Human Resource Management

Overview
This programme aims to develop your expertise in the field of Human Resource Management, and allows you to gain professional accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD). You will be provided with a strong basis of theoretical and practical learning, and be encouraged to develop the critical thinking skills and strategic orientation that underpins excellence in the HR profession. Taught by a team of world class researchers and experienced practitioners, the course is designed to provide you with a high standard of knowledge and understanding of the current trends, opportunities and challenges facing HRM practitioners and researchers within the global context. You will have the opportunity to engage with experienced HR and organisational leaders, apply learning to the real-world context and develop the practical skills for working in a HR environment.

The programme's mixture of disciplinary rigour, academic expertise and applied focus equips you for work in a wide range of positions across the human resource management field. From whatever your starting point, you will be well positioned to advance your career with the potential to gain employment and promotion in the HR-related field. Depending on experience, you can secure employment in a range of roles starting from a HR Admin/Officer role to roles that are more senior such as a HR analyst, HR Advisor, HR Generalist, HR Manager, HR Business Partner, HR and Culture Advisor/ Manager. You can choose to pursue HR specialist roles such as Recruitment/ Talent Manager, Recruitment Consultant, Learning and Development Advisor/ Manager, Reward and Benefits Advisor/ Manager, Project Manager, HR Performance and Data Analyst, Career Advisor as well as positions in consultancy, trade unions and academic and policy research across all sectors.

The programme delivers a suite of modules that explore and critically assess relevant and contemporary HRM- related theories, research and HRM practice (see course modules). You will also have the opportunity to undertake a dissertation that involves the investigation and analysis of a HRM-related issue and provides you with an opportunity for an applied and in-depth study of organisations and the management of work. You can be assured that our MSc HRM course is at the forefront of research-led, practical and theoretically informed education.

Course Structure
This course is offered on both a full time and part time basis. The programme consists of the following eight taught modules (each worth 15 CATS) and a final dissertation/ consultancy project (worth 60 CATS). Currently, each 15 cat module has a 3 hour class timetabled each week for 10 weeks each semester.

Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:
Learning and Teaching Methods
Delivery of each module is supported and administered via a dedicated module page on QUB's virtual learning environment, Canvas. Each module is also attached to a dedicated MS Teams page to enhance connectivity between and among students and lecturers.

The structure of the timetabled classes vary across modules and sessions according to the nature of the module, the learning objectives of the session and how the module co-ordinator complements their face-to-face delivery with online content and other workshops or seminars from industry experts. Learning from our experiences of teaching online throughout COVID-19 restrictions, the programme team have developed flexible and innovative approaches to teaching and learning which are being carried through to our ongoing delivery on this programme.

This may involve adopting a 'flipped classroom' approach where lecturers provide introductory content on the modules' key topics via online videos, directed readings or online exercises that are hosted on Canvas. In this case, you will engage with this content independently in preparation for an interactive session where you have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and understanding using case study exercises, relevant research reports, other group discussions or collaborative tasks.

Not only does this approach enable you to develop their knowledge and understanding of theory and how it applies to practice, but by drawing from real work examples, you are also encouraged to critically reflect on the various skills, capabilities and behaviour standards that are exhibited in the case and which impact decision making within the workplace.

Other modules may adopt a workshop or more practical approach to their teaching delivery. For example, the HRM analytics module involves a series of practical classes where students use leading software to work through analytics problems relating to HRM. Resourcing and Talent Management have focused workshops on how to approach interviewing and selection, allowing students to develop and reflect on the skills required to conduct interviews effectively. The Managing Employment Relations module adopts a specific structure involving 'mini sessions' that firstly introduces key thematic issues in the relevant area, then reviews a case study (usually a video) relevant to that theme and how it is applied to contemporary real-world practice, before finally discussing relevant case law and setting individual and group exercises discussing how you would respond to certain employment relations problems in the workplace.

You will benefit from the School's wide ranging industry networks and its links with the William J. Clinton Leadership Institute, also based at Riddel Hall.

Your learning will also benefit from the diversity of academic backgrounds, experiences and national cultures that make up the class. This creates an exciting and stimulating social and learning environment and is particularly beneficial for working in HRM given that diversity and inclusion are key priorities for the profession.

Human Resource Management Highlights
Professional Accreditations
• The programme is fully accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). The programme provides the necessary knowledge and understanding to be awarded professional membership of the CIPD at Associate level. *Professional membership fees to CIPD are an optional and additional cost on top of the programme fees (see below).

Career Development
• The MSc HRM will provide you with the opportunity to participate in career management sessions delivered by careers advisors and leading HR professionals in the field. These sessions will enable you to consider your career goals and plan for how to achieve them. The programme also includes further opportunities for students to develop employability skills and professional networks throughout the year. For example, in the past, our students have benefited from company visits that give insight into the work of a busy HR department, and employability sessions focused on the HR professional's online presence and use of LinkedIn.

