About the course
Models of work are constantly evolving, but one thing does not change: people still need to be recruited, trained, motivated and paid to meet an organisation’s requirements. If your interests lie in the direction of effective people management, this innovative course puts you on the right path.
You begin your journey with a thorough grounding in business before exploring the many aspects of human resource management (HRM): professional practice; leadership and motivation; creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship; business systems including international business; selection and recruitment; employee relations; and employment law.
You learn from expert tutors, taking on practical projects that mirror the situations and challenges you would encounter working as a professional manager.
In your second year, you bring your learning to life and gain exciting real-life experience of human resource management through a 12-week placement in or around Milton Keynes. We ensure you take up a placement suited to your skills and ambitions, and support and monitor your placement experience at all stages.
Why choose this course?
- Develop your understanding of how HRM works with other business disciplines, knowledge that will enable you to fit into numerous types of organisation in the future - private, public or not-for-profit
- Learn from experts in their field, active within the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), and in both consultancy and research
- For your 12-week placement, benefit from our wide network of involved organisations, from large multinationals to small/medium enterprises (SME)
- Equip yourself with a range of subject-specific and transferable skills suited to a career in specialist human management roles or professional business and management environments, both national and international
Units
- Foundations Of Business Communication (BBS003-1) Compulsory
- Foundations Of Business Management (BBS013-1) Compulsory
- Human Resource Management Foundations (SHR007-1) Compulsory
- Business Research Skills (SHR002-2) Compulsory
- Enterprise Placement (BSS020-2) Compulsory
- Operations Management (BBS008-2) Compulsory
- People Resourcing And Development (SHR016-2) Compulsory
- Strategic Thinking (BSS015-2) Compulsory
- Developing Professional Human Resource Management Practice (SHR011-3) Compulsory
- Digital Business Management (BSS041-3) Compulsory
- Human Resource Management Practice Portfolio (SHR013-3) Compulsory
- Specialist Project In Human Resource Management (SHR015-3) Compulsory
- Strategy And Creativity (BSS040-3) Compulsory
In line with the Business Schools commitment to practice-based education, a large part of the assessment will relate to your demonstration of your ability to do HRM in practice. We will want to see that you understand the theory and have developed critical thinking skills which help you evaluate the relevance of what you have learned. All of this comes together in being able to demonstrate rigorous human resources practice for an organisation. To assess this range of integration of theory and skills into sound practice, we use a range of methods. You will encounter many different kinds, including the ones listed below, some of which are used in combination, and for example a report might be required as an outcome of a time-limited assessment task. - Reports: you analyse a business problem and propose solutions. - Presentations: present proposals as if to your boss, a board or a client. - Time-limited tasks: on a set day, you will be given a task which you will need to complete in a set time, such as 48 hours or five days. - Academic writing: used to demonstrate clear, critical thinking, you might be asked to write an essay or a short summary of a theoretical debate. - Appraisals: just as in business, you use appraisals to assess your own learning and to set your personal and academic development objectives. Projects: these are assessed in a number of ways depending on the task defined by our business partner. Typically, you will need to prepare an analysis, report or presentation which is suitable for the business partner and a longer piece of work which sets out the -behind the scenes work which underpinned the output for business. It is in the longer work that we expect to see explicitly your application of theory and critical thinking which underpin good HRM practice. You will usually also prepare a project review. - Project reviews: you analyse and evaluate the way you worked on a project and set out how you would work more effectively on a similar task in future. - Exams: as well as conventional exams using set questions and case studies, exams can be the outcome of a group task. You might work on a large task together and then sit an exam to show your individual learning from the task. Portfolio: you will plan and record your CPD activities using the CIPDs HR Profession Map as a guide to the knowledge, skills and behaviours you need to develop to be ready to work in HR. For all assignments you will have an assignment brief which clearly sets out what is required and you will be given the criteria which your tutors will use to mark your work. All units have a form of non-graded formative assessment which feeds into the summative methods of assessment; this may come directly from tutors or from your peers and self-assessment. You will receive feedback on all your assessments. If you use this feedback, you will be able to improve your learning and your grades on future assignments.
