work in HR, have taken a career break and want to return, or are beginning your HR career, our MA Human Resource Management course will improve your knowledge, skills and opportunities.

  You will explore concepts of strategic HR and apply them to real-world challenges, designing insightful and evidence-based solutions to support organisations and the people working in them.

  You will receive exceptional personalised support throughout your learning including one-to-one assessment support, a personal tutor and a dissertation supervisor.

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

  • Stage 1
    • Dissertation and Research Methods (60 Credits)
      Module code: HRMM030

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to provide learners with the opportunity to undertake independent research and related research methods training. The module reflects the types of project which students will undertake with an emphasis on work-related or applied research and the contrasting research paradigms that may be followed.
    • Human Resource Management in Context (20 Credits)
      Module code: HRMM032

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable learners to analyse the environmental forces impacting upon organisations and the effect on the management of people and organisational strategy. Learners will develop an understanding of the ways that organisations respond to environmental forces and the constraints and challenges facing HR professionals.
    • Leading, Managing and Developing People (20 Credits)
      Module code: HRMM033

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable learners to diagnose, analyse and identify solutions for problems associated with the leadership, management and development of people within a variety of organisational contexts.
    • International and Comparative HRM (20 Credits)
      Module code: HRMM060

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable learners to critically appraise the international context of strategic Human Resource Management, exploring the implications of the globalisation and internationalisation of business for HR strategy and practice within organisations operating across national boundaries.
    • Career Futures: Employability Skills
      Module code: HRMM072

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to equip students with the skills and knowledge to be able to compete for current (placements and internships) and future job opportunities.
    • Resourcing and Developing Talent (30 Credits)
      Module code: HRMM075

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable learners to develop a critical understanding of practical, strategic and theoretical aspects of resourcing and developing employees. Learning activities will equip students to design, deliver and evaluate resourcing and development practices which contribute to organisational effectiveness and align with relevant contextual factors.
    • Employment Law and Relations (30 Credits)
      Module code: HRMM076

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable learners to develop a critical understanding of employment law and employee relations responses to mitigate organisational risk and support organisational performance. Learning activities will equip students with the skills needed to develop these processes and practically handle employee relations issues.

  Semester 1

  Leading Managing and Developing People: You will analyse key factors in leading, managing and developing people for organisational success. Every organisation is made up of individuals whose behaviour, individually or collectively, will impact on its ability to succeed. Organisational performance can be enhanced and increased through the strategic management, leadership and development of people. This module enables you to gain an in-depth knowledge of HRM and HRD and explores major themes from the growing literature and research in this subject area.

  Resourcing and Developing Talent: You will evaluate strategies for resourcing and developing talent within the organisation. You will consider the practical aspects of recruitment, selection, employee retention and dismissal and explore the strategic aspects of planning an organisation’s long and short term human resource requirements. This module requires analysis of external labour markets and considerations of flexibility, as well as an understanding of how internal labour markets can become more productive and effective. You will also develop a critical understanding of the role and influence of a range of contextual factors associated with the design, delivery and evaluation of learning and development in a variety of organisational contexts. You will explore and evaluate the contribution of learning and talent development strategies in meeting the ambitions and objectives of the organisation and the individual.

  International and Comparative HRM: This module aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding to critically appraise the international context of strategic HRM. You will explore the complex social, economics and organisational institutions within which organisations compete and the implications for people management.

  Semester 2

  Employment Law and Relations: You will develop and reflect upon your knowledge and understanding of Employment Relations from a number of different perspectives. The holistic significance of employment relations within an organisation is emphasised together with the importance of aligning HR policies with business strategy, change processes, employee voice and involvement practices. Good employee relations are important for an organisation’s success in the achievement of its business objectives and for gaining employee commitment to those objectives. Increasing legislation in this area has also brought pressure to develop appropriate managerial strategies to ensure employee commitment to organisational success. You will analyse key aspects of employment law relevant to the jurisdiction you work in and their practical implications for the operation of HR and management practice.

