The attraction, retention and development of high-calibre people are a source of competitive advantage for organisations today and are the responsibility of human resource professionals. This puts human resource management at the centre of business performance and a critical partner for organisational success.
This programme offers an insight into the principal areas of managing human resources and the important influences of the wider international environment, providing a critical assessment of the HRM and employment relations approach.
Teaching staff on the programme comprise academics who all understand the current business climate and are personally committed to students’ success. They bring a breadth of experience and expertise to their teaching and are involved in a wide range of research and professional activities. Many of the staff are members of the University’s Research Centre for Employment, Competitiveness and Growth, which was established in 2003 to develop world-class research and knowledge transfer activities through a multidisciplinary approach to HRM.
We are updating all of our modules on this course to ensure we provide you with the tools you need to make a real impact after you graduate. We are currently working with CIPD to make sure these modules meet industry standards and retain this course's accreditations. As a CIPD Approved Centre, we are recognised as a professional deliverer of HRM education so that on completion of this programme, you will have acquired the level of knowledge and understanding to apply for full professional membership of the CIPD. We work closely with the CIPD to deliver extra-curricular events to enhance your learning, skills and employability. Such events have included an annual event with key speakers on a topical HRM issue, and a careers event involving a variety of HRM practitioners. Our relationship with the CIPD also gives you the opportunity to attend CIPD hosted events in the local area to further enhance relevant skills, knowledge and employability.
Graduates typically go on to specialist management positions or consultancy roles in all areas of human resource management, including employee relations, reward and recognition, recruitment, retention, and people and organisational development within a diverse range of organisations.
We are updating all of our modules on this course to ensure we provide you with the tools you need to make a real impact after you graduate. We are currently working with CIPD to make sure these modules meet industry standards and retain this course's accreditations.
Students who wish to apply for a higher degree should have a good honours degree from the UK or equivalent internationally recognised qualification, in business or a relevant social sciences discipline. Consideration will be given to those applicants holding a good second class honours degree.
Applicants without an honours degree may also be considered on the basis of work experience, professional qualifications and the relevance of the programme to their current professional role.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR.
Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage.
Examples:
IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
PTE Academic 63 with a minimum of 59 in each sub-test
A degree from a UK university
A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
We’ve created the most progressive approach to higher education, developing and modernising our curriculum. For 2025 our courses will be designed with you at their heart to deliver a top-class student experience and career outcomes.
The following modules are what students will typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.
Duration: 15 months part-time
This is a part time course delivered in a block delivery designed to be completed in 6 months for the Certificate, 9 months for the PG Diploma and 15 months for the MSc award. Teaching on this course is delivered using a blended learning approach. The in-person workshop delivery is combined with a distance learning content via the university’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). This approach is designed to allow you to work alongside your studies.
The module will deepen your understanding of how HR analytics can be used to develop business solutions. Students will learn how to use large datasets which are important parts of the toolkits for HR managers. Specifically, they will learn how to convert unstructured text to structured data and then analyse it using various dimension reduction techniques. Students will be able to solve complex HR and performance issues and strategically support business transformation. Designing and implementing strategic performance frameworks and measurement systems that align with business strategy, while using a systematic approach to analyse and interpret data for contemporary organisations.
The module will provide students with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the current and future issues in employment law development that will help them to provide timely and accurate advice on legal matters. Students will learn in-depth knowledge of the national and global legal frameworks that will help HR practitioners to make sustainable legal decisions for the firm. The module will enhance critical reflections on theory and practice from an ethical and professional perspective and promote continuous professional development and learning.
This module will provide a scientific process to support your employees in gaining and refining the skills they need for their current and future roles within the organisation. It aims to focus on developing and applying abilities and tapping into the individual and organisational growth potentials. Students will critically evaluate, apply, and adapt different approaches to upskill and reskill workforce development.
One of the fundamental aims of HRM is mobilising a workforce. In order to function effectively, all employers need to ensure that they have the right people with the right skills in the right jobs. This module will enable students to develop the skills and knowledge needed to manage resourcing and talent management with the capability to create competitive advantage. In doing so, students will draw on the most significant contemporary debates in this field to learn about human resource planning, succession planning, recruitment and selection, induction, employee retention, and employer branding.
