BA Honours Human Resource Management Degree

Overview & facilities

The BA Honours Human Resource Management is ideal if you want to work in a business environment, and are interested in people, how they work and think, and how to match their skills and abilities with the needs of business. Building on 40 years' experience in human resource management teaching, we have recently redesigned this flagship degree, transforming it into one of the most innovative Human Resources degrees in the UK. We offer a truly contemporary approach to this popular management discipline - exploring the role of HR while helping you develop techniques for personal effectiveness.

This degree provides unique modules including Contemporary Issues in HRM and HRM in a Global context. On the popular, innovative, Consulting to Organisations module, a team of students act as a consultant to a real world organisation. Completion of the course leads to membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Content & modules

Modules

• Year 1

  Personal Effectiveness (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module is intended to provide the bridge between School/College and University life by enabling students to focus on their personal development to maximise the opportunities provided in Higher Education. In building self confidence and self esteem, a range of tools will be used to increase effective learning, team working, leadership and group processes. As well as this students will have the opportunity to review their existing skills base to produce action plans to ensure that they have the personal and learning skills to both maximise their learning and prepare themselves for a future career. As a part of this process students will be asked to embark on a process of continuous professional development linked to a Record of Learning and Development which will be completed during the life of the degree and develop reflection skills.

  The Business Environment (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module provides foundation knowledge and skills about the environment in which organisations operate. It explores both external and internal factors.

  The Functions of Business (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This is an introductory module which explains basic internal business processes in the context of how they operate in relation to each other within a competitive external environment. Students are provided with an overview of the main business functions and how they inter-relate.

  Understanding People in Organisations (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module will provide you with the basis for the further study of Human Resource Management HRM . This will be achieved through introducing you to key concepts and theories in Organizational Behaviour OB . The module explores a variety of factors influencing behaviour in organizations. The range of factors explored will firstly relate to individuals and groups within organizations and the wider society and secondly to those which relate to organizations as a whole structure, processes and management . Through this exploration, the module goes on to describe, illustrate, and analyse and concepts, strategies and theories developed and utilised by business organizations to maximise the potential and resolve problems associated with OB and invites you to critically analyse and evaluate them.

• Year 2

  Consulting in Organisations (30 Credits) - Optional

  This module introduces students to organisation consulting. It builds on learning from prior modules, and provides the student with a theoretical introduction to consulting and the idea of organisation learning. Students undertake a live group consulting project as part of this module.

  Entrepreneurship and Small Business Marketing (30 Credits) - Optional

  Entrepreneurship is seen as encouraging two vital ingredients: innovation and creativity - but with that little extra push to achieve. This module is designed to foster entrepreneurial talent and encourage and develop entrepreneurial /small business management skills. Highlighting the diversity of entrepreneurship in today s dynamic commercial and social environments it challenges students to think entrepreneurially. It also aims to make them aware of opportunities in the market place and generate a can do mentality - to empower students and convince them they can shape their own destinies.

  HRM in a Global Context (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module builds upon knowledge gained at level 1 about the business environment and about the general management functions operating within organisations and develops an understanding of the international context of dealing with people issues in organisations.

  Human Resources Management in Practice (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  The aim is to introduce students to the key areas of HRM and to build on relevant knowledge and skills developed in Year 1 modules. By the end of the year students will be familiar with a wide range of generalist HR policies and practices within the four key areas of the discipline: employee resourcing, employee reward, employee relations, and employee training and development.

  Law for Business (30 Credits) - Optional

  Module aims: to examine the laws regulating the conduct of business and business organisations. The first part of the module provides the essential basic knowledge and understanding of English law English Legal System, Contract, Tort and Employment whilst the second part covers Company law and Corporate governance as well as elements of criminal law, particularly corporate crime.

  Professional Effectiveness (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to enable learners to turn personal and academic skills into employment skills. It builds on the knowledge and skills developed at Level 1 to focus on the core skills needed within the Human Resource Management context. It aims to enable learners to apply a range of soft skills theories and practices to core HR processes.

