Human Resource Management

Overview

The Master of Science in Human Resource Management is designed to prepare learners for a career in Human Resource Management in private and public sector. Given the increasing role of technological advancements in society and workplace, human resource management is emerging as a multidisciplinary field with a breadth and depth of content that encompasses various areas of expertise such as: employment law, diversity and inclusion, people analytics and organisational behaviour that play a central role in shaping the strategy and leading digital transformation within organisations.



The mission of this programme is to expose learners to human resource trends, and position them with the knowledge and soft skills to navigate and plan their careers including commercial drive, inclusive leadership, and ethical values. The Master of Science in Human Resource Management provides the conceptual and practical insights into the various areas of human resource management for learners who wish to gain the foundational knowledge and skills or reskill in this area. Additionally, the programme will be of interest to graduates from a non-business background who are interested in moving into a human resource management role in their current industry.



Accredited by CIPD the professional body for HR and people development - responsible for championing better work and working lives. CIPD set the gold standard for people management and development and influence policy and practice in the world of work.



Programme Objectives

The specific programme objectives are to:

• Enable learners to develop mastery of current and emerging skills related to the theory and practice of human resource and talent management.

• Provide learners with an awareness of emerging topics and trends in human resource management.

• Enable learners to critically appraise equality, diversity and inclusion practices in the workplace.

• Enhance in learners an attitude of inclusive and analytical leadership.

• Enable learners to solve human resource management problems that would create strategic competitive advantage and add value to a twenty-first century organisation.

• Facilitate the development of applied skills that reflect contemporary issues in human resource management.

• Respond ethically and informatively to address any new situations that may arise due to the digital transformation of industry with the use of analytics.

• Develop in learners an advanced understanding of employment law and conflict resolution practice.

• Provide learners with a systematic knowledge of human capital management and organisational behaviour in a variety of organisational contexts.

• Develop research skills and apply theoretical knowledge to work based problems.



Structure

Semester one lays the groundwork for the programme and encompasses modules that focus on providing a solid and comprehensive understanding of the relevant concepts of Human Capital and Organisational Behaviour, a proficiency in the legal aspects of HR as well as Equality, Diversity and Inclusion while also offering HR analytical knowledge.



Semester two builds on this by covering content in which the knowledge, understanding and skills acquired in the first semester are developed and applied. Semester two modules offer applied skills which focus on the human-centred capabilities and behaviours that are necessary to achieve positive business outcomes in HR profession.



Semester two also comprises a Research Methods module, which focuses on research and development skill which will inform the learners’ Dissertation/Applied Research Project in Semester three.



This is a multimodal programme. Learners are therefore timetabled to be in class or online. They will also have mandatory on demand content as contact hours that they can do in their own time and place.



Teaching and Learning Strategy

All modules are delivered through blended learning. DBS offers fully-blended learning through a combination of the following modes:

• Face to Face Classroom Tuition

• Live Online (LOL) Tuition

• On Demand Learning



Blended Learning allows for the most appropriate mode of delivery to be applied to different parts of the syllabus. Blended Learning Programmes on average are split out to 40% Face to Face Classroom Tuition, 30% Live Online and 30% On Demand Learning but this does vary.



This programme is blended. This means you may have some face-to-face, on campus classroom delivery, live online and on demand content. The face-to-face, on campus classroom delivery will be shown on your timetable. In addition, some classes are delivered as on demand content which means you may have videos and learning materials to engage with alongside your timetable. Please consult your Module and Assessment Guide and Moodle page for information, once the term has commenced.



Teaching and Assessment

The programme will be delivered in an innovative and flexible manner, through a blend of face-to-face and online learning environments including workshops, discussion forums, live tutorials and guest speakers from academia and industry through seminar series in order to demonstrate the full breadth of the people profession. By incorporating a focus on authentic assessment throughout modules to strengthen practical skills the professional development of learners to enhance their employability which will enable the learner to integrate seamlessly into an organisation.

The Master of Science in Human Resource Management has the following content:

Semester 1

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Human Capital Management and Organisational Behaviour

• Employment Law

• HR Analytics



Semester 2

• Reinventing Performance Management

• Dynamic Leadership Development

• Applied Strategic Management

• Contemporary Issues in Human Resource Management

• Research Methods



Semester 3

• Dissertation / Applied Project



There are no electives proposed in this programme.

The minimum entry requirements for the MSc in Human Resource Management is aimed at learners with the following entry qualifications:

• A minimum second-class second-division (2.2) honours bachelor’s degree or Higher Diploma in a cognate area. Cognate subjects include HR, marketing, management or another related business discipline.

• A minimum second-class second-division (2.2) honours undergraduate bachelor degree or Higher Diploma in a non-cognate area plus 3–5 years’ professional experience in a related field.

• Applicants who do not have a Level 8 qualification and who have at least 3 years’ work experience may also be considered through the College’s normal RPL procedures. Relevant professional experience will be taken into account and individuals will be assessed on a case-by-case basis through DBS RPL procedures. Relevant professional experience will be taken into account and individuals will be assessed on a case-by-case basis through DBS RPL procedures.

• Applicants whose first language is not English and who have not previously undertaken a degree taught in English, must provide evidence of proficiency in English language equivalent to B2+ or above on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). This must be evidenced through a recognised English Language test such as IELTS, Cambridge Certificate or DBS English Assessment. Test certificates should be dated within the last two years to be considered valid.

We are now accepting applications for programmes taking place in 2025.

Full-time: 1 year

Part-time: 2 years



Delivery

This is a multimodal programme. Learners are therefore timetabled to be in class or online. They will also have mandatory on demand content as contact hours that they can do in their own time and place.

Next Intake dates:

January 2025

September 2025

Career Opportunities

On completion of the Masters programme, learners will have the competencies to make them suited to a broad range of career and professional development options and progress on the path towards becoming a successful HR manager in a wide variety of contexts (private and public). Graduates have the potential to work across numerous industries, for example: education, technology, local authorities, banking, finance, engineering and media etc.



Potential careers for graduates include:

• HR Business Partner

• HR Consultant

• Strategic People Partner

• Diversity & Inclusion Manager

• Talent Acquisition consultant

• Human Resource Manager/Executive

• Client Services