Wolverhampton Business School

MA Strategic People Management and Human Resources

MA Part-time Day and Evening 2 years, Full-time 12 months

Whether you are starting a career in Human Resource Management or are already working in this sector our Master’s course will help you to achieve your career goals. 

Whether you are starting a career in Human Resource Management or are already working in this sector our Master’s course will help you to achieve your career goals. 

Award
MA
Start date(s)
13 January 2025,16 September 2024
UCAS Code
Course specifications
Course length
Part-time Day and Evening (2 years),Full-time (12 months)
Campus location
Wolverhampton City Campus
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

FEATURES OF THE COURSE

  • Only 5 MODULES to study (only 1 individual assessment per module)
  • Excellent face to face sessions in addition to comprehensive online activities
  • No examinations to worry about
  • Welcomes mature students with relevant work experience instead of qualifications
  • Friendly and supportive tutors
  • Start dates in September and January
  • Contemporary city centre building with a reputation for good teaching and resources
  • Available full time 12 months or part time one day a week for 2or 3 years
  • Very competitive fees for International and UK students
  • Mapped against the latest CIPD profession map

Whether you are starting a career in Human Resource Management or are already working in this sector our Master’s course will help you to achieve your career goals. It is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) which allows you to become a member of this professional body as well as giving you a relevant and up to date master’s degree from this well-established university.

You may have work experience in a related people management role or graduated recently either way we encourage you to apply. This course will develop the knowledge; skills and behaviours appropriate to middle or senior management and advanced practitioners in the human resource profession.

The course will assist you to make a strategic contribution to any organisation from a people management perspective, in addition  it will enable you to  advance your career, enabling you to successfully compete for higher level posts within the field of people management  either nationally or internationally. It will improve your critical and academic understanding of complex managerial, human resource and organisational issues in addition to networking with likeminded colleagues on the programme.

Wolverhampton Business School is a well-respected university that is committed to widening participation and innovative programmes, consistently scoring highly in student surveys for teaching and student support.  We have a good reputation for welcoming international students on the full time course as well as our local students on the part time course. The course tutors are enthusiastic and passionate about their subject and are student centred in their approach, providing advice about your progression on the course.

For anyone wishing to pursue or further their career within the occupational area of people management or human resources internationally and in the UK. A master’s degree along with a CIPD postgraduate qualification is obtained through this course enabling membership to the relevant professional body. Our part time and full time programme is a robust course that has been highly commended by the CIPD for many years.

 

What's unique about this course?

  • This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
  • This course will develop the knowledge; skills and behaviours appropriate to middle or senior management and advanced practitioners in the human resource.
  • A master’s degree along with a CIPD postgraduate qualification is obtained through this course enabling membership to the relevant professional body.

What happens on the course?

This recently revised, exciting and innovative programme is designed for those participants looking to enhance and develop their masters’ level strategic level knowledge and behaviours to support career development in the People Management Profession (including Human Resources, Learning and Development and Organisational Development). New modules for this academic year include:

  • Part time course: Focus on Evolving Issues in the People Profession in the UK
  • Full time Course :Focus on Contemporary International Employment Issues

 You will be encouraged to discuss and debate relevant issues using case studies, action learning sets and many other types of learning activities. Your study is supported by comprehensive online materials as well as face to face tutorials and seminars. There is access to a wide range of resources for study through the library as well as many opportunities to gain help and support for your studies. You will be invited to attend Business School Conferences,  guest speakers (often ex-students) will also be invited to speak about their experiences in human resource management

You will take 4 modules (See in modules section below) each with one individual assessment and no examinations to worry about. Also you will complete  either /or:

 

The Masters Research Dissertation

You will choose a topic of interest that you wish to research which is an important aspect for human resources.  The resulting project/dissertation will not only allow the development and demonstration of a range of appropriate research skills, but , if organisation based also provides with an insight into an issue and practical recommendations to help address it.  This links closely to the business and employability skills required at this level.

 

The Masters Professional Project

Alternatively if you work for an organisation you can do a project on a strategic people-related issue in any field of human resource management, human resource development or organisational development for the organisation. It might be that you are able to solve a problem, make recommendations or produce an analysis of a people management issue.

We have a longstanding relationship with local branches of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and, if you become a member, you will have access to a wide range of practitioners to develop your networking and other professional skills.  Current CIPD branch members may also provide mentoring, which students who are CIPD members can access to help support their personal and professional development. The course is mapped onto the required areas of the CIPD 2018 Profession Map to meet the requirement for the academic element of Chartered Membership and offers four key areas of focus..   Additionally, the completion of the Master's level work-based project or a research based dissertation provides the MA qualification alongside eligibility to apply for  CIPD membership

Also on the full time course: an additional study skills module for those who have been out of education or need to top up their study skills to be more successful on the course

Overall, the course adopts an interdisciplinary approach and will helps develop understanding of complex and contested notions in the business environment and the wider people management professions.  This provides the opportunity to develop informed perspectives and collective responsibilities as a people professional within local, national and international communities

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

This course is relevant to occupational areas such as Human resource management specialists , human resource development careers/ employee relations advisers /equality and diversity specialists/development and change managers /International Human Resources   /any people management roles/HR directors/advisors and administrators

International, national and local recruitment to the field of human resource occupations is growing locally and internationally. In some areas competition for employment is high, successful completion of this course will give you the competitive edge to be successful in this career path.

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

The University of Wolverhampton Business School currently holds devolved status from the CIPD. This is the culmination of 10 years of student performance above the national average in all areas.

The course aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of the disciplines of HR, encouraging critical reflective thinking and developing independent personal development skills.

During your studies you will have the opportunity to engage in a number of activities outside of normal teaching these may include guest lectures, visits to companies or residentials. These activities are designed to enhance your knowledge, understanding as well as enjoyment of your course.

