www.bradford.ac.uk/management/programmes/masters/hrm/human-resource-management-part-time/

Overview

This exciting, innovative and flexible part-time course, accredited by CIPD, offers a route to personal and career development for HR practitioners or those aspiring to become an HR practitioner. Taught on one afternoon and one evening a week, students can exit with a Postgraduate Diploma after two years or achieve an MSc qualification in three years.

+Course details

Initially, MSc students take a number of compulsory modules to provide the foundations for an understanding of management. There is then the opportunity to choose from a range of specialist modules before embarking on a dissertation looking at a specific HR-related topic.

The course is flexible in that you can decide at the end of the first year whether you wish to exit with a Postgraduate Diploma after two years or continue on into your third year by completing your dissertation and achieving an MSc.

+Module details

As a part-time student you will, over two academic years (72 weeks), attend the School of Management on one afternoon and evening per week (normally a Tuesday in Year 1 and Monday in Year 2), starting in September each year.

Compulsory modules

Leading, Managing and Developing People
HRM in Context
Employment Law

Those following the PGDip route will take compulsory modules in

Developing Skills for Business Leadership
Human Resource Development
Employee Relations
Investigating a Business Issue from a HR Perspective

Those following the MSc route will take compulsory modules in

Developing Skills for Business Leadership
Human Resource Development
Employee Relations
Research Methods

Elective Modules:

For PGDip choose one from a wide range of elective modules (subject to change). For MSc choose two.

+Accreditation

The programme provides the underpinning knowledge required to achieve professional levels of (External) CIPD membership – they still then need to demonstrate application in the workplace.

+Our students and alumni

Name

Clare Hayward

Student photo - Clare Hayward

Age

Year of Graduation

2012

Nationality

British

Background

Clare currently works predominantly within the employee relations area of HR within the public sector. This means she provides advice and support to managers dealing with employee relations issues to make sure that they are dealt with in line with company policy but also in line with current employment law.

Comments

"As the majority of employers require CIPD accreditation for positions within HR, I believed gaining the Part-time MSc in Human Resource Management would mean I am in a better position to progress in my current profession. In addition, the course content is focussed on working at a strategic level within HR, which is the direction I wish to progress in.

"I understood that Bradford University School of Management had a very good reputation for Masters courses and I was encouraged to apply here by other colleagues within HR. I also chose Bradford because although the course content was academic, it still addressed work-related issues I was interested in. I was also able to study part time, attending only one afternoon and evening a week, whilst working full time and this definitely appealed to me. In addition, the lecturers have considerable experience in industry meaning they could directly relate the content to the commercial world.

"As I work predominantly within employee relations, I really enjoyed the Employment Law Module in the first year as this was an area I was lacked knowledge in and this has been of great benefit to me in my current role, particularly when trying to mitigate risk.

"I also think one of the unexpected things I have enjoyed here has been the diversity of the students on the course. The other part time students are from different industries and levels of role within HR, which I believe really enhanced the discussions within lectures and tutorials. I have also made some very good friends that I intend to stay in touch with once I have finished the course."

Name

Kevin Hull

Student photo - Kevin Hull

Age

Year of Graduation

2012

Nationality

British

Background

Kevin is the HR Director for a business of 2,400 employees in the UK, engaged in manufacturing, sourcing and distributing concrete, natural stone and related products for the commercial and domestic hard landscaping markets. Although he is a Corporate Member of the Institute of Management Services and a Student Member of the CIPD and has worked at a senior level in HR for many years, he still felt his ambitions were unfulfilled in terms of his personal and professional development. Hence, when Kevin heard about Bradford University School of Management's Part-time MSc in Human Resource Management (HRM) it encouraged him to find out more.

Comments

"I was attracted by Bradford's strong reputation both in the UK and overseas and I had met a number of former graduates, MBAs and business colleagues who spoke highly of the university. The part-time nature of the programme particularly suited my needs and the course has been tremendously useful in terms of informing my thinking within the work context; particularly in terms of perspectives on employee engagement and human capital, both of which are very current in many organizations as a potential source of sustainable competitive advantage.

"The Professional Performer Module in particular gave us the opportunity to work in teams for a highly intense two day practical demonstration of negotiation, recruitment and employment law skills. Overall for all those who participated, it was a really rewarding experience. With a range of ages, backgrounds and experiences amongst participants - from those transitioning into HR and others with anything from a few years' to over twenty years' experience - it brought home the diversity of views and opinions on various subjects and it was really satisfying to complete the two days of observation. It also reinforced the fact that everyone has been able to get a lot out of the Part-time MSc in HRM and in many instances throughout the programme, we have been able to use what we have learned and discussed, directly in the work context.

"Undertaking the Part-time MSc in HRM is certainly a significant commitment in terms of time and lifestyle - so think carefully when choosing where to undertake your further studies, to ensure you emerge with a qualification which carries some weight and is credible in both the HR and wider business communities.

"However, studying at Bradford is ultimately a rewarding experience, not just in terms of the programme itself, but also for the opportunity to interact with and learn from peers from quite different backgrounds. It's important to find a place of study which is well resourced and well regarded and the School of Management ticks both those boxes for me".