Human Resource Management and Development - Postgraduate Diploma/MA
2 years Part Time
Programme Length
This programme is studied over two years for the Postgraduate Diploma. To gain the Masters qualification, it takes either three years or two years fast tracked.
Is this programme for you?
In today's increasingly international and competitive business world, successful organisations are turning to the effective management of their human resources as the key to sustaining their competitive advantage.
This programme provides you with a critical appreciation of how to build up human capability so that both you as an individual, and the human resources you manage, add value to the organisation.
The programme has been developed for those of you who are eager to broaden your knowledge and challenge your practice of Human Resource Management and Development.
You will normally have a first degree combined with a minimum of two to three years supervisory or management experience in a relevant context and be ready to progress to middle and senior management level having already proved yourself as a self-motivated team player capable of handling responsibility and communicating effectively with people at all levels.
Programme content and delivery
This demanding, fast-paced and highly relevant programme focuses on developing the solid, practical, professional and interpersonal skills fundamental to the management of people. It also equips you with the ability to understand and critically evaluate current, individual and organisational practices within different contexts so that you can provide solutions that add value to your organisation.
The part-time Masters/Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management and Development is designed to fit in with existing commitments. Attendance is flexible - either one afternoon and one evening or two evenings per week (preference must be registered in advance). Either Monday and Wednesday 5-9pm or Wednesday 1-9pm.
A considerable amount of pre-reading is expected for the taught sessions, as directed by the programme tutors. Students are also expected to work within learning sets and are expected to prepare drafts of written work to circulate and discuss with student colleagues. Overall, students can expect to spend approximately 8-15 hours of independent study per week outside the classroom.
Within the programme, you will study a range of human resource topics, develop your skills as an HR practitioner, as well as studying some general business and management subjects designed to develop your strategic business awareness and leadership potential and provide you with a greater understanding of the theory and practice of international business. Through a choice of options you will be given the opportunity to specialise in specific areas of HRM, such as Development, Reward and Diversity.
Although you can leave with a Postgraduate Diploma, if you progress to the Masters stage of the programme you will engage in some 'real-life' work-based problem-solving as you research and complete a Management Report Masters Dissertation. If you do choose to finish your studies at the Postgraduate Diploma stage, there will be future opportunities to progress to Masters through the completion of a dissertation. In both cases you will be appointed a personal research supervisor and will be required to submit an assessed research proposal
prior to embarking on the dissertation itself.
Distinctive characteristics
The postgraduate diploma in Human Resource Management and Development is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Successful completion of all elements of the programme makes you eligible for Graduate Membership of the CIPD.
This qualification will put you well ahead of other graduates in the job market as across the globe employers increasingly regard a CIPD qualification as a measure of capability and added value. Newcastle Business School will pay for participants enrolling on this programme to become student members of the CIPD (student membership is a pre-requisite to gaining graduate membership). Depending on your management experience there is the opportunity to gain full Chartered Membership of the CIPD on completion of the programme.
Assessment
The philosophy of the programme derives from the principles of reflective practice and experiential learning, or using the CIPD term, we are developing 'Thinking Performers'. Because of our approach nearly all the assessment on the programme is via assignment in which you are expected to apply relevant knowledge to an organisational context.
There are currently two examinations in the programme for the purposes of CIPD accreditation. Criteria is provided so that you understand what is expected of you and how you will be assessed on your performance. You will be provided with feedback on your assignments and as part of reflective practice, this feedback can be utilised in the preparation of your subsequent assignments.
Options
The structure of the programme is below. Students have a choice of the following options:
- Managing Diversity
- Emplyoment Law
- Employee Relations
- Reward Management
- Managing Organisational Learning & Knowledge
- Management Development
Year 1
- Developing Self (Semester 1)
- Strategy and the External Environment (Semester 1)
- Practitioner Skills in Human Resource Management and Development (Semester 2)
- Financial and Database Systems Management (Semester 2)
- Leading for Added Value (Year long)
Year 2
- Masters Dissertation (Year Long)
- International Human Resource Management (Semester 1)
- Resourcing and Developing for Organisational Capability (Year Long)
- Business Research Analysis (Semester 1)
- Option 1 (Semester 2)
- Option2 (Semester 2)
Entry requirements
The normal entry requirement is one of the following:
- An honours or CNAA degree
- Newcastle Business School Diploma in Management Development (Newcastle Business School offers a one-year part-time Diploma in Management Development designed to equip non-graduate applicants for the programme)
- An equivalent professional qualification with two and half years managerial/supervisory experience
- Early application is advised
- Graduate members of the CIPD may progress directly to the top-up Masters degree
Attendance mode
Either one afternoon and one evening or two evenings per week (preference must be registered in advance). Either Monday and Wednesday 5-9pm or Wednesday 1-9pm.
Non-graduate applications
Newcastle Business School offers a 1 year part-time Diploma in Management Development designed to equip non-graduate applicants for the programme. For more information about this please email info.nbs@northumbria.ac.uk or telephone 0191 227 3322.
Fees
Information on current fees is available from the Admissions Office. Fees may be paid in instalments.
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For all enquiries call 0191 243 4453 or email nb.admissions@northumbria.ac.uk