Human Resource Management (part-time, evening)
Part-time
Two year
September 2025
In a nutshell
International applicants: please check the international intakes page for the latest information and application dates.
This programme is also available with full-time delivery. See MSc Human Resource Management for more details.
Develop your understanding of human resource management practices across a variety of organisational settings, considering how national and international contexts impact people management. Our MSc Human Resource Management programme is highly industry-focussed, designed to help you apply ideas to practice.
- Prepare to become a strategic leader in managing and developing people in international organisations
- Learn to apply theoretical ideas to help solve practical problems in organisational development
- Develop an understanding of the core principles of UK employment law and how to advise your organisation when legal action is anticipated
- Analyse trends in national and international employment
- Evaluate recruitment, selection and induction processes for long term organisational performance
To find out more, register for one of our Postgraduate Open Days or learn more about our master's courses in business, finance and law.
options available
students accepted
This programme is accredited by the CIPD, the professional body for HR.

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This is for you if...
You currently work in HRM and require professional accreditation.
You want to develop your understanding of employment law and people policies.
You like to apply learning to practical situations.
All about the course
This programme is worth 180 credits and is block delivered across all three trimesters of the academic year. You will study one module at a time will the full programme running over two years (90 credits each year). Teaching is delivered face-to-face on a Tuesday evening from 5pm to 9pm. Each module will run over twelve weeks, with a mix of interactive lectures, discussions and activities.
During each module, you will be required to complete independent study in your own time. You will have access to online support through the University’s virtual learning environment, Blackboard.
For the final piece of work, you will choose between a work placement (pending availability), analysis of a case organisation or a ‘mini’ dissertation.
"Our Human Resources Management programme has been designed to be current, practically relevant and engaging. This programme will enable students to develop knowledge and enhance professional skills whilst stimulating and developing thinking. Feedback to date suggests that the programme is challenging and enables students to focus on their career goals to become their best future selves." - Vicki Harvey, Programme Lead
HR Strategy and Practices
This module considers the macro environment and context in which organisations operate. It focuses on how organisations develop their sense of purpose, goals and strategy, at an organisational level, and how a workforce (people management) strategy and approach can be aligned with this. It will consider what adaptability and agility means for organisations today, and how organisations can design practices such as Talent Management, Performance Management and Reward Management that work to enable high performance.
Employment Law
The purpose of the module is to provide a comprehensive understanding of employment relations and employment law, analysing perspectives from a theoretical and behavioural competency. The module will aim to provide opportunities to apply the activities, knowledge and behavioural competencies required for managing employment relations practices in union and non-union, small, large, public, private, charitable and indigenous and multinational organisations. It will facilitate evaluation of the roles and functions of different stakeholders in employment relations.
The students will also gain knowledge, understanding and skills to be the prime advisor on employment law to line and senior management and seeks to facilitate discussion, analysis and reflection on theory and practice and contribute to professional development
Leadership and Development
To equip students with an understanding of different perspectives on, and approaches to leadership practice, including the cultural dominance of certain perspectives within the literature, in order that they are to be able develop and utilise culturally and situationally appropriate leadership behaviour at a personal level and advise on the development of such behaviour across different levels of organisations.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for HR Practitioners
This module explores the core concepts concerning equality, diversity and inclusion from both a theoretical and practitioner perspective. In line with the CIPD profession map and standards the module will equip practitioners with the relevant knowledge and strategies to develop and implement EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) interventions in the organisational context. It will critically examine the legal, social, economic and human resource implications of EDI interventions.
Organisational Project
This module builds on the preceding theoretically based Research Methods module. It is designed to develop your practical inquiry and research process skills.
You will choose to complete one of the following options:
- An applied mini dissertation
- An organisational case analysis (secondary data)
- A work-based project (placement)
Technology, Data and the Future of Work
This module provides students with an understanding of the way data and evidence inform HR and business decision making and engages with the debate about the future of work, particularly how technology and digitisation, and multi-generational working are impacting working lives.
Organisational Design and Development
This module focuses on the key factors that shape and constitute what is referred to as Organisational Design and Development. It explores the way organisational structures and cultures have developed over time, including the ways in which organisations are currently re-designing work and workplaces to accommodate a diversity of worker preferences
Research Methods
This module has been designed to assist students with the completion of a real-life organisational research project. There is both a theoretical and practical element to the module. Initially key aspects of the research process are explored, starting from the development of aims and objectives and research questions. From then the module covers the literature review, and methodology. Further, other key aspects of the module entail the development of a proposal and ethical approval. The module is designed to support students through the research process, and it is expected that students will complete stages of a research-based process as they proceed through the module.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
Programme Leader
Vicki is a former training and operations manager in the forensic science sector. Having worked in HR for nearly 15 years, she is an Associate of the CIPD and Fellow of Advance HE. Her areas of academic interest focus on student employability and work-based learning that operate alongside supporting pedagogy, teaching and learning support for Business and Management/HRM within HE.
What about after uni?
Previous graduates of our programme have gone on to take up roles in a variety of private and public sector organisations including, Burberry, Hilti, Morsons, NHS, Peninsula and many more.
If you opt for the CIPD pathway alongside your Master’s degree, you will have the opportunity to graduate with Associate Member status of the CIPD and become part of the CIPD community.
Career Links
You will be encouraged to attend CIPD Manchester Branch events and join meetings of the Manchester Industrial Relations Society. Our course team also maintains excellent relations with local, national and international organisations, commentators and employers.
Our teaching is industry-led, inspired by contemporary practice and developed in partnership with business leaders. Our academics are experts in their field and work closely with industry to ensure that our courses reflect the needs of business and provide our students with that extra edge when it comes to securing a job.
Salford Business School also operates a guest lecture course which allows you the chance to mix with professionals from industry, make connections, set up placements and conduct research.
What you need to know
Applicant profile
This course is designed for graduates with a background of studying business or social sciences, who want to specialise in HRM. You may wish to pursue a career as a human resources practitioner or take on a people-focused position with significant people management responsibilities. You'll develop as a manager of people by learning specialist knowledge and will learn to apply theory to practice.
You'll become a reflective practitioner, capable of furthering your ongoing development to continue to motivate, manage and reward employees to maximise their potential and the support your organisation's success.
English language requirements
International applicants will be required to show a proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 (with no element below 5.5) is proof of this. If you need to improve your written and spoken English, you might be interested in our English language courses.
Find out about dedicated support for international applicants.
Undergraduate degree
Normally a minimum 2:2 honours degree or equivalent. A wide range of professional qualifications are also accepted, either in partial or complete fulfilment of entry requirements.
International students
We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
How much?
Type of study | Year | Fees |
---|---|---|
Part-time | 2025/26 | Part-time costs will be calculated on a pro rata basis |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. For more information please see our funding section.
International applicants
If you are applying from overseas and are accepted onto the programme with placement, there will be additional costs associated with visa extensions. These include:
- Extending your student visa fee (visit gov.uk for more information). Please note, this is in addition to your original student visa fee.
- Tier 4 biometrics enrolment fee.
- Immigration Health Surcharge 12 month fee (visit gov.uk for more information).
Visit Immigration and Visa FAQ and read the section on extending your Tier 4 visa for further information.
International scholarships
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our international scholarships.
All set? Let's apply!
Still have some questions? Contact us:
By email: enquiries@salford.ac.uk
By phone: +44 (0)161 295 4545