Human Resource Management BA

Course overview

This industry-accredited degree will support you to become a reflective and ethical Human Resource Management (HRM) professional. You'll graduate with eligibility to gain associate membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), an accolade that is increasingly highly sought after by graduate employers in the HR sector.

You'll study HRM using a combination of economic, political, psychological and sociological methods.

By combining practical approaches with an academic focus, you’ll develop the analytical, leadership and other transferable skills required to work in the business world. The course will also build your understanding of the modern economy, the nature of business and the important role that HRM plays within it.

Leeds University Business School is a leader in the field of HRM and one of the few Russell Group universities to offer the subject for undergraduate study.

Pathways

This programme offers pathways from Year 2 which will allow students to tailor their course to their specific interests or professional aspirations. The pathways will provide modules that can be taken in particular areas and followed through to their final year. This allows a level of personalisation and self-direction not previously available on this programme, providing students with a degree of flexibility to meet their own needs.

The pathways available on this programme are:

• Ethics and Sustainability
• Enterprise and Innovation
• Consulting

Course highlights

• Choose to take an optional year in industry gaining practical experience or spend a year studying in another culture at one of our many partner universities across the world.

• A dedicated Personal Tutor will support your academic and personal development throughout your degree. In your first year they’ll help you adjust to university learning and make the most of your time at Leeds.

• Learn about the latest real-world HRM issues, with teaching informed by our Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change, to prepare you for a successful career in the sector.

Find out more about studying your undergraduate degree at Leeds University Business School.

Supporting your personal development

Throughout your studies, you'll benefit from the support of your Academic Personal Tutor who will work in partnership with you to maximise your personal and professional development.

You’ll also have access to support from the Business School’s Employability and Opportunity team who will help you explore opportunities to develop your professional network and gain work experience.

Specialist facilities

At Leeds University Business School, you’ll have access to specialist facilities including state-of-the-art lecture theatres, collaborative learning and teaching spaces with the latest interactive technology and modern study spaces with dedicated computer clusters.

Explore our virtual campus tour to find out more.

Accreditation

Leeds University Business School has triple accreditation from the three leading bodies AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS

We’re proud to be one of a select number of universities to hold professional accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), meaning you'll graduate with the eligibility to become an associate member of the CIPD. You'll be able to demonstrate to employers that you have the skills, relevant knowledge and professional commitment to deliver on today’s business needs.

Course details

Our degrees have a modular structure. This means that compulsory modules provide you with the core knowledge and skills that you need, while optional and discovery modules allow you to shape your course to suit your personal interests and career aspirations.

Year one

A suite of compulsory modules in your first year will give you a broad introduction to the nature of businesses and those who work within them. You’ll study organisational behaviour, the sociology of work and gain an understanding of the nature of leadership. At the same time, you’ll put this into the context of the broader economy and the institutions which directly impact on business and employees.

Year two

You’ll build on this foundation in the following year, when you’ll examine how the principles of organisational behaviour work in practice. Compulsory modules will also consider management and the changing nature of work and organisations, contemporary HRM and industrial relations together with the economic and legal context in which businesses operate and recruit and retain employees. Optional modules will give you the chance to examine a broader topic such as corporate social responsibility, marketing or understanding data.

Final year

When you reach your final year, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of employment law and examine the challenges and principles of human resource management in more depth. In addition, you’ll select from a wider range of optional modules on topics such as strategic management, management consulting, gender and equality at the workplace, diversity management, people analytics and international business management. The culmination of your studies is your dissertation – an independently researched project on a topic of your choice, which allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills.

This course draws upon the latest academic research and professional practice. You’ll be taught by experienced HR practitioners and teaching staff engaged in cutting-edge research, including those active in the Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change (CERIC).

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Most courses consist of compulsory and optional modules. There may be some optional modules omitted below. This is because they are currently being refreshed to make sure students have the best possible experience. Before you enter each year, full details of all modules for that year will be provided.

For more information please read Human Resource Management BA in the course catalogue.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Personal Tutorials for HRM (20 credits)
• Economic Institutions: Labour (10 credits)
• Economic Institutions: Industry (10 credits)
• Business and Society: Combined (20 credits)
• Organisational Behaviour (20 credits)

Optional modules

• Starting Your Own Business (10 credits)
• Economics for Management (20 credits)
• Global Entrepreneurship (10 credits)

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Management, Work and Organisations (10 credits)
• Contemporary Industrial Relations (10 credits)
• Contemporary Human Resource Management (20 credits)
• Business and the Legal Environment (20 credits)
• HRM Research Practice and Personal Tutorials (20 credits)

