Human Resource Management, MSc / PGDip

Placing Employee Development and Well-being at the Heart of the Programme

students working together

Course Overview

Do you want to become an impactful people professional, placing the wellbeing of your workforce at the heart of what you do?

This specialist programme will give you a competitive edge when entering the world of people management. You will gain invaluable knowledge and skills to work across organisations of all sizes and sectors. In doing so you will become capable of successfully managing and developing a workforce, while also supporting your organisation's strategy for success.

In placing employee development and wellbeing at the core of the programme, our graduates ensure the sustainability of organisations through the careful management of people. This programme is aimed at graduates, as well as those with people management experience who wish to obtain a specialist postgraduate qualification

The PGDip Human Resources Management is a shorter vocational postgraduate degree which provides specialist training in Human Resources Management. This course is well-suited to HR professionals who are interested in career development and want to enhance their CV in a shorter space of time. 

This programme is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) demonstrating its commitment to providing a high-quality education and fostering excellence in the field of human resources.

Once enrolled on our MSc Human Resource Management course you will be eligible to join the CIPD as a student member during your studies. Upon successful completion of the programme, student members are eligible to upgrade to CIPD Associate Membership with the opportunity to apply for an upgrade to Chartered Membership*, gaining access to an internationally recognised benchmark for excellence within the HR profession.

Why Human Resource Management at Swansea?

  • The School of Management is accredited by AACSB International, the world’s largest business education association, connecting business schools, businesses and learners, to create the next generation of great leaders. 
  • The programme may be completed in a single year
  • Open to all graduates including those currently practicing in the industry
  • This programme aligns with the professional standards of the HR profession in the UK, and explores global trends, legislation and stand-out cases of best practice within the field
  • Approved provider of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualification
  • Business & Management Studies is ranked 83rd in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Your Human Resource Management Experience

Completing this programme will enable you to become a sought-after HR professional who acts with integrity and makes positive contributions within organisations of any size and within any sector.  Fundamentally, people are at the heart of this degree.

From the moment you arrive at the School of Management we will work with you to build your skills and experience to enhance your career development. 

You will be taught by a diverse programme team with expertise in the management and leadership of people at work.  This includes staff with HR practitioner backgrounds who understand the realities of managing people effectively, and academics that specialise in cutting-edge research within HR related areas such as employment relations or organisational behaviour.

Human Resource Management Employment Opportunities

The MSc Human Resource Management will give you a competitive advantage and broaden your horizons when it comes to seeking employment. 

The School of Management has a superb support system in place to assist with career development: whilst, for many, the MSc will be the start of a journey for those without experience to enter the sector at HR advisor or officer level, for others, this programme can provide a formal qualification to recognise the experience already gained.

The MSc Human Resource Management programme has been designed specifically to enable those who have recently started their careers in HRM or who are seeking to start such a career, gain a specialist master's degree in HRM.  This degree is also suitable for those who have significant people management experience and are seeking a professional accreditation.  For those seeking to continue their academic journey, upon successful completion of the programme, there are opportunities to pursue doctoral research with us.  In this way, the Masters programme can be part of a career pathway for a people professional embracing all aspects of leadership, whatever the role.

Modules

For the one-year programme, you will study a range of modules in semesters one and two of this course, before undertaking an independent project in your third semester to apply the knowledge and analytical skills you have acquired on the programme. You can also study part time over a two-year period.

The focus of the modules predominantly reflects UK based working practices although due to the nature of employment we will inevitably draw international comparisons from studying multinational organisations who operate in the UK and globally.

The programme includea range of modules providing a basis for the study of HRM at a higher level and an integrated entry to modern HRM principles and practice, enabling you to develop knowledge and skills in specific aspects of HRM.

Disclaimer: Module selection options may change