Course overview

Commencing each September, the full-time MSc Human Resource Management (MSc HRM) incorporates the Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management and the MSc proposal/dissertation. It provides the knowledge and skills to enable you to become an effective Human Resources (HR) professional and manager of people. This course is an intensive, vocationally-focused qualification for those who wish to become, or develop further as a qualified professional working in human resource management. The full-time MSc HRM provides you with the generalist grounding needed to operate effectively as an HR professional, as well as at a strategic HR level.

The University of Portsmouth is an Approved Centre for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). The CIPD is the professional body for HR specialists and is the world’s largest Chartered HR professional body. The Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) is an approved qualification meeting the knowledge required for the CIPD HR Professional Map at Advanced Level. 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).

Is my degree relevant?

Human Resource Management covers a wide range of disciplines. Students have joined the course with a degree in various subjects including psychology, politics, sociology, law, hospitality management, business studies, human resource management.

I do not have a degree. Can I apply?

Yes, if you have appropriate management or HR experience. You may have a CIPD Level 3 or 5 qualifications or perhaps a Certificate in Personnel Practice. Please contact our Admissions team who will be happy to discuss your application.

Find out more

If you are interested in discussing this programme with the Course Leader, please contact the Admissions team who will arrange a suitable time. All eligible applicants are contacted to discuss the course and are offered an opportunity to visit the University. However, if applicants are unable to visit in person, a telephone conversation is an alternative.

For further information, please contact our Admissions Team. We also hold regular postgraduate and part-time open evenings at which you can see our facilities, enjoy a guest lecture and meet the academics and current students over drinks and canapés. Applicants will be interested to know that each year Portsmouth Business School offers a number of scholarships for self-funding students.

For students who prefer to study part-time, we also offer the Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management over two years with the option for successful students to progress to the MSc Human Resource Management (Top-up).

Course content

The full-time MSc Human Resource Management comprises two elements – the Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resouce Management (PgD HRM) and the MSc proposal/dissertation.

PgD HRM (120 M-Level credits)

Commencing in September, teaching is scheduled each week over two terms. Full-time study means attendance up to five days per week. 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. Our Placements Office will support you in maintaining and developing business contacts, advise you of vacancies and help you prepare for interviews and other selection methods. For more information, please see the HRM placements brochure.

The Pg DHRM consists of four units:

• 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

MSc HRM/HRD Proposal and Dissertation (60 M-Level credits)

Following two terms of study for the Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits), students progress to the proposal and dissertation. This consists of an intensive four-day teaching block in late May followed by a further two days in mid June. Topics covered include HR research in practice, strategic issues and research methods. The dissertation is submitted in September.

You will be allocated a supervisor who will help you plan, research and write a 15,000-word proposal and dissertation. Your dissertation subject choice will determine whether the final award is MSc Human Resource Management or MSc Human Resource Development.

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. A combination of teaching methods is adopted, including lectures, case studies and group work. Students are expected to read in preparation and to make an active contribution to class discussions. The teaching team include staff actively engaged in Human Resource Management/Human Resource Development research and those with practitioner experience. Assessment methods vary according to the unit content and include coursework, presentations and examination.

Career prospects

HR people work in an amazing range of places. Every well-known organisation you can think of has HR specialists. Whether it is a large commercial business, regional company or the public sector, HR professionals may be found in a variety of roles. It is not just about the day-to-day business of recruiting, training and managing good employees. A career in HR is increasingly focused on long-term business success. If you have an interest in how people work, coupled with an interest in how they can help organisations succeed, then a career in HR is for you.

This course is suitable for you if you want to develop knowledge and understanding of Human Resource Management, strategy and HR practice. You will develop a range of people management and HR specific skills to enhance your employability. As your career progresses, you may wish to develop specialist skills such as training, reward or organisational development. For some, an international dimension is attractive and many HR roles have that opportunity.

This programme helps you to 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.

Facilities and features

As you would expect from a large and vibrant Business School, we offer modern services, a Virtual Learning Environment and a wide range of facilities aimed at helping you get the most from your time as a student at the University. Above all you will find that our approach to learning is friendly, supportive and participative.

The University Library is only a short walk away. Open from 8am until midnight every day in term-time, it provides a variety of information to help with study and research. The library has also heavily invested in the purchase of electronic sources. There is a substantial library of electronic journals available, which can be accessed across campus, from home or wherever there is an internet connection.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MSc Human Resource Management are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: Portsmouth Business School
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 8200
Email: pbs.postgradadmissions@port.ac.uk