| UCAS code | 1234 |
|---|---|
| Duration | MSc: Full-time 12 months, Part-time 24/30 months PgDip: Full-time 9 months, Part-time 21 months |
| Entry year | 2025 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Discipline | Business and Management |
| Contact |
| Typical offer | 2:2 degree. |
|---|---|
Overview
- Gain a deep understanding of contemporary developments in this dynamic sector, whilst developing advanced skills to succeed in the global workplace
- Learn about all aspects of HRM practice including recruitment and selection, leadership and performance management, and approaches to HRM in an international context
- Take part in two three-day residential programmes where you’ll focus on developing practical HR skills and collaborating with your peers in an engaging environment beyond the classroom
- This Masters has been designed to map on to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD’s) advanced learning outcomes, providing you with the opportunity to complete these and become a member
- Complete a Postgraduate Diploma, leading to the CIPD accreditation, in just 9 months full-time as a stand-alone qualification, or take the MSc which contains the taught element of the Postgraduate Diploma and finishes with a dissertation
Top 10 for Business and Management
9th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and The Complete University Guide 2025
Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
Triple accredited Business School
AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS
Enhance your degree with Study Abroad opportunities
Top 10 for Business and Management
9th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and The Complete University Guide 2025
Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
Triple accredited Business School
AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS
Enhance your degree with Study Abroad opportunities
Accreditations
Accredited by: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Association of MBAs (AMBA), EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) and Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Entry requirements
A 2:2 degree or above with honours in any discipline. We do consider all applications where there is evidence of exceptional performance in modules relevant to the programme of study, significant relevant work experience or professional qualifications.
If you would like to discuss your eligibility for the programme, please contact the Programme Director Dr Stephen Taylor.
Pre-Masters programme for international students
The Graduate Diploma in Management run by the INTO University of Exeter Centre is a pre-Masters programme designed to enhance your subject knowledge, study skills and English ability. Successful completion of the Diploma (subject to achieving the specific grades of entry) gives students from overseas the skills needed for acceptance onto this Masters programme.
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.
Entry requirements for international students
Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements.
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.
Entry requirements for international students
English language requirements
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
I would wholeheartedly recommend the University of Exeter to any fellow HR professionals considering pursuing an MSc in Human Resource Management. The calibre of education, coupled with the University's reputation and support services, made it an ideal choice for advancing careers in HR.
The course's teaching was exceptional. The faculty had impressive academic credentials and a deep understanding of the real-world experiences that students like me face. This combination of theoretical expertise and practical insights made every lesson informative and directly applicable to the challenges we face in our professional lives.
Mani
MSc Human Resource Management
Course content
This programme is available for study in both full-time and part-time formats and students can complete either the 180 credit Masters programme or the 120 credit Diploma programme.
The Diploma programme contains all of the taught elements of the Masters programme and can be completed in 9 months full-time or 21 months part-time.
Students on the full-time MSc programme undertake the dissertation element of the programme between June and September or during the ten months following the completion of the taught element of the programme for part-time (30-months) students on the MSc programme.
Students on the part-time 24-month fast-track variant cover the same subjects and assessments as those on the longer standard programme. They do so, however, in a shorter, more concentrated time frame. This involves attending classes on two afternoons a week. It also involves attending classes on two afternoons a week for a period in the second term and starting to work on the dissertation a year earlier than those who are enrolled on the 30-month programme.
Students on the 30-month part-time variant will generally be taught on one afternoon a week.
- Descriptions of the individual modules are given in full on the Business School postgraduate module list.
NB Students must achieve the postgraduate pass mark of 50% within each of these modules to be eligible for the CIPD accreditation at the end of their programme of study. Students may have up to 45 credits in the condonable range (40-50%) in order to still be eligible for the MSc but will not receive CIPD accreditation.
Compulsory modules
120 credits of compulsory modules:
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BEMM787 | HR Strategy, Context and Performance | 30 |
| BEMM788 | People Management, Skills and Behaviours | 30 |
| BEMM056 | Masters Dissertation (HRM) [MSc only] | 60 |
Optional modules
60 credits of optional modules:
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BEMM042 | Resourcing and Talent Management | 15 |
| BEMM044 | Human Resource Development (HRD) | 15 |
| BEMM045 | Employment Relations | 15 |
| BEMM046 | Employment Law | 15 |
| BEMM059 | International Human Resource Management | 15 |
| BEMM267 | Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Work | 15 |
| BEMM395 | HR Analytics | 15 |
| BEMM803 | Reward Management | 15 |
- Descriptions of the individual modules are given in full on the Business School postgraduate module list.
