Gain crucial skills, knowledge and understanding to prepare for your career as an HR professional
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
Find out moreThis Masters course will develop your skills to become a successful and impactful HRM professional and prepare you for the challenges of managing and leading in the modern world of work.
Our evidence-based, research-led teaching gives you access to the latest thinking in human resource management, business leadership, employment relations, organisational growth and sustainability, and the societal impacts of emerging employment practices. You'll consider global and local perspectives, with a particular focus on how organisations can manage their employees to gain a competitive advantage.
You'll gain internationally-relevant skills that create career opportunities in consultancy, recruitment, training and other HR roles which facilitate global business. Our alumni have secured careers across various industries and institutions including small and large businesses, governmental organisations and international companies such as British Telecom, Co-op, Hayes and Deloitte.
Alongside your studies you'll be able to attend career and CV building workshops as well as a variety of masterclasses, guest lectures and other events. These opportunities will allow you to build a widely transferrable skill set that's highly desired by employers.
This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). This is a guarantee of the quality of our programme.
While on this course you can register as a student member of CIPD (CIPD.org), which is the first step towards professional membership. A membership fee is payable if you choose to register.
Our programme is also a top choice for students seeking a career in Human Resources internationally as it is academically aligned with the standards of the American based Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM.org), the world's largest association devoted to human resource management.
Beyond your masters studies you will attend career and CV building workshops and can choose from a variety of masterclasses, guest lectures and other events to broaden your horizons and build transferable skills and employability.
Your taught modules will equip you with a strong theoretical foundation and cutting-edge research insights. You'll also develop an understanding of contemporary global challenges in human resource management, organisational behaviour, work and employment relations. They will provide you with the skills needed for a successful national and international career.
You'll also develop your independent research skills before focusing your efforts on a final 12,000-word dissertation.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
My professors were all really amazing, really helpful and went above and beyond to make sure I... feel like I belong and that I'm learning and understanding things.Sanya, MSc Human Resource Management alumni.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £14,540 | £30,950 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
We offer a number of subject-specific funding opportunities for home and overseas students.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics and experienced HR practitioners who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
You'll be taught via a mix of lectures, seminars and practical workshops. We'll help you develop skills of research and investigation to support your independent learning.
Our tutors are subject experts in their respective fields and many have professional experience in HR management. Previous students have praised our staff for their professionalism, friendly and welcoming manner, and enthusiasm for their subject.
You will be based in the School for Business and Society on Campus West. Most of your teaching will take place in the Church Lane Building, with additional contact hours elsewhere on Campus East and Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Your modules are assessed with a mixture of exams, essays and presentations. You'll also complete formative assignments including presentations and literature reviews. You'll receive feedback on all the work you submit, helping you to understand your strengths and identify areas for improvement.
Your final assessment is a 12,000-word dissertation, which makes up a third of your overall grade.
In addition to regular meetings with your personal supervisor, our DACS team provides a series of academic lectures and workshops throughout the year. These sessions are designed to support you in adapting to our academic culture and community, equipping you with essential skills for success. These skill-building sessions are directly applicable to your coursework and assessments, offering guidance on critical writing, proper referencing and later, employability skills.
I learned to focus on the essentials and to work more systematically in order to obtain high quality outputs within very limited time. I am now working as a market researcher collecting data and writing reports - just like I used to do when writing my Masters dissertation.Former student, MSc Human Resource Management
Our specialist HR academics are supported by practitioners who work closely with professional bodies to ensure our courses reflect the needs of industry.
Our graduates are pursuing HR careers in a wide range of sectors and industries, in the UK and internationally. The understanding of human resource management that this course will give you is essential to businesses around the world.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in a social science subject. Previous study in management is desirable but not essential. |
| International pre-masters programme | Pre-masters from our International Pathway College |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
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