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MA Human Resource Management

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Why choose Herts?

Industry Accreditation: Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) enabling graduates to become a Chartered Member or Chartered Fellow once they gain relevant experience.
Employment Prospects: Graduates have secured promotions with their current employers and work as HR Professionals for a variety of organisations, including KPMG, Tesco, and Ocado, as well as becoming independent HR consultants.
Industry Connections: You will have opportunity to attend school networking events to interact with our business partners, which include Tesco, BT, and the NHS

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, examinations may be replaced by an alternative form of assessment during the academic year 2020/2021. Please refer to the Programme Specification on these pages for further details.

This course is up for periodic review
This course is due to be renewed at a Periodic Review event which will be held on October 2021.

We anticipate that there will be further enhancements made to the course as a result of the Review.

Our website and printed literature will be updated following completion of the Periodic Review in order to provide applicants with further confirmed details on the following:
- module titles
- whether the modules are core or optional
- the expected contact hours
- how the course will be assessed
- staff teaching on the course

An honours degree with classification 2.2 or better in any subject from a UK university or the equivalent from a recognised university overseas.

Evidence of two or more years relevant work experience in human resource management, industrial relations, managing people, equal opportunities work, or as a trade union official or representative and two or more appropriate references. Or other appropriate experience as determined by the Programme Tutor and two or more appropriate references.

N.B. There is no guarantee that any or all applicants who meet the criteria will be accepted. In addition all students must produce evidence of their English Language proficiency.

N.B. Prospective students must be aware that this is not an entry level programme. It is designed for practitioners who are preparing themselves to move up to middle and senior management positions in their chosen careers and who concurrently want to achieve Chartered professional status through the CIPD. People wanting to make a career move to HRM from another area of professional work should ideally have experience of managing staff. If you have any concerns about the suitability of this programme for you please don't hesitate to contact Gary Pheiffer on to discuss your options.

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency. The following qualifications and grades will be considered:
- GCSE English language grade A-C
- IELTS 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in any band)
Other English language tests are accepted. Please contact the International Office for details.

If you do not have the required level of English for entry, our academic English courses can help you to achieve this level.


Institution code	H36
School of study	Hertfordshire Business School
Course length	Full Time, 1 Years Part Time, 2 Years Part Time, 30 Months
Location	University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

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Employability

Careers

The programme will appeal particularly to those interested in a career in human resource management, industrial/employment relations and also to those responsible more generally for managing people in organisations.

Professional Accreditations

Hertfordshire Business School is a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) approved centre.

Successfully complete the MA or PG Diploma and you’ll receive the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD’s) Advanced Level 7 Diploma, and become an Associate member, meaning you can use the designatory letters Assoc CIPD after your name. You can apply to upgrade to Chartered Member or Chartered Fellow if you have the relevant experience.

Upgrading to Chartered Membership or Chartered Fellowship of the CIPD enables you to use the designated letters CMCIPD or CFCIPD respectively, further enhancing your employability.

Similar Courses

We also offer a PGDip in Human Resource Management which has CIPD accreditation.

About the course

Course and module structure

With a focus on areas such as HR strategy, leadership, training and development, recruitment, performance and reward management, employment relations and employee engagement, the MA in Human Resource Management will enable anyone looking to begin or develop their career in HR, to delve deep into the field and enhance their career progression. As well as receiving an academic qualification you can also gain professional membership to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Focusing on contemporary, critical and applied themes in the subject area, the course gives you the opportunity to develop the knowledge and understanding necessary for the appropriate analytical, technical and behavioural responses to these issues. The flexible part-time delivery option is a key benefit of this programme, making it ideal for fitting around your busy work/life schedule.

The programme

This well regarded and established programme provides a deep and critical insight into leading, managing and developing people. You will achieve an advanced and evidence-based understanding of human behaviour in organisations and HRM roles, perspectives and skills.

The course will develop your practitioner skills and you will learn how research and practice work together. This is an advanced HRM course and the modules look at strategic as well as operational issues.

Key features

Acquire CIPD accreditation
Improve your employability and career prospects by enhancing your personal and professional skills
Benefit from the experience of well respected and successful Business School staff
Flourish in a supportive and challenging environment
Interact with international partners

Part-time study

As a part-time student your classes will be held between 16.00 and 20.00 one day a week for two academic years from a September start date, and two and a half academic years from a January start date. Please contact Dr Gary Pheiffer, Programme Leader to discuss any queries

Full-time study

The full-time course is held mostly on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for the core modules. The course can be completed in one year.

Why choose this course?

Gain a full Master's and the knowledge required to gain Chartered Membership of the CIPD
Full and part-time study options to fit around your existing commitments
Career and study support
Unique blend of practice and theory

What will I study?

We offer a varied programme of teaching that includes facilitated seminars, practical workshops, web-based learning, case study analysis and traditional lectures. In the classroom we blend theory and practice, with a focus on problem diagnosis and the selection of relevant HRM tools to provide the best results in the workplace situation.

The teaching staff are active researchers in their chosen specialisms. This means you'll benefit from their expert academic input on key issues for HR professionals. We also provide sessions by visiting staff, practitioners and consultants to give a varied perspective of the topics covered. Guest speakers from private industry, not-for-profit, the public sector, consultancy and published authors will add to your learning.

