Effective management to maximise the performance of human resources (HR) is central to any business success. Employers need managers who can proactively and positively influence organisational strategy, developing and implementing the policies, benefits, employee relations and engagement that helps them recruit and retain the best talent.

By studying this professionally-accredited master’s degree, approved by the CIPD, you’ll gain cutting-edge strategic knowledge to leverage the employment relationship, needed now more than ever in the turbulent, competitive world of work where being able to change and innovate are critical success factors.  

Acknowledging the importance of considering different perspectives and cultural dimensions, our broad-based, integrated curriculum includes the employer, employee and other stakeholder perspectives, when covering issues such as employee resourcing and development, employee relations, communications and pay.  

You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of managing people and, importantly, how best to handle the challenges posed by employer interventions, the workers themselves, trade unions or government. This will give you the edge over other candidates in the job market, whatever field of management you choose.

People management skills are needed in all types of jobs and industries; having appropriate knowledge of HR strategies and tactics from this master’s will provide a useful top-up to the knowledge gained from various degrees and regardless of your desired profession. We therefore welcome applicants from a wide range of undergraduate disciplines; past students have joined us having studied subjects as diverse as law, history, psychology and various management disciplines.

Graduates from this programme have gone to pursue a range of managerial and professional careers, including as HRM specialists in the health service, police force, specialist recruitment agencies and financial sector. Some have started their own businesses, gone on to become lecturers in the subject or work in a variety of roles within government or third sector (charities). They have found employment with the NHS, British Transport Police, Npower, DSG Financial Services, Interserve, Prudential and Churchill China, to name just a few.