Key information
For:
starting September 2026
Accreditation:
This course is Accredited
Showing content for section Overview
Overview
If you're an experienced or aspiring people professional who wants to develop the specialist skills to lead people strategy in today's complex business environment, this MSc Strategic People Management course is for you. Whether you're already working in HR, are a line manager, or are looking to transition into a career in Human Resources, this course is ideal for enhancing your ability to manage and develop people effectively.
Aligned with the standards of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), this accredited course combines academic excellence with professional practice, considering the relevance of people management in the digital age, within a global context. During your degree you’ll study areas including leadership, learning and development, organisational culture, and focus on the behaviours expected of senior Human Resources (HR) professionals, as well as examining emerging trends affecting the future of work.
Alongside specialist HR knowledge, you'll develop the capabilities needed to succeed in senior leadership roles. You'll strengthen your resilience, negotiation and influencing skills, learn conflict management, and build commercial awareness through an understanding of business strategy, finance and management.
After you graduate you'll be eligible to apply for associate membership with CIPD, and upgrade to full chartered membership if you have the relevant work experience. This shows employers that you've trained to a professional standard and have the knowledge and experience to have an impact in the workplace.
Our course has been designed to align with CIPD professional standards and to prepare you for a rewarding career with valuable, innovative and up-to-date modules and topics. You'll learn from experienced industry professionals and receive a practical point of view as you discover the industry and continually put your learning into practice through assessments.
Course highlights
- Learn from professionals with years of experience
- Qualify for professional CIPD membership when you graduate
- Study at a CIPD accredited centre
- Prepare to accelerate your career
Accreditation
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 also gain the eligibility to potentially upgrade their membership to Chartered depending on their experience.
The University of Portsmouth has earned business accreditation from the AACSB in recognition of the outstanding quality of its business and management education. Less than six percent of the world's schools offering business degree programs hold AACSB business accreditation.
Portsmouth Business School is proud to hold the Small Business Charter (SBC) accreditation, awarded by the Chartered Association of Business Schools. This is awarded in recognition of our strong industry links and support for small businesses including providing students with entrepreneurship education and start up guidance.
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsEntry requirements
September 2026 start
A second-class honours degree or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
See the full entry requirements for this course.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, view the equivalent entry requirements we accept for your country.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not 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.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees (September 2026/January 2027 start)
Please note, we'll confirm 2026 course fees soon.
Please note, we'll confirm 2026 course fees soon.
If you're an EU student you may be eligible to receive our EU Scholarship.
University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount.
Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.
You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Funding your studies
Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.
If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.
Loans, scholarships and bursaries
Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.
International students
Discover how you could join students from more than 150 countries in Portsmouth, and get all the information you need to apply for a degree course with us, wherever in the world you may be.
Fees and funding for Master's courses
Explore Master's funding options, including loans, scholarships, bursaries and more.
Additional 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 could include:
- Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
- Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
- General costs: Such as photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
- Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Modules
Modules studied
- Strategic Business and Leadership Skills (30 credits)
- The Future of Work and Organisations (30 credits)
- Managing and Developing People (30 credits)
- Global Employment Relations (15 credits)
- The Global Mindset (15 credits)
- Dissertation (60 credits)
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.
How you'll spend your time
We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.
We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.
Course structure
This Master's degree will take:
- 5 years part-time
Typically, you can expect:
- to attend workshops over 2 or 3 days at the start of each module
- to attend online group seminars once every 5 or 6 weeks
Teaching on this course includes:
- workshops
- seminars
Assessment
Assessment is based on work-based learning portfolios at the end of each module.
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. This includes group discussions, peer review activities, and virtual seminars.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
Term dates
Career development
Careers this Master's prepares you for
Once you complete this Master's in Strategic People Management, you'll graduate with a CIPD aligned MSc, which means you'll be eligible to apply for associate membership with the CIPD. This shows employers that you've trained to a professional standard and have the knowledge and experience to have an impact in the workplace.
You'll be prepared to lead people and organisations.
Graduates could go on to be:
- Human Resource Director
- Human Resource Manager
- People Director
- Chief People Officer
- Learning and Development Director
- Organisation Development Director
- General management and HR roles
Career planning
During your course you'll have expert careers advice from our Careers and Employability Centre, your tutors and our Student Placements and Employability Centre. You can access support from our Careers and Employability Centre for up to 5 years after you graduate.
Supporting you
Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of 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:
Joining us as an international student
You'll feel at home in our international community and our diverse city. You'll be joining over 5,000 international students from more than 150 countries who are studying with us.
Learn more about international student life and how we can help you with visas, applications, arrival and settling in.
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to postgraduate study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your course.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week 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 success advisers. 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.
The Maths Cafe offers free advice and help with maths skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your maths skills at a workshop, or use our online resources.
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.
During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
Support is available for skills including:
- University study
- Getting into the right study mindset
- Note-taking and note-making skills
- Referencing
- Presentation skills
- Time management, planning, and goal setting
- Critical thinking
- Avoiding plagiarism
If you have a disability or need extra support, our Disability Advice team will give you help, support and advice.
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 your subject.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
You can access information on the personal, emotional and mental health support available to you from your college. They can help you understand the support available locally, as well as other support that might be available to you to help you engage with your studies and improve your wellbeing.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need, your partner college should be your first point of contact for arranging reasonable adjustments.
However, our University specialist team is also available to offer advice and guidance if needed. We can help you:
-
Explore reasonable adjustments in collaboration with your partner college
-
Liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
-
Connect with external services where appropriate
-
Provide advice and support on accessing the Disabled Student Allowance (DSA)
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.
How to apply
Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.
There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start date in September, as long as there are places available. If you wait until September to apply, you may find that the course is full.
If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.
You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.
Extra information for international students
Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.
There's no fixed deadline for applications to this course for UK applicants. We accept applications right up until the start dates, as long as there are places available. If you wait until your start month to apply, you may find that the course is full.
If you're applying as an international student, please note that application deadlines may differ. You’ll need to allow enough time for your application to be processed and for visa arrangements. Check out our application deadlines for International Students.
You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students, as well as current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth, also have some different application options, which are detailed below.
Ready to apply?
Start this course in September 2026
Start this course in September 2026
I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate
If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2025, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:
- a shorter application form to complete
- access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
- a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
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.