MSc in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations
Manchester, United Kingdom
DURATION
12 Months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 30,750 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* final application deadline. Applications received after our final selection deadline will be considered at our discretion if places are still available
** UK students per annum: £17,750 | International, including EU, students per annum: £30,750
Key Summary
Introduction
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.
Admissions
Curriculum
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.
Program Outcome
- 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.
Scholarships and Funding
Funding Opportunities for Master's Degrees
There are a number of Master's funding options for our courses and these will vary depending on whether you’re a student from the UK, or EU, or an international student from outside the EU.
Please note: if you are successful in receiving more than one scholarship award, the total scholarship amount must not exceed 50% of your course tuition fees.
Master's student loan for UK students
If you are a prospective Master's student from the UK there are potential sources of funding available. The UK Government has confirmed that Postgraduate Loans will be offered to UK students starting a master's course in the 2024/25 academic year.
Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme
The Master's Scholarship is offered to students and alumni of The University of Manchester enrolling on one of the Business School's taught master's courses.
BAföG funding
German applicants can apply for BAföG funding in the form of a grant, subsidy, state or bank loan.
Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan (CSFP) General Scholarship
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission supports around 750 awards annually at universities around the Commonwealth.