Student Experience
• Students will have the opportunity to participate in our HR Future Insights Series which seeks to enhance students' learning experience by providing them with exposure to senior professionals in human resource management and related business communities. This series focuses on current and future trends and issues in HR and may include, for example, sessions on HR analytics, talent management, the future of work, and conflict management and negotiation.
• The MSc HRM programme is taught in a blended learning environment incorporating both online and face-to-face teaching. You will be based at the Riddell Hall campus in South Belfast, which has dedicated facilities and resources for postgraduate students, including a postgraduate common room, group work 'pods' and a computer suite.

Course Structure
This course is offered on both a full time and part time basis. The programme consists of the following eight taught modules (each worth 15 CATS) and a final dissertation/ consultancy project (worth 60 CATS).

Semester One
Human Resource Management Theory and Strategy (Part time Year 1): Explores the latest strategic approaches and techniques HR professionals are taking in order to align specific people management practices with the business strategy.

Managing Employment Relations (Part time Year 1): Evaluates wider empirical trends in employment relations approaches, evaluates the basis of conflict in organisations and explores the rights and obligations imposed by employment law.

Performance and Reward Management (Part time Year 2): Examines contrasting models and methods and assesses how these are applied in different business environments.

HRM Analytics (Part time year 2): Uses leading software tools to carry out HR analytics, including descriptive, visual, and prescriptive analytics to understand the wider organisational implications for people management approaches.

Semester Two
Resourcing and Talent Management (Part time Year 1): Explores organisational responses to changing labour markets, and examines how organisations acquire and retain the necessary skills, attitudes and experience to meet business objectives.

Leading Organisational Change (Part time Year 1): Provide learners with the knowledge and understanding about why and how organisations change, the impact of change on people within the organisation, and the role of HRM in leading and building capabilities for change.

Research Methods for Business (Part time Year 2): Introduces research methodologies, processes and techniques required for carrying out an independent and original research project or a consultancy project.

Human Capital Development (Part time Year 2): Evaluates the existing context and practice relating to the design and undertaking of training and development initiatives within firms.

*Please note that the content for the coming academic year is pending CIPD approval as the programme is undergoing the reaccreditation process.

Summer Semester
Final Dissertation; or Consultancy Based Report (Part time Year 2) *

*The dissertation normally involves the investigation and analysis of a HRM-related issue within organisations and provides you with an opportunity for an applied and in-depth study of organisations and the management of work. A Consultancy Project involves working with a client organisation to make recommendations for solving a pre-set consulting problem, challenge or issue in the field of HR.

Graduate
Normally a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any discipline.

Applicants with a 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University and sufficient relevant experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

A formal interview, the submission of written work or exam may form a part of this procedure.

International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

• Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level

• Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 11th August 2023 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

Please note: international applicants will be required to pay a deposit to secure a place on this course.

How to Apply
Applications should be submitted online via the Postgraduate Applications Portal for admission to the vast majority of postgraduate programmes.

New applicants will need to register via the Portal to create an application account. If you are already a Queen's student with an active Qsis account, you can log in using your student number and Qsis password. Guidance on how to complete an application is provided within the Portal and it is possible to save application data and return to complete it at a later date, if you wish. After core details about yourself and your academic background have been provided, you can submit an application, or multiple applications, if required.

If you applied in a previous cycle through the Portal and are re-applying, you should use your previous log in details. Please review and update your personal and contact details, academic and professional qualifications before submitting a new application.

Important – please ensure that the email address you provide is correct and active, as this will be used by us to communicate the progress of your application to you.

2 years (Part Time)
1 year (Full Time)

Career Prospects
The MSc programme prepares students for a range of HR-related roles in management and research. From whatever your starting point, you will be well positioned to advance your career with the potential to gain employment and promotion in the HR-related field. Depending on experience, you can secure employment in a range of roles starting from a HR Admin/Officer role to roles that are more senior such as a HR analyst, HR Advisor, HR Generalist, HR Manager, HR Business Partner, HR and Culture

Advisor/ Manager. You can choose to pursue HR specialist roles such as Recruitment/ Talent Manager, Recruitment Consultant, Learning and Development Advisor/ Manager, Reward and Benefits Advisor/ Manager, Project Manager, HR Performance and Data Analyst, Career Advisor as well as positions in consultancy, trade unions and academic and policy research across all sectors.

Recent graduates of the programme have gained employment in a range of organisations from various sectors, including: First Derivatives, Moy Park Group, Power NI, Zurich Insurance, Energia, Inspire Well Being, Health and Social Care NI/ NHS, Baker McKenzie, Allen and Overy, Fin Tru, A&L Goodbody, Crane Co., Finnebrogue and many others.

Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus, Graduate Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes, alongside sterling integration with business experts helps our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.
http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.