This Masters' course is designed for those wishing to embark on a career in HR/People Management and for those already in an HR position wishing to enhance their professional development. The course is accredited to Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) professional standards allowing Associate Membership of the CIPD upon graduation.
Middlesex University has been providing HR professional education, in one form or another, for over 50 years: making Middlesex (and its predecessor institutions) one of the longest established providers of HR professional education in the UK. The current MA HRM&D is the most recent incarnation of this history. The course is taught by a team of academic experts informed by research and professional practice.
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You can study for this HR MA either over 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time.
A unique feature of the MA Human Resource Management and Development is the way in which students begin the course by being immersed into the full spectrum of HR knowledge and skills (in our innovative module “Principles of People Management and Development” before then moving into three core modules providing the essentials for HR professional knowledge (including the core module on people-related Metrics, Analytics and Data for insight driven and informed practice). This is supplemented by four (term-long) specialist modules with which to refine your area of expertise within the HR field. All students will attend an interactive two-day weekend event or an extended virtual workshop designed to achieve the same learning goals, all of which embed an understanding of how you can apply theory to practice.
The core modules in the course provide a platform for you to acquire knowledge, develop critical thinking and apply theory to practice. You will learn threshold concepts and models, develop people management and development skills, understand the principles of professional and ethical practice, and explore tools for influencing others.
During the final stage of your course, you will be required to undertake an Applied Dissertation project on an HR topic of interest to you, which will be guided by an academic supervisor from the Department.
This module aims to encourage you to develop a strong sense of self-awareness of your strengths and weaknesses as a manager and/or colleague. It seeks to develop your professional practice and its application in ways which ensure successful people management, development practice and effective leadership.
This module explores the role of HR Analytics in providing an organisation with insights for effectively managing and leading employees, so that business goals can be reached quickly and efficiently. You will critically analyse the concept of insight driven people management and development and its connection to the meaningful analysis of organisational data. You will critically evaluate the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of data relating to people management and development. You will explore the use of metrics and other measures and the context in which they are used. Also, you will explore how metric and analytics are used to maximise return on the skills and abilities of employees. You will have the opportunity to develop ethical and sustainable measurement practices suitable for both challenging economic circumstances and organisational growth situations.
This module will enable you to promote and deliver people management and development activities to strengthen business performance. You will develop the confidence to build leadership and management skills, create a good place to work, encourage collaboration and promote organisational authenticity. The module will consider how the changing employment landscape is influencing the impact which people management and development activities have on a business.
This module provides the knowledge and critical understanding of reward management and you will critically evaluate current reward theories and practices. You will develop the skills required to research and analyse reward within an organisational context, and to present findings and recommendations to senior management. The module aims to give you credibility in the subject of reward, so you can join, or progress further, in the HR profession.
The module will develop your ability to analyse an organisation’s objectives and human resources to determine what performance management (PM) strategy would be appropriate and what processes would best suit the environment in which they operate. You will evaluate PM practice, in particular the setting of objectives and the process of giving feedback. You will be able to explain and evaluate the different techniques used in PM and their connection to learning and development and performance related pay. The module aims to develop the knowledge and skills required to conduct a successful performance interview both from a manager and employee point of view. You will gain credibility in the subject of PM, so that you can join, or progress further in the HR profession.
The main aim of this module is to explore the practical and aspects of recruitment, selection, employee retention and dismissal, and equip you with the knowledge and skills required for resourcing and talent management within a global context. The module will also discuss diversity management, employer branding, work–life balance initiatives and innovative approaches to job design, in the context of resourcing and talent management. The module will enable you to reflect critically on theory and practice from an ethical and professional standpoint and will provide opportunities for applied learning and continuous professional development.
The aim of this module is to enable you to develop a critical understanding of the complexities and contested nature of leadership and management and the contextual opportunities for development. The module focuses is on the development of leadership and management in facilitating organisational, team and individual change and growth. The module encompasses the development of leadership and management at all levels and draws on the established body of knowledge and theory in both leadership and management and learning and development. The module requires learners to reflect critically on theory and practice from an ethical and professional standpoint and provides opportunities for applied learning and continuous professional development.
