Human Resources

Structured to navigate the dynamic global landscape of HR, the MSc in Human Resource Management combines an in-depth theoretical grounding with the latest practical skills and approaches. This programme shapes the skills and expertise to manage any organisation’s talent, drawing together stimulating strands of behavioural and human sciences, personnel management, sustainability, employment law and industrial relations.



This Master's programme is delivered at our dedicated Graduate Business School campus, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, located in Blackrock, 4km from the main UCD Belfield Campus.



CIPD Accreditation

Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the course is suitable for students with an undergraduate degree in Business, or degrees in areas such as Social Science, Psychology, Economics, Politics or Law.



The Human Resource Management and Employment Relations Group at UCD is an internationally recognised centre for the study of HRM and ER. The UCD HRM and ER Group combines professional expertise in practice and policy development with a commitment to excellent research. Engagement with the practical worlds of employment relations and human resource management is a core programme feature. The modules are taught by a mixture of full-time academic faculty researching in the field of HRM and Employment Relations and HR practitioners. This ensures that students graduate with a range of theoretical, analytical, critical and practical skills and knowledge.



A unique feature of the programme is the opportunity to participate in two exchange programmes, with the ILR School, Cornell University and the EMLS (European Masters in Labour Studies), a network of leading European universities offering postgraduate programmes in labour studies.



Note: Places on these exchange programmes are limited and students are invited to apply in mid-September. There is no guarantee that places on these exchange programmes will be available every academic year.

Stage 1 Core Modules

HRM40590 Concepts in IR and HRM Autumn 10

HRM40670 Human Resource Management Autumn 10



Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:

Students must select one option module

HRM40630 Employment Law Autumn 10

HRM40700 Managing conflict in Organisat Autumn 10



Stage 1 Options - B)3 of:

Students must select three option modules

HRM40640 Employment Relations in Ireland Spring 10

HRM40720 Work & Employment in the Global Economy Spring 10

HRM40770 International HRM Spring 10

HRM40880 HRM Technology, Analytics & Digital Innovation Spring 10

HRM40910 HRM,Business Alignment &Change Spring 10



Stage 1 Options - C)30CR:

Students will choose 30 ECTS from the list below. Students will be able to register to Summer Trimester modules in March.

HRM40600 Developing Competencies for HR Summer 10

HRM40610 Dissertation Summer 30

HRM40650 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Employment Summer 10

HRM40690 Developing Talent in Organisations Summer 10

HRM40730 Reward and Performance Management Summer 10

HRM40930 Fundamentals of Ppl Analytics Summer 10

HRM40940 Data Analytics for HRM Summer 10



Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:

Students who go on exchange programme will be registered to their module upon approval

HRM40810 Cornell Trimester Spring 30

HRM40750 EMLS Summer 30

Please review the entry requirements below. The UCD Smurfit Admissions Office staff have expertise in reviewing international qualifications from around the world and will be able to assess your application's comparability to the Irish entry requirement.



A minimum second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in Business/Commerce/Business Administration, Social Science, Psychology, Economics, Law, Accounting or a related area.

OR

A primary degree with a minimum of three years’ work experience in Human Resource Management or employment relations.



If English is not your first language, an English language qualification is required for admission to all of our programmes. The exception to this rule is if you have completed your primary degree or an entire third level qualification through English, in an English speaking country.

https://www.smurfitschool.ie/admissions/internationalapplicants/englishlanguagerequirements/



Some students might have to get a student visa in order to come and study in Ireland. Please check the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services website to see if you require a visa. https://www.irishimmigration.ie/

Non-EU students cannot typically study part-time in Ireland if they require a student visa, as student permission is granted for full-time courses on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP). Non-EU students who are not residents of Ireland can apply for part-time courses that are 100% online, and in this case, a visa is not required.



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/

Apply online



Who Should Apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EU) applicants: Yes



Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants: No

B265 12 months full-time,

B266 24 months part-time.

Fees Full-Time EU:

€14,460 (academic year 2020/2021)


Full-Time Non-EU:

€19,900 (academic year 2020/2021)


Fees Part-Time EU:

€7,855 per year (academic year 2020/2021)


Part-Time Non-EU:

€9,950 per year (academic year 2020/2021)


Important Note: Tuition fees and other charges are subject to change each year.

B265 Human Resources Master of Science Full-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught UCD (Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School)



B266 Human Resources Master of Science Part-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught (UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School)

Career Opportunities

Students of the MSc in Human Resource Management are prepared for a career in private and public sector organisations, employer associations and trade unions and the research, consultancy and teaching professions.



Graduates are traditionally employed in a wide range of sectors (private and public sector organisations, trade unions, research and consultancy) and companies (Google, Microsoft, Facebook, LinkedIn, Diageo, Accenture, Mercer and PwC, amongst others).



92% of our graduates from this programme were employed after 6 months across a range of industry sectors. Source: Latest Graduate Outcomes Survey, published in September 2025.



Potential careers for our graduates include:



HR Consultant

Talent Performance Specialist

HR Business Partner

Client Services