Course Summary

There is a growing recognition that an organisation's success is critically dependent on effective management of its employees. Whether in the competitive world of commercial business, or the changing and challenging context of the public and not-for-profit sector, it is increasingly vital to have skilled, committed and empowered employees, who gain satisfaction from meeting the goals of the organisation. To achieve this is not easy - professional human resources management practioners can play a vital role in bringing their unique expertise to bear on the challenges presented.

This dynamic course gives you the opportunity to develop as a professional practitioner, able to provide a high level of practical expertise in contributing effectively to the achievement of successful human resource management.

The course will enable you to explore the research and debates about human resource management practices that are fundamental to organisations in contemporary society, as well as attempting to answer the critical questions posed. You will assess current thinking within this rapidly developing field, at both operational and strategic levels.

You will develop a strategic view of the human resource management, learning to recognise the key people management implications of corporate goals and problems to analyse data using relevant techniques and knowledge, and to develop action plans for practical implementation. Through a blend of studying key ideas and theories, case study work and practical investigations of business situations, you will develop the professional experience to make an invaluable contribution to effective organisational management.

Why choose this course?

On successful completion of this course you will be well-placed to pursue a career as a professional human resource practioner in areas such as employee resourcing, training and develpment, employment relations and reward management.

The course enables you to gain Graduate Membership of the Chartered Instituate of Personnel and Development, which is increasingly essential for career progression within this professional field.

During this course you will:

• Experience a course accredited by the CIPD, but with all assessment taking placing within the University and no external examinations
• Mix with other postgraduate students in a unique environment
• Benefit from a blended learning approach, combining up-to-date use of electronic media with traditional tuition and access to well-stocked library resources

Areas of study you may cover on this course include:

• Managing and leading people
• Managing for results
• Business environment and performance
• People resourcing
• Employee reward
• Learning and development
• Employee relations
• People managing and development
• Research methods

MSXHM

Assessment

The overall strategy is to achieve a balance between the assessment of academic understanding and evaluation and the assessment of competences and skills that are valuable in organisations. All modules, except for research methods, contain one coursework assignment and one unseen assessment. The coursework assignment will normally be based upon or related to their own workplace situations. There are two items of assessed coursework for Research Methods, the research proposal and a critical analysis of research methodology. Assessments are structured to ensure that the Programme / Unit aims and objectives are achieved and clear indications are given on the assessment brief relating to the specific learning outcomes.

In this way transparency is ensured. The assessments are designed to test and assess knowledge and understanding of the appropriate subject matter as well as to demonstrate the range of skills identified in Section 7. Assessment is organised to be motivational as well as an integral learning opportunity and is benchmarked to ensure that both the standards of the University and the CIPD are upheld. Formative continuous feedback and assessments are built into the programme to ensure that progressive feedback is given to students to help build confidence, skills and knowledge on a continuous basis; a common method of achieving this is through group work and feedback involving self assessment and constructive criticism during the formal tutorial sessions. Summative assessments provide measures of achievements and there will be one of these built into each module. These assessments are directly related to the modules learning outcomes, which incorporate CIPD standards.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a strategic and systematic understanding of current HR research and key debates within the context of the strategic partner role and to critically apply this to ensure a contributor culture.

2. Critically reflect and develop creative and constructive solutions to business problems within their organisation.

3. Evaluate published research and current expert thinking, to assess its relevance to challenging business scenarios and to apply this understanding as a key change agent within their organisation.

4. Extrapolate from existing practice and research to synthesise and create new and revised approaches to established HR and business practice to maximise profitability and maximise people contribution.

5. Critically analyse a range of appropriate research techniques to enable them to rigorously research and investigate key HR issues and to identify reasoned and creative business solutions.

6. Communicate persuasively and influentially at all hierarchical levels within the organisation, both orally and in writing, using a range of media to support the integration of organisational differentiators that ensure excellent employee performance.

7. Understand and evaluate the role of strategic HR partner and business leader and to apply leading edge research and practice to ensure the sustainability and the credibility of the function within the organisation.

8. Demonstrate the qualities and capabilities to be a professional managers and thinking performer and to work in partnership with senior managers within their business to successfully measure, develop and maximise organisational people potential.

External Benchmarking

QAA Subject benchmarks, Masters level Business and Management Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (Professional Development Scheme Standards).

