Postgraduate study

Human Resource Management MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Human Resource Management

The aim of the MSc in Human Resource Management (HRM) is to give you the knowledge, understanding and key skills that are required by today’s HR professionals and to enable you to effectively contribute to dynamic organisations.

Managing people - an organisation’s most valuable and often most costly resource - has for a long time been a key business challenge. Changing economic, financial, demographic, and political landscapes mean that the constitution of effective human resource management and how it may best be practised is constantly evolving.

Recent developments indicate clearly that the portfolio of HRM responsibilities within organisations is growing with the need for employee engagement with broader policies such as corporate social responsibility or work-life balance.

The programme has been designed to provide a combination of courses that will enable the professional development of future HR managers.

Learning will primarily be through:

  • lectures
  • set reading
  • class discussions
  • exercises
  • group-work assignments
  • problem-solving in tutorials
  • case studies

Assessment methods include examinations, assignments, presentations or continuous assessment.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScHuman Resource Management1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2023/24

You will:

  • demonstrate an understanding of key terms, theories/concepts and practices within the field of HRM
  • demonstrate competence in Development and Problem-Solving in the area of HR Management
  • provide innovative solutions to problems in the fields of HRM
  • be able to identify and appreciate the significance of ethical issues in HRM

These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 13 July 2023.

Entrance to our MSc programmes is strongly competitive. You can increase your chances of a successful application by exceeding the minimum programme requirements.

Academic requirements

You will need a UK first-class or 2:1 honours degree in one of the subjects below, or an equivalent overseas qualification.

  • An undergraduate degree in any subject is normally required.

  • Candidates must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in Human Resource Management.

Supporting your application

Preference will be given to those with grades above the minimum requirements due to strong competition for places on this programme.

Students from China

This degree is Band A.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

Application fee

This programme requires a non-refundable application fee.

  • £60

Deposit

You will need to pay this deposit within 28 days of receiving your offer of admission (either unconditional or conditional).

  • £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)

Additional programme costs

See the programme website for more information on additional costs, as well as application fees and deposit payment.

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScHuman Resource Management1 YearFull-timeTuition fees

Featured funding

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • University of Edinburgh Business School
  • 29 Buccleuch Place
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9JS

Due to high demand, the School operates a number of selection deadlines. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through the competitive process described on the School website.

Full details on the admissions process and the selection deadlines are available on the Business School website:

Deadlines for applicants applying to study in 2023/24:

Round Application deadline Decisions by
1 12 October 2022 1 December 2022
2 7 December 2022 23 February 2023
3 8 February 2023 20 April 2023
4 26 April 2023 1 June 2023
5 7 June 2023 20 July 2023

You must submit one reference with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • University of Edinburgh Business School
  • 29 Buccleuch Place
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9JS