A well-developed understanding of how to manage and develop people is an internationally-tradable commodity. Business leaders rely on human resources to help make informed decisions that contribute to the future success of organisations.
With the BA Business & Human Resource Management, you will gain a mix of specialist and transferable skills essential for a career in business and HRM. A variety of teaching and learning approaches are used, including lectures, tutorials and workshops, all of which are focused on the practical aspects of business and human resources.
High quality and experienced teaching staff, supported by industry guest speakers, will deepen your understanding of business and HRM. Tutors will help you to navigate the range of career options and professional accreditations that will be available to you upon completion of your studies.
Year 1
Develop a broad understanding of human resource management (HRM) and its importance within successful organisations. You will gain overviews of key business disciplines and the business environment; as well as developing employability skills essential to launching your career.
Year 1 modules include:
Introducing People Management: Foundational understanding of key areas within HRM;
HRM in Business Context: The role of HRM in organisations;
General Business Modules: Including areas such as accounting, marketing and economics.
Year 2
Further develop your knowledge and understanding of HRM by studying various HRM-based core modules. Optional business modules will help you develop an understanding of management knowledge and skills.
Year 2 modules include:
Talent Management: Key approaches to learning, development & training;
Facilitation Skills: Skills development for leading meetings and workshops;
HR Professional Practice: Focus on professional skills development in HRM;
HR Service Delivery: HR contributions to organisations.
Year 3
Discover and learn the critical role of employment relations and the strategic part HRM plays within organisations, as well as performance and reward management. Fundamental research skills will be developed in preparation for year 4 and professional practice.
Year 3 modules include:
Performance & Reward: Approaches to managing performance and rewarding staff;
HRM Research Design: Key skills in developing and conducting research;
Employment Relations: Explore the relationship between staff and the organisation.
Year 4
The final year of study includes completing a research dissertation on a topic of your choice, as well as various HRM-related subjects.
Year 4 modules include:
Equality & Diversity: Understanding equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace;
The HR Function: Advanced understanding of HRM’s contribution to organisations;
HR Strategy: Understanding the strategic role of HR in organisations;
International HRM: Understanding the national and international context of HRM.
Learning a language (Optional)
The BA(Hons) Business & HRM also gives you the flexibility to choose a language module which can count towards your degree. These modules cover ten languages and range from beginner to fluent speaker level.
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching is conducted through traditional lectures and small-group workshops and tutorials.
As part of the programme, you will have the opportunity to participate in group projects and independent learning. Both styles of learning will help develop your transferable skills in areas such as research, presenting, communication and team working.
The programme’s modules utilise a variety of assessment methods and tools, including:
Written coursework
Presentations and facilitation assessments
Written examinations and multiple-choice tests
Role-play assessments and poster presentation.
Course Structure
The BA (Hons) Business & HRM programme is designed around the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF), with a focus on developing valuable graduate attributes to ensure our students are industry-ready on completion of the degree.
Please visit our ‘Programme Specifications and Module Descriptors (PSMD)’ page for more information on the aims and structure of the programme, and the teaching modules, assessments and course information.
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