Whether you are a new graduate or currently working and want to develop a career in HR, our excellently rated MSc programme provides the perfect opportunity to achieve a Masters degree and a professional qualification (CIPD) at the same time.
In addition we offer the opportunity to complete Level A and B Psychometric testing training as defined by the British Psychological Society.
This programme aims to develop an understanding of the concepts, models and theories relevant to the management of people in work organisations. It also addresses the skills required for effective analysis and policy formation and is distinctive in grounding the study of HRM firmly within the broader study of management, with an emphasis on managing change and a concentration on strategic issues.
Modules
One of the following:
As well as:
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Two professional references – at least one must be from an academic referee
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An official academic transcript of your university grades to date
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A completed application form.
For International Students:
- An official academic transcript, with an official English translation, of your university grades to date
- Students whose native language is not English will also need to satisfy our English language requirements with one of the following:
- A TOEFL score of 100 with a minimum score of 23 in writing and speaking and 20 in reading and listening (internet based)
- An overall IELTS score of 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.5 in writing and speaking and 6.0 in listening and reading)
- A PEARSON score of 61 overall with a minimum score of 61 in writing and speaking and 53 in reading and listening
Pre-sessional English language programmes are available for good applicants whose English qualification falls just short of these requirements.
The taught modules are assessed through a mixture of examinations and coursework. The taught element of the programme is complemented by a substantial piece of research leading to the completion of a project.
This programme is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD), and meets the requirements of the CIPD Professional Education Scheme. On successful completion of the MSc Human Resource Management & Business, students will bank the knowledge criteria for the new Chartered Membership grade of the CIPD.
This programme prepares you for a wide range of generalist, specialist, consultancy and research roles in the related fields of HR, Personnel and Recruitment. The focus of this programme therefore allows you to pursue careers in either a more generalist HR role, or more specialist positions, such as Resourcing, Learning and Development, Reward, Diversity and Policy Development. The programme is also designed to reflect the full range of industry sectors in which HR influences people and organisations. To this end, MSc HRMB graduates have developed their careers in a variety of employment contexts, from large scale (multinational) private, public and not-forprofit sector organisations, to local SMEs and charities.
For information on sector opportunities see the Human Resources & Recruitment overview on the Prospects website.
Examples of jobs taken up by our recent graduates include:
- HR Advisor – BAE Systems
- HR Support Manager – BT
- Planning Controller – TNT Logistics
- Assistant HR Business Partner – Royal Mail
- HR Manager – Technology Company
- Recruitment Manager – Consultancy Company
- Personnel Manager - Tesco.
Modules taught on this MSc will enable you to develop a wide range of technical and transferable skills demanded by graduate employers in addition to knowledge and understanding of HR processes and procedures.
Key areas of HR professional practice covered include:
- Contracts of employment, discrimination, employment termination, health and safety at work
- Strategic HR, employee resourcing, employee development, employee relations, employee involvement and participation, work motivation
- Selection and assessment methods, job performance measurement, reward management and career management
- Organisational change, change management strategies and minimising work-related stress
- Organisational leadership, individual, group and organisational functioning
- Diversity management, HR management of expatriates and HR issues in international business alliances.
Other business areas covered include:
- Business performance standards (including profitability, investment and efficiency) , costing and budgeting
- Cash flow forecasting, profit and loss statements, balance sheets
- Market analysis and planning, strategy development and marketing mix policies.
Students develop a range of other skills through:
- Attending programmes in interviewing and presentation skills
- Designing and carrying out independent research, including writing research proposals, qualitative and quantitative data analysis (including using SPSS) and reporting
- Data collection and analysis of group effectiveness and member well-being through log-book recording of syndicate group interaction
- Report-writing, data presentation and group facilitation
- Multi-cultural teamwork and presentations in group work.
Aston Business School's outstanding student facilities include:
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A purpose-built suite which is accessible exclusively to Masters students
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24 hours access
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Free Wi-Fi connection
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Modern lecture/tutorial rooms
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Computer labs
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Lounge area
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IT equipment and packages and use of Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
Up to 50% fee scholarships are available for UK and EU part-time students.
Deadline:
16 July 2012
How to apply:
Aston Business School is an international environment where diversity in culture is highly valued. Intercultural competence is a key transferable skill which is given high priority in Aston University as a whole, and is essential both during the academic programme and for the future careers of students who choose to study in this multicultural and multinational context.