Educational Aims

To:

• Enable students to expand on their practical experience and gain a depth of knowledge and understanding of excellent practice in human resource management and to make connections across the different specialist areas of this field


• Enable the development of strategic specialist HR and generic management skills relating to practice that makes the difference to ensure delegates are able to effect results in terms of profitability and in terms of people contribution


• Enable students to analyse complex data and situations to enable the identification of differentiators to enable appropriate and influential business decision that will ensure organisational progression


• Analyse organisational problems systematically and creatively, as both a business and an HR professional, to help ensure participants can make suitable recommendations at senior level to improve organisational and business capability performance, both in the short and the long term


• Enhance lifelong learning skills and continuing professional development (CPD) to enable all participants to work autonomously and creatively within the profession of management generally and people management specifically

Student support

Students will have access to the full range of relevant University of Bedfordshire support services and will be informed about these at induction and via a course dedicated BREO site.

Formative assessment activities will be undertaken at an early stage to identify particular difficulties individual students may have and to recommend such students to make use of relevant support services.

Students who do not pass one or more units will be asked to meet with the relevant programme manager to discuss their situation.

Team working

You will undertake in class tasks, activities, exercises in collaboration with other students in small groups. To gain maximum benefit, you will need to develop your ability to work effectively in a team, taking leadership and accepting leadership by others as appropriate.

You will also be required to undertake group work activities outside class sessions, face-to-face and online. To gain maximum benefit, you will need to develop your ability to work effectively in a team, taking leadership and accepting leadership by others as appropriate.

Career Management Skills

The MSc in HRM is designed for those who wish to develop within a professional career in the human resource management field. The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), professional membership of which is essential for career progress within the profession in the UK or a UK related context.

Students are required to be already employed in a human resource role and will be expected to register with CIPD (or transfer registration) as studying affiliates and make effective use of the resources it offers, including opportunities for networking through the local (Milton Keynes and Beds) branch and (Beds) group. Normally, at least one group meeting is held at Putteridge Bury during the year. Students gain Graduateship of CIPD on completion of the MSc including submission of acceptable record of and plan for continuing professional development. Many students will, by then, have a minimum of three years relevant professional experience and may immediately apply for upgrading from Graduateship to full Chartered Membership.

Career/Further study opportunities

Career:

On completing this course students are likely to progress into one or more of the following areas:

• Professional business partner role in the human resource management field


• Professional roles in a specialist field within human resource management: employee resourcing, employee reward, employee relations, employee development


• Management positions within the human resource management and development function


• Consultancy positions concerned with the management and development of employees


• Professional roles within organisations concerned with public policy matters relating to employment affairs

Further study:

On completing this course students are likely to progress onto:

• MBA or similar taught Masters in the general area of business management


• Higher degree by research


• Professional doctorate (e.g. DBA)

Entry

Additional:

Students must be currently engaged in, or have significant relevant experience in an HR role.

UK students Undergraduate entry requirements

Standard entry requirements for Foundation degrees (FD/FdSc)

A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.

Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.

• As a guideline, a typical offer would require you to obtain a UCAS tariff score of between 80-120 points, based on your level 3 studies.
• Students who require a Tier 4 Student Visa cannot apply for our foundation courses. For these courses the University of Bedfordshire is not able to sponsor Tier 4 Student Visa applications.

Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.

We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.

Standard entry requirements for Undergraduate degrees (BA/BSc)

We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.

The general requirement is one of the following:

• UCAS Tariff Score greater than 200, which should include either two A level passes or an AVCE Double Award
• An Access qualification
• Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate or BTEC National Diploma

Postgraduate taught courses

Postgraduate applications (MA/MSc) should be made direct to the University using the  standard University application form. There are some exceptions, please see individual course descriptions for details.

• UK/EU students application form
• International (non-EU) students application form
  

Students from the European Union

Entry requirements

As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.

We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.

How to apply

International students

• Undergraduate applications (BA/BSc) can be made direct to the University or via our representatives in your home country. If you intend to apply to more than one university in the UK you should apply via UCAS. If you want to apply to the University of Bedfordshire only you should apply directly using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Postgraduate applications should be made directly to the University using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Healthcare, nursing and midwifery students Many of these courses are not available to overseas students due to UK immigration law in regard to bursary funding. Please contact international admissions to find out if you are eligible to apply
• BA Nursing Studies Level 3 (with or without Overseas Nursing Programme) is available to overseas students - please contact International Admissions by email at international-admissions@beds.ac.uk for further information

(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)

Course application form for international students

We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.

• Course application form for direct applications [PDF]

How to complete your course application

Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.

Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section

Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APL)

APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.

Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `

The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.

We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.

• APL application form for International students [100Kb] updated 041007

What next?