Data has become the driving force for the world of business, management, and human resources today. Data can be sourced from different sources and can capture various performance metrics and determinants of employee behaviour. The contemporary HR profession increasingly depends on the ability to process and analyse data and being able to translate quantitative outcomes into viable solutions to organisational problems. The module will introduce you to the fundamental principles of analytics in the context of human resource management, drawing on strategic human capital theory and other relevant perspectives. You will gain exposure to and understanding of quantitative techniques and software packages essential for developing analytical literacy. Using practical examples from small to medium and other large organisations, the module will help you to understand how HR analytics can be used to address organisational challenges.
The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of Sustainable Human Resource Management (HRM) principles and practices and equip them with the knowledge and skills on how to integrate sustainability into HRM strategies within an organisational context. By the end of this module, students will be able to develop knowledge and skills to embed sustainability into HRM strategies within organisations.
This module will explore human resource management and organisational theory to facilitate the examination of the challenges that face human resource managers in contemporary organisations. This module will provide students with an in-depth and critical understanding of the major internal and external environmental contexts within which human resource managers operate in public, private, and NGO sectors nationally and internationally. It will also provide insights into customising and delivering effective HR strategies consistent with the wider contextual trends and industry factors. At the end of the module, students will learn how to develop and apply people-focused strategies to plan, execute, and evaluate HR initiatives and address complex internal and external issues that affect HR practices in contemporary organisations.
This module provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate the ability to diagnose and investigate a complex business issue from an HR perspective, to locate the work within the body of contemporary knowledge, to collect and analyse data, to derive supportable conclusions and to make practical and actionable recommendations for change, improvement, or enhancement of current practice. The applied nature of the report requires a critical evaluative approach, empirical investigation and analysis, and a combination of academic research and business report writing skills. Students will develop conceptual skills, data analytical skills, ethical awareness, critical evaluation skills, and their ability to effectively communicate their research findings to both an academic and practitioner audience.
We use a variety of teaching methods, including:
Classroom-based learning is supported by the latest online technologies and learning platforms.
This is a part time course delivered in a block delivery designed to be completed in 6 months for the Certificate, 9 months for the PG Diploma and 15 months for the MSc award. Teaching on this course is delivered using a blended learning approach. The in-person workshop delivery is combined with a distance learning content via the university’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
You are encouraged to relate their theoretical knowledge to the workplace and practice as these provide real-life contexts to the material being delivered in the modules. Private study encompasses the review of learning materials and recordings and the exploration and wider reading around specific topics. It also includes the development of responses to formative and summative assessment tasks.
Your progress on this course is assessed through a variety of means, including:
For course aims and learning outcomes please see the course specification.
Our lively and active postgraduate community is brought about in part by our strong research culture and by the close community between our staff and students. Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books and embed their research in their teaching.
Students have regular contact with their course and module conveners with staff on hand to answer any questions and to provide helpful and constructive feedback on submitted work. Also, all students on our postgraduate courses take part in our ‘Ambition in Motion’ programme – a set of supportive workshops which ensure that students are progressing through their learning journeys smoothly.
You can also get involved with extra-curricular academic and social activities with guest lectures, talks and workshops organised by our academic staff, research centres and the ASPIRE team.
Our Medway campus is full of history and offers a unique experience to our students. We have recently moved to the Pembroke site, our new Medway home. This move puts Kent Business School at the heart of the Medway Campus, a former Royal Naval base combining historic and new buildings. You can find the Drill Hall Library, the Deep End where Kent Union at Medway are based and the Oasis lounge right on campus.
Off campus, there is lots to do in the historic town of Rochester and nearby Chatham, with cinemas, theatres and good shopping. London is just 40 minutes away by fast train.
Kent Business School has close links with: Universität Innsbruck; Beijing Normal University - Bay Area International Business School; ESSEC Business School; Neoma Business School; Rennes Business School; EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht; Freie Universität Berlin; City University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Baptist University; University of Hong Kong; Institut Teknologi Bandung (The Bandung Institute of Technology); Università Carlo Cattaneo in Castellanza; Università degli Studi di Bologna; Università degli Studi di Firenze (University of Florence); IE Madrid; Stockholm University.
