Global Human Resource Management MSc

Why choose this course?

This course is ideal if you want to develop a career in Human Resources and understand how to make an impact in a global environment.

The course has been developed and designed with input from HR professionals to ensure that it focuses on the needs of organisations today.

You will develop the knowledge and skills in HRM that employers are looking for. You will work on industry-led projects, learn from real global business cases, and be inspired by guest speakers from different types of organisations and sectors.

Mode Duration Attendance Start date
Full time 1 year Kingston September 2023
Full time 1 year Kingston January 2024
September 2024
Full time 2 years including professional placement Kingston September 2023
September 2024
Location Kingston Hill

Reasons to choose Kingston University

  • Kingston University has a strong reputation in delivering Human Resource (HR) qualifications with over 30 years experience.
  • Kingston has a sound academic and professional business network in the field of Global HRM, so students can benefit from direct connections to industry partners and access to leading HR research.
  • We also provide students with an industry-based coach to support their professional development.
  • This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Professional Development (CIPD).

Links with business and industry

The MSc Global Human Resource Management course embraces and develops the connections between academia and industry. The course has been developed and designed with input from HR professionals to ensure that it focuses on the needs of organisations today. This allows for our content to be informed by the realities of business today and provide context for assessments.

This course takes an innovative approach to teaching that sees both academics and practitioners deliver module content using a variety of approaches that bring subjects to life. We also provide students with an industry-based coach to support their professional development.

MSc Global Human Resource Management also aims to create a community and provides a range of extra curricula activities including the Research to Practice speaker events, a webinar and podcast series and an annual online conference that further builds on HR industry connections and provides excellent opportunities for networking in the industry.

Accreditation

CIPD logo

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

CIPD logo

Kingston Business School is a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Approved Centre and this MSc course is accredited by the CIPD. (Note: the MSc top up is not accredited).

The learning outcomes of this MSc programme are aligned to the CIPD's learning outcomes. This means that after successfully completing our masters you will be eligible to independently begin your journey, without the need to take extra training units, towards gaining Chartered status with the CIPD.

Kingston Business School Accreditations

Kingston Business School holds the prestigious international accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) in recognition of the excellence of its business education. This accreditation has been earned by just 5% of the world's business schools and recognises the high quality and standard of our business degree offerings.

AACSB Accredited logo

Specialist careers support

You will take part in an Assessment Centre Experience, providing the opportunity to experience the pathway to employment with tailored feedback to help develop your employability skills for the world of graduate employment.

  • Develop your understanding of the jobs market, including current trends and opportunities, different recruitment processes and how to identify relevant roles
  • Receive personalised feedback reports to help you to improve and progress
  • Access additional webinars on top tips, employer expectations and best practice
Specialist careers support

At Kingston Business School we lead

What you will study

The course is designed to build knowledge of current HR approaches and to explore, challenge and consider the future of each through various lens. With modules delivered by both academic and practitioners from industry, students are able to immerse themselves in how research and practise work together to find innovative and creative solutions to HR challenges today.

Modules

Student will take all the compulsory modules and select one optional module. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year or between teaching blocks.

Core modules

Organisational Strategy and the Purpose of HR

15 credits

This module introduces the connection between the organisational strategy and the HR function presenting a variety of views from different lens within the organisation. The module provides an understanding of the academic, strategic, and practical concepts to support this and specifically looks at the strategic role HR has in organisations today, and the opportunities they have to influence and shape success through the function and its roles.

HR Analytics

15 credits

This module provides an understanding of data and its use within HR functions today to provide insights and support business decisions. Starting the journey of identifying how and why data can help us, we then actively take a variety of data, analyse and present solutions in formats that support HR business cases and provide answers to workforce focused questions. It introduces a variety of quantitative and qualitative analytical methodologies and techniques that show in practice how data analytics can add value to an organisation.

Talent Acquisition

30 credits

This module provides an understanding of the importance of the candidate journey in today's global talent market. Starting with the way we plan our talent requirements in organisations, we then explore attraction, recruitment and onboarding approaches that support organisations to have inclusive and diverse workforces. The module addresses contemporary issues and equips students with the ability to critically appraise the suitability of talent acquisition methods for different scenarios.

