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MA Human Resource Management

Gain the confidence and skills to take the next step in your Human Resources career with our Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) accredited masters in Human Resource Management.

You will develop your understanding of business concepts, theoretical and legal frameworks and leadership skills. Recent graduates have gone to secure positions, including Employee Relations Specialist, Learning and Development Manager, HR Business Partner and Diversity Manager.

The MA Human Resource Management at BNU has far exceeded my initial 'logistical' requirements and has given me so much more confidence, not just academically, but to be able to apply critical thinking in my workplace too.

Jane Whiley

Why study this subject?

If you are looking to progress your career into a management, consultancy or director position then studying our MA Human Resource Management can help you to develop the necessary skills to secure this next step. The programme focuses on developing your interests and giving you the opportunity explore specialist areas within human resources, from organisational psychology to employment law.

Companies are always looking to invest in their success and one way they do this is through recruiting skilled and qualified leaders and managers. Having a good balance of academic qualifications with professional skills is the perfect way to stand out from the crowd and impress employers. Our MA Human Resource Management will help you develop your understanding of contemporary research and theory so you will be confident in your abilities to lead and manage people in a competitive business environment.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Once you join Buckinghamshire New University you become part of our vibrant and diverse community. We are dedicated and focused on ensuring you receive the best possible experience whilst studying with us. We know that everyone is different and our high lecturer to student ratio ensures that you are treated as an individual and will receive continual and first-hand support throughout your MA. In short, we want you to build upon the experience you have gained in industry and expand your abilities so you can graduate with the relevant knowledge to progress your career.

We are proud to be accredited by professional body the CIPD, allowing you to access support and materials from the body during your course through to becoming a member of the institute. Gaining a MA recognised by the largest body for HR professionals in Europe means you will have extra value on your CV and the opportunity to be competitive in looking for international careers.

What will I study?

We know that taking the next step in your career is can be an exciting but daunting prospect, studying a postgraduate qualification can be the perfect way to learn the vital knowledge and skills needed to advance whilst having the support of industry experienced academics to help you put your ideas into action.

From leading, managing and developing people to performance management, and human resource management in context to investigating business issues, by the end of the programme you will have developed a strategic, integrated and holistic perspective on organisations and management. You will be confident in your leadership capabilities and be prepared for senior human resources management career advancement.

How will I be taught and assessed?

At Buckinghamshire New University we like to foster an interactive and student-focused teaching style where we blend lectures, tutorials, group learning, independent study and coursework to enhance the learning experience.

We believe learning straight from industry professionals during guest lectures is the best way to gain insight into the latest concepts and developments. We encourage a collaborative and open learning space where you can discuss and debate the latest topics and happenings with your lecturers and fellow students.

The course has been designed and developed to allow a flexible approach to your studies so you can fit them around your working life.

Useful Documents

MA Human Resource Management Programme Specification

What are the course entry requirements?

To apply, you'll need either an honours degree (or equivalent) or a CIPD level 5 qualification. As we accept applications on an individual basis, we also look at your experience in HR as this can be just as valuable as a degree.

We also interview applicants as part of our admissions. Interviews help us gauge who you are as a person as well as a prospective student. If your first language is not English or your language of instruction at undergraduate level was not English you be required to demonstrate English proficiency at a score of IELTS level 6.5 or its equivalent.

For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our general entry requirements page.

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

Year 1 Modules

Leading, Managing and Developing People

Essential Human Resource Management

Performance Management

HRM in Context

Developing Skills for Effective Use of Information

Dissertation

Investigating a business issue from an HR perspective (optional)

Strategic Leadership (optional)

Organisational Psychology (optional)

Employment Law (optional)

Learning and Talent Development (optional)

What are the tuition fees

Home

Home, Academic Year 2022 - 2023

£10,000 per year

International

Overseas/International, Academic Year 2022 - 2023

£14,800 per year

The University is unable to accept any new applications from students who require sponsorship for a student visa to start in September 2022. This is due to the overwhelming popularity of our courses and visa processing timeframes. Applications are still being taken from students who are already in the UK and hold the right to study.

From September 2022, those students living in the UK or Republic of Ireland, and EU nationals with settled status in the UK, will be considered Home students.

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.

You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

What are my career prospects?

We see your journey with us as much more than a degree, we are committed to supporting you to carve out the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders.

Recent graduates have gone on to jobs in positions such as:

Diversity Manager
Employee Relations Specialist
External Recruitment Consultant
Learning and Development Manager
Learning Design Manager
HR Business Partner.

HR isn't limited to major businesses with hundreds of employees. There is a huge demand in HR advice, especially when a company can't invest in a full-time HR professional or for SMEs and start-up businesses. Some of our graduates have set up their own HR consultant companies and some work as freelance consultants.

Did you know?

We are one of the Top 10 UK universities mostly likely to produce graduates who go on to own or manage a business (Capital on Tap, 2021), find out more about this excellent news.