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Human Resource Management and Development MA (CIPD Accredited)

The MA HRM & Development (CIPD) develops the professional skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to be an effective and successful HR Practitioner in any industry around the world
Code
PGN616
Start
September 2024
Duration
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Fees
£12,600 (UK) *
£17,600 (INT) *
Course leader
John Abbott

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.

Why choose an MA Human Resource Management & Development (CIPD Accredited) at Middlesex?

During this degree, you will critically analyse/evaluate the concept of insight-driven people management and development and its connection to the meaningful analysis of organisation, industry and global data. You will be provided with a critical view of contemporary theory and practice in your chosen areas and develop your ability to apply this knowledge to your own practice in a current or future role.

Middlesex University has been providing HR professional education, in one form or another, for over 50 years. That makes Middlesex – and its predecessor institutions – one of the longest-established providers of HR professional education in the UK.

The course is taught by practitioners and academic experts informed by research and professional practice. Guest lecturers are also invited from industry to provide you with alternative perspectives, opinions, and personal experiences to enhance student learning.

The course is accredited to Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) professional standards allowing Associate Membership of the CIPD upon graduation. The course is now updated to meet the new CIPD standards and for the duration of the course, students will become CIPD members (included in the course fee) and will have access to their resources.

What you will gain

Some of the benefits of joining us include:

  • Paid membership of the CIPD and access to their resources for the duration of the course
  • Access to the innovative People Leadership Network(PLN), linking students to industry professionals, fellow MA/MSc students, and alumni
  • The chance to gain an understanding of fundamental topics such as Talent Management, International HRM, HR with Business Ethics, Performance and Reward Management, Organisational Development & Change, Leadership, Coaching, Mentoring, Employee Relations, and Data & Analytics
  • The opportunity to learn from academics & practitioners who have close links with the CIPD, and/or who have researched and published on Employment Law & Relations, Reward and Performance Management and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Accreditations

The course is accredited to Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) professional standards allowing Associate Membership of the CIPD upon graduation. Visit the CIPD site.

3 great reasons to pick this course

  • A top 10 university
    For producing CEOs – Novuana, 2023
  • Postgraduate success
    95% of our postgraduate students go on to work or further study – Graduate Outcomes, 2022
  • A top 20 UK university
    For business leaders and entrepreneurs – Business Money, 2023.

Find out more

Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.

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 programme is the way in which students begin the course by being immersed in the full spectrum of CIPD HR skills, knowledge and behaviours.

The 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.

Modules

  • Modules

    • Principles of People Management and Development Practice (0 credits) - Compulsory

      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.

    • Metrics, Analytics and Data (30 credits) - Compulsory

      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.

    • People Management and Development in Business (30 credits) - Compulsory

      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.

    • Reward Management (15 Credits) - Optional

      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.

    • Performance Management (15 Credits) - Optional

      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.

    • Resourcing and Talent Management (15 Credits) - Optional

      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.

    • Leadership and Management Development (15 Credits) - Optional

      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.

    • Applied Dissertation (60 credits) - or choose Management Report

      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.

    • Management Report (60 credits) - or choose Applied Dissertation

      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.

To find out more about this course, please download the Human Resource Management and Development MA (CIPD Accredited) specification (PDF).

How we'll teach you

Throughout the course, there's a strong emphasis on developing the ability to apply theory to practice. Your learning will be developed through interactive lectures, directed reading, online activities, debates, case studies, visiting speakers, group work, tutor and student-led in-class activities, action learning sets and, peer and tutor feedback

To enhance your development, guest lecturers will provide alternative perspectives, opinions, and personal experiences that will reinforce learning. There will also be a two day learning enrichment workshop where students will engage in role play, debate, team games, presentations and peer discussions that are aligned to CIPD standards.

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'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience. Your personal tutor will support you with help and advice throughout your studies.

Where will I study?

Our Hendon campus in north London.

Teaching vs independent study

In a typical year, you’ll spend about 1200 hours on your course.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework and presentations.

Timetable

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study. We aim to make your timetable available at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Typical weekly breakdown

A typical week looks like this:

Learning

Contact hours per week

On-campus

7.5

Online

5

Independent study

10

For placement, there may be additional hours.

Learning terms

On-campus: This includes tutor-led sessions such as seminars, lab sessions and demonstrations as well as student-led sessions for work in small groups.

Online learning: This is teaching that is delivered online using tools like Skype or Zoom, as well as work that you do yourself using online teaching resources.

Independent study: This is the work you will do in your own time including reading and research.

Part-time study

You can also study this course part-time.

Academic support

We have a strong support network online and on campus to help you develop your academic skills. We offer one-to-one and group sessions to develop your learning skills together with academic support from our library, IT teams and learning experts.

Coursework and assessments

You will be assessed in a variety of ways, individual coursework (business reports and essays), portfolios, group work and/or presentations.

