Semester 1
Compulsory modules

Professional Skills and Practice in HRM  - 15 credits
You will consider the role of HR managers by focusing upon the key skill sets that practitioners need to develop and employ. The module offers you an opportunity to develop these skills through classroom activities, reflect upon your personal development and demonstrate your appreciation and acquisition of these key competencies through compiling a study portfolio.

Foundations of Human Resource Management - 30 credits
This module aims to provide you with an overview of employers and the management of labour. You will explore topics including the main theories relating to the study of the employment relationship, the nature of the employment relationship and labour markets and labour processes and job regulation.

Workshops in Human Resource Management - 15 credits, Semester 1-2 
In this module you will convert theoretical knowledge into practical employment relations solutions. You will also have access to senior and experienced HRM and employment relations practitioners to make you aware of the challenges that managing people raises. 

Semester 2
Compulsory modules

Employee Resourcing and Development - 15 credits
In this module you will analyse and evaluate current practices and developments in employee resourcing and development. The part on resourcing looks at the recruitment and release of individuals from organisations, as well as the management of their performance, attendance and sensitive employment issues. The part on development focuses on the human resource development function in organisations, the role of training in skills development nationally and internationally, and the importance of employability skills in the labour.

Strategic Human Resource Management - 15 credits
This module offers you a critical overview of the key issues and themes that dominate contemporary debate and research in HRM. You will consider the nature of HRM strategies and practices from a range of theoretical insights and in light of research-based evidence and HRM practice in different organisational contexts.

Employee Relations and Reward - 15 credits 
This module explores how managers and workers interact in the workplace to regulate the employment relationship in both union and non-union environments. The module also identifies pay as a key concern for employers, employees, trade unions and the state, as well as other elements of reward.

Creativity and Personal Development - 15 credits
Working in groups, you will be presented with a real world business problem to solve. This module provides you with the opportunity to learn about the rewards and challenges of team working, tight deadlines, presentations to management and coming up with creative problems to real-life business problems.

Research Methods - 15 credits, Semester 2-3
The research methods module will develop your analytical and research skills to develop competencies for future work based research and consultancy work. The module provides the essential guidance in conducting the research and problem solving activities that you will undertake as part of your summative dissertation/work based project/work placement or entrepreneurship project.

Semester 3

You will choose one out of the following four compulsory 45-credit modules below: 

The dissertation is a formal written academic project of approximately 10,000 words, making it ideal preparation for future academic research at MPhil or PhD level or for the report-writing and scrutiny expected of senior management professionals. Taking inspiration from your own interests, and with support throughout from a supervisor with relevant expertise, you’ll choose a topic to research in HRM.

Previous students have researched subject matter as diverse as the factors affecting teacher retention in state-funded education or the high labour turnover in the IT Industry, to the effectiveness of training at a decoration company in China and gender discrimination in the retail sector.

From June to September, you will spend eight to 12 weeks undertaking a management research project on behalf of an organisation (chosen by Keele Business School). You’ll put into practice what you’ve learned, developing and applying your skills to solve a business problem, issue or focus on a specific project. As part of the eventual assessment, you’ll present your findings to the host organisation, exactly as you would do within the workplace. For example, one student looked at the process for dealing with performance issues and, by streamlining communications and exploring the use of ‘soft’ HRM methods (team boards), managed to bring down delivery times substantially making significant cost savings as a result. Another previous student analysed how employee engagement levels affect a working organisation, while another sought to identify best practice for a local council as part of its large-scale event management.

At the end of the year, Keele Business School presents one student with the ‘Student Consultant of the Year’ award. Please note that participation in the Consultancy Project is only available after a comprehensive selection process

An excellent opportunity if you have an idea for a new business venture, this module will provide you with the time, space and expertise to develop it. For between eight weeks to 12 months, you’ll be given the option of a base within the University’s incubator and have access to workshops and guidance from a network of entrepreneurs and business advisers. During this time, you’ll complete a portfolio of evidence on your idea and present this to an external stakeholder. Places are limited, and you will be required to undertake an interview prior to acceptance on this module.

Please note: The Entrepreneurship pathway is available to UK Students only.

In an increasingly competitive job market, employers are looking to recruit employees who have high-level knowledge, skills and workplace experience. With support from the Faculty Placement Officer, you will gain first-hand professional experience on a suitable, paid work placement for between eight weeks to 12 months. During your placement, you will be required to complete an extended project on behalf of the organisation. As part of the eventual assessment, you’ll present your findings to the host organisation, exactly as you would do within the workplace. Your placement can be based anywhere in the UK giving you the opportunity to work with local, national and international organisations.

Students who require a visa to study in the UK may be able to add in a work placement depending upon the programme. The ability to add a work placement is dependent upon the UK Immigration rules at the time of the request. It may be that for some programmes students will not have the option to request a placement period to be added to their programme before they arrive in the UK and would need to apply for a new visa. There is no guarantee that a placement will be provided and that students who have a visa are subject to a number of restrictions on the type of work, including placements they can undertake.