Return your completed application to:

University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom

Contact International Admissions

T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk

Awarding institution

University of Bedfordshire

Teaching Strategy

The approach to teaching and learning will be to build upon the experiences that students will have obtained, through their studies at degree level and particularly through their past and current workplace experiences. Students will be encouraged to reflect on their experiences to exemplify theory and make suggestions as to the best way to develop their learning in this programme. At Masters level students should be autonomous learners and will take responsibility for their own learning and development. The learning methods used are designed to enable them to work in complex and unpredictable fields and to continuously review their own learning needs.

Formal teaching will use lecture / seminar presentations / discussions (where the lecturer seeks opportunities to develop informal discussion and debate as the lecture progresses) the use of case studies and problem solving, individual and group presentations and individual tutorial support for the dissertation. In particular, students will be encouraged to explore and reflect on their own, different, workplace situations as live case study materials.

Students will be encouraged to meet tutors individually if they have any problems or areas needing clarification.

Learning sets and self help groups will be developed at the start of the programme and supported throughout the programme. These will be integrated within the formal learning sessions for case study and other problem solving work. However students will also be encouraged to work in these sets outside formal teaching sessions and will be asked to prepare for presentations and case study feedback for instance in these groups. This approach to learning is further reinforced by the use of BREO (Bedfordshire Resources for Online Education), the Universitys online virtual-learning environment (based on Blackboard). The use of discussion boards allowing asynchronous discussions to take place within forums will enable students to address issues relevant to the module. The facilities of BREO enables student collaboration and is especially helpful for students who are part time and normally meet together only once per week.

The overall learning strategy will ensure that there is progressive advancement of knowledge and understanding throughout the programme, supporting personal responsibility for learning and continuing professional development. The continuous improvement of strategic and operational competence espoused by the CIPD and the commitment to lifelong learning supported by the University will be ensured.

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Students with disabilities

Until access provided to first floor at PB, ground floor classrooms required if mobility impaired students take the course.

No other special requirements.

Skills Development

Communication

To help with the development of this you will:

• Engage in discussion and debate with fellow course members and tutors, on in-class activities and exercises including case studies


• Undertake group based tasks outside class sessions, face-to-face and remotely (online)


• Make presentations on set tasks in class sessions

Information Literacy

• Access and study a variety of textual materials, including academic and practitioner-oriented literature as well as student-oriented textbooks


• Use standard office software to produce documentation for formative and summative assessment


• Use a variety of online search tools to search for, locate, and study academic and professional practitioner source materials


• Use various tools within BREO to engage interactively with tutors and fellow course members

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will:

• Locate, analyse and assess relevant statistical and other data required for formative and summative assessments


• Prepare and carry out an original data collection project as part of the dissertation

Creativity and Critical Thinking

To help with the development of this you will:

• Examine organizational and employment related issues from a variety of stakeholder perspectives, identifying dilemmas and seeking appropriate resolutions


• Examine the different organizational situations, policies and practices of other students and compare these with those of your own organization, considering what lessons may be drawn

Improving learning and performance

In each unit, you will be set a series of tasks, activities, exercises enabling you to attempt to apply your learning and to identify areas for further development.

You will be given feedback on all coursework assignments to assist you in identifying the areas in which you have strengths and areas where you should focus your further development.

Progress files

Each student will be required to engage in continuing professional development and present, alongside their dissertation, a record covering the past twelve months and a plan for the forthcoming twelve months.

Professional standards

Students are expected to approach all aspects of their studies for the MSc as a professional person. This requires each student to take personal responsibility for their own conduct and includes:

• Managing the various demands on time and energies, to ensure that all course related work is undertaken


• Ensuring regular, punctual attendance at class sessions or where unavoidably detained or prevented from attending, make a reasonable attempt to inform the relevant tutor


• Undertaking preparatory tasks in advance of class sessions and follow up tasks after class sessions


• Participating fully during in class discussions, exercises, activities


• Engaging in a self managed programme of study outside of formal class sessions


• Contributing to group work in class and between class sessions


• Showing respect for others with whom they engage


• Recognising and taking account of ethical issues that arise within the content and the context of their studies


• Developing and undertaking a plan for continuing professional development, documenting as appropriate

Strategy for developing and embedding the professional standards

Students will be introduced to the expectations at induction, and will be reminded at various appropriate points. Ethical issues within human resource management are covered within the syllabus and students will engage in discussions of these as appropriate.

Students be required to present a record of continuing professional development alongside their dissertation.