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
Our world-class academics influence management strategies and practices world-wide through our outstanding research projects and direct involvements with industry. We address some of the biggest challenges of our time such as sustainability and responsible leadership to drive progress and create better business globally.
At its core, our research strategy is about delivering a sustainable tomorrow - a theme that Kent Business School embodies in all areas. We want to answer the big questions - How can innovation that enables sustainable long-term economic growth be created and supported? How can sustainable business practices improve environmental and social conditions? These are the problems we are here to solve.
We are global leaders advancing knowledge through constant collaboration and promotion of innovative research. We collaborate with local, national and international business, but we don't stop there. We have forged partnerships with other academic institutions and organisations such as the NHS. This wider focus allows us to advance towards our goal of a sustainable tomorrow.
Research Departments
Department of Accounting and Finance – The Department enjoys a significant international presence and reputation in several fields, including critical accounting, accounting history, sustainability accounting, corporate finance, banking and options pricing and performance.
Department for Analytics, Operations and Systems – The Department offers world class education and conducts internationally leading research in operational research, data analytics, operations management, information systems and sustainability.
Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship and International Business – The Department brings together experts in the areas of three key management disciplines promoting interdisciplinary teaching and research as well as cross interdisciplinary knowledge exchange.
Department of Leadership and Management – The Department is a cross-disciplinary community dedicated to tackling complex business and societal challenges. Our teaching and innovative research encompasses the economic, psychological, social, political, and technological contexts in which organisations operate worldwide.
Research centres
The Centre for Logistics and Sustainability Analytics – The Centre helps companies to address a wide range of transport, logistics, and supply chain problems with sustainability considerations.
The Centre for Productivity and Workplace Performance – The Centre contributes to the evidence base for competitiveness, environmental growth, regional productivity, technology and innovation.
The Centre for Quantitative Finance – Providing quantitative analysis of issues in the financial markets for businesses and policymakers.
Dynamic Publishing
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Journal of Corporate Finance, British Journal of Management, Organizations and Society, European Journal of Operational Research, Journal of Environmental Management, Financial Accountability & Management, Journal of Banking and Finance, Management Science, Transportation Science, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, British Journal of Management, Journal of Business Venturing, Entrepreneurship, Theory and Practice, British Journal of Management, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of World Business, Research Policy, European Journal of Operational Research, European Journal of Marketing, International Journal of Research in Marketing, International Marketing Review.
From the moment you start with us, our efforts are focused on helping you gain the knowledge, skills and experience you need to thrive in an increasingly competitive workplace. Our qualified careers practitioners provide support for up to three years after graduation.
Our careers and employability support at Kent Business School is designed to make sure you are ready to hit the ground running when you graduate, when you study with us you can expect:
Additionally, the Postgraduate Employability Edge programme, available to postgraduate students at Kent Business School takes place from Welcome Week until the end of your studies and is designed to enhance your career prospects further.
Studying an MSc in Human Resource Management sets our students up for the most senior roles in fields such as employee relations, reward and recognition, recruitment, retention, and people and organisational development.
Our Human Resource Management graduates find work in public and private sector management and consultancy both overseas and in the UK in a wide range of companies and organisations, including:
Many of our students also stay local and find job opportunities regionally in small and medium firms or even set-up their own businesses as well-equipped entrepreneurs.
We are updating all of our modules on this course to ensure we provide you with the tools you need to make a real impact after you graduate. We are currently working with CIPD to make sure these modules meet industry standards and retain this course's accreditations.
As a CIPD Approved Centre, we are recognised as a professional deliverer of HRM education so that on completion of this programme, you will have acquired the level of knowledge and understanding to apply for full professional membership of the CIPD.
Kent Business School is a member of the European Foundation for Management Development (EMFD), CIPD, CIM, CILT and the Association of Business Schools (ABS). In addition, KBS is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA).
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
You'll need regular access to a desktop computer/laptop with an internet connection to use the University of Kent’s online resources and systems. We've listed some guidelines for the technology and software you'll need for your studies.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, as well as general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.
You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.
Supporting your success
Kent ranked top 40 in The Times Good University Guide 2025.
Fees and funding
Kent has risen 11 places in THE’s REF 2021 ranking, confirming us as a leading research university.
Accommodation
