People are arguably an organisation’s most important (and expensive) resource in a global knowledge economy. To successfully adapt to the fast-paced, competitive environment, businesses must deploy staff effectively, developing their full potential.

Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), this exciting, stimulating and challenging degree aims to provide a solid grounding in business, alongside specialist skills in people management, leadership and development. Benefiting from the shared experiences of staff and students, many of whom continue to work in this profession, you’ll learn to appreciate the organisational, commercial and societal factors that shape company and individual behaviour.

With an emphasis on learning through practice, we consider how human resources (HR) fits into the structure of businesses and management with the functions and systems needed to support these. You’ll hear direct from practitioners currently working in industry. For example, previously lectures have been given by a representative from Save the Children UK and the general secretary of NAPO, the trade union for probation and family court staff.

You’ll develop key human resource skills in planning, organisation and control, gaining hands-on experience of common business computing and software used by HR professionals. Using specialist software in the HR Analytics module, you’ll interpret real-life data, looking for correlations around diversity or absence, for example, as you would in the workplace.

You also have the option of taking a year’s placement between Years 2 and 3, building your professional network and gaining valuable experience to launch your career. Previous students on this degree have worked in employee relations, recruitment and learning and development, for organisations including the NHS, ASOS and IBM. Our graduates have gone on to secure roles in management, recruitment and selection, staff development and training.

Placements/ Year abroad

Between Years 2 and 3 you can undertake a one-year, full-time business placement. Past students have completed placements in a variety of SMEs and prestigious organisations, including Barclays Bank, British Airways, Disney UK, IBM and the NHS.

Alternatively, you may choose to study English-taught courses for a year at one of our overseas partner institutions. You can also choose to split your year abroad into a first semester exchange and a second semester work placement, both conducted overseas, or undertake a placement year overseas.

Career

This course will prepare you for roles such as:

• Employee relations officer
• HR administrator
• HR management officer
• HR project support officer
• HR systems adviser
• Management trainee
• Recruitment consultant
• Staff learning and development co-ordinator