Assessment is by a combination of coursework and examination. You will also complete a dissertation (management report) of 15 000 words that will investigate an HRM related issue in an organisation.

Level 7

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
HRM Practice and Perspectives	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module provides an introduction to human resource management (HRM): its historical development, relevant theories and key issues. It examines the role of the HR professional and the organisation and delivery of the function. It also aims to develop a critical understanding of the organisational and external contexts within which HR professionals operate, whether in the market, public or 'third' sectors. Political, economic, demographic, social and technological influences and trends will be examined and evaluated as well as consideration of how leading organisations respond to the dynamic context. The module also outlines the skills and competencies required of an HR professional and seek to enable students to develop these.
Organisational Behaviour: Theory and Practice	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module begins by charting the epistemological and ontological foundations of the study of organisations, and then goes on to examine the development of organisational practice and organisational theory over time. The focus of the module then switches to examine a range of organisational issues such as: organisational structure; groups; equality and diversity, control; conflict; motivation and personality; leadership and decision-making; technology and job design; culture and change. The role of diverse actors and the relationships that occur between actors within the structures in organisations is an overarching theme, drawing on both the student's own experience and the theoretical perspectives introduced earlier.
Employment Relations: Theory and Practice	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module encourages students to critically evaluate different theories and perspectives on employment relations. It also equips students to be able to practically undertake important aspects of the employment relationship such as bargaining and conflict resolution. The module considers the roles of the key actors in employment relations: management, trade unions and the State. The module evaluates different employment relations approaches and evaluates the design and application of processes, policies and procedures in areas such as: discipline and grievance, dismissal, collective bargaining, individual and collective negotiation, employment engagement, conflict and industrial sanctions, conciliation, mediation and arbitration and diversity management. The module also focuses on the impact of legislation, both European and domestic, on employment relations.
Postgraduate Research Methodology for HRM	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module prepares the students for the preparation of a research proposal as the first step towards undertaking either an individual research dissertation in HRM or an HRM research report. The aim of the dissertation and HRM research report is to provide the opportunity for students to develop and apply postgraduate level skills of independent research, analysis, evaluation, writing and presentation; and to deepen students' knowledge and understanding of a specific subject and its location within HRM.
Strategic HRM	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the key issues and debates in Strategic Human Resource management and an appreciation of the importance of managing people strategically. Different approaches to strategy and strategy making are introduced and the HR implications considered. The history and origins of Strategic HRM are explored as well as the forces shaping SHRM at work. The main theoretical models are considered as well as their application in practice, and the contribution of SHRM to organisational performance evaluated. Key themes, emergent issues and tensions are reviewed. Managing people strategically is considered in relation to employee resourcing, performance and reward, development and relations.
People Resourcing	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module aims to develop a critical knowledge and understanding of key people resourcing and talent management strategies within the wider national and international employment market. It covers attraction, selection and retention of employees and the alternative interventions that can be utilised to suit the needs of the business. Current resourcing issues such as flexibility, employee engagement, work life balance and the debate about outsourcing and off shoring are key elements of the module. Contemporary HR developments in the field of resourcing and talent management will be the basis of much of the debate within the module. The module also enables students to develop a range of skills to perform effectively in a professional resourcing or line managerial role and to provide opportunities for related continuous personal and professional development.
Managing Across Cultures	15 Credits	Optional
This module is designed to provide an in-depth and theoretically informed consideration of the complexities of managing across cultures within the context of people management practices. The module explores the link between national, regional, industry and organisational cultures. It draw s upon cultural theorists in order to explore cultural dimensions related to time, space and change; cross-cultural communication; co-operation in multicultural teams. It allow s for an exploration and understanding of how cultural differences are, and can be, addressed by individuals involved in managing across cultures. The module also enables students to develop a range of skills to perform effectively in a cross-cultural team setting.
Remuneration: Strategy and Practice	15 Credits	Optional
This module aims to provide students with the know ledge and understanding of how relevant remuneration policies and practices are planned, implemented and evaluated to support strategic organisational goals, and of the environments which impact on these goals and strategies. Critical understanding is developed to enable students to reflect on the strength and limitations of different approaches to remuneration and the effect on individual and organisational performance. Fairness and flexibility issues are also encompassed. The module considers the influences on pay and benefits management in the private, public and third sectors as w ell as the specific challenges involved in international and executive pay arrangements.
Leadership and Management Development	15 Credits	Optional
This module explores how leadership and management development can contribute to organisational effectiveness and the drive for high performance. We will explore the key stakeholders and other factors that can affect successful implementation of leadership and management development programmes. Students analyse and interpret how success can be measured, including assessment of a range of measures of success including staff satisfaction, customer satisfaction and profitability; and links between these factors. We will analyse how organisational change affects the roles of development needs of managers; and critically evaluate how leadership and management development can be integrated with other management approaches to contribute to the successful implementation of organisational change programmes.
International and Comparative HRM	15 Credits	Optional
This module is designed to provide an in-depth and theoretically informed exposition of the human resource complexities in managing across borders as a primary strategic concern of multinational corporations (MNCs). It is organised around international and comparative themes on an integrated basis. In exploring international HRM themes, students examine the challenges of managing staff in home and host localities, including the selection, training and rewarding of expatriates. Cultural awareness will be explored through the examination of diverse institutional and cultural environments in host destinations for MNCs. These include North America, 'Western' and 'Eastern' Europe, Japan, China and a selection of emerging/developing countries.
Comparative Employment Relations	15 Credits	Optional
The aims of this module are to enable students to critically explore employment relations from international perspective, analysing the complex employment relations policies, strategies and practices that organisations pursue in the context of globalisation. The module explores the functional and strategic requirements of international employment relations in an international context and how international issues of economic, technological, political, cultural, environmental and social pressures impact on international employment relations. The module explores the theory and evidence for convergence and globalisation in employment relations practices, and critically assesses the methodological issues behind such comparative international research.
PG HRM Dissertation	45 Credits	Optional
This is an individual research dissertation for the Human Resource Management. The aim of the dissertation is to provide the opportunity for students to develop and apply postgraduate level skills of independent research, analysis, evaluation, writing and presentation; and to deepen students' knowledge and understanding of a specific subject and its location within the HRM discipline as a whole. The dissertation is supported by an online, postgraduate research methods training module, individual supervision and student-led support group meetings.
PG HRM Dissertation/Management Research Project (CIPD)	45 Credits	Optional
This is an individual research dissertation for students who wish to achieve the outcomes required for both the Masters degree in Human Resource Management and be able to apply for professional membership of the CIPD (equivalent to the CIPD Advanced Diploma in HRM). The aim of the dissertation is to provide the opportunity for students to develop and apply postgraduate level skills of independent research, analysis, evaluation, writing and presentation; and to deepen students' knowledge and understanding of a specific subject and its location within the HRM discipline as a whole. Further, it is to provide the student with the opportunity to concurrently prepare a management research report containing costed recommendations based on their research and an appropriate action plan for a specific organisation(s). The dissertation is supported by an online research methods training module, individual supervision, student-led support group meetings and a number of programme tutorial sessions.
Employment Law	15 Credits	Optional
This module examines a range of aspects of employment law. It analyses the rights and duties of employers and employees, and examines the role of the law in regulating the employment relationship. The module considers sources from which employment law is derived and the institutions, in which it is administered, and the significance and content of the contract of employment. The module then progresses to consider individual employment law topics: equal pay, legislation regulating discrimination on the grounds of sex and race, wrongful dismissal, unfair dismissal, and redundancy. The collective employment issues of trade union membership and activities and industrial action are also dealt with.

