Plymouth Business School

BA (Hons) Human Resource Management

UCAS course code N604
Institution code P60
Duration

1 year
Course type

Full-time
Study location Plymouth
Register for open day
Apply at UCAS.com

This course enables you to gain an in-depth practical understanding of the role of human resource management (HRM) in today's businesses, which sets you apart in the world of graduate employment. The course involves extensive involvement from guest speakers, as well as a range of practical activities, role play and case studies, enabling you to apply your knowledge of HR to real-life scenarios.

Careers with this subject
Undertaking a degree in human resource management will deepen your understanding around recruiting, motivating, enhancing and supporting people within the context of the workplace. You will develop a number of skills attractive to potential employers including: effective communication and interpersonal skills, time management, research and analytical skills and an awareness and sensitivity to the diversity of people and cultures.

Real experience every step of the way

As well as expert-led teaching, all undergraduate modules within Plymouth Business School have integrated CV building activity, for example, through micro-credentialing, problem-based learning, or embedded direct employer activity.
We have ensured every module contains a real world problem-based exercise. We have reached out to employers directly to involve real business in our assessments. You will experience real world employee engagement every month.
We know this is key to student academic and graduate success.

Careers service

The University of Plymouth has a dedicated careers service supporting you from the moment you start your degree, to three years after graduation.
Careers advice is embedded into your academic programme through workshops, events, placements, networks - working with the academic staff teaching on your course.
We also offer materials, networks and resources online through our 24/7 portal, and a wide-range of activities, opportunities and support centrally in the Careers Service space within the Student Hub.
We are here to help you to explore, connect and succeed.

Key features
  • Benefit from the extensive use of guest speakers. This enhances the practitioner and practical focus elements of the programme and brings an added dimension of current practice and organisational issues directly to the classroom.
  • Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and graduate with Associate Membership of the CIPD. We place significant emphasis on the employability and skills development in the area of human resource management to help students develop as a professional.
  • Our staff underpin their teaching with a range of scholarly activities and work based professional practice and consultancy. Staff have undertaken research for the CIPD, ACAS and large employers providing students with an excellent quality of teaching and awareness of current issues in organisations.
  • Undertake a range of practical activities to enhance the application of your learning to HR and managerial roles in an organisational context; this will include role play and case study activities. Evaluate actions and performance to enhance self-management, and devise plans to enhance personal and career development.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • This course enables you to gain an in-depth practical understanding of the role of human resource management (HRM) in today's business environment, which sets you apart in the world of graduate employment. The course comprises extensive involvement from guest speakers, as well as a range of practical activities, role play and case studies, enabling you to apply your knowledge of HR to real-life scenarios.

    Core modules

    HRL6002
    Contemporary HRM 20 credits

    In this module, you will focus on exploring the management of human resources in modern organisations operating in complex environments.

    100% Coursework

    HRL6003
    Human Resource Management in a Global Context 20 credits

    This module introduces you to the consequences of globalisation for workers and how they are managed, the particular people management issues confronted by multinational corporations (MNCs) and the human resource management systems adopted in different national contexts.

    100% Coursework

    HRL6007
    Equality and Diversity in the Modern Organisation 20 credits

    This module will provide you with a broad understanding of equality and diversity in the workplace. You will consider the paradigms underpinning regulation and voluntarism, organisational equality and diversity at the levels of strategy and operational practice, and how group and individual identities are constructed in the workplace.

    100% Coursework

    HRL6011
    Employment Relations and Employment Law 20 credits

    In this module, you will explore and evaluate the organisational approaches, practices and tools to manage and enhance the employment relationship to create better working lives. You will develop your understanding of employment law and the benefits and constraints imposed by legal regulation. You will also investigate the significant impact effective management of the employment relationship can have on organisational performance.

    70% Coursework

    30% Tests

    ECN6009
    Researching for Business

    This module will empower you to understand the practical relevance of research methods for managing businesses by bringing the theory, philosophy and techniques of research to life. It will provide you with a comprehensive overview of research approaches in business to use when planning or undertaking a qualitative and/or quantitative research report.

