Overview
Human resource management is the glue that holds an organisation together. It has the power to improve working lives for all. It’s why there is consistent demand for human resource (HR) professionals. The HR field offers a wide range of roles, enabling career progression and specialisation (source: Indeed 2025).
Our accredited MSc Human Resource Management (HRM) course will develop your HR career. The course teaches key HRM concepts and practices, alongside developing practical skills. You’ll learn to manage employment relations and nurture your workforce to sustain success. You’ll learn how to design and manage your own strategy and apply evidence-based HRM knowledge.
This course is perfect for those looking to deepen their knowledge or for those with no previous HR experience.
Networking and CIPD accreditation
This Masters in Human Resource Management is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). CIPD qualification is highly valued by employers when seeking HR professionals. You will achieve a Level 7 CIPD award which is usually required for senior roles in businesses.
CIPD-accreditation also ensures your study remains current and industry led. Student membership enables you to attend networking events, including the annual student conference.
Practical experience for a career in Human Resource Management
HR professionals are problem solvers. The course includes a consultancy case study where you’ll solve realistic problems faced by HR professionals. Students are encouraged to bring work experiences to their study. This allows you to mix theoretical knowledge with practical situations.
We’ll help you develop the practical skills needed to become a successful HRM professional.
Focus on ethical management
Thoughtful and ethical management practice is a cornerstone of HR. Our HRM Masters course will show you how to manage people and nurture talent based on ethical practice.
We are AACSB accredited
The University of Stirling is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB International is the world's largest global standard-setting body for business education. Only 6% of the world’s leading business schools achieve this accreditation. This recognises our excellence in business education and societal impact.
Top reasons to study with us
Course objectives
On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
- show an understanding of HR theory and practice at a strategic level, demonstrating complexity in your thinking regarding theories relevant to the people profession;
- be able to synthesise information from a range of sources, critically question it, evaluate it, and be able to apply it effectively to people management issues;
- select and demonstrate appropriate communication approaches and outputs using written, verbal, and digital methods;
- demonstrate integrity of approach and propose ethical solutions to people management issues;
- demonstrate initiative and capability to construct arguments designed to influence practitioners by researching and producing evidence-based solutions to people management issues.
Research overview
In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), 80% of our research impact in Business and Management Studies was classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
A minimum of a second class honours degree or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply
Other routes of entry
If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore University of Stirling International Study Centre to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available.
International entry requirements
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
In the first semester we give you a grounding in the key concepts and practices of HRM, the practical skills needed by HRM professionals, and the business context that HR contributes to. In the second semester you're given the opportunity to choose from a selection of specialist HR topics. The final semester of the course involves a consultancy case study – where you'll get an opportunity to act as a HR consultant to fictional companies, with realistic HR problems to solve.
Develop your careers skills with our Flying Start Leadership Programme module.
We go beyond textbooks and lecture rooms to focus on your personal and professional development. Our Flying Start module will help you develop practical career skills such as effective public or conflict management.
Modules
Teaching
This is a one-year, full-time course of two taught semesters, followed by a further three-month independent study period, where you'll work on a consultancy case study.
You'll be taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, presentations and practical case study exercises. Where possible, we further support your learning and development through guest presentations from HR managers and staff from local organisations.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed through a variety of methods including examinations and essays, as well as group video presentations and other electronic media to produce summaries and/or reports. Compulsory modules are usually assessed with a minimum of one open assessment (essay or report), and one closed examination at the end of the module. Professional Skills for HRM requires you to compile video and written evidence of the core HRM skills taught on the module.
Classroom hours
Each 20-credit module includes 40 contact hours of teaching. Contact hours comprise a mixture of lectures and seminars, or workshops.
Our lectures will introduce you to the concepts and theories of HR, helping you put into context the additional reading and preparatory work needed for seminars. In addition to the 40 classroom hours, each module will involve an additional 40 hours of preparatory reading and exercises, necessary for seminar discussions. Workshops combine taught content with practical activities, and are usually taught in longer classes of about 3-4 hours.
In a typical week, you can expect to be in scheduled classes for approximately 15 hours per week and this can rise to around 20 hours per week in the October-November period. Guided reading and preparation activities are in addition to the time required to fulfil assessment requirements such as essays and reports.
Course director
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Scholarships and funding
Funding
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
The average salary for HR professionals in 2025 varies depending on the role and level of experience. It can range from £35k for a HR advisor up to £180k for senior roles like HR director (source: Morgan McKinley).
HRM jobs you can go on to include:
- HR manager
HR business partner - talent acquisition specialist
- training and development manager
- employee retention specialist
- HR consultant
Our Masters in HR graduates have gone onto roles such as:
- HR specialists
- business partners
- development consultants
- recruitment specialists
- talent managers
- management trainers
Our graduates can be found in central and local governments, as well as corporations such as:
- NatWest Group
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- Microsoft
- Heineken
- Deloitte
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