Study location	United Kingdom, Egham, Surrey
Type	Master courses, full-time
Nominal duration	1 year
Study language	English
Awards	MSc

Entry qualification

Undergraduate diploma (or higher) 2:2 (Honours) or equivalent. Professional qualifications related to the field of International Human Resource Management and work experience in an associated area will be considered. The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original.

Language requirements	English IELTS: 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in all other subscores) CAE: 176 overall (with a minimum of 168 in all other subscores)

Other requirements	At least 2 reference(s) must be provided. Academic A motivation letter must be added to your application.

More information	royalholloway.ac.uk/..urce-management.aspx

Overview

Interested? To learn more about this study programme, entry requirements and application process, please contact one of our consultants in a country nearest to you.

Programme structure

Core modules
Core Principles in Human Resource Management
In this module you will develop an understanding of the foundational issues and concepts in the theory and practice of Human Resource Management. You will look at the nature of the employment relationship and the regulation of work and employment, considering the relationship between the utilisation of human resources on the one hand, and economic and political environments, labour markets, product markets, forms of work organisation and corporate performance on the other. You will also examine human resources practices and strategies in context, critically assessing the essential dilemmas, tensions and choices that HR departments and line managers face.

Managing Organisational Learning and Knowledge Work
In this module you will develop an understanding how knowledge creation and innovation are the foundations of social and economic progress. You will examine how organisations learn, create and utilise knowledge, and respond to the competitive pressures of a globalising knowledge-based economy. You will focus on the relationships between societal institutions and the micro-dynamics of organisational learning and innovation, developing a critical understanding of the theories and perspectives of organisational change and innovation, and their implications for change management practice. You will look at the issues facing firms in the knowledge-based economy and concepts of organisational learning and knowledge creation. You will consider the nature and process of organisational change, the role of change agents, and the complex dynamics of change management.

Human Resource Management in Global Contexts
In this module you will develop an understanding of the unique managerial challenges created by differences between, and within, countries for business operations. You will see how even within regions which have removed formal barriers to the flow of goods, finance, labour, and knowledge, a variety of differences (institutional, legal, cultural, identity, and so forth) remain. You will look at how these multi-level, multi-dimensional differences shape the contexts of ongoing transnational operations, and consider the nature of reorganisational programmes in tackling the issues faced when operating across borders.

Foundations of Employment Law
In this module you will critically evaluate national and regional differences in the regulation of labour, and their implications for international human resource management practitioners. You will look at the nature of the employment contract, as well as specific areas such as discrimination, recruitment and termination law. You will also consider the transnational regulation of business practices, and adopt a broader conception of the ‘human resource’ by considering issues such as the regulation of economic migration, international labour standards, and human rights law.

Strategic Human Resource Management
In this module you will develop an understanding of theory, policy and practice in the field of strategic international human resource management. You will look at the major current themes and debates in the field, going beyond operational approaches to managing people, focussing on core international human resource issues and functions at the strategic level. You will consider the integration of organisational strategy and international human resources management, exploring how the issues and problems in managing a global workforce can be conceived strategically and operationalised through organisation practice.

Comparative Human Resource Management
In this module you will develop an understanding of some of the principal national business systems that influence multinational decisions – including those of Germany, Japan, the UK and the USA. You will look at the role of global labour regulation through agencies such as the International Labour Organisation. You will examine the role of regional integration agreements in structuring human resources policies and practices, and consider the nature of free trade areas, common markets and currency unions, with particular reference to the historical evolution of the European Union.

Dissertation Preparation and Research Methods
This module will help you to prepare for your dissertation with useful theoretical and practical lessons in research methods. You will develop your analytical and technical research skills, reflecting critically upon the theoretical and philosophical assumptions of the underlying research methodologies. You will develop an undertanding of the ethical considerations when conducting research, and will learn how to write a structured research proposal that will form the basis of your dissertation.

Dissertation
The dissertation provides you with an opportunity to learn and practise researching and writing skills for your future career. You will apply the analytical and problem-solving techniques you have acquired throughout your studies to explore a specialist interest in greater depth. You will critically evaluate academic literature, collect data systematically, organise your findings, and present your research results in a clear and logical and manner. To help, your research proposal will be read by the programme director, who will select an appropriate member of staff to act as your dissertation supervisor. Your final submission will be between 12,000 and 15,000 words in length.

Career opportunities

On graduating with a Masters degree in Human Resources Management from Royal Holloway you will be highly employable and have a variety of career paths in and around the area of human resources. You will be well prepared for a career in human resource management, management consultancy, public policy research, government advisory, the civil service, a think tank, an employers’ organisation or a trade union. This course also equips you with a solid foundation for PhD studies.