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Business and Human Resource Management BA (Hons)

Gain CIPD associate membership with this HR degree to kick off your career in human resource management, and get an understanding of how HR works with other business departments. 

University of Portsmouth Connected Degree - 3 year course with 4th year placement

Key information

UCAS code:

NN16

Accreditation:

This course is Accredited

Typical offer:

112-120 UCAS points from 3 A levels, or equivalent

See full entry requirements
Study mode and duration
Start date

Showing content for section Overview

Overview

People are a vital business asset — and getting the human side of business right leads to a competitive advantage in industry. 

This BA (Hons) Business and HRM degree prepares you for a successful career in human resources. As a human resources manager you'll formulate policies that address modern workplace issues like flexible working, remote working and equality and diversity, and lead on strategies to recruit and retain the right workforce. 

Human resource management covers the strategic approach to the employment, development and wellbeing of people in business. On this degree you'll build your HRM knowledge and develop your understanding of human resources in the context of business, as well as discovering the core business disciplines that make organisations successful. 

You’ll apply your learning through real-world scenarios and learning projects, with opportunities including paid industry placements throughout your studies. If you take on a Business Consultancy Project you'll work on a live client project with a local business in your final year.  

By taking an industry placement year before or after your third year, you’ll graduate with a year of experience in the workplace as well as your degree. Our Placements team will support you during your placement search and while you’re on placement. 

You'll graduate from this course with a head start in the job market, and be able to apply for Associate Membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) — something that is often only available after postgraduate study.

“Every part of the business boils down to people. And by managing people, organisations can be more profitable, lead more effectively, create brand loyalty and do better work.”

HRD Connect research

Course highlights

  • Develop a holistic understanding of how businesses operate as you explore operations, business finance, marketing and data analysis alongside your human resource management modules
  • Learn the human resource management skills you need in a post-Covid world, focusing on workforce retention and talent management, managing equality and diversity and developing creativity and business improvement
  • Practise your skills by setting up recruitment campaigns and getting involved in simulated interviews, selection panels and employment tribunals
  • Gain the confidence to lead as you apply your learning to real-world situations and take part in our Business Consultancy Project
  • Be taught by a team of practitioners with entrepreneurial, academic and industry experience who are part of a dedicated Organisation Studies and Human Resource Management research group
  • Benefit from an active programme of specialist and industry talks and networking events
  • Boost your employability and increase your practical experience with a paid placement year at a company, and benefit from the support of our dedicated Placement Team during your placement search

Business and management studies at the University of Portsmouth is ranked 4th of the modern universities for research quality

Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

Read more about our business and management research

Accreditation

shrm logo
AACSB Logo

No. 3

influential business school in the world

Financial Times Teaching Power Rankings 2021

93%

overall student satisfaction for our BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management

(NSS, 2022)

This course is aligned with the standards laid out in the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) curriculum. With over 300,000 HR and business executive members spanning 165 countries, SHRM is the largest human resource management association on the planet. This recognition confirms the high level of HR education we uphold, and our role as a springboard for exceptional human resource professionals.

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

On successful completion, providing students are in active CIPD membership, students will automatically gain Associate membership of the CIPD. They will then be able to use the designatory letters Assoc CIPD.

In addition to the above, we have partnered with the CMI so that you can gain a value added professional qualification alongside your degree. Students on our BA Business and Human Resource Management course can be awarded a CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership upon successful completion of their degree programme. Upon joining their degree course, students become members of the CMI and are able to access a range of benefits, resources and events to support their professional development.

Alumni Photos - Sarah Cowder Johnson

My course was CIPD accredited which was a real selling point. My course helped to provide me with the foundation knowledge of this and showed me different areas within my profession which I will plan my career around.

Sarah Crowder-Johnson, BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management, 2019

Contact information

Admissions

+44 (0) 23 9284 5566

Contact Admissions

Entry requirements

BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management degree entry requirements

Typical offers

  • A levels - BBB-BBC
  • UCAS points - 112-120 points from 3 A levels, or equivalent (calculate your UCAS points)
  • T-levels - Merit
  • BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DDM-DMM
  • International Baccalaureate - 29

You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.

English language requirements

  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

See alternative English language qualifications.

We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.

If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

We look at more than just your grades

While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.

Explore more about how we make your offer

Ideal skills and qualities for this course

Do you enjoy working with and talking to people? We're looking for students who are interested in people and are intellectually curious and enthusiastic.

You'll need good teamwork and time management skills to succeed on this course as well as good presentation skills - but don't worry as we'll help you develop all these skills throughout the course.

It's always good to have some work experience or volunteering experience you can talk about, but mostly we're interested to hear what motivates you to do this course.

Facilities

Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) room

Our technology enhanced active learning space promotes social learning.

12/05/2021.University of Portsmouth - B Roll - Day One..All Rights Reserved - Helen Yates- T: +44 (0)7790805960.Local copyright law applies to all print & online usage. Fees charged will comply with standard space rates and usage for that country, region or state.
Discover our TEAL learning space

Business Simulation Suite

Experience the boardroom in our replica business suite.

