Human Resource Management

Human Resource Management is the discipline concerned with how organisations attract, develop, manage, and retain their people. It is a function that sits at the intersection of business strategy, employment law, psychology, and organisational behaviour, and its effective practice is essential to every organisation that employs people. HR professionals are responsible for recruitment and selection, learning and development, performance management, employee relations, diversity and inclusion, and the design of reward and recognition systems.

As the nature of work changes, with remote working, portfolio careers, and the use of technology reshaping employment relationships, the field continues to evolve in ways that demand both technical knowledge and adaptive thinking.

At the University of Northampton, this programme is offered on a part-time basis, making it accessible to students who are already working in organisations and who want to develop their professional knowledge while continuing in employment. A sandwich year and work placement are included, giving you structured professional experience alongside your academic studies. You will cover the full range of HR disciplines, from employment law and recruitment to organisational development, workforce planning, and people analytics.

The programme is developed in relation to the standards of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, which is the professional body for HR practitioners in the UK.

You will develop the analytical and interpersonal skills that HR roles require: the ability to interpret legal and regulatory frameworks, to design and evaluate people management practices, and to communicate with colleagues and managers across different functions and levels of seniority.

Graduates pursue careers as HR advisers, HR managers, talent acquisition specialists, learning and development professionals, and employee relations specialists across organisations in every sector. Many progress to chartered membership of the CIPD and to senior HR roles over the course of their careers. Some go on to postgraduate study in HRM, organisational psychology, or business.