• Year 3

  Business Research (30 Credits) - Optional

  This module aims to provide an opportunity for students to consolidate and synthesise their learning on the programme by means of predominantly self-managed, detailed study leading to submission of a completed, independent research project.

  Consulting in Organisations (30 Credits) - Optional

  This module introduces students to organisation consulting. It builds on learning from prior modules, and provides the student with a theoretical introduction to consulting and the idea of organisation learning. Students undertake a live group consulting project as part of this module.

  Contemporary Issues in HRM (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module builds upon knowledge gained about general business functions, organisational behaviour and the broad scope of responsibilities covered by the human resources function in an organisation and explores, in more depth and on a critical basis, some recent trends and controversies in Human Resource Management.

  Facilitating Creativity in Business (30 Credits) - Optional

  This module aims to explore ways of developing creativity and innovation at work, from an individual, team and organisational level. The focus will be on: recognising and unleashing your latent creative potential; becoming more creative; facilitating teams to uncover more of their creative potential; develop skills in building work environments which will release the individuals creative energy and the energy of those whom they work with. This module will introduce students to the knowledge and skills needed to facilitate creativity in workplace. It draws upon the literature and the experiences of creative practitioners to examine the wide range of principles and practices which can be utilised in fostering a creative attitude at work.

  Leadership and Management (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to provide grounding in the core competencies related to management and leadership in the organisation enabling students to apply theory to practice in management. Alongside this, it will provide opportunities to develop personal skills through workshops in leadership and team building.

  Learning and Self-Development in the Context of Part-Time Work (30 Credits) - Optional

  To enable students currently in part-time employment to: Employ theories of learning and personal development in order to review and articulate their learning in the context of their workplace; Explore, analyse and comment critically on their organisation in the light of theoretical perspectives on organisational behaviour and on the organisation s relationship to the external environment; Recognise and articulate the interdependence of theory and practice.

  Learning from Voluntary Work (30 Credits) - Optional

  To enable students currently employed in a voluntary organisation to review and articulate their learning from this work and to provide credible evidence in writing of this learning. To explore, analyse and comment critically on their organisation in the light of theoretical perspectives on organisational behaviour and identify an area of organisational change.

  Managing Individual and Organisational Change (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module builds on personal effectiveness developed in prior study to provide a bridge between University and future careers and further develops the strategic role of the HR practitioner to enable them to implement specific organisational change related to the management of people.

  Managing Non-profit Organisations (30 Credits) - Optional

  This module aims to: develop awareness of the role of non profit sector NPS in the wider economy; provide students with a detailed understanding based on professional work on the key management issues which affect the NPS; show how NPS organisations are managed using up to date management models and theories; show how social enterprise contributes to the development and management of NPS organisations; enhance individual effectiveness in the world of work through NPS management problems from a range of organisations.

  Organisational Internship (30 Credits) - Optional

  The primary aim of the internship module is to build on students academic learning by providing them with the opportunity to undertake a period of unpaid work experience to apply and further develop work-related knowledge, skills and capabilities, together with the aptitude to learn from experience.

  Philosophy of Management (30 Credits) - Optional

  Management thinking has over the last decade become more reflective and more critical of its origins and key assumptions. This module introduces students to the key elements of this subject, and to the questioning of fundamentals in management that represents the core conceptual approach of philosophy. Students will be introduced to historical writers, theoretical positions, key debates and key tools of conceptual analysis as applied to organisations and management. The module covers material relating to the underlying elements of management research and management knowledge, of business ethics, of the role of business in society and even of the basic nature of organisation itself. It is an important foundation for students considering moving on to masters level study, as well as for those intending to find employment in high level organisations.

Entry & applying

Standard entry requirements

We normally require 200-280 tariff points for entry onto undergraduate courses. However, some degrees may require additional entry requirements.

