Human Resource Management (with placement) with Foundation Year (Accredited)

On this course, you explore key areas of human resource management (HRM) - such as talent management, leadership and motivation, data management and interpretation, and employee relations - while engaging with real-life HRM situations and problems. You are also able to undertake a fully supported, 12-week placement within a real business where you can immerse yourself in the world of HR, building your knowledge and practical experience. Many of our placement students have gone on to work in the same company upon graduation.

Foundation Year

Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an undergraduate course, taking a Foundation Year can provide a fantastic entry route to a degree-level qualification. The Foundation Year supports you to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy while exploring a range of subject-specific content so you are fully prepared for the core three-year course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your degree.

Course accreditation

We are an accredited Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) centre. This means all of our HRM courses are professional body accredited, giving you access to Level 5 accreditation and increasing your employability in the HRM profession, on successful graduation.

Career-powered links

Our placement students work with established companies to support their HR function; they are all local to the University and have experience of working with our students. Companies include Enterprise, Raja Packaging and Luton Borough Council, among many others.

Student experience

Gain the knowledge, skills, behaviours and graduate competencies employers value and need in the HRM field, in line with the CIPD professional accreditation.

Learn from expert tutors active within the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), and in both consultancy and research.

Develop your understanding of how HRM works with other business disciplines, enabling you to fit into numerous organisation roles.

Apply what you have learnt to real-life situations experienced by companies and organisations globally.

Build the confidence and problem-solving skills needed to be an effective manager across a range of organisations and settings.

Benefit from HRM-focused employability events throughout the academic year, including careers fairs and immersive CV events.

Learn from employer site visits and visits to the University by employers and local HR managers, who to share their HRM stories - a great way to network and ask questions relating to HRM career development.

Gain from having regular engagement and support from CIPD members and branch officials, helping you make a smooth transition into the world of HRM employment.

Course modules

Year 1
Applied numeracy for business – Develop key numeracy skills vital for your future employability. Beginning your professional business journey – Take on business challenges and collaborate with peers in a professional environment. Human resource management foundations – Understand the organisational issues relating to staff, the role of HRM and the key HR professional standards. The role of HR in the digital age – How the digital economy and future of work is changing the landscape of people management. HR and work in organisations – Identify, understand and evaluate people’s behaviour in organisations and the relationships between the organisation, individuals and groups.

Year 2
Data and research methods for business – Investigate research and data-analysis methods to support you in applying research findings to business issues. The strategic context of HRM - Build a sound understanding of the business and external factors affecting organisations and the impact of these factors on the HR role. Employment relations – Develop the skills to make informed decisions about current and emerging employment relations and employee reward practices. Work placement – Undertake 144 hours of placement in a business setting gaining practical experience of the world of work.

Year 3
Developing professional human resource management practice – Build your personal and professional effectiveness alongside your understanding the practicalities of the people profession. Management and leadership - Using real-life examples of current organisational issues, learn to solve problems by applying management and leadership principles. Contemporary issues in the workplace – The importance of people professionals in understanding and anticipating workforce needs. HR analytics and data – Understand how data is analysed and utilised in HR, and the ethical issues and limitations attached to using HR/people information. Business project – Independently design, plan, manage and execute a research project.

We make every effort to ensure the information here is accurate; however, for the most up-to-date information, visit our website.