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Entry requirements

Contextual offers: Typically, the contextual offer for this course is 8 points below the advertised tariff. A contextual offer is an offer to study at university that takes into account individual circumstances that are beyond your control, and that can potentially impact your learning and your exam results, or your confidence in applying to university.

Check your eligibility for a contextual offer

Applicants should possess a commensurate Level 5 business qualification and satisfy Plymouth Business School IELTS requirements which are IELTS of 6.0 or equivalent English qualification (with a minimum of 5.5 in listening, reading, speaking and writing). Applicants with IELTS of 5.5 or 5.0 (with a minimum of 5.0 in listening, reading, speaking and writing) may also be offered a place subject to satisfactory completion of an eight or twelve week English language summer school at Plymouth University.
Applicants with other equivalent qualifications will be considered on their merits.
University procedures and policies with effect to APEL, APCL and DS will be complied with.
We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.
Please contact the Admissions Team with any queries.

Fees, costs and funding
2024-2025 2025-2026 *
Home £9,250 £9,535
International £17,100 £17,600
Part time (Home) £770 £795
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per 10 credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding.

*UK Government announcement on tuition fees

Following an announcement in November, the government has confirmed its intention to increase undergraduate tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year.

Subject to final Parliamentary approval (expected in early March 2025), the tuition fee for UK students is increasing to a maximum of £9,535 from 1 August 2025. This change applies to current and new students at the University of Plymouth. The Student Loans Company (SLC) has confirmed loans for tuition fees will be increased accordingly.

Undergraduate scholarships for international students

To reward outstanding achievement the University of Plymouth offers scholarship schemes to help towards funding your studies.

Additional costs

This course is delivered by the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business and more details of any additional costs associated with the faculty's courses are listed on the following page: Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business additional costs .

How to apply
All applications for undergraduate courses are made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
UCAS will ask for the information contained in the box at the top of this course page including the UCAS course code and the institution code.
To apply for this course and for more information about submitting an application including application deadline dates, please visit the UCAS website.
Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office via our how to apply webpage or email admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

Meet our experts

  • Associate Professor of Human Resource Management
    Extensive industry and research experience
  • Lecturer in Human Resource Studies/Leadership
    More than 25 years experience of working, teaching and researching HRM
  • Lecturer in Human Resources and Leadership
    Research interests include innovation and change from a HRM perspective

A new home to cultivate business leaders

Our Fitzroy Building has been transformed, becoming the new home of the Plymouth Business School, providing students with specialist facilities and social learning spaces.
Among these spaces for business, management, accounting, finance and marketing students, you'll find the Bloomberg Interactive Suite for tracking stock markets and The Cube - support for our student and graduate entrepreneurs, as well as a Maritime Suite and a Language Lab.
Watch our video visualising what the new building looks like.

Oluwadara Odetoyinbo

BA (Hons) Human Resource Management has helped Oluwadara gain vital skills to pursue his dream job as a HR officer in the British Army.
“I learnt from staff that have a considerable depth of human resource management experience from large employers such as the NHS and have undertaken research for professional bodies such as CIPD and ACAS. A unique feature of the course is that I graduated with a CIPD accreditation, which is not common to other universities that offer HRM courses. Now I have a greater understanding and I’m better positioned to apply various theories that affect employees in an organisation be it local or international. The degree has also helped boost my confidence in handling HR related issues and life in general.”
Oluwadara Odetoyinbo

Plymouth Business School

  • ?Accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)

  • ?Committed to social, economic and environmental responsibility

  • ?Supporting the internationally recognised focus on sustainability and social purpose of the University

  • ?Leading business ready graduates onto a successful career and happy life

  • ?Supporting graduates to make informed choices based on current economic and market trends

  • ?Building students resilience and confidence

  • ?Promoting practical skills development