This CIPD (Level 7) accredited Human Resource Management course will prepare you for the management of people and human resources in a global context. You will gain the relevant knowledge and skills to become an effective line manager or HR professional and meet the needs of rapidly changing organisations.
Studying this CIPD accredited Master’s course provides the dual benefits of academic study at Postgraduate level with acquiring recognised professional CIPD credentials and membership.
How to gather and apply evidence to HR management issues and putting theory into practice are key features of the course. You will consider issues such as organisational behaviour, equality, diversity and inclusion, the employee life cycle and how HR can contribute to the strategic development of an organisation.
Elective modules such as Digitalisation and Human Resource Analytics are now included giving you the opportunity to personalise your learning in line with your current needs and future aspirations. Elective modules are subject to availability.
This course offers the opportunity to extend your study by a year to complete a 48 week work placement. Evidence suggests that graduates who can demonstrate relevant work experience have a better chance of securing a graduate level job.
If you are considering a postgraduate study option for an Aberdeen Business School course starting January 2025 then please be aware application deadlines are in place which may affect your first choice of start date or course selection.
Stage 1
You will develop a grounding in the core area of organisational behaviour and in the personal, professional and academic skills required to undertake postgraduate study. Full time students will also consider the employee lifecycle and equality, diversity and inclusion related issues. Part time students will also consider HR management in a global context and select the first of two elective modules.
Stage 2
You will learn how to gather evidence and apply it to HR management decision-making. Full time students will also study HR management in a global context and two elective modules. Part time students will study, in addition to evidence-based decision-making, the employee life cycle, equality, diversity and inclusion related issues, and their second elective module. Elective modules for full time and part time students are subject to availability.
Students who successfully complete this stage (Postgraduate Diploma) will be nominated by the University to the CIPD as meeting the eligibility criteria for Associate Membership of the CIPD (Level 7).
Stage 3
The Capstone module is designed to provide you with an opportunity to integrate master's level knowledge and skills by independently working on a research focused project from a degree related discipline. Personal and professional skills such as research, communication and presentation skills will be developed.
Extended Master's
We offer an extended Master’s route, starting in September, on our traditional, on campus, 1-year route which incorporates a 12 month placement. This route has a duration of 24 months, and will follow the same teaching programme as the 1 year course. You will receive training, guidance and support to support you through the recruitment and selection stages for the jobs on offer from our dedicated Employability and Enrichment Hub team.
Student stories
Hear from our students and graduates about their experiences studying this course:
Modules
Modules and delivery order may change for operational purposes. The University regularly reviews its courses. Course content and structure may change over time. See our course and module disclaimer for more information.
Detailed module informationOn Campus Study
You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshop sessions. These comprise of a mix of group study, discussion, simulation and presentations of findings by teams and individuals.
Access to our virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle, is also provided giving you access from home to learning materials (including videos, e-books and journals).
Part time courses are delivered in parallel with the on campus full time cohort but you will only study 2 modules (30 credits) per term.
Online Learning
Our virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle offers you flexibility of where and when you can study, offering full and open access to tutors and other class members. You have the benefit of being part of a group of learners with the invaluable opportunity to participate in active, group-related learning within a supportive online community setting. CampusMoodle will provide you with lectures and course materials, discussion forums and live chat.
Activity Summary
The activities represent full time on campus delivery, and are indicative, online learning and part time delivery may differ.
- Lectures - 20-30 students per group, 6 hours per week
- Tutorial - 20-30 students per group, 6 hours per week
- Independent Study - 38 hours per week
How long is a Human Resource Management course?
This Human Resource Management course can be successfully completed within 1 - 3 years.
Independent Study
The course encourages you to work autonomously and to take responsibility for your own learning and professional development. The main vehicles for independent learning are the Human Resource Management: Evidence and Application module and the Capstone Project, where you will further develop your learning in: the nature of research, sourcing relevant information, data collection and analysis, research ethics and appropriate communication.
Staff Delivering on This Course
Academic staff who teach on this course have worked in a range of professional backgrounds, are ‘business-connected’ and use professional networks and their academic research to ensure teaching is professionally relevant and cutting edge.
Our staff have either achieved Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, or are working towards this. This is a professional recognition of lecturer practice, impact and leadership in teaching and learning. In addition, many have featured in the annual Support and Teaching staff with Appreciation and Recognition (STAR) awards voted by the students and organised by RGU:Union.
We play an active role in the local CIPD branch and seek input from practitioners with relevant subject expertise during course redesign. Practitioners also contribute to teaching through guest lectures and masterclasses.
Assessment
Please note the below represent full-time on-campus delivery, distance learning and part-time delivery will differ.
Typically students are assessed each year:
- 1 written assignment, including an essay
- 2 essays
- 1 report
- 1 people plan
- 1 set exercise
- 1 Capstone project
Elective modules (students will undertake two elective modules so will undertake two of the four assessments listed below)
- 2 practical skills assessments
- 2 reports
Feedback
We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.
Academic Support
The Inclusion Centre advises and supports students who disclose a sensory or mobility impairment, chronic medical condition, mental health issue, dyslexia and other specific learning differences. Applicants are encouraged to arrange a pre-entry visit to discuss any concerns and to view the facilities.
Online Learning & Support
All undergraduate and postgraduate students, whether you are learning on campus or by online learning, benefit from using our collaborative virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle. You will be provided with 24/7 online access to your learning material and resources, along with the ability to interact with your class members and tutors for discussion and support.
