Studying with us in 2021/22
It is possible that the 2021/22 academic year may be affected by the ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any arrangements put in place by the University for the 2021/22 academic year will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, pandemic-related/health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.
This course has recently been updated. Please download the course specification for the up to date information.
Want to study a Master’s in human resource management? Our International Human Resource Management course is ideal for people who want to qualify professionally with the CIPD
For full-time students, the course runs over one full year. For some sessions, full-time and parttime students will be taught together, allowing UK-based and international students the chance to share experiences and bring a global perspective to HR issues.
For full-time students the Masters course is ideal as it allows you to complete the requirements of the CIPD for the award of the Advanced Diploma in Human Resource Management.
Successful completion of the core and the option modules will enable you to become Associate Members of the CIPD with eligibility for upgrading to Chartered Membership.
For our MA International Human Resource Management degree, you will have the opportunity to take the Professional Placement version of the course, which is offered as an alternative to the standard version of the course.
This will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability and transferable skills. The placement experience will allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market.
You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement. The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study, with support from our Careers+ team as well as advice and guidance from your School.
Please note that placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course.
For full details, please click here.
We have an experienced teaching team who combine real work experience of human resource management with the academic qualifications, bringing a strategic and conceptual view to the topics covered. Sessions are interactive and we invite guest speakers, encourage students to work together on case studies, arrange visits and incorporate role-playing activities to develop practical HR skills.
One of the CIPD core modules requires you to apply the knowledge and skills gained on the course to conduct a piece of research on a ‘live’ HR issues and this further enhances individual skills and enhances employability.
Come along to one of our upcoming events where our staff will be on hand to answer all your questions.
We explore how you can get a head start on your career with a postgraduate placement.
You are required to meet one of the following options:
Typical Offers (UK Students) | ||
---|---|---|
A 2:2 Honours degree from a UK University or International equivalent |
||
If appropriate qualifications are not held then related work experience in management or HR could be considered by means of the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) procedure. |
Other qualifications will be considered on a case by case basis.
Please note that even if your application fully meets the entry criteria, you may be required to further demonstrate your suitability via an interview or submission of a course proposal before being offered a place.
Interviews may be conducted in your country of residence, over the telephone or by Skype.
Essential | ||
---|---|---|
Applications from international applicants with equivalent qualifications are welcome. Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In additional to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table. |
||
English language requirements 2020/21 | ||
IELTS |
6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information. |
|
Other accepted qualifications | Visit our English language page |
Don't meet our entry requirements? You could apply for courses at our International College.
Award: MA
Starting: Sep 2021
Award: MA
Starting: Sep 2021
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead. The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
Students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.
Your postgraduate personal statement is going to shine a light on your personal experience, academic success, personal skills and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Studying a postgraduate course usually means you want to specialise in something. So what’s driving you?
Show that you’ve researched the course offering. What is it about this particular course that appeals to you? Is it the lecturers? The modules? Etc.
Tutors want to know that you can handle postgraduate study, so show them how your undergraduate experiences or work life has equipped you for a more advanced level of study. Key areas to address are research and group work but this can vary depending on your chosen course.
Add anything relevant that relates back to your chosen course and shows how your skills will contribute towards your learning. What extra-curricular activities have you taken part in? What awards have you won? What employment or voluntary experience do you have that has helped you develop transferable skills? How do these specifically relate to the course you are applying for?
You should also mention your future plans and how a postgraduate qualification fits in. Try to look beyond your postgraduate study – do you plan to jump straight into a specific career or follow your studies with a research degree? Lastly, use plain, professional English and, where possible, utilise the language of your chosen industry.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
While there are no additional costs associated with purchasing text books, there may be other costs to you. If you are joining the course which has a professional body accreditation you may be required to pay membership or examination costs. For details of these costs, please click on the link below.
Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £50 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials. All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.
On this course, students will be required to become a CIPD Student Member. This comes at a cost of £90 per annum*.
*These costs are subject to change
We offer further information on possible postgraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.
Did you know that you will soon be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £1,222 for some courses and options?
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Approved by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. This allows successful students to upgrade their Student Membership to that of Associate Membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (Assoc CIPD).
You can choose to progress their academic development further by studying for an MBA, PhD or DBA.
"The best aspects of studying at BCU is that it feels like a second home, the support is amazing, and you are given many opportunities to become the best version of yourself. Teaching is engaging, interesting and challenges me to do my best. Through my undergraduate and onto my masters, I’ve always been proud to be a part of BCU."
Didn't make it to an Open Day? You still have the opportunity to come and see what our postgraduate courses have to offer. If you would like to enquire about campus tour availability, just drop us an email.
The course is designed around the skills and competencies required to become a professional HRM practitioner. A core module of the course is called Developing Skills for Business Leadership, and covers the skills and competencies specified by the CIPD.
You will be able to participate in practical, work relevant activities such as conducting a negotiation with an employee representative, holding a grievance and disciplinary interview with a member of staff, selection interviews and many more skills-based sessions.
The course is closely tied into the CIPD profession map, which has been developed by consideration of what the leading experts working in HRM need to know and understand to contribute effectively to the performance of their organisations.
OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
Our graduates are highly sought after by employers upon graduating, and the course could also mean you can stay with your current organisation and move up the career ladder. Our successful students have gone on to work for companies such as Crosby Management Training Ltd and Rainbow Recruitment.
Welcome to the Birmingham City Business School, home to students from over 70 countries all around the world!
Birmingham City Business School is one of the UK’s largest, most established and most respected business schools. Our programmes are practice based and many have an international focus, which means your course will be entirely relevant to today’s business world. Almost all of our courses, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, are open to international students.
We also have links with universities across the world, including Europe, the USA, China, India and Malaysia.
We wanted our students to let you know about their journeys through Birmingham City University and beyond. We talk to Anh Nhat Phan, an International Human Resource Management student from Vietnam, about her time in our Birmingham City Business School.
We wanted our students to let you know about their journeys through Birmingham City University and beyond. We talk to Jaspreet Singh, an International Human Resource Management student from India, about his time in our Birmingham City Business School.
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.
BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.
We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £340 million on new learning facilities.
This course is based at our City Centre Campus – and specifically The Curzon Building, alongside other Social Sciences, Law, Business and English students.
The £63m building offers students a unique social learning space, including a dedicated student hub incorporating student support services, in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development.
The Business floors house an extensive number of IT facilities, breakout areas, and specialised rooms. The Marketing Link Agency is designed to replicate a modern marketing firm, allowing students to get real-life experience of working in the marketing sector. There is also the City Trading Room, which features state of the art stock market tracking equipment, keeping you up to date with all the financial comings and goings of the London Stock Exchange and Wall Street.
The Curzon building is also conveniently close to Birmingham’s business and financial centre, allowing for strong links between your studies and the real world.
"The area of human resources is a fast emerging and constantly changing field of study. This demands that we as practitioners must approach what we do with mental agility and commercial acumen. In a time of ever increasing globalisation our ability to understand and responds to the impact of this on our people, organisations and operations has never been greater. Our teaching team are passionate about our profession and we are excited to welcome you and explore this fascinating field of study."
Harry Allen, Course Leader
Before joining Birmingham City University, Harry was in full time practice as a Group Human Resources Manager for a student accommodation company based in Coventry for just over two years.