MSc
Human Resource Management
HRM is the key to long-term business success
Course Overview
Why take this course?
If you have an interest in how people work, coupled with an interest in how staff can help organisations succeed, then a career in HRM is for you.
This course provides the knowledge and skills to enable you to become an effective HR professional and manager of people.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Opt to do a work placement and apply your learning within a HR environment
- Take part in skills development workshops where you will contribute to managerial and HR-based activities
- Participate in live web-based chat forums to discuss your work with lecturers and other students
What opportunities might it lead to?
We are an Accredited Centre for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) – the professional body for HR specialists. On completion, you will be eligible to seek Associate membership of the CIPD and you may meet the criteria for Chartered Membership (depending on your previous experience). The full-time course provides you with the generalist grounding needed to operate effectively as an HR professional, as well as at a strategic HR level.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- business development and consultancy
- management
- recruitment
- personnel
- human resources
- training
As a human resources professional it is important to be affiliated to the CIPD to really get ahead, and I knew this Master’s would make me more employable in the long-term.
Kathryn Oliver, MSc Human Resource Management student 2012
Key Facts
- Duration
- 1 year full time
- Entry
A good honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject and seeking to pursue/continue a HR career. Applicants with appropriate management or HR experience and a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) level 3 or 5 qualification will be considered. Applicants are subject to interview.
English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 in all individual components, or equivalent.- Fees
UK/EU full-time students: £5,000 (Part 1) plus £2,500 (Part 2 - top-up)
International full-time students: £7,330 (Part 1) plus £3,670 (Part 2 - top-up)
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- pbs.postgradadmissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 8200 - Department
- Portsmouth Business School
Structure & Teaching
You will study current HRM-related theories and issues, with an emphasis on their practical application. Topics covered include HR research in practice, strategic issues and research methods.
Here are the units you will study:
- Leadership Skills and Management
- Resourcing, Learning and Talent Management
- Managing Human Resources and Employment Relationships in Context
- The Human Resource Practitioner and the Global Perspective
There is also a period of work placement in an HR environment. The placement provides an opportunity for you to learn about the work of an HR professional and gain valuable work experience in HR. It is also a key element related to some of the units studied, particularly the work-based Business Research Report.
For the final part of the course you will plan, research and write a 15,000-word dissertation with the help and guidance from your allocated supervisor. Your dissertation subject choice will determine whether the final award is MSc Human Resource Development or MSc Human Resource Management.
Teaching and Assessment
Our learning approach is active, participative, reflective and student-centred. You will be encouraged to develop a strategic awareness and appreciate the role of the HR professional as a business partner. We combine a variety of teaching methods including seminars, lectures, case studies, class discussions and group work.
How are you assessed?
Assessment differs from unit to unit, but all consist of varying forms of coursework alongside a time-constrained assessment. You will also complete a 15,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice.
Facilities & Features
Flexible Learning
Benefit from web, email or phone access to many of our facilities and services
Support
Tutors are available to support your studies via online tutorials, email and telephone conferencing
Placements Office
Offering great placement opportunities
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information including thousands of online ejournals
Flexible Learning
You will benefit from web, email or phone access to many of our facilities and services. Our student website, LookUP, will be your one-stop shop for all news, information and links to other services, and 24/7 online access to the University Library’s vast electronic book, journal and database collections will help you find the right resources for your research.
Support
We aim to provide you with as much support as possible. There are tutors available to support your studies via online tutorials, email and telephone conferencing. The teaching team include staff actively engaged in Human Resource Management/Human Resource Development research and those with practitioner experience meaning you will have a broad network of support and guidance throughout your studies.
Placements Office
Take advantage of our Placements Office for help with all things placement related. Providing you with a huge portfolio of employers offering great business related placement opportunities, we are always on hand to advise and support you through the recruitment process and beyond.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
You will develop professional expertise within the HR field plus apply your knowledge to an HR issue during work placement. By choosing to study full-time, you have an opportunity to fast-track your career, knowing that you have gained essential knowledge required for future Chartered membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). If you currently have relevant HR experience, this course will help you progress more swiftly towards Chartered membership or even potential promotion if you are already in employment.
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- benefits analyst
- human resource officer
- human resource systems manager
- personnel adviser
- recruitment consultant
- training and development coordinator
Career planning
One of the benefits of studying at Portsmouth is the support that we provide to our Master's and Research Degrees students in career planning. Our careers and recruitment service – Purple Door – can assist you in career research and finding employment opportunities. Help is also available if you wish to find a part-time job while studying your degree. We offer our postgraduate students and alumni one-to-one appointments with a careers adviser, or an online service for those not able to travel back to the University. Our alumni can call on our career services for five years after graduation.
In addition, regular employability events offer you the chance to meet employers, find out about different career sectors and improve your applications or CV. The Graduate Summer Programme provides a range of guidance and employability seminars and workshops.