Brunel University London

MSc Human Resource Management

All learning is delivered online to fit around your work and personal commitments. You’ll complete 6 core modules, 2 optional modules, and a dissertation, combining theory and practical tasks to prepare you for a career in human resources.

International and Comparative Human Resource Management

Managing people across borders brings fresh challenges and opportunities as workforces become increasingly global. This module examines how HR strategies are shaped by different regional contexts—from the EU and USA to Japan and Southeast Asia—and how organisations navigate cultural, legal, and operational differences in international HRM.

Topics:

• International HR strategy
• Cross-cultural management
• Regional HR practices
• Global recruitment
• Expatriate management
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Multicultural teams
• HR information systems

Knowledge Management, Social Networks and Innovation

How do successful organisations continue to drive progress? This module explores how knowledge is created, shared, and applied within teams, across networks, and through technology. You’ll examine the role of digital platforms in supporting innovation and long-term business growth.

Topics:

• Knowledge management
• Organisational learning
• Social networks and collaboration
• Innovation strategy
• Web 2.0 tools
• Knowledge transfer

Organisational Behaviour

What shapes employee satisfaction and workplace culture? This module unpacks leadership theories and behavioural models, helping you evaluate how management styles impact motivation, teamwork, and organisational performance.

Topics:

• Organisational behaviour
• Management approaches
• Individual differences
• Motivation and satisfaction
• Teams and groups
• Managerial roles
• Leadership development
• Organisational design
• Culture and innovation

Understanding Business and Management Research

Make better decisions with the power of research. This module equips you to interpret, evaluate, and apply both qualitative and quantitative findings, giving you the tools to approach complex business challenges with confidence and clarity.

Topics:

• Research design
• Qualitative and quantitative methods
• Data interpretation
• Literature review techniques
• Ethical research practice
• Critical analysis skills

Human Resource Management in Context: Resourcing, Performance, and Technology

Human resource management is more than recruitment—it shapes every step of the employee experience, from talent resourcing and performance development to the smart use of technology. This module examines how these interconnected elements combine to create adaptable, motivated teams that thrive in today’s changing work landscape.

Topics:

• HRM fundamentals
• Technology in HR
• Strategic alignment
• Resource-based view
• Psychological contract
• Selection methods
• Competency analysis
• Psychometric testing
• Assessment centres
• Remote and virtual work

Contemporary Human Resource Management: Policy, Development, and Evaluation

Human resource management has come a long way since its early days, evolving to meet the complex demands of modern workplaces. This module challenges you to critically examine how HR policies and practices shape organisations today, with a strong focus on ethics, leadership, and the real-world impact on employees and business outcomes.

Topics:

• HR forces and employability
• Human capital measurement
• Learning and development
• HRD impact
• Leadership and HRM
• Performance management
• Reward systems
• HR outsourcing
• Ethics and CSR
• Professional practice

International Management (Optional)

Managing across borders brings unique challenges—and opportunities. This module equips you with the theories and practical tools to navigate cultural differences, global trends, and complex decision-making within multinational organisations. Learn how to apply international management concepts in real-world settings to lead effectively across diverse environments.

Topics:

• International trends
• Political and legal context
• Cultural influences
• Cross-cultural communication
• Negotiation and conflict
• Global HRM
• Mergers and acquisitions

International Business Ethics and Corporate Governance (Optional):

Responsible leadership in global business means mastering ethics and governance across cultures and markets. This module explores sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and governance frameworks that shape decision-making in SMEs and multinationals alike.

Topics:

• Shareholder vs stakeholder models
• Corporate social responsibility
• Ethical theories
• Cross-cultural ethics
• Governance structures
• Board roles and accountability
• Sustainability

Managing Global Challenges (Optional)

This module explores strategies that empower diverse workforces across cultures and borders, focusing on leadership, organisational change, and the practical challenges faced in multinational environments. You’ll gain insight into how global diversity drives innovation, equity, and long-term success in today’s interconnected business world.

Topics:

• Defining global diversity
• Diversity across functions
• Theories of diversity management
• Leadership and change
• Cross-cultural challenges
• Organisational transformation

Knowledge Management, Social Networks and Innovation (Optional):

How do successful organisations continue to drive progress? This module explores how knowledge is created, shared, and applied within teams, across networks, and through technology. You’ll examine the role of digital platforms in supporting innovation and long-term business growth.

Topics:

• Knowledge management
• Organisational learning
• Social networks and collaboration
• Innovation strategy
• Web 2.0 tools
• Knowledge transfer

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management (Optional):

What does it take to build and grow a successful venture? This module explores the mindset, challenges, and strategies behind entrepreneurship, equipping you to identify opportunities, develop business ideas, and lead small firms through different stages of growth.

Topics:

• Entrepreneurial mindset
• Opportunity evaluation
• Business planning
• Growth strategies
• Leadership transitions
• Types of ventures

• HRM frameworks: Critically evaluate theories, ethics, and legal contexts shaping modern people management.
• Talent strategies: Implement recruitment, rewards, and performance approaches that boost organisational success.
• Workforce challenges: Address complex issues like diversity, equality, and AI-driven people analytics with confidence.
• People research: Design and lead rigorous projects that inform workforce policies and strategic decisions.
• Workforce influence: Communicate insights clearly to engage and persuade diverse stakeholders.
• Professional Identity: Blend theory and practice to grow as a leader and lifelong learner in people management.

Give your career an accredited edge

Built with input from industry professionals, this CIPD-accredited programme prepares you to launch a rewarding career with leading employers like Accenture, Amazon, HSBC, Jaguar Land Rover, L’Oréal, Microsoft, PwC, and more.

As a Brunel online graduate, you’ll join a far-reaching alumni network and be well-prepared to lead workplaces in people-centred roles like:

• Human Resources Officer
• HR Practitioner / Consultant
• Training and Development Officer
• Business Adviser
• Recruitment Consultant
• Management Consultant
• Payroll Specialist
• Operational Researcher