Business Simulation Suite
Discover our Business Simulation Suite

Careers and opportunities

As a human resource manager you can work in any sector that you're passionate about, whether that's sport, charities, manufacturing, or maybe the arts; all sorts of different businesses need effective workforce management. It's also a role that could take you overseas.

Best of all is that this qualification opens up many possible career routes. You might want to specialise in workplace training and development, become an expert in employment law, or lead on business development. As you progress you'll be able to map a career to your interests.

Your CIPD accreditation means you're likely to earn more money and have more job options than your non-accredited peers (Reed UK). CIPD Associate membership is highly-valued by employers and it therefore provides a valuable employability advantage when looking for your first job. Please note membership is subject to the payment of a membership fee.

 

Previous graduates of this course have secured jobs at companies such as:

  • Peninsula Group Ltd HR Consultancy
  • Santander
  • Ministry of Defence
  • Aldingbourne Trust
  • JRL Construction
  • Wartsila (Marine and Energy) UK Ltd
  • Henkel
  • UK Atomic Energy Authority
  • Finsbury Foods

Graduates of this course have secured jobs as:

  • HR executive
  • learning and development coordinator
  • human resources business partner
  • HR and employment law consultant
  • internal auditor
  • project manager
  • police officer
  • buyer

(Data sourced from HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey.)

Careers and employment

Our graduate employment rates are among the UK's best, with 94% of our students in work and/or further study. 

Student visiting the Careers Team to talk about graduate jobs
Find out more

You could also choose to continue your studies at postgraduate level, or set up your own business with help and support from the University.

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Why study Business and Human Resource Management?

Discover why studying Business and Human Resource Management will give you a head start in your career.

Read the blog

Work placement year

You can boost your employability by taking an optional paid placement after your second or third year of study.

Previous students on this course have had placements in organisations such as:

  • IBM
  • Samsung

Many of our students are offered graduate jobs by their placement employers.

The average salary for a 12-month paid placement is £19,800 for students in the Faculty of Business and Law. It could be more or less than this amount depending on your placement. You'll only pay a very small percentage of your tuition fee for this year.

You could also set up your own business, or take a voluntary placement.

Sarah's story

Sarah graduated in 2019 with a degree in BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management. She is now Transformation Workstream Lead at the Cabinet Office. Discover how Sarah benefited from a placement year at IBM and how she’s applying the skills she learned during her time at Portsmouth. 

Before I started uni I didn't really know what I wanted to do. When I was speaking to people when I was applying for uni, they were like actually you're really good with people, have you thought about HR?

I wanted to do something that I was passionate about, and I thought I am passionate about working with people, and I'm going to enjoy it.

During my time at University I did a placement year at IBM. It was putting what I'd learned into practice, and actually made it kind of make sense. That was my light bulb moment where I was like, this is the career for me.

The biggest impact the University of Portsmouth has had on me is personal growth in myself. I learned so much while I was there.

I did access the Careers and Employability Service. They helped me to look at CVs and interviews, they're so helpful and so beneficial.

Once I graduated I got a job on the Civil Service File Streams — it's the Times number one graduate program. I'm actually working on reforming The Graduate scheme I'm on. 

What I'm doing, I feel like it really does make a difference.

And being in the cabinet office is the centre of government so it does have that wider impact.

The advice I give people at the start of their career if they're not really sure what they want to do, is just see what you're passionate about, see what you enjoy doing — it can really take you anywhere.

It's quite amazing, sometimes I have to pinch myself. I'm here doing this and I've come a long way. 

The University of Portsmouth really has kind of changed my life.

Ways to enrich your study

Entrepreneurs in Residence Programme (EiR)

Entrepreneurs in Residence Programme (EiR)

We have over 20 experienced business entrepreneurs on our free EiR programme who can help you develop your business idea.

"I have a business idea, but I was not too sure about it. After this meeting, I felt so encouraged and positive about it! I felt so motivated to pursue my business venture. He gave me real life advice and helped me how to approach my ideas."

Rabab El Habchi Mahir meeting EiR Mark Smith

Prague cityscape

Study abroad year

Between your second and third year, you can choose to study abroad at one of our partner universities in Europe, Asia, Australia or North America. All classes are delivered in English and you'll still be able to get both your tuition fee and maintenance loans. You may also qualify for a government travel grant.

 

"Students that go abroad are more likely to obtain first-class honours [and] more likely to be in graduate employment than their non-mobile peers."

 

Universities UK International: 'Gone International, Rising Aspirations', 2019

Modules

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.

In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, 4 modules worth 20 credits and 1 module worth 40 credits.

What you'll study

Core modules in this year include:

  • Business Accounting – 20 credits
  • Business Operations and Systems Management – 20 credits
  • Managing People in Organisations – 20 credits
  • Marketing Principles and Practice – 20 credits
  • Introduction to Business Analytics – 20 credits
  • Introduction to Human Resource Management – 20 credits

There are no optional modules in this year.