Optional modules

• From Study to Work (10 credits)
• Organisational Behaviour in Practice (10 credits)
• Marketing (20 credits)
• Labour Economics (10 credits)

Pathway modules

Ethics and Sustainability Pathway

• Corporate Social Responsibility (10 credits)

Enterprise and Innovation Pathway

• Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice (10 credits)
• Managing Innovation in Business (10 credits)
• Leading and Managing Small Businesses (10 credits)

Consulting Pathway

• Evidence Based Consultancy (10 credits)

Final year

Compulsory modules

• Human Resource Management Dissertation (40 credits)
• Strategic Human Resource Management (20 credits)
• Employment Law (20 credits)

Optional modules

• Strategic management (20 credits)
• Global Perspectives on HRM and Employment Relations (20 credits)
• Gender and Equality at Work in Comparative Perspective (20 credits)
• Diversity Management (20 credits)
• People Analytics: Strategy and Practice (20 credits)

Pathway modules

Ethics and Sustainability Pathway

• Business Ethics (20 credits)

Enterprise and Innovation Pathway

• Critical Perspective in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (20 credits)
• Innovation Thinking and Practice (10 credits)

Consulting Pathway

• Contemporary Management Consulting (20 credits)

Discovery modules

Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.

This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

You’ll be taught using a range of methods including lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops. The rest of your time will be spent in independent learning, which allows you to develop your skills in research and analysis. Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies: it’s a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your programme and modules.

You’ll also benefit from dedicated academic counselling from your Head of Year, a lecturer in your subject area who will meet you individually during the year and act as a personal tutor.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

We use a variety of assessment methods to help you develop a range of transferable skills that you’ll need in professional life. These are likely to include coursework, exams, oral presentations, group reports and dissertations.

Entry requirements

A-level: AAB

GCSE: 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or higher including Mathematics grade B/5 and English Language grade B/6 or equivalent, or an appropriate English language qualification.* *If you have a B/6 in GCSE English Literature we will accept a Grade B/5 or C/4 in GCSE English Language.

Other course specific tests:

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications for this course.

Alternative qualification

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is an alternative admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and alternative admissions.

Typical Access to Leeds offer
A level: BBB

GCSE: 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or higher including Mathematics grade B/5 and English Language or English Literature grade C/4

Access to Leeds: Pass

International

To study at the University of Leeds, you’ll need to have a recognised English language qualification.

Read more about recognised English Language Requirements for Leeds University Business School on our Entry Requirements page.

For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

IELTS requirements for this course are listed below.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component.

Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

Fees

UK: £9,250 (per year)

International: £24,000 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2023/24 and 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will remain capped at £9,250 for 2023/24 and 2024/25. The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2023/24 and 2024/25
Tuition fees for international students for 2023/24 and 2024/25 are available on individual course pages.

Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Leeds University Business School awards a generous range of scholarships.

Applying

Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

The deadline for international students to apply to Leeds University Business School courses is 30 June.

This course is not accepting applications for deferred entry.

We typically receive a high number of applications for this course. To ensure we treat all applications fairly and equitably, we review applications after the UCAS deadline before making a final decision. All applications received before the UCAS deadline are guaranteed equal consideration. Please see our How to Apply page, under “Application decisions” for details.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2024

This course is taught by

Leeds University Business School

Contact us

Leeds University Business School Course Enquiries Office

Email: lubsugadmissions@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Career opportunities

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

You will be supported throughout your studies by the Business School’s dedicated Employability and Opportunity team who will help you develop and demonstrate the professional skills and experience that top employers are looking. You'll benefit from one-to-one support, workshops and events from graduate employers.

In addition, Leeds University Business School students also have full access to the University Careers Centre and Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Studies.

The Careers Centre work with a large network of experienced professionals from companies such as Santander, M&S and KPMG, who volunteer as mentors on our Nurturing Talent Mentor Scheme. Applying for the scheme is a competitive process and it offers Business School students a wide range of benefits as they are mentored on a one-to-one basis for one academic year.

Study abroad and work placements

Study abroad

On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend an additional academic year studying abroad. The University has partnerships with more than 300 universities worldwide and popular destinations for our students include the USA, Canada, Australia, countries in Asia and countries in Europe.

You can also apply to take part in a short-course summer school at one of our overseas partner institutions. A summer school can be taken as part of a three-year degree, or in addition to a study year abroad or year in industry.

Read more about studying abroad.

Work placement

Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability.

On this course you have the option to apply to spend a year in industry with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors, in the UK or overseas. If you take this option, your degree will be extended to a four-year programme with the third year spent on placement.

Support to find shorter internships is also available.

Read more about work placements.

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