The published course and module descriptions were accurate when first published and remain the basis of the course, but the University has had to modify some course and module content in response to government restrictions and social distancing requirements
Human Resource Management
MSc
Key facts
Start dates
September 2022 / September 2023
Location
Course length
Full time: 12 months
Part time: 24 months
Department
Accreditation(s)
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Overview
With our Human Resources Management MSc you’ll be prepared for a successful international career in a range of commercial, public sector and not-for-profit organisations. Our course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) to Advanced Diploma knowledge standards.
You will build your professional HR knowledge while developing your core HR skills with:
- skills development workshops
- visits to organisations to examine their HR practice.
You will become a member of the Chartered Association of Personnel and Development, the premier HR professional body, and you will:
- attend the Oxford CIPD monthly meetings
- receive briefings on the latest HR developments, including local and global employers.
While studying you'll have opportunities to apply for internships or volunteering roles. Past students have found placements with HR teams at Blenheim Palace and Oxfam.
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How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
This course attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities. A minimum of a second class honours degree (2:2) in any academic discipline, or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution or equivalent professional or other qualification is required.
Applicants who possess a diploma rather than a good degree may be eligible for entry provided they have compensatory work experience and can demonstrate career development.
Applications are welcome from those in work and seeking continuing professional development.
Entry will also be subject to two satisfactory references (one of these must be an academic reference).
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you will need to have the following level of English language competency:
- minimum 6.0 (with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing and 5.5 in listening and speaking).
- if you have completed your undergraduate degree in the UK (at least one full year of study) you will automatically meet our English language requirements.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year your fees will increase each year.
Financial support and scholarships
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course, if any, are detailed below.
We offer an International Business in Practice Study Trip module. This study trip is voluntary and all costs associated with the trip will need to be funded by you.
The destination varies from year to year, so it is not possible to give a precise cost. As an example, the fee for the Boston USA field trip in July 2019 was £1580 and included: accommodation for 7 nights in the Boston area, insurance, company visits (e.g. Facebook, Dunkin Brands, Trip Advisor, Microsoft, Bank of America), group transportation for all activities and some of the meals. This fee did not include international airfare, visa application fee (if relevant), dinners and activities during your free time.
Learning and assessment
Over the duration of the course you will take eight compulsory modules, one which provides you with practical experience of human resource management practice. You will also complete a dissertation.

Study modules
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from that shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
We use a range of teaching methods, including:
- lectures
- seminar discussions
- practical workshops
- online learning, through our virtual learning platform.
You'll understand the challenges of HR in practice through a stimulating mix of theoretical and practical inputs.
Our teaching staff are active researchers. Some have an industry background with practical experience of HR and wider business and management issues.
We also organise visiting speakers from:
- business
- industry
- consultancies
- research bodies.
We offer an International Business in Practice Study Trip module.
Field trips
The International Business in Practice Study Trip module allows you to experience ideas and practices of global business. During the trip you will have direct interaction with management executives and practices. You will: attend presentations from local management executives and experts go on site visits to major corporations and agencies. This study trip is voluntary and you will need to fund all costs associated with the trip. It is not linked to university assessments in any way.
We also run a study trip to Chengdu, China. If you choose the study trip (which runs in July), we will give you all the details by March so that you can make your decisions ahead of the trip in July.
If you successfully complete this non-credit bearing module, it will be recorded on your transcript as P58335 International Business in Practice: Study Trip.
Research
An annual HR Research conference is jointly hosted with Oxford CIPD.
There are two research clusters in the International Centre for Coaching and Mentoring Studies and the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice which relate to this subject:
- Work and Organisations
- Management and Entrepreneurship Education.

After you graduate
Career prospects
Experience shows that our MSc HRM graduates are highly employable. They can follow a number of different career routes. Many graduates (alumni) are in HR departments across a wide spectrum of organisations, including;
- small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
- governmental bodies
- large global commercial organisations
- non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Some students develop academic careers and others follow consultancy opportunities or go into general management.
Our Staff
Dr Andrea Bernardi
My main research contributions relate to the co-operative sector, including Chinese co-operatives. I also work on employment relations and inequality and I have further interests in the study of time, the past, and history in management and organizational studies.
Read more about AndreaProgramme Changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website.For more information, please visit our Changes to programmes page.