Human Resource Management

Human resource management is the discipline concerned with how organisations attract, develop, motivate, and retain the people who make them work. It draws on psychology, sociology, economics, and organisational theory to understand the employment relationship and how it can be managed fairly, effectively, and strategically. As the demands placed on organisations by demographic change, automation, globalisation, and shifting employee expectations continue to grow, the role of skilled HR professionals has become more central than ever.

At Brunel University London, this three-year programme prepares you to become an effective and responsible HR professional, developing a thorough understanding of the purpose and key objectives of the HRM function in contemporary organisations. You will study across the full range of HR practice, from recruitment, training, and talent development through to employee wellbeing, performance management, and diversity and inclusion. You will learn how to design and implement sustainable HR strategies that make a real impact across different types of organisations, developing both the technical knowledge and the ethical awareness that effective HR work demands.

Human resource management graduates are well placed for careers in HR departments across all sectors, specialist HR consultancies, recruitment and talent acquisition, employment law, management consultancy, and operational management roles. Many graduates pursue the professional qualifications of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, which is the standard route to professional recognition in the HR field. The skills the degree develops are applicable in any organisation that employs people, which means the degree offers very broad employability.

Further study in HRM, organisational psychology, or business management is also an option for those who wish to specialise or advance to senior leadership.