Human Resource Development Top-up MSc

Overview

If you're a Human Resource (HR) practitioner looking to progress your career – and you've already successfully achieved the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Advanced Level 7 qualification – this MSc Human Resource Management Top-up will take your HR training to master's level, increasing your skills and employability.

You'll hone you HR knowledge and abilities through a 3 day intensive learning block, before completing a dissertation proposal and dissertation on a related subject of your choosing. You'll get support from a supervisor during your studies too – via Skype, telephone calls and face-to-face meetings where possible.

You'll graduate as a highly competent HR practitioner, with the specialist skills to match your chosen career path. Depending on your choice of dissertation, you'll be awarded with either an MSc Human Resource Management (HRM), or an MSc Human Resource Development (HRD).

You can find out more about this course, our facilities and our generous scholarships by attending one of our regular open evenings, where you can meet teaching staff and current students.

The University of Portsmouth is an Approved Centre for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the professional body for HR specialists and is the world's largest Chartered HR professional organisation.

Entry requirements​

What you'll experience

Careers and opportunities

To give you the best chance of securing a great job when you graduate, our Careers and Employability service can help you find relevant work experience during your course.

When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work in the industry.

What can you do with a Human Resource Development (Top-up) degree?

Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:

• business development and consultancy
• management
• recruitment
• personnel
• human resources
• training

Other graduates have set up successful businesses with help and support from the University.

After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.

What you'll study on this MSc Human Resource Development (Top-up) degree course

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

On this course you'll study a module worth a total of 60 credits.

Due to changing circumstances as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we may need to make changes to courses to ensure your safety and to ensure compliance with Government guidelines. We'll provide you with as much notice as possible of any such changes. Your course leader will inform you of these. Changes may include things such as modules being taught in teaching block 2 instead of teaching block 1 and teaching activities occurring in smaller group sizes.

Work experience and career planning

We'll help you to identify internships, voluntary roles and opportunities that will complement your studies.

When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work.

After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.

Learning support

As well as support by faculty teaching 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

Teaching

Teaching methods on this course include:

• email, Skype and telephone conversations with dissertation supervisor
• face-to-face meetings with dissertation supervisor

How you'll spend your time

You'll start your programme with pre-course reading and some proposal development activities.

You'll need to attend the 3-day research methods workshop at the University. Soon after the workshop, you'll submit a proposal and are allocated a dissertation supervisor.

You'll then discuss with your supervisor the best way for you to maintain contact as you progress through the dissertation.

How you're assessed

You'll be assessed through a dissertation.

​Course costs

Tuition fees (September 2020 start)

UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students:

• Full-time: £3,500
• Part-time: £3,500

International students

• Full-time: £5,030
• Part-time: £5,030

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. 

Apply

Start your application by following the link below:

• Full time study September 2020 (6 months)
• Part time study September 2020 (1 year)
• Full time study June 2021 (6 months)
• Part time study June 2021 (1 year)

International students

If you're from outside of the UK, you can apply directly to us (above) or you can 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.