Key staff

Dr Gary Pheiffer
Programme Leader
Find out more about Dr Gary Pheiffer

Professor Michael Brookes
MA HRM Professor
Find out more about Professor Michael Brookes

Further course information

Course fact sheets
MA Human Resource Management	Download

Programme specifications
MA Human Resource Management	Download
MA Human Resource Management	Download

Additional information
Sandwich placement or study abroad year	n/a
Applications open to international and EU students	Yes

Student experience

At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible. We offer a range of support services including; student wellbeing, academic support, accommodation and childcare to ensure that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying and having fun.

Find out about how we support our students

You can also read our student blogs to find out about life at Herts.

Funding and fees
Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

Fees 2020
UK/EU Students

Part time
- £745 per 15 credits for the 2020/2021 academic year
International Students

Part time
- £1125 per 15 credits for the 2020/2021 academic year
Fees 2021
UK Students

Full time
- £9450 for the 2021/2022 academic year
Part time
- £790 per 15 credits for the 2021/2022 academic year
EU Students

Full time
- £13950 for the 2021/2022 academic year
Part time
- £1160 per 15 credits for the 2021/2022 academic year
International Students

Full time
- £13950 for the 2021/2022 academic year
Part time
- £1160 per 15 credits for the 2021/2022 academic year
*Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University's Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed "When tuition fees change"), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

View detailed information about tuition fees

Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Apply through our international/EU application portal

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

Apply using the links below:

2021

Start Date	End Date	Link
28/09/2021	25/09/2022	Apply online (Full Time)
24/09/2021	11/07/2022	Apply online (Part Time)
23/01/2022	11/07/2022	Apply online (Part Time)

2022

Start Date	End Date	Link
28/09/2022	25/09/2023	Apply online (Full Time)
24/09/2022	11/07/2023	Apply online (Part Time)
23/01/2023	11/07/2023	Apply online (Part Time)

Please note that some of the images and videos on our course pages may have been taken before social distancing rules in the UK came into force.

MA Human Resource Management

Why choose Herts?

Careers

Professional Accreditations

Similar Courses

About the course

The programme

Key features

Part-time study

Full-time study

Why choose this course?

What will I study?

Key staff

Further course information

Student experience

Other financial support

Living costs / accommodation

Fees 2020

UK/EU Students

Part time

International Students

Part time

Fees 2021

UK Students

Full time

Part time

EU Students

Full time

Part time

International Students

Full time

Part time

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

2021

2022