MSc in Human Resource Management
Queen's University Belfast - Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Key Information
Campus location
Belfast, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 - 2 year
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 23,100 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland or Wales: £8,360 | EU Other and International: £23,100
Introduction
This programme aims to develop your expertise in the field of Human Resource Management and allows you to gain professional accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD). You will be provided with a strong basis of theoretical and practical learning and be encouraged to develop the critical thinking skills and strategic orientation that underpins excellence in the HR profession. Taught by a team of world-class researchers and experienced practitioners, the course is designed to provide you with a high standard of knowledge and understanding of the current trends, opportunities and challenges facing HRM practitioners and researchers within the global context. You will have the opportunity to engage with experienced HR and organisational leaders, apply learning to the real-world context and develop practical skills for working in an HR environment.
The programme’s mixture of disciplinary rigour, academic expertise and applied focus equips you for work in a wide range of positions across the human resource management field. From whatever your starting point, you will be well positioned to advance your career with the potential to gain employment and promotion in the HR-related field. Depending on experience, you can secure employment in a range of roles starting from an HR Admin/Officer role to roles that are more senior such as an HR analyst, HR Advisor, HR Generalist, HR Manager, HR Business Partner, HR and Culture Advisor/ Manager. You can choose to pursue HR specialist roles such as Recruitment/ Talent Manager, Recruitment Consultant, Learning and Development Advisor/ Manager, Reward and Benefits Advisor/ Manager, Project Manager, HR Performance and Data Analyst, Career Advisor, as well as positions in consultancy, trade unions and academic and policy research across all sectors.
The programme delivers a suite of modules that explore and critically assess relevant and contemporary HRM-related theories, research and HRM practice (see course modules). You will also have the opportunity to undertake a dissertation that involves the investigation and analysis of an HRM-related issue and provides you with an opportunity for an applied and in-depth study of organisations and the management of work. You can be assured that our MSc HRM course is at the forefront of research-led, practical and theoretically informed education.
Professional Accreditations
The programme is fully accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). The programme provides the necessary knowledge and understanding to be awarded professional membership of the CIPD at the Associate level.
Career Development
The MSc HRM will provide you with the opportunity to participate in career management sessions delivered by careers advisors and leading HR professionals in the field. These sessions will enable you to consider your career goals and plan how to achieve them. The programme also includes further opportunities for students to develop employability skills and professional networks throughout the year. For example, in the past, our students have benefited from company visits that give insight into the work of a busy HR department and employability sessions focused on the HR professional’s online presence and use of LinkedIn.
Student Experience
Students will have the opportunity to participate in our HR Future Insights Series, which seeks to enhance students' learning experience by providing them with exposure to senior professionals in human resource management and related business communities. This series focuses on current and future trends and issues in HR and may include, for example, sessions on HR analytics, talent management, the future of work, and conflict management and negotiation.
The MSc HRM programme is taught in a blended learning environment incorporating both online and face-to-face teaching. You will be based at the Riddell Hall campus in South Belfast, which has dedicated facilities and resources for postgraduate students, including a postgraduate common room, group work ‘pods’ and a computer suite.
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Admissions
Curriculum
This course is offered on both a full-time and part-time basis. The programme consists of the following eight taught modules (each worth 15 CATS) and a final dissertation/ consultancy project (worth 60 CATS).
Semester One
Human Resource Management in Context (Part-time Year 1): Explores how managers and HR professionals can best respond to their internal organisational and external environmental contexts.
Human Resource Management Theory and Strategy (Part-time Year 1): Explores the latest strategic approaches and techniques HR professionals are taking to align specific people management practices with the business strategy.
Performance and Reward Management (Part-time Year 2): Examines contrasting models and methods and assesses how these are applied in different business environments.
HRM Analytics (Part-time year 2): Uses leading software tools to carry out HR analytics, including descriptive, visual, and prescriptive analytics, to understand the wider organisational implications for people management approaches.
Semester Two
Resourcing and Talent Management (Part-time Year 1): Explores organisational responses to changing labour markets and examines how organisations acquire and retain the necessary skills, attitudes and experience to meet business objectives.
Managing Employment Relations (Part-time Year 1): Evaluates wider empirical trends in employment relations approaches, evaluates the basis of conflict in organisations and explores the rights and obligations imposed by employment law.
Research Methods for Business (Part-time Year 2): Introduces research methodologies, processes and techniques required for carrying out an independent and original research project or a consultancy project.
Human Capital Development (Part-time Year 2): Evaluates the existing context and practice relating to the design and undertaking of training and development initiatives within firms.
Summer Semester
Final Dissertation; or Consultancy Based Report (Part-time Year 2) *
*The dissertation normally involves the investigation and analysis of an HRM-related issue within organisations and provides you with an opportunity for an applied and in-depth study of organisations and the management of work. A Consultancy Project involves working with a client organisation to make recommendations for solving a pre-set consulting problem, challenge or issue in the field of HR.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
The MSc programme prepares students for a range of HR-related roles in management and research. From whatever your starting point, you will be well positioned to advance your career with the potential to gain employment and promotion in the HR-related field. Depending on experience, you can secure employment in a range of roles starting from an HR Admin/Officer role to roles that are more senior such as an HR analyst, HR Advisor, HR Generalist, HR Manager, HR Business Partner, HR and Culture.
Advisor/ Manager. You can choose to pursue HR specialist roles such as Recruitment/ Talent Manager, Recruitment Consultant, Learning and Development Advisor/ Manager, Reward and Benefits Advisor/ Manager, Project Manager, HR Performance and Data Analyst, Career Advisor, as well as positions in consultancy, trade unions and academic and policy research across all sectors.
Recent graduates of the programme have gained employment in a range of organisations from various sectors, including First Derivatives, Moy Park Group, Power NI, Zurich Insurance, Energia, Inspire Well Being, Health and Social Care NI/ NHS, Baker McKenzie, Allen and Overy, Fin Tru, A&L Goodbody, Crane Co., Finnebrogue and many others.
Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus, Graduate Plus and Researcher Plus, bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes, alongside sterling integration with business experts help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.