 

At the end of this course you, the student, will be able to:

  • Critically evaluate contemporary organisations in terms of their principal operating environments.
  • Critically analyse how resourcing, talent management and reward strategies are developed and evaluate the different theories and perspectives within employment law and employee relations.
  • Identify and justify a business issue that is of strategic relevance to the organisation in terms of research and research methods.
  • Analyse and critically evaluate the historical and theoretical basis of organisational designs and their development in terms of their value and contribution to organisational life.
  • Critically evaluate the practice, relevance and contribution of HRM and HRD to organisational success and effective change management using major contemporary research and debates in the field of HR.
  • Synthesise relevant critical thinking through academic research completing an independent research project/dissertation at Masters level. 

Location Mode Fee Year
Home Full-time £9230 per year 2022-23
Home Full-time £9690 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £9690 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £10175 per year 2024-25
Home Part-time Day and Evening £3998 per year 2022-23
Home Part-time Day and Evening £4615 per year 2022-23
Home Part-time Day and Evening £4845 per year 2023-24
Home Part-time Day and Evening £4845 per year 2023-24
Home Part-time Day and Evening £4845 per year 2023-24
Home Part-time Day and Evening £5088 per year 2024-25
International Full-time £14450 per year 2022-23
International Full-time £15450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £15450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £15950 per year 2024-25

These fees relate to new entrants only for the academic year indicated for entry onto the course, any subsequent years study may be subject to an annual increase, usually in line with inflation.

  • An Undergraduate Honours Degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university or overseas equivalent, or a CIPD professional qualification at L3 or L5 and/or sufficient relevant experience considered to be equivalent to the above..
  • A HND/HNC in a related subject area plus two years relevant organisational experience.
  • A Certificate in Personal Practice, a Certificate in Training Practice, a Certificate in Recruitment and Selection, or an equivalent CIPD certificated programme, plus two years’ relevant experience.
  • Applications are also invited under the widening participation agenda from individuals who do not possess the above qualifications but who may have significant organisational experience. In such cases, students will need to demonstrate at least 8 years relevant organisational experience, with at least three years in an HR role, or five years in a relevant role, for example a supervisory or management role. Admission to the programme will be based on an evaluation of the applicant’s ability to contribute to, benefit from and achieve the award.
  • A reference from a tutor who has supervised your undergraduate studies, or your employer;
  • You may apply for accreditation of prior learning (APL) subject to the guidelines set out in the UWBS APL Handbook. APL includes accreditation of prior certificated learning and /or accreditation of prior experiential learning.
  • Students holding the PgD Human Resource Management may be eligible to enter with advanced standing.
  • Part time students only

    • An Undergraduate Honours Degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university or overseas equivalent, or a CIPD professional qualification at L3 or L5 and/or sufficient relevant experience considered to be equivalent to the above..
    • Applications are also welcome from individuals who do not possess the above qualifications but who have significant management experience and are able to demonstrate previous non-certificated learning equivalent to the above. In such cases, admission to the programme will be based on an evaluation of the applicant’s ability to continue to benefit from and achieve the award.
    • You will normally have appropriate and relevant work experience. 

    International Applicants

    Your qualifications need to be deemed equivalent to the above entry requirements.

    Course representatives collect students’ views on a regular basis. Student satisfaction is a priority and we are pleased with what our students think. In a recent course review students said:

    “This full time course is versatile interactive and engaging” feedback from course committee

     “Very pleased with the course especially the way it is delivered” Yvonne

    “I believe this course will be instrumental in ensuring I succeed in my future management roles”, Gloria

    “We were taught a number of topics that will go a long way in assisting me”,  Amaka

    'University of Wolverhampton collaboratively with CIPD have made sure that I am equipped with the relevant and up-to-date knowledge and expertise to become a specialist in the field. The course particularly focused on embedding  the analytical, research and reflection skills valued so highly in many contemporary organisation. The theoretical frameworks were evaluated in lectures and linked to theory utilisation which further helped to grasp the practicality of each concept. I can honestly say that throughout my studies I have felt motivated and empowered by my lecturers and other students who shared their professional experiences and therefore, also shared real life advice.'

    Simona

    Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

    Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

    Postgraduate Loan (Home Fee Status):

    You may be able to get a postgraduate student loan from Student Finance England of up to £12,167 to help pay for a Master’s degree. Applications are made through Student Finance England and more information on the regulations and eligibility criteria can be found at Masters Loans gov.uk.

    * Any RPL will invalidate your eligibility as you must study a minimum of 180 credits


    Changes for EU students:

    The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as Overseas (International) students for fee purposes. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

    EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) click here.


    Postgraduate Loyalty Discount:

    You can get 20% discount on a taught on-site postgraduate course if you’re a University of Wolverhampton Graduate.

    The University offers a generous 20% Loyalty Discount to students progressing from an undergraduate programme to a taught postgraduate programme, where both courses are University of Wolverhampton Awards.

    There is no time limit on how long ago you completed your degree as long as this is your first Masters level qualification.

    The discount applies to the first year of enrolment only. Students who receive a loyalty discount are not entitled to any further tuition discount or bursary. For full terms and conditions click here.


    Self-funded:

    If you are paying for the fees yourself then the fees can be paid in 3 instalments: November, January and April. More information can be found by clicking here.


    Sponsored - Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

    Your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

    We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


    Financial Hardship:

    Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


    Charitable Funding:

    You might also want to explore the possibility of funding from charitable trusts; please see the following websites Association of Charitable Foundations, Directory of Social Change or Family Action. Most charities and trust funds offer limited bursaries targeted to specific groups of students so you will need to research whether any of them are relevant to your situation.


    You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

    Telephone

    01902 32 22 22

    Email

    enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

    Online

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