Reasons to study in the Bedfordshire Business School
- A BSIS school - Business School Impact System
- Holder of the Bronze Award among 21 Business Schools in the country for start-up and business growth advice
- CIPD approved
- Professional body exemptions, ACCA, AIA
Entry Requirements
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for breadth and depth in your current studies and enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
UCAS Tariff Points
- At least 96 points with 80 points from at least 2 A level passes
- At least 96 points with Merit Merit Merit in BTEC Extended Diploma or Distinction Distinction in the BTEC Diploma
- A completed Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, OCR Nationals, International Baccalaureate and CACHE Level 3 awards.
You can work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth with the UCAS tariff calculator
Contact the Admissions Team for additional guidance on whether the qualifications you currently hold or are taking would be suitable for entry.
T: +44 (0)1582 743500
E: admission@beds.ac.uk
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. See your country page for more details
Check Your Country page to confirm that your local qualifications are suitable or contact your International Admissions Team
Entry Requirements
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for breadth and depth in your current studies and enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
UCAS Tariff Points
- At least 96 points with 80 points from at least 2 A level passes
- At least 96 points with Merit Merit Merit in BTEC Extended Diploma or Distinction Distinction in the BTEC Diploma
- A completed Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, OCR Nationals, International Baccalaureate and CACHE Level 3 awards.
You can work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth with the UCAS tariff calculator
Contact the Admissions Team for additional guidance on whether the qualifications you currently hold or are taking would be suitable for entry.
T: +44 (0)1582 743500
E: admission@beds.ac.uk
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. See your country page for more details
Check Your Country page to confirm that your local qualifications are suitable or contact your International Admissions Team
You will be equipped for starting a career as a HR professional, with all the knowledge and experience to hit the ground running in a HR practitioner role within a variety of organisational contexts. Equally, your skills would enable you to excel in a range of more generalist people management roles.
Fees and Funding
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2022/23 is £13,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2023/24 is £14,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
Fees and Funding
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2022/23 is £13,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs.
See www.gov.uk/student-finance
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2023/24 is £14,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
Extra Costs
The Business School facilities
We believe that our estate impacts how our students learn and engage. To support this belief we have invested heavily in our facilities to shape the physical and intellectual environment of learning.
Business Pods
Our specially created teaching spaces are designed like modern offices rather than a traditional classroom, including brain storming and boardroom areas, an IT suite and a social area.
Moot Court
Our Moot Court was opened in October 2009 after extensive refurbishment work and the installation of the latest electronic equipment. Reserved exclusively for use by law staff and students, the room routinely hosts lectures and seminars, and is designed to enable communication and group work in class.
Reuters Finance Room
The Thomson Reuters Eikon facility provides trading information for all listed companies around the world. It gathers the essential news, data, analytics, commentary and insights in one place.
Here we use it in making case studies on companies and for building students' portfolio of investment.
Luton Campus Library
The modern library at the Luton campus has everything you would expect from a world-class university – and more.
Opened in summer 2016, its seven storeys building is a landmark for the Luton campus, offering students silent-study rooms, group-work areas, presentation-practice rooms and a café.
How to Apply
Application for most full-time undergraduate and foundation courses is via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
We expect to receive UCAS applications between 1 September and 15 January for courses starting in the following academic year, but may consider applications received after this date should places be available.
Please contact admission@beds.ac.uk for further details.
All UK schools and colleges are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on how to submit your UCAS application is available from your school or college.
If you are not at school or college (including mature students) you should apply independently via UCAS
EU students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply via UCAS or direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country
You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
How to Apply
Application for most full-time undergraduate and foundation courses is via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
We expect to receive UCAS applications between 1 September and 15 January for courses starting in the following academic year, but may consider applications received after this date should places be available.
Please contact admission@beds.ac.uk for further details.
All UK schools and colleges are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on how to submit your UCAS application is available from your school or college.
If you are not at school or college (including mature students) you should apply independently via UCAS
EU students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply via UCAS or direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country
You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