This module will enable you to demonstrate a critical awareness of people management and development strategies, business orientation, and how research can add value through critically reviewing current people management and development theory and practice. In order to achieve this, it is this module's purpose to develop your ability to identify and undertake a live empirical piece of research into complex business issue from a people management and development perspective that will inform both current theory and practice. Through a comprehensive review of the literature, you will: locate, discuss and critically evaluate their research within current literature, collect and analyse data, critically review their findings in relation to the literature, develop conclusions and make practical and actionable recommendations. The applied nature of the dissertation requires a critical approach, academic research and business report writing skills. It also requires you to reflect on the implications for professional practice from an ethical, professional and continuous professional development standpoint. You will identify and undertake empirical research into complex business issues from a people management and development perspective and produce a 15,000 word report.
This module will enable you to demonstrate a critical awareness of people management and development strategies. You will understand how research can add value to business, by critically reviewing current people management and development practice. You will identify and undertake empirical research into complex business issues from a people management and development perspective, and produce a 7000 word report.
More information about this course
See the course specification for more information:
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.
We aim to model a wide range of teaching strategies and approaches on the course which you can adapt to your own setting.
There is a strong emphasis throughout the course on developing the ability to apply theory to practice. We make use of lectures, seminars, workshops and online activities to help you explore concepts and theories, engage in discussion and look at real issues. To enhance your practice, you will participate in a residential weekend programme off campus (paid for in your fees) and participate in extra curricular professional development events linked to the North London branch of the CIPD. In class you could expect to engage in case studies, debates and student-led appraisal interviews. Some modules may require you to take part in group and individual activities and self-direct study.
You will be assessed in a variety of ways, including exams, individual coursework and group work or presentations. Assessment may also require you to prepare portfolios, individual and group reports, management reports and a dissertation which is compulsory for students studying the MA.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.
We are currently reviewing our approach to teaching and learning for 2023 entry and beyond. We've learned a lot about how to give you a quality education - we aim to combine the best of our pre-pandemic teaching and learning with access to online learning and digital resources which put you more in charge of when and how you study. We will keep you updated on this throughout the application process.
Your timetable will be built around on campus sessions using our professional facilities, with online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We’ll use technology to enhance all of your learning and give you access to online resources to use in your own time.
The table below gives you an idea of what learning looks like across a typical week. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on campus sessions.
This information is likely to change slightly for 2023 entry as our plans evolve. You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course.
Learning structure: typical hourly breakdown in 2021/22 | ||
Live in-person on campus learning | Contact hours per week, per level: | 7.5 hours |
Live online learning | Average hours per week, per level: | 5 hours |
Tutor set learning activities | Average hours per week, per level: | 2 hours |
This information is likely to change slightly for 2024/25 entry as our plans evolve. You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course.
Definitions of terms
Support
You have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.
You have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
Enhanced understanding of people management and development within organisations, as well as the development of core competencies, can enhance your career in human resource management. The ability to challenge traditional views and assumptions, as well as embracing innovation are highly valued skills in the profession. Careers specific to people and HR management include:
John Abbott is a Lecturer of HRM (Chartered Member CIPD & CMI) at Middlesex University and is the Programme Leader for MA HRM & Development. John’s PHD research is Performance Management and has recently published an article (ATL Union Magazine), entitled ‘the target is more important than the student!’ John wants to ensure students develop their skills, knowledge and behaviours to ensure employment and/or progression. Prior to working at Middlesex John lectured in the FE sector consistently achieving Grade 1 and 2 teaching observations ensuring CIPD courses obtained Self Certification (Grade 1). John has worked for: Centre of Market Analysis, BBC, NHS, Warner Bros, Film Education and is an alumni of Middlesex University. John also studied at the Institute of Education (UCL) for his PGCE.
Dr Julie Haddock-Millar is currently an Associate Professor (Practice) and Senior Teaching Fellow of Human Resource Management and Development at Middlesex University Business School and Visiting Professor at the International University of Monaco. She leads and teaches on a number of postgraduate programmes in the public and private sector, in the areas of learning and development, coaching, mentoring and organisational development.
Dr Chandana Sanyal is a Senior Lecturer (Practice) in Human Resource Management and Development at Middlesex University Business School, a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and Higher Education Academy. She has over 20 years’ experience as a human resource practitioner and a senior manager in the Public Sector. Her specialist teaching areas include individual, team and organisational learning, coaching, mentoring, leadership development and action learning.
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
Start: September 2024
Duration: 3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with placement, 6 years part-time
Code: N601
Start: September 2024
Duration: 1 year full-time
Code: N602
Start: January 2024, September 2024
Duration: 1 year full-time, Plus 3 years full-time
Code: See How to apply tab