International entry requirements

We accept the equivalent of the above from a recognised overseas qualification, to find out more about the requirements from your country, see further information under support in your country. For details of other equivalent requirements that Middlesex accepts see entry requirements.

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all four components) or TOEFL internet based 72 (with at least 17 in listening & writing, 20 in speaking and 18 in reading).

Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk.

Entry into year two or three (transfer students)

If you have achieved a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND, or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to enter a Middlesex course in year two or three. For full details of how this works see transfer students.

UK/EU applicants with existing higher education qualifications

If you have already been awarded a qualification at the same level as the course you are applying for, you may not be eligible for a tuition fee loan, see fees and funding for more information.

How to Apply

UK/EU students

Apply now

Applications for UK and EU students should be made to UCAS – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. The institution code for Middlesex is M80, and the code name is MIDDX. You also need the code for the course you wish to apply for – this is found in the 'at a glance' box above.

International students

International students from outside the EU can make a direct application.  We have a network of regional offices across the world to assist you with your application.  They have experience with helping students from your country and supporting them with their applications to study at Middlesex. Read more on international applications. 

Fees & funding

The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for UK/EU students is £9,000.
The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for International students is £10,400.

Click here to find out more about fees, funding and our scholarships in 2012.

Careers & placements

At Middlesex we know what makes a good HR practitioner: good interpersonal skills and a sound understanding of the individual, organisational, commercial and societal factors that organisations need to develop. These skills lead our graduates into fantastic HR positions in policy, staff development, training, recruitment and selection.

A human resources management degree opens the door to a range of careers  - usually commanding good salaries. You will have developed highly sought-after employment skills as well as those specifically associated with planning, organisation and control.

Our careers service offers you a range of support both while you're studying with us - and after you've graduated.

Placements
Work placements are proven to increase your success in the job market - as well as being a fantastic experience. HRM is a highly competitive field so we encourage as many students as possible to grasp this opportunity.

We have a dedicated Placement Service which helps you find and plan for a placement.

Graduate employment prospects
Latest survey figures show that six months after graduating:

• 71% of Middlesex graduates were in employment or further study 
• 29% were assumed to be unemployed or doing something else, such as travelling 

(Based on data from BA Human Resource Management respondents of the 2009-10 Destination of Leavers in Higher Education Survey)

The average starting salary for graduates in human resource management is £21,000 in a Human Resource Officer role.

Examples of the types of jobs that graduates from the class of 2009-10 are doing include:

Human Resource Assistant, International Recruitment Resourcer, Consultant, Graduate Programme, Support Worker, Training Manager, Assistant Manager, Communications Manager,

in the following companies:

Hudson Legal, Carillion Planned Maintenance, Royal Albert Hall, Such Designs, M&S, Boots, GCC, Camden PCT.

Graduate Roles
Below are just a few examples of the types of careers that you could pursue after graduating with us: 

Human Resources (HR) Officer: Human resources officers, also known as personnel officers develop, advise on and implement policies relating to the effective use of staff within an organisation. Your work will usually involves staff recruitment, employee record keeping, staff training and development, counselling staff, dealing with grievances and disciplinary procedures, promoting equal opportunities and health and safety and dealing with staff pay, benefits, redundancy and employment.

Employee Relations Officer: As an employee relations officer you will advise on employment matters including the interpretation of legislation, company policies and their application. Your role will be to maintain good employee relations and, where necessary, support investigatory and disciplinary hearings. You will also assist with other HR projects as and when requested and contribute to the development of HR policies and procedures.

Training and Development Officer/Manager: The role of a training and development officer/manager is to liaise with managers in identifying staff training needs, and creatively design bespoke training programmes that help to maintain a motivated and skilled workforce.

Recruitment Consultant: As a recruitment consultant you work on behalf of employer clients to recruit staff for job vacancies. You will provide advice to both clients and candidates on salary levels, training requirements and career opportunities. Developing solid relationships with clients is essential to the role.