Triangle

Course overview

Our Human Resource Management and Organisation MSc will develop your potential to excel in global human resource management positions. Using your specialist skills and knowledge, you will manage employment relationships and maximise the competitive advantage of your business.

You will sharpen your understanding of leadership, change management, the development and retention of talent, and the challenges of managing people in multi-cultural and global contexts. You will also have the opportunity to learn from world-class experts, and participate in highly interactive lectures, workshops, case study analyses and blogs. In addition, you will be given the opportunity to engage with business, develop your skills, and enhance your employability through our teaching.

You have the option to take industry-recognised digital qualifications by Microsoft and SAP alongside your course, which will develop your digital skills.

As this course is accredited by the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), it offers you full exemption from their advanced diploma. It will also help to bring you to the notice of prestigious employers who are looking for the skillset you will have. 

Why choose this course?

Top 100

in the world and top 15 in the UK

QS World University Rankings: Masters in Management Rankings 2023

Accredited

by the professional body for HR and people development

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Triple accredited

Part of an elite group of business schools worldwide to gain ‘triple crown’ accreditation

EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB accredited

Gain digital skills

We offer the opportunity to take industry-recognised Microsoft and SAP certifications at significant discounts from the open market rate

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More than 27,000

Business School alumni connect you to a powerful global network of business contacts

Course content

Across the autumn and spring semesters, you will take 120 credits of taught modules. Each module typically consists of 10 two to three hour sessions.

You will complete a 60-credit dissertation over the summer, and will be allocated an appropriate dissertation supervisor who will oversee your progress.

Modules

Core modules

Semester one

Employment Relations

The module focuses on the broad aspects of employment regulation, relating to all elements that circumscribe unilateral decision-making power of management with regard to employment matters. Topics cover include modes of workforce voice and participation, conflict, equality and diversity, and the role of the state and the law.

Managing and Developing Organisations

This module aims to develop an understanding of managing and developing organisations. Core elements of the module include organisational structure and design, job design, organisational culture, leadership, managing groups and teams, organisational learning and knowledge management, employee motivation, commitment and engagement, power, politics and conflict, change management and technological change in the workplace.

Strategic Human Resource Management

This module aims to develop an advanced understanding of human resource management. Core elements of the course include the evolution of SHRM, recruitment and selection, training, leadership and management development, performance management, wellbeing at work, and ethical issues in HRM.

Semester two

Contemporary Developments in HRM/OB

This module provides you with a comprehensive overview of contemporary issues in organisational behaviour and human resource management practices. You are invited to critically examine and explore a variety of contemporary topics ranging from issues of wellness and coaching to metrics and managerial control.

The module uses practical examples, case studies and contemporary research to provide opportunities for critique, debate and discussion.

International Human Resource Management

This module aims to provide you with a critical understanding of the context, strategies, issues and key debates of International Human Resource Management (IHRM). Areas covered include:

  • Globalisation and HRM
  • HRM in multinational companies
  • HRM in emerging economies
Research and Professional Skills in OB/HRM

The module consists of three parts.

  1. Introduction Qualitative Analysis - this part of the module will be concerned with the collection and analysis of qualitative data
  2. Introduction Quantitative Analysis - this section will be concerned with the collection and analysis of quantitative data
  3. ‘The future HR practitioner - learning portfolio’ requires students to reflect about the knowledge and skills learnt in the MSc and how they can be applied in their future careers

Summer

Dissertation

The module aims to allow you to synthesise, apply and extend the knowledge you have gained in the taught component of the programme. The investigation of a current research topic will help to develop your theoretical and practical understanding of current problems in your area, as well as your research and communication skills.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Friday 24 November 2023.

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

Digital professional skills certifications

We offer the opportunity for you to take industry-recognised Microsoft and SAP certifications alongside your degree programme at significant discounts from the open market rate. This will enhance your digital capability, differentiate your CV and help you stand out to future employers. Find out more on our digital professional skills website.

How you will be assessed

  • Dissertation
  • Essay
  • Examinations

Modules are assessed by a combination of exams and coursework at the end of the relevant semester.

Contact time and study hours

10-credit taught modules will consist of 100 student learning hours, of which around 22 hours are associated with lectures and seminars. The rest of the time will consist of assessment preparation, class preparation, and private study.

20-credit taught modules will consist of double this time.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

Undergraduate degree2:1 (or international equivalent) in any discipline, excluding specialist degrees in human resource management and/or organisations

Applying

Spaces on this course are limited and, as such, applications will open in the following windows:

  • 1 September to 30 November 2023
  • 16 February to 26 April 2024

Please note: this is a highly competitive course and there are a limited number of places available. The School reserves the right to close applications when capacity is reached – this may be ahead of the advertised application windows. Early applications are encouraged to avoid disappointment.

If you have not yet completed your undergraduate degree, please provide a list of modules to be studied in your final year.

Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about applying.

How to apply
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Where you will learn

Jubilee Campus

Jubilee Campus has eco-friendly buildings, alongside green spaces, wildlife and a lake. 

This campus is home to our business, education and computer science schools, as well as a sports centre and student accommodation.

You can walk to University Park Campus in around 20 minutes or catch a free hopper bus. Nottingham city centre is 20 minutes away by public bus.

Fees

Qualification MSc
Home / UK £14,700
International £28,600

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses.

You should be able to access most of the books you'll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles.

Funding

Business School MSc scholarships

There are many ways to fund your postgraduate course, from scholarships to government loans.

We also offer a range of international masters scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Careers

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or résumé, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Graduate destinations

Our in-house Postgraduate Careers Team provides expert advice and guidance so that you can make an informed decision about the right career path for you.

Prior to commencing your course you can take part in pre-entry careers discussions and once on programme our MSc Accelerated Career Leader Programme is complemented by one to one career coaching.

Increasingly, graduates are required to be cloud and data-ready for the workplace with 66% of employers wanting to see graduates achieve professional qualifications as well as their main degree (CMI 21st Century leaders report). The school works with some of the world’s leading business software providers including SAP and Microsoft, offering the option to take their globally recognised professional digital qualifications alongside your course. Our Digital Centre of Excellence will support you so that you can develop the digital skills necessary to pursue your chosen career and stand out to future employers.

Our support continues throughout your time at Nottingham and after you graduate. Business School postgraduates also have access to events and resources provided by the Careers and Employability Service.

Career destinations for our postgraduates include:

  • accountants
  • finance and investment analysts
  • higher education teaching professionals
  • investment bankers
  • IT business analysts
  • management consultants
  • marketing professionals
  • public relations professionals
  • university researchers

Some MSc graduates have gone on to doctoral studies, others have become entrepreneurs. Our Ingenuity Lab has supported a number of our MSc graduates in starting their own company.

Career progression

86.2% of all postgraduates from Nottingham University Business School secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £31,419.*

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, offering you full exemption from their advanced diploma.

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates
" This programme is incredibly well-structured. It had the right balance of theoretical and practical approach with an ample opportunity for research and healthy discussion on the topics. In addition to that, the course had a very holistic design with adequate emphasis on all aspects of human resources. "
Dua Munawar Memon, MSc Human Resource Management and Organisation

This content was last updated on Friday 24 November 2023. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.