Managing and Leading People

30 credits

This module provides insights and understanding into creating sustainable relationships and management of individuals within our organisations as hybrid working becomes more mainstream and workforces become more globally positioned. It considers how employee relations is a central part of creating diverse and inclusive workforces. It also connects to how we manage performance effectively and build successful teams to support organisational outcomes.

Employee Experience

30 credits

This module develops an in depth understanding of how we develop and maintain engagement and motivation in our workforces today. Considering the impact of organisational culture towards various models and frameworks of engagement, the module then focuses on how HR can impact individuals' experiences through critically reviewing various contemporary concepts and practices.

Organisational Development and Change Management

30 credits

This module looks at the reasons for organisational development and change, considering how we can manage the process more effectively for success, exploring change models and the leadership//managerial skills required to support individuals.

This module then explores the behavioural science of change and the importance of this in today's evolving organisations. Working on a specific industry change project/case, there is practical application of applied learning through the requirement to critically review relevant literature and apply theoretical frameworks to address organisational or behavioural issues of the examined change.

Professional Development

15 credits

This module provides the individual with an opportunity to explore, understand and reflect on themselves as part of their own development considering the skills required for business today and to support personal growth and development. This module will encourage individuals to find their own personal brand.

Sessions will provide individuals with a range of activities to challenge and grow including commercial and creative thinking, along with considering the impact of the golden threads (Diversity Equality & Inclusion, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Technology) on their own values, beliefs and professional skills.

Students will have access to external industry professionals, providing a mentoring opportunity during the period of this module to support their own individual journey.

Optional modules

Organisational Learning and Development

15 credits

This module offers students the opportunity to explore and understanding the importance of how organisational learning and development works in today's global organisations. Considering the perspectives of both the individual and the organisation it looks at how we learn and what inclusive approaches are best suited and available to support learning and development in an ever-changing environment or work today. It also looks at the developing areas of technology and the impact this is having on the approaches we are using.

Employment Law

15 credits

This module develops students' understanding of employee relations and employment law and of the economic, social and political context in which it develops. Focused primarily on UK law, but not exclusively, it will give a sound knowledge of individual employment rights and an understanding of the application of the law in employment relations issues. It will enable students to advise managers in applying the law to specific problems and in proposing appropriate legal and HR policy measures to ensure compliance with the law, best practice and the effective management of the employment relationship.

Total Reward Management

15 credits

This module develops a critical view and appraisal of the fundamental principles, key frameworks, strategies, systems and good practices of compensation and reward, and the contribution of compensation and benefits to the achievement of HR and business strategies.

What our students say

I really like the module content, hands-on approach to teaching with different activities, and the chance to meet industry professionals who are invited as guest speakers and at networking events.

My experience at Kingston is no less than amazing. Every day is filled with new training, research and activities, and I feel fully energised to kick-start my career in HR.

Come with ambition, zeal to learn, and a desire to explore the world. This University has so much to offer and can transform your life.

Shikha

Shikha, MSc Global Human Resource Management

Entry requirements

Typical offer

The minimum entry qualifications for the MSc are:

  • A 2:2 honours degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognised international higher education provider and a clear interest in studying HRM at a postgraduate level, with a view to CIPD membership and a career in HR management; or
  • some experience as an HR professional who has already completed CIPD qualifications to Intermediate level; or
  • at least two years' HR and/or management experience.

International

Please note: most students from countries outside the European Union/European Economic Area and classified as overseas fee paying, are not eligible to apply for part-time courses due to UK student visa regulations. For information on exceptions please visit the UKCISA website or email our CAS and Visa Compliance team.

All non-UK applicants must meet our English language requirement, which is Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall with no element below 6.0. Make sure you read our full guidance about English language requirements, which includes details of other qualifications we consider.

Applicants who do not meet the English language requirements could be eligible to join our pre-sessional English language course.

