BSc (Hons) Business Management (Human Resources Management)

What can this course lead to?

Just some of the future careers for graduates after completing the course include:

• Human Resources Advisor
• Human Resources Manager
• Human Resources Policy Advisor
• Recruitment Consultant
• Employee Relations Officer
• Graduate Human Resources Trainee
• Candidate Engagement Officer
• Talent Acquisition Specialist/Recruiter
• Training/Learning and Development Manager
• Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Officer

You can also continue your development by studying professional qualifications from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

Membership to the CMI will help students stand out to employers as 62% of the managers surveyed by the CMI expect new graduate recruits to have professional management skills.

Who is it for?

This BSc (Hons) Business Management (Human Resources Management) degree is designed to elevate your role beyond traditional administration, positioning you as a strategic leader who influences an organisation’s core competitive advantage—its people. You will be prepared to address contemporary workplace issues such as flexible and remote working models, and the crucial demands of equality and diversity. As a future human resources manager, you will learn to develop proactive policies and lead successful strategies for recruiting, engaging, and retaining the right workforce that drives business growth.

The curriculum is structured to provide both foundational business knowledge and HR specialisation. In your first year, you’ll establish a strong grounding in core business disciplines, which then progresses in Year 2 with the introduction of specialised Human Resource Management topics. The final year solidifies your expertise through in-depth study of Responsible Recruitment, Employment Law, and Employee Relations, culminating in a significant 30-credit Major Project on an HR topic of your choice. Crucially, this degree emphasises application through real-world experience.

Our teaching staff, who maintain strong professional profiles and close partnerships with local businesses, will leverage their expertise for both course input and assessment, giving you direct access to current industry practices. We accelerate your career path by providing access to industry guest speakers and professional networking. The course content was created in consultation with employers, guaranteeing you master the essential analytical, problem-solving, and leadership skills needed to advance in this diverse field. Delivered by staff with proven professional profiles and supported by strong local business partnerships, this is the definitive preparation for professional success. We encourage you to apply now.

As the foremost professional organisation for management, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) is dedicated to developing successful managers and leaders. Our collaboration with CMI enables you to potentially acquire an additional professional qualification alongside your degree. Those enrolled on our BA (Hons) Business Management programme have the opportunity to receive a CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership upon completion of their degree. On enrolment, you will automatically become a CMI member, gaining access to a variety of benefits, resources and events designed to bolster your professional development.

The courses at University Centre Peterborough are studied in smaller class sizes compared with other universities; a typical class size is under 20 students. Conveniently, the course is delivered on two fixed days each week, allowing you to effectively balance your studies with work and family/personal life commitments.

To view the course specification, click here.

You can view The Open University regulations here.

What is covered?

You must take modules worth 120 credits at each level of the course. Each module is worth a specified number of credits.

Year 1 (Level 4)

• Academic and Professional Skills (15 credits)
• Insight into Economics (15 credits)
• Global Business Context (30 credits)
• Accounting for Managers (15 credits)
• Insight into Marketing (15 credits)
• People, Planet and Profits (15 credits)
• Human Resources in Context (15 credits)

Year 2 (Level 5)

• Career Management and Employability Skills (15 credits)
• International Trade & Labour Dynamics (15 credits)
• Management and Leadership Today (30 credits)
• Managing People (15 credits)
• Project and Operations Management (15 credits)
• Research Project Preparations (15 credits)
• Data Interpretation for Managers (15 credits)

Year 3 (Level 6)

• Modern Leadership Concepts (15 credits)
• Responsible Recruitment and Employment Law (15 credits)
• Leadership for Sustainability (15 credits)
• Employee Engagement (15 credits)
• Either Professional Placement (15 credits) or Preparation for Postgraduate Study (15 credits)
• Applied Strategic Management (15 credits)
• Undergraduate Major Project (Research or Practical) (30 credits)