Core modules in this year include:

  • Employability, Research and Professional Development - 20 credits

  • Human Resource Development - 20 credits

  • Human Resources For the Professional - 20 credits

  • Leadership, Ethics, Governance and Sustainability - 20 credits

  • People Resourcing and Talent Management - 20 credits

Optional modules in this year currently include:

  • Business Analysis and Decision Making – 20 credits
  • Business and Employment Law – 20 credits
  • Learn a Foreign Language – 20 credits

Core modules in this year include:

  • Contemporary Employment Relations – 20 credits
  • Dissertation — Organisation Studies and Human Resource Management – 40 credits
  • Strategic and Comparative Human Resource Management – 20 credits

Optional modules in this year currently include:

  • Business Consultancy Project – 20 credits
  • Business Improvement and Creativity – 20 credits
  • Cross Cultural Awareness for Business – 20 credits
  • Discrimination and Conflict in Employment Law – 20 credits
  • Managing Equality and Diversity at work – 20 credits
  • Positive and Social Psychology in Organisations – 20 credits
  • Responsible and Sustainable Business – 20 credits

After your second or third year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry.

Students have completed work placements at companies such as:

  • Honda
  • Bosch Home Appliances
  • Oracle Corporation
  • IBM

We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your aspirations. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.

Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Teaching

Portsmouth Business School is ranked 3rd in the UK for teaching power. You'll be taught by a dedicated team of specialist staff that includes a great mix of research expertise and industry experience.

 Around 20% of your timetabled teaching will be online. The majority of your timetabled teaching will be face-to-face and will include:

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • tutorials
  • workshops
  • practical sessions
  • group discussions

We pride ourselves on the academic support we offer our students. In addition to our dedicated teaching team, you'll have a personal tutor, student engagement officers and study support staff to help you throughout your studies.

Assessment

We use a diverse range of assessments and we focus on the types of work you'll be expected to complete in the workplace.

Assessment methods are likely to include:

  • individual and group coursework
  • examinations
  • online activities
  • presentations
  • your choice of independent research

Teaching staff profiles

These are some of the expert staff who will teach you on this course:

Martin Lawrence Brock Portrait

Dr Martin Brock

Associate Head (Students)

martin.brock@port.ac.uk

Portsmouth Business School

Faculty of Business and Law

Read more
Le Bo Portrait

Dr Le Bo

Senior Lecturer

Le.Bo@port.ac.uk

Portsmouth Business School

Faculty of Business and Law

PhD Supervisor

Read more
January 2020

My favourite thing about my degree is my course leaders.....They make the university experience at Portsmouth an absolute joy to be a part of as well as offering me fantastic chances across my 3 years to develop myself and my HR abilities!

Harry Stotter-Brooks, BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management

How you'll spend your time

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies.  As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

A typical week

We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for this degree.

In your first year this is what your week may look like:

  • timetabled teaching activities (lectures, seminars, tutorials, classes and workshops) = about 14 hours a week
  • independent study (research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group) = about 21 hours a week

You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose.

Term dates

The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.

See term dates

Supporting you

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of support

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.

You'll have regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor. They're also available by appointment if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.

In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you'll also have access to our student engagement officers. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing, and refer you to specialist support services if you need extra help or support.

 

You'll have help from a team of study support tutors. Based within the Faculty of Business and Law, these tutors are familiar with the specific requirements your assignments and work closely with faculty academics. This means they can give you focused support with the specific study skills you need to be successful on your course. They're available face-to-face, by phone, email, and by video call.

They can help with:

  • Academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations, projects and literature reviews)
  • Reflective writing skills
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
  • Understanding and using assignment feedback
  • Managing your time and workload
  • Revision and exam techniques

If you're a mature student, specialist support to help you return to learning is available.

As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University's Academic Skills Unit (ASK).

ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:

  • Academic writing
  • Note taking
  • Time management
  • Critical thinking
  • Presentation skills
  • Referencing
  • Working in groups
  • Revision, memory and exam techniques

Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University's library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from librarians who specialise in business and law.

The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.

Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.

You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.

If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.

They'll help you to

  • discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
  • liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
  • access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
  • liaise with external services

If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.

Course costs and funding

Tuition fees

  • UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • EU students – £9,250 (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
  • International (non-EU) students – £17,200 per year (subject to annual increase)

Funding your studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Tuition fees terms and conditions

Additional course costs

These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.

Additional costs

Our accommodation section shows your accommodation options and highlights how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.

You’ll study up to 6 units a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each unit.

You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.

We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.

If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.

If you take a placement year or study abroad year, tuition fees for that year are as follows:

  • UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • EU students – £1,385 a year, including Transition Scholarship (may be subject to annual increase)
  • International students – £2,875  a year (subject to annual increase)

Apply

How to apply

To start this course in 2024, apply through UCAS. You'll need:

  • the UCAS course code – NN16
  • our institution code – P80

Apply now through UCAS

 

If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form.

You can also sign up to an Open Day to:

  • Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
  • Speak with lecturers and chat with our students 
  • Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join

If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.

How to apply from outside the UK

See the 'How to apply' section above for details of how to apply. You can also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.

To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section. 

If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.