MSc Human Resource Management

Imaginative and expertly-designed human resource management (HRM) is seen by today's leaders as central to an organisation's success. HR practitioners are an integral part of that success, and as recognition of the distinctive contribution of human resource management grows, it is increasingly valued, both as a career in its own right and as a foundation for careers in other branches of management.

Bristol Business School offers two popular Masters in Human Resource Management, both of which are recognised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), providing a route into the profession in a wide range of industry sectors and for which applications will be considered from graduates of any discipline.

• The MSc in Human Resource Management is for students from Britain or elsewhere who are pursuing an HR career in the UK. Tailored to the needs of British HR professionals.
• The MSc in Human Resource Management(International) has a more international and comparative focus. If you wish to practise HRM outside the UK, this course is likely to better suit your needs. Visit our MSc in Human Resource Management (International) page for more information.
• The MSc Human Resource Management (part-time) programme is aimed at students with work experience in an HR or similar environment.  This version does not include a placement but does require students to draw on their experience in the classroom and in assessments.  Visit our MSc Human Resource Management (part-time) page for further information.

Teaching expertise

Bristol Business School has one of the largest and most diverse teams of human resource management subject experts of any university in Britain. Many of the tutors on our HRM Masters are active in HR-related research and have worked in the industry across a diverse range of sectors. Most tutors are Chartered Members or Fellows of the CIPD.

Professional links  

We have long-established links with the CIPD and share their aim of championing better work and better working lives. Our courses lead to associate CIPD membership and satisfy the knowledge requirements for the highest membership grades. Student membership of the CIPD comes free with the full-time programme.

Personal approach

The Human Resource Management Masters is designed, above all, to target the needs of practitioners, with an education that is intellectually stretching, practically relevant and up to the minute. A particular feature is a very personal interest we take in your development. Using psychometric assessments, skills development workshops and a range of practical activities, we will profile your unique attributes, develop your strengths and offer extensive feedback on your progress throughout. Our mentoring programme offers every student a personal link to a local HR professional who will discuss your progress with you and help you to relate the content of the course to practice.

Preparing for employment          

Our intensive programme prepares you to contribute immediately in an entry-level HR role, or (if you are already employed within the field) to take your career to a more senior level. Recent employers include Avon & Somerset Constabulary, British American Tobacco, Barclays Bank, Colgate Palmolive, Deloitte, KPMG, L'Oréal (Paris), the National Health Service, Nestlé, and Towers Watson plc. Local employers approach us directly to fill HR vacancies.

Ten-week work-based research placement                      

We arrange a ten-week placement for full-time students in a local organisation between May and July. Here, you'll investigate a live HR issue for the purpose of your dissertation research. This challenging project develops research, consultancy, influencing and practical problem-solving skills. Your workplace supervisor and research tutor will guide you towards a viable, creative and business-focused solution.

Key fact: Bristol Business School has been a leading provider of professional HRM education for nearly 50 years. With one of the largest teams of HRM experts, long-established links with the CIPD, and up-to-the-minute, practitioner-focused training, we are widely regarded as a leading name in the field.