NB Students must achieve the postgraduate pass mark of 50% within each of these modules to be eligible for the CIPD accreditation at the end of their programme of study. Students may have up to 30 credits in the condonable range (40-50%) in order to still be eligible for the PgDip but will not receive CIPD accreditation.
Compulsory modules
120 credits of compulsory modules:
Optional modules
60 credits of optional modules:
Fees
2025/26 entry
UK fees per year:
MSc - £18,600 full-time; £9,300 part-time
PgDip - £12,400 full-time; £6,200 part-time
International fees per year:
MSc - £31,200 full-time; £15,600 part-time
PgDip - £20,800 full-time; £10,400 part-time
Scholarships
The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.
For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
*Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.
Teaching and research
We use a blend of learning styles, mixing academic and practically-focused sessions. We use both large and small group approaches to teaching, and the programme is small enough for tutors to be able to get to know you personally and to provide individual tuition when required. We also use many participative styles, particularly on our residential programmes.
Research-led teaching
Our research is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.
Our research-led teaching is combined with practical experiences such as field trips and project work, so that you can apply your learning to real world scenarios. Upon graduation, you will have the skills and knowledge to pursue the career you want, wherever in the world you choose to work.
Guest speakers
We invite guest speakers and use many practical examples from a wide range of industries in our teaching.
Strong industry links
Our programmes cover a range of disciplines including entrepreneurship, international business, marketing, human resource management, and tourism. With strong links to organisations across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, and with professional organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), we ensure that your Masters degree is widely recognised in today’s global marketplace.
Taught by leading experts
You will be taught by internationally respected academics who are at the forefront of their research. We draw upon disciplines across the social sciences and give emphasis to the dynamic nature of enterprise, global connectivity and the management and leadership of the global challenges that lie ahead.
Conduct your own research
You will also be encouraged to carry out your own fieldwork as part of your dissertation research. Your Masters dissertation is your opportunity to conduct your own impactful research, as you explore a subject that interests you while developing specialist knowledge of an area of HRM practice.
The Business School is home to the following research centres
- Centre for Entrepreneurship
- Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
- Centre for Simulation, Analytics and Modelling (CSAM)
- Exeter Centre for Social Networks (ECSN)
- Exeter Centre for Leadership (ExCL)
- Initiative in the Digital Economy at Exeter (INDEX)
- Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute (LEEP)
- Research Methods Centre
- Tax Administration Research Centre (TARC)
- The Exeter Centre for Circular Economy (ECCE)
The residential trip was definitely one of my highlights of studying at the University of Exeter so far. We stayed at a hotel for two days and took part in various workshops and activities. As everyone on the course went, I got to know my classmates much better, whilst also learning skills required for working in Human Resource Management.
Sharon Lam
MSc Human Resource Management
Careers
Preparing you for success
This Masters degree is designed to prepare you for a successful career, wherever in the world you plan to work. We’ll prepare you for your career by teaching you advanced communication and technical skills, team-working and independent research, project-management and the very latest specialist knowledge.
Develop employer-valued skills
Your Masters degree in HR Management will enable you to develop the professional and HR skills and subject expertise that will make you a valuable asset from day one of your career.
Our MSc / PgDip in HR Management will prepare you for a variety of roles. Coupled with the close relationship of the course content with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's (CIPD's) advanced learning outcomes, you can further enhance your professional skills and employability. Covering all areas of HRM, the MSc route also enables you to develop a further career specialisation with targeted choice of your dissertation research project
Careers paths
This programme is ideal for those interested in developing a career in people management or allied professions such as recruitment and HR consultancy. Within HRM, you might choose a career as an HR Director or with a focus on:
- Learning & Development
- Resource & Talent Management
- Performance & Development
- Employment Relations
- Employment Law
- Organisational Development
- Recruitment
Potential employers
Potential employers include public and private sector organisations, multi-nationals, SMEs and not-for-profit organisations across all sectors of the economy and around the world.
Further information can be found at:
Developing your skills and career prospects
The University of Exeter Business School provides a range of support to help you develop skills attractive to employers. Visit our postgraduate Business School careers service web page for more information.
We offer a fantastic Double Degree option
Spend your first year at Exeter and a second year at another world class international institution, resulting in two Masters degrees and the opportunity to expand your knowledge even further.
We offer a fantastic Double Degree option with:
- Grenoble Ecole de Management in France
For more information on Double Degrees and other postgraduate study abroad opportunities, visit the Business School’s Study Abroad webpages.
