Human Resource Development Top-up MSc
MSc Human Resource Development (Top-up)
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
Entry requirements
Qualifications or experience
- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Advanced Level 7 Qualification either through the completion of a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management or Personnel Management or the level 7 qualification at a CIPD accredited centre. If a Pg Diploma was gained more than 5 years previously, Chartered Fellows and Chartered Members of the CIPD may be eligible to apply through a specific RPL route.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
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.
What you'll experience
On this course you'll:
- Take part in a research skills development workshop, where you will develop the skills necessary to complete the dissertation
- Work through pre-course reading and proposal development activities, further deepening your knowledge of the field
- Tap in to our Library’s vast selection of electronic resources, which can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection
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.
Modules currently being studied
Core units on this course include:
- Dissertation
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 writingnote takingtime managementcritical thinkingpresentation skillsreferencing working in groupsrevision , 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
June 2021 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
June 2022
UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students:
- Full-time: £10,700
- Part-time: £3,570
EU students:
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Full-time: £10,700
- Part-time: £3,570
International students
- Full-time: £16,400
- Part-time: £5,470
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.
Apply
- 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.
- Subject area
- Business, Management and Marketing