Applicants from recognised majority-English-speaking countries (MESCs) do not need to meet these requirements.

Country-specific information

You will find more information on country-specific entry requirements in the International section of our website.

Find your country:

Teaching and assessment

Guided independent study (self-managed time)

When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.

Support for postgraduate students

As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services

Your workload

Year 1: 22% of your time is spent in timetabled learning and teaching activity.

Year 1

Year 1
  • Scheduled learning and teaching: 363 hours
  • Guided independent study (self-managed time): 1287 hours

Contact hours may vary depending on your modules.

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. Depending on optional modules chosen, this breakdown may change.

How you will be assessed

Assessment typically comprises exams (e.g. test or exam), practical (e.g. presentations, performance) and coursework (e.g. essays, reports, self-assessment, dissertation). The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows, though depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose:

Year 1

Year 1
  • Coursework: 97%
  • Practical: 3%

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. Depending on optional modules chosen, this breakdown may change.

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.

Your timetables

The course is delivered through block delivery with 15-credit modules running over 4 days and 30-credit modules running over 8 days.

  • Full time and part time (Kingston) – sessions will be split over a two-week period for 15-credit modules and a four-week period for 30-credit modules.
  • Part time (Kingston) – sessions will be delivered Friday to Saturday / Sunday* on two consecutive weeks with four weeks between each teaching period
  • Moscow part time – sessions will be delivered Saturday to Monday / Tuesday* with the first week face-to-face in RANEPA and the second week being online.

The elective modules are delivered in London in a four-day period in July each year with students from all three cohorts coming together for our annual Summer School.

*Please note that delivery days are subject to change.

Class sizes

To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally enrols 40 to 60 full-time students and 20 to 25 part-time students. However, this can vary by module and academic year. The course is delivered through a blended approach using a variety of pedagogic learning methods and also using synchronous and asynchronous approaches. Some content will be taught online.

Who teaches this course

On the MSc you will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on this course. The team includes senior academics and professional practitioners with industry experience. The following group of staff members are currently involved in the delivery of different elements of this course. This pool is subject to change at any time within the academic year.

Fees for this course

2023/24 fees for this course

Home 2023/24

  • MSc full time £10,900

International 2023/24

  • MSc full time £16,600

2022/23 fees for this course

Home 2022/23

  • MSc full time £10,540
  • MSc part time £5,797

International 2022/23

  • MSc full time £16,300
  • MSc part time £8,965

Tuition fee information for future course years

If you start your second year straight after Year 1, you will pay the same fee for both years.

If you take a break before starting your second year, or if you repeat modules from Year 1 in Year 2, the fee for your second year may increase.

Postgraduate loans

If you are a UK student, resident in England and are aged under the age of 60, you will be able to apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree. For more information, read the postgraduate loan information on the government's website.

Scholarships and bursaries

Kingston University offers a range of postgraduate scholarships, including:

If you are an international student, find out more about scholarships and bursaries.

We also offer the following discounts for Kingston University alumni:

Salutem Care and Education Scholarship

Healthcare organisation Salutem Care and Education is offering a scholarship for one Global Human Resource Management (MSc) student. The scholarship will cover the full value of the tuition fees, plus a maintenance grant of £4,034.

Read more about the Salutem scholarship.

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Textbooks

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan. You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residence. Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

Photocopying and printing

In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees, this may cost up to £100 per year.

Travel

Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston-upon-Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.

Placements

If the placement year option is chosen, during this year travel costs will vary according to the location of the placement, and could be from £0 to £2000.

Students may be required to travel to the host organisation to conduct an empirical study for the Management Research Report.

After you graduate

Kingston University's human resource management alumni have gone on to work for organisations including Unilever, Capgemini, Ogilvy & Mather Group, Hewlett Packard, HSBC, GSK, Amazon, Apple, and the NHS.

You will be invited to join our alumni network and continue to be part of our Global HRM community through our extra curricula and alumni-specific events, mentoring opportunities, and guest speakers.

Course changes and regulations

The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.