All formative assessment is course work only (no exams) and a dissertation, which is a compulsory component of the MA.

Feedback

You'll evaluate your work, skills, knowledge and behaviours to identify areas for improvement. Sometimes you'll work in groups and assess each other's progress.

Each term, you'll get regular feedback on your learning.

Facilities

The Sheppard Library

Our library is open 24 hours a day during the term and includes:

  • Over 1,000 study areas with rooms for group study and over 600 computer spaces
  • 350,000 books and e-books and more than 24,000 online journals

Free laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing.

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.

Financial support

You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.

How can the MA Human Resource Management and Development support your career?

This degree supports the development of students and professionals who aspire to work or progress in people management and development-related positions in organisations.

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.

Our postgraduate courses have been recognised for their ability to support your career. 95% of our postgraduate students go on to work or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2022).

Career paths

Many of our MA HRM alumni have progressed to become HR directors, HR leaders, HR consultants, HR specialists, HR managers, teachers/trainers, industry and profession Research, life coach, mediator, barrister, lawyer, author, arbitration, careers advisor, manager, line management, payroll, business partners, accountants, data analysts, senior union reps, Justice of the Peace, sports management and international HRM. Others have gone on to start their own businesses in management and HR consultancy.

Employers of our Alumni include; British Petroleum, Red Carnation Hotels, KPMG, Church of England, John Lewis, NHS, Aldi, Centre for Market Analysis, Warner Bros. Selfridges, BBC and more...

MDXWorks

MDXworks, our employability service, will help you make the most of your experience and connections to achieve your career goals. You'll have unlimited access to one-to-one advice and support from specialists in your sector plus 24/7 online support. You can also make the most of events and networking opportunities, on and off campus.

Start-up accelerator programme

We can help you bring your business idea to life with our MDXcelerator programme which includes masterclasses with high-profile entrepreneurs, workshops, mentoring opportunities and competitions to secure seed funding.

Global alumni network

You’ll be studying with students from 122 countries who’ll become part of your personal global network. You'll learn how to work with a global mindset and make invaluable connections on your course for your chosen industry.

  1. UK entry
  2. International entry
  3. How to apply

The fees below are for the 2024/25 academic year:

UK students1

Full-time students: £12,600
Part-time students: £84 per credit
Part-time students: £42 per dissertation credit

International students2

Full-time students: £17,600
Part-time students: £117 per credit
Part-time students: £59 per dissertation credit

Additional costs

We cover your costs for the day-to-day things that you need to do well in your studies.

  • Free – laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing
  • Free specialist software for your course
  • Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

The following course-related costs are not included in the fees, and you will need to budget for these:

Financial support

We offer lots of support to help you with fees and living costs. Check out our guide to student life on a budget and find out more about postgraduate funding.

Postgraduate scholarships

You may be eligible for one of our scholarships including:

  • The Alumni Postgraduate Award – for all UK/EU Middlesex alumni a 20% fee reduction
  • The Commonwealth Scholarship – full course fees, airfares and a living allowance
  • The Chevening Scholarship – full course fees
  • The European Academic Awards – £1000 to £7000 for students showing academic excellence
  • Regional or International Merit Award –up to £2,000 towards course fees

For international students, we also have a limited number of other awards specific to certain regions, and work in partnership with funding providers in your country to help support you financially with your study.

Find out more about our postgraduate scholarships.

Help from your employer

Your employer can contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study as part of their staff development programme.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

John Abbott
Senior Lecturer / Course Leader

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 Daniel Ozarow
Senior Lecturer in HR Management

Dr Ozarow is a Senior Lecturer in the Management, Leadership and Organisations Department. He received my PhD from Middlesex University, which focused on how professionals and middle-class people responded to unemployment and impoverishment during economic crises (protest, coping strategies, entrepreneurial, consumer, labour and psychological responses), using Argentina post-2001 as a case study.

His research focuses on comparative citizen responses to financial crises in Europe and Latin America, workers' self-management, cooperatives, alternative post-crisis production models, transnational labour movements and how both personal and national debt is resisted.

He is a Co-Leader of the Alternative Organisations and Transformative Practices research cluster, and is currently involved in a research team with UNITE the Union in the design of their "Crisis Leverage Campaign, BA Betrayal".

Dr Bruce Thompson
Senior Lecturer in HR Management

For the CIPD Reward Review - produced by the CIPD Reward Forum - Dr Thompson has written articles and reports for practitioners on the work of a reward manager, total reward, reward in banking, and the future of pensions. He has also written a report for the Forum linking the work of reward professionals to the new CIPD professional area of reward and performance.

He has worked for British Petroleum Plc from 1967 to 1992 and Middlesex University Business School from 1993.

Dr Pinar Tufan
Lecturer

Dr Ali Naghieh
Senior Lecturer

Simon Roberts
Associate Professor


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.

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