Overview

The attraction, retention and development of high-calibre people are a source of competitive advantage for organisations today and are the responsibility of human resource professionals. This puts human resource management at the centre of business performance and a critical partner for organisational success.

This programme offers an insight into the principal areas of managing human resources and the important influences of the wider international environment, providing a critical assessment of the HRM and employment relations approach.

Teaching staff on the programme comprise academics who all understand the current business climate and are personally committed to students’ success. They bring a breadth of experience and expertise to their teaching and are involved in a wide range of research and professional activities. Many of the staff are members of the University’s Research Centre for Employment, Competitiveness and Growth, which was established in 2003 to develop world-class research and knowledge transfer activities through a multidisciplinary approach to HRM.

The programme is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Europe’s largest professional institute for HRM and HR development, to its Advanced Level Standards. As a CIPD Approved Centre, we are recognised as a professional deliverer of HRM education so that on completion of this programme, you will have acquired the level of knowledge and understanding to apply for full professional membership of the CIPD. We work closely with the CIPD to deliver extra-curricular events to enhance your learning, skills and employability. Such events have included an annual event with key speakers on a topical HRM issue, and a careers event involving a variety of HRM practitioners. Our relationship with the CIPD also gives you the opportunity to attend CIPD hosted events in the local area to further enhance relevant skills, knowledge and employability.

Graduates typically go on to specialist management positions or consultancy roles in all areas of human resource management, including employee relations, reward and recognition, recruitment, retention, and people and organisational development within a diverse range of organisations.

Funding opportunities

The Business School has a wide range of funding opportunities for postgraduate students, which include Scholarships, Bursaries, the Double Loyalty Scheme for University of Kent undergraduates and the KBS Early Bird Scheme. The Early Bird equates to a 10% discount on tuition fees.

For more information on funding available from the University of Kent, please visit the Student Funding page.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by AACSB and CIPD

Kent Business School (KBS)

With over 25 years’ experience delivering business education, Kent Business School is ranked as a top 20 UK business school, both for the standard of our teaching and student satisfaction. Our portfolio of postgraduate programmes demonstrates the breadth and depth of our expertise. Academic research and links with global business inform our teaching, ensuring a curriculum that is relevant and current. We also hold a number of accreditations by professional bodies.

Studying at Kent Business School (KBS) gives you the opportunity to increase your employability with real-life case studies, a student council and a business society. We have strong links to local and national organisations providing opportunities for projects, internships and graduate placements. The School attracts many high-profile speakers from industry and last year included visits and lectures from staff of the Bank of England, BAE Systems, Barclays, Lloyds Insurance, Cummins, Delphi and Kent County Council.

The School currently has 60 PhD students, who form a dynamic and close-knit research community.