The MA in HRM has been developed to provide you with a comprehensive and systematic theoretical grounding in key HRM topics and their relationship to sustained organisational performance. The programme has been designed to meet the professional standards and behaviours identified in the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) HR Profession Map; therefore, you will gain skills and competencies to apply new knowledge for business and organisational improvements and CIPD accredited membership. You will explore themes of developing talent, employment engagement, effective reward management and effective leadership and people management in uncertain times.

The programme will offer the opportunity to:

• Focus on the development of HR practitioner skills and behaviours through dedicated skill workshops that will support your HR career
• Access to teaching staff with complementary HRM academic and HR practitioner experience to support your development in the field
• Access extra curricular RDBS events, workshops and competitions related to your specialism
• Work with experienced HR Directors from a range of organisations, as guest speakers   
• Benefit from access to Knowledge Dock, UEL’s Enterprise Development service  connecting students to business opportunities and RDBS researchers to industry and knowledge exchange

• A UK Honours Degree (2:2 minimum) with two year’s relevant managerial or HR Work Experience
• Equivalent overseas degree recognised by UEL with two year’s relevant managerial or HR work experience
• Degree-equivalent professional qualification e.g. CPP and two years’ managerial or HR work experience
• International students require an IELTS score of 7.0 (with no component score less than 6.5).
• Students meeting the above criteria in their application forms will be interviewed by the Programme Leader prior to a formal offer being made.

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS *** (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.

Students that apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.

The programme will be offered on a full-time and part-time basis with a September start. The full-time programme will be taught on a half-day and evening basis for two days a week. If you are studying the programme on a part-time basis you will complete the programme over two years and attend university one day a week on the same half-day and evening basis. The programme also includes a weekend residential for all modules to ensure the opportunity for the fuller and more intensive development of relevant skills and behaviours.

The MA in HRM will consist of five modules, four 30 credit modules and one 60 credit dissertation module. All of the modules are core; however, students will have the option of exiting the programme on completion of four 30 credit core taught modules and a 30 credit Management Report, and will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in HRM.

We see the programme as highly participative; with everyone sharing information, ideas, experiences and values, and helping each other to gain the maximum benefit from the programme as a group and develop as to develop as individual HR practitioners and senior managers. The teaching and learning activities have been designed to encourage these behaviours. Therefore; all modules will consist of a combination of the following learning approaches: schedules lectures; seminars and workshops; organisational visits and weekend workshops focusing on the practical application of key theories and the use of Wiki and online discussion boards. In order support the development of your practitioner skills you will also be exposed to Senior HR professionals who will provide guest lectures on the programme.

Each module is assessed using a range of assessment methods. These may include group presentations, individual written essays, role play and case study report evaluation, unseen examinations and independent research reports. The overall aim of the assessment strategy is to support the ethos of encouraging not just the acquisition of knowledge but the ability to apply this knowledge in realistic and complex business and organisational scenarios. Assignments will be frequently focused your own organisation or organisations you are familiar with. In order to encourage the development of reflective practitioner skills and to receive the CIPD accreditation for the programme you will also be required to submit a Continuing Professional Development record at the end of each module and a CPD plan and CV for the coming year in their final module.

On completion on this programme you will achieve Graduate Membership status of the CIPD. CIPD accredited qualifications are nationally and internationally recognised and are a requirement for many people management and development roles. In addition to this professional membership status students will gain valuable skills and behaviours that are essential for successful HR careers and people management roles. The programme has been designed to reflect the Professional Areas and HR Behaviours identified on the CIPD's new HR Profession Map.

You will also gain skills in project and change management and leadership in uncertain times and via psychometric tests and assessments in the first module students will also enhance their personal effectiveness and influencing skills that are essential for HR practitioners.

During the programme you will have the opportunity to conduct an individual research led investigation into a business issue of your choice. The aim is to analyse and understand organisational issues and make evidence based people management recommendations that will drive organisational performance. If you decide to exit the programme at Postgraduate Diploma level you will conduct a 7000 word investigation into a business issue from an HR perspective or for the full MA in HRM you will be required to undertake an applied dissertation. This project work will be your main learning activity and assessment in the third semester.

• CIPD accredited membership status on successful completion of the programme.
• Enhancement of leadership and people management capabilities and competencies through skill workshops and residentials.
• Teaching staff with a complementary blend of academic and HR practitioner experience to support student’s development as effective HR and people management practitioners.
• Leadership and personal effectiveness development test and exercises with experienced SHL consultants and assessors.

This programme will support you if you are seeking to develop a senior HR career or if you are seeking to develop your people management capabilities. On successful completion of the programme you will have a solid grounding in organisational analysis and change management issues, which will enable you to contribute to strategic activities within your organisations. The strong focus on providing experience in practical people management skills and the development of appropriate HR behaviours will enable and empower you to access senior HR and people management roles.

On joining the programme you will have access to a dedicated programme team who will support you throughout your programme of study. This will start with a comprehensive induction to the programme and the learning resources available to you at UEL. The Programme Leader can be contacted throughout your programme of study if you wish to discuss any academic or non academic issues. They will seek to advise you on how to resolve issues and access specialist support and provide personnel tutorial and pastoral support. In addition during your applied project and/or dissertation, you will have a dedicated supervisor to provide guidance and assist you in formulating and developing your chosen research brief how will be able to provide dedicated academic support services to you. In addition to the extensive HRM related books and journals at UEL, as a student member of the CIPD you will also have extended access to the CIPDs library of HR materials and resources.

• Accredited CIPD membership
• Exposure to industry practitioners through placements, research projects and guest speakers. 
• Dedicated HR skills workshop that will develop your competence as an HR practitioner.
• Psychometric tests and analysis with experienced SHL assessors.
• A participative learning and networking environment with other HR practitioners and senior managers.