In no more than 500 words, please explain why you think intercultural awareness and competence is important, and how you will make a positive contribution to creating a dynamic and inclusive student community in the context described above. Draw on theory and/or personal experience as appropriate.
The words “Scholarship Application Essay” must be clearly printed at the top of the first page, together with your full name as it appears on your Offer email, application number and the title of the MSc programme you have applied for.
Conditions:
- Scholarships are available to UK and EU students who hold an offer for a part-time or full-time MSc programme commencing in September 2012.
- Applications must be received at Aston Business School (by email to your course coordinator) by 16th July 2012 .
- The Aston Business School Scholarships Panel will make their decision by 31st July 2012. All successful applicants will be informed shortly after this date.
- The decision of the Aston Business School Scholarships Panel is final.
- Aston Business School reserves the right to conduct a face-to-face or telephone interview with suitable candidates.
- You may only apply for one scholarship.
Further information:
If you have any questions about applying for our scholarship, please contact us.
Dr Jonathan Crawshaw (Full-time route)
MCIPD
Jonathan is himself an alumnus of the Aston University MSc in HRM programme, graduating and gaining his CIPD accreditation in 2000. He went on to study for his PhD at Aston, with his research focussing on the relationships between individual and organisational career management strategies. Of particular interest was the role of fairness and justice in employees’ evaluations of, and reactions to, organisational career management policies and practices. He eventually gained his PhD in 2005. Recent research has begun to explore the career experiences and strategies of HR professionals. His research has been published in internationally regarded journals, including the Human Resource Management Journal and Industrial Relations Journal, and he is a regular attendee and contributor to important international conferences on HRM.
Dr Nicholas Theodorakopoulos (Part-time route)
BSc, MBA, PhD
Dr Nicholas Theodorakopoulos is the Director of the MSc Human Resource Management & Business (part-time route) and the MSc Strategic Human Resource Management for Human Resource Professionals. He holds an award-winning PhD in the field of Strategic Entrepreneurship and he is an active member of the Aston Centre for Human Resources. His specialist areas of research, academic publications and teaching include Strategic Management, Entrepreneurial Learning and Innovation and Diverse Entrepreneurship. He has taught these subjects in the UK and the Far East. Apart from contributing to a number of books, his papers have won prizes in international conferences and have been published in reputable academic journals, including Work, Employment and Society, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Public Administration, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research, and International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Management.
His research projects have been sponsored by various stakeholders, including the Economic and Social Research Council, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the East Midlands Development Agency, the Leicestershire Learning and Skills Council and the Centre for Enterprise. He has acted as an external examiner to London Metropolitan University, University of Teesside, University of Hertfordshire and Kingston University. He has over 10 years of business experience prior to joining academia in the private and public sectors, both in the UK and abroad. Furthermore, he has acted as a consultant in the areas of new venture strategic planning and SME development for public and private sector organisations.
Dr Yves Guillaume
Diploma in Social Science, MA, PhD
Research interests include: Work Group Diversity, Effectiveness and Learning; Multi-level Modelling; Organisational Culture Effectiveness.
Dr Vincenza Cinzia Priola
Laurea in Psychology, PhD, PGC in Learning & Teaching in Higher Education
Cinzia joined Aston University in September 2008 and teaches Leadership (MBA) and Research Methods (MSc). She also contributes to other programmes such as contemporary issues in HRM and contemporary issues in Work Psychology. Before joining Aston Cinzia worked at Keele University. She received her PhD in 2001 and holds a Laurea (Italian taught doctorate) in Psychology with a specialisation in Work and Organisational Psychology. Her research interests and publications are in the fields of Gender and Organisation, Managerial Identities and Gender, Changes in the Management of Higher Education, Culture, HRM, Identity and Employee Branding and Team-Work.
Dr Michael Butler
Certificate Field Archaeology, BA , PhD
Michael has also worked as a management consultant across the private and public sectors. Michael's teaching reflects his research interests in change management/strategy, decision-making (behavioural), discourse analysis, government and society and organisation behaviour/theory. In particular, he is currently researching two streams of activity: downsizing in the motor industry and the neurosciences of leadership and decision-making. A connecting theme is surfacing underlying organisational processes, in order to more effectively manage organisations.
Professor Robin Martin
BA, PhD
Research interests include: Social influence processes, especially from numerical majorities and minorities; Persuasion and attitude change; Workplace leadership; Motivation; Teamworking and Innovation.
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