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Strategic Human Resource Management, MA

Staffordshire University, the United Kingdom

Staffordshire University

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The award How you will study Study duration Course start Domestic course fees International course fees
MAPart-time3 yearsJanuary, SeptemberGBP 2040find out

About Strategic Human Resource Management, MA - at Staffordshire University

  • The CIPD qualifications are the most important route to achieving professional recognition and career opportunity in the Human Resources area.

  • A three year part-time programme delivered on a Tuesday afternoon and evening designed to develop effective Human Resources professionals with skills and knowledge to support business change.

  • A creative and diverse learning community with the participant groups representing employers from all areas of business and commerce.

  • The course focuses on achieving professional capability in the key areas of people management and development.

  • Integrates on and off-campus learning and has a highly regarded away-day linked to the Developing Skills for Business Leadership module delivered in year one. Please note that there will be an additional charge for the away-day (details to be confirmed).

This course is mapped to the CIPD Level 7 Certificate and Diploma. It is a three year part time programme encompassing the postgraduate certificate in year one, the postgraduate diploma in year two and progression to the dissertation stage of the MA in Strategic Human Resource Management. It is a challenging programme that develops your strategic competence. It is intended to provoke and challenge you in your thinking and expectations about how and why we manage people at work. The programme also challenges you to consider how different HRM approaches may be more effective in achieving corporate success.

You will study modules that are relevant to your work issues, and be assessed in an appropriate way, set by the university tutors. This means that you will achieve both a university award and a CIPD qualification. You will need to be a studying member of the CIPD. The membership fees of approximately £120 are in addition to the tuition fees quoted above and will be payable direct to the CIPD.

Staffordshire University has over 25 years' experience of preparing students for their professional qualification and many of our former students are now senior HR executives in local and national organisations.

  • The course focuses on achieving professional capability in the key areas of people management and development.

  • Integrates on and off-campus learning.

  • The teaching staff are all either experienced HRM/HRD practitioners and/or hold a relevant PhD.

Course Fees and Finance

The expected study pattern on this programme enables you to complete modules totalling 60 credits in your first year of study and the other 120 credits, split equally over your second and third years of study. If you follow this pattern of study you will pay a fee of £2,040 for your first year in 2017/18. The fee for your second and third year of study will be broadly the same, except that an inflationary uplift may apply.* You will be invoiced for the modules that you register for each year, so if your study pattern is different from the expected pattern, you will pay more or less each year accordingly.

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

* The fees listed are for the 2017/18 academic year only. Any subsequent years may be subject to an inflationary uplift.

Alumni Discount: If you have previously completed an undergraduate degree with us, you may be entitled to 15% off your course fee for any subsequent postgraduate taught course. For further information please contact Graduate Relations.'

Postgraduate Loans:

Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a loan of up to £10,280 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. You won't have to start repaying the loan until you are earning more than (currently) £21,000 per year.

Course content

In the first year, you will study the following core modules:

  • Human Resource Management in Context
  • Developing Skills for Business Leadership
  • Leading, Managing and Developing People
  • Resourcing and Talent Management

In the second year, you will study the following core module:

  • Investigating a Business Issue from a HR Perspective

The remaining two option modules in the second year are determined via employer and student surveys. This ensures that the university is delivering the modules that are appropriate for the needs of our students and employers. Examples of option modules available include:

  • Managing Employee Relations
  • Performance Management
  • Employment Law
  • Learning and Talent Development
  • Understanding and Implementing Coaching and Mentoring

The final year of the MA consists of:

  • Research Methodology
  • Dissertation

The dissertation is the essential component of this Masters course. It is a demonstration of your ability to research a topic using both primary and secondary research techniques. Considerable emphasis is placed on your ability to evaluate critically, to analyse, synthesise and develop a sustainable academic argument in the area of study, and to make significant comments on HRM in practice at the strategic level. You are supported by an experienced supervisor, knowledgeable in your chosen area of study and who will be available for support throughout the research.

Graduate destinations

The MA in Strategic HRM will enable you to further your career in Human Resources and upon successful completion, you will also be in a position to upgrade your CIPD membership to chartered or fellow status.

Graduates have progressed to senior HR roles at organisations large and small, both locally and internationally, including Alton Towers and Virgin Media.

Entry requirements

You will have at have least two years' experience of working in HR in a managerial, senior managerial or strategic role and/or a first degree/CIPD Level 5 Intermediate Certificate.

All candidates will be interviewed to assess their suitability and will be provided with appropriate information, advice and guidance.

All applicants will be expected to have attained a level 2 qualification in Maths and English (e.g. Key Skills, Functional Skills or Adult Numeracy/Literacy) .

An English language qualification of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent is required by all candidates.

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Related Information

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