Study Skills Support
The Study Support Team provides training and support to all students in:
- Academic writing
- Study skills (note taking, exam techniques, time management, presentation)
- Maths and statistics
- English language
- Information technology support
Library Support
The Library offers support for your course, including the books, eBooks, and journals you will need. We also offer online reading lists for many modules, workshops and drop-ins on searching skills and referencing, and much more.
Job Prospects
All organisations need to have the right number of people with the right skills at the right time to ensure optimum productivity, hence the importance of skilled people managers and HR practitioners.
Graduates of this course find employment in many diverse industries throughout the world as a result of the knowledge and skills they have gained during the course. Example industries include public and private sectors, energy, hospitality, construction and financial services.
Is Human Resource Management a good career choice?
Previous graduates have gone on to general management roles or more HR specific roles such as:
- HR Business Partner
- Learning and Development Advisor
- Group HR Director
- Independent HR Consultant
12 Month Placement
For those on our Extended Master’s route (24 months Full Time On Campus) you will have the opportunity to embark on a 12 month placement on completion of the teaching programme.
Placement opportunities are real jobs in an extensive range of organisations from small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to global multinationals, and is an excellent way to test your academic knowledge, develop transferable skills and develop your business networks. The employing organisation is likely to be a source of rich data for the Capstone module and you will be encouraged to research an organisational issue of your choosing – likely identified through discussion with the placement employer. You will also complete a reflective e-portfolio which captures the skills development through the placement period.
Throughout the placement you will be assigned both a workplace mentor and an academic mentor and will receive ongoing support to enhance your career development.
N.B. You are responsible for finding the placement, with support from the placement team, and as such the University cannot guarantee that all students will be successful in securing a placement. If unsuccessful, your course fee attached to the work experience element will be refunded.
What is needed for an MSc in Human Resource Management?
- Applicants normally hold a 2:2 undergraduate honours degree or its equivalent in any subject discipline.
- Applicants with a lower degree classification and / or relevant work experience will be considered on a case by case basis.
English Language Requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS of 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5, or an equivalent.
We accept a variety of in-country and secure English language tests, find out more:
Please note, some courses may require a higher standard of English than stated in this page. Contact admissions@rgu.ac.uk for further information.
Tuition fees for this Human Resource Management course are as follows:
For Academic Year 2024/2025
On Campus
Full Time
- UK & EU Students - £9,060 entire course
- International Students - £18,500 entire course
Full Time with placement
UK & EU Students
- Year 1 - £9,060
- Year 2 with placement - £5,500
International Students
- Year 1 - £18,500
- Year 2 with placement - £6,000
Part Time - 2 Year Route
UK & EU Students
- Year 1 - £4,530
- Year 2 - £4,530
International Students
- Year 1 - £9,250
- Year 2 - £9,250
Part Time - 3 Year Route
UK & EU Students
- Year 1 - £3,400
- Year 2 - £3,400
- Year 3 - £2,260
International Students
- Year 1 - £6,940
- Year 2 - £6,940
- Year 3 - £4,620
Online Learning
Full Time
All Students
- Entire course - £11,230
Part Time - 2 Year Route
All Students
- Year 1 - £5,615
- Year 2 - £5,615
Part Time - 3 Year Route
All Students
- Year 1 - £4,210
- Year 2 - £4,210
- Year 3 - £2,810
For Academic Year 2023/2024
ON CAMPUS
Full Time
- UK Students: £9,060 entire course
- EU Students: £9,060 entire course
- International Students: £16,990 entire course
Part Time
UK Students
- £3,400 Stage 1
- £3,400 Stage 2
- £2,260 Stage 3
EU STUDENTS
- £3,400 Stage 1
- £3,400 Stage 2
- £2,260 Stage 3
International STUDENTS
- £6,370 Stage 1
- £6,370 Stage 2
- £4,250 Stage 3
EXTENDED FULL TIME MASTERS WITH WORK PLACEMENT
UK Students
- £9,060 Year 1
- £5,500 Year 2
EU Students
- £9,060 Year 1
- £5,500 Year 2
International Students
- £16,990 Year 1
- £5,500 Year 2
ONLINE LEARNING
All Students - 3 Year Route
- £4,050 Stage 1
- £4,050 Stage 2
- £2,700 MSc Dissertation Stage
All Students - 2 Year Route
- £5,400 Year 1
- £5,400 Year 2
All Students - 12 Months Route
- £10,800 entire course
Additional Costs
- £138 CIPD membership (Only CIPD fees for first year of study are paid by university, all CIPD memberships will be due for renewal on 1 July, each year thereafter.)
- For on campus students, additional fees may be payable for learning visits to appropriate sites e.g. New Lanark, Peterhead Prison. Costs are kept to a minimum but may be around £60 p.a.
Some other costs are not included in the course fees:
- The cost of books that you may wish to purchase.
- Costs associated with any placement / study abroad
- Accommodation and Living Costs
- Printing
Alumni Discount
Robert Gordon University is delighted to offer a 20% discount on course fees for all alumni who have graduated from RGU.
Student Funding
Postgraduate students will normally make their own arrangements for payment of fees. However, there are a limited number of SAAS funded places on certain postgraduate courses.
Scholarships and Financial Awards
You may qualify for a scholarship or financial award:
Disclaimer
For new intakes, course fees are reviewed and published annually for each mode of delivery. Tuition fees are fixed for the duration of a course at the rate confirmed in the offer letter. For further information:
Any questions?
Get in touch with our Student Admissions Service and we'll do our best to help.