  HRM in Context: You will explore HRM in a business context to develop your understanding of the increasingly complex environments HR must work within both inside and external to organisations.  This module allows learners to develop analysis skills to facilitate informed choices on which strategies may be most and least appropriate.

  Research Methods and Dissertation: In semesters 2 and 3 of your masters in HR, you will work on completing a 13,000-word dissertation. You will be supported through introductory class sessions on research methods and on-line materials and you will be allocated a supervisor who will guide and support you through this process.

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• Accreditation

  Our MA Human Resource Management Postgraduate Diploma is accredited by the CIPD and has been specifically designed to allow HR professionals to enhance their career options and progress into senior roles. Studying this course will give you an advantage with employers, who often look for employees that have professional qualifications and membership. As a HRM student you will become part of this professional body and on completion of the programme will be become an Associate Member CIPD with the potential to upgrade your status to Chartered Member CIPD.

  Please note you will need to enrol as a CIPD student member and will need to remain a member throughout the duration of your masters in HR. The CIPD subscription fee is payable directly to CIPD and is not included in your course fee. For more information on the fees please refer to the CIPD website. Student membership of CIPD gives you access to top quality research, factsheets and other resources that will help you with your studies.

  You will be encouraged to join, support and participate in local CIPD branch activities. These are the Northampton and Milton Keynes/Bedfordshire groups. Although you will, officially, be a member of only one CIPD group, you are welcome to attend any of the group meetings some of which will be delivered by Northants branch as part of the programme.

  For more information on the local branch see the Northampton or Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes websites.

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• FAQs

  How will I be taught?

  Weekly workshops take place on campus with additional online and self-directed study required. You will usually attend campus two afternoons a week – there are no online classes. Classes are small, informal and interactive.

  What sort of assessments will I do?

  The good news is that there are no exams! We offer varied assessments including practical and varied assessments including group and individual presentations, case studies, publishing professional blogs, business reports, a mock employment tribunal and essays.

  How will I be assessed?

  The MA Human Resource Management course uses a carefully balanced combination of in-course assignments designed to enrich your learning including business projects, practical HR activities, reflective activities, group work presentations and examinations. The 13,000-word Dissertation is a major component of this course and allows you to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and insight in your chosen topic area.

  What is the schedule like for this course?

  The MA HRM is offered on a full-time (one year) and part-time (two years) basis. Full-time students will take three modules in Semester 1 and three modules including Research Methods and Dissertation in Semesters 2 and 3.

  Part-time students will take two modules in Semester 1 and one module in Semester 2 in their first year. In the second year, you will take two modules in Semester 1 and one module in Semester 2. The Research Methods and Dissertation module will run over the whole of Year Two.

  Most modules will require you to attend a two or three-hour workshop per week or equivalent scheduled online activity. For full-time students, class sessions will normally be delivered over two afternoons/evenings each week. For part-time students, class sessions will normally be delivered one afternoon/evening per week.

  To maximise your chances of success, we recommend you spend approximately 12 hours a week per module in self-directed study time to prepare for the sessions and complete your assignments.

  What are the flexible options for study?

  We offer the course full-time for one year, part-time over two years or as a placement option which is full-time in year one and then placement in year two.

  If you already have HR qualifications and 120 credits, you may be eligible for our MA HRM top-up – which is by distance learning only.

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• Placement Route FAQs

  How does the placement work?

  Students on the MA HRM with placement will study alongside full-time and part-time students in year one. They will also complete a module on employability skills to prepare them for applying for a placement. In year two the placement will be undertaken and complete the 60-credit Work Based Project.

  Does the University guarantee a placement?

  The university does not guarantee a placement, students will apply with our support and gain their placement. Ideally, this should be in a graduate-level HR role, but general business roles are also acceptable. The placement can be anywhere in the UK.

  What if I am not successful in finding a placement?

  Don’t worry! If you do not find a placement you can still complete the MA HRM by dissertation rather than the Work Based Project.

   

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