MSc Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations

Learn how to manage and develop employees, ensure their wellbeing and understand changing employment legislation. You will gain advanced knowledge and skills that prepare you for a career as a well-rounded human resources practitioner. You will also have the opportunity to work on a live employment tribunal case which provides valuable hands-on experience. The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD).

People are at the heart of any organisation, so the ability to manage and develop employees, ensure their wellbeing and understand changing employment legislation is essential to business survival.

CIPD Course recognition

The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), offering the ability to fast track your career through professional membership. As part of our accreditation, all students attend a series of compulsory HR skills development workshops. These workshops focus on your personal skills capacity building as a future HR specialist.

The workshops are non-credit bearing, in order to maximise their developmental nature. When you graduate, you can become a CIPD Associate Member and use the designation Assoc CIPD. You may also be eligible to become a CIPD Chartered Member or CIPD Chartered Fellow, depending on your experience.

You join CIPD as a student member and once you have passed all course units (including the HR skills development workshops and the dissertation), you can update your CIPD membership to Associate Member. Please note that to obtain Associate Member status you will need to have joined the CIPD as a student member and remain in membership throughout your programme. These costs are an individual responsibility.

Course units details

During the course, you will be taking 180 credits in all. The eight taught modules during semesters one and two total 120 credits and consist of both compulsory and optional taught units which can be viewed in the list below.

Over the summer period, you will carry out your Research Dissertation, worth 60 credits. Examples of recent dissertation project topics include:

• Employment security in domestic privately-owned enterprises in South China
• The role of unions in gender equality
• The fairness of reward management and implications for staff retention
• Disability discrimination
• Organisational boundaries and temporary agency staff
• Work-life balance in China

Coursework and assessment

Assessment across the course units varies and includes a combination of examinations, essays, course work, assignments, reports and group presentations. A dissertation is also undertaken in the final semester over the summer.

• Develop knowledge of the theoretical foundations and real-world practice of human resource management and industrial relations, both in the UK and internationally
• Build understanding of strategic changes in HRM
• Gain strategic insight and boost your CV by attending workshops delivered by HR practitioners
• Work on a live employment tribunal case
• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) approval gives you a competitive edge in the job market.