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Business at UEA
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Find out moreMSc Human Resource Management with a Placement Year
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- January 2027
Course options
Other Start Dates
Gain a competitive edge with a placement year
This course is also available with an integrated placement year, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable UK industry experience alongside your master's degree
Other Start Dates
Top 20
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research Quality
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research QualityCourse Overview
The world of work is changing rapidly, creating new challenges and opportunities for human resource professionals. Our two-year MSc Human Resource Management with a Placement Year will give you the knowledge, practical experience and professional confidence to build a successful career in this dynamic field.
You’ll explore how organisations can create workplaces where people thrive, examining the relationship between employee wellbeing, engagement, performance and organisational success. You’ll develop a critical understanding of modern HR theories, techniques and practices, and learn how to apply them to real-world organisational challenges.
You’ll explore the human side of business and organisational behaviour, developing the skills to support people at work, manage talent and help organisations respond to a changing workforce. You’ll also consider how HR professionals can create meaningful and inclusive working environments while balancing the needs of employees and organisations.
No prior study in business or human resources is required. Whether you’re starting a career in HR or building on existing professional experience, you’ll develop the knowledge and skills to progress in the field.
The course has a global outlook, with international perspectives embedded throughout your studies. You’ll learn alongside a diverse community of students, broaden your understanding of global HR practices and develop the adaptability and cultural awareness needed to work in international environments.
In your second year, you’ll complete a compulsory industry placement, typically lasting eight to ten months with a UK organisation. You’ll receive dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure a suitable placement, gaining valuable professional experience and applying your learning in the workplace.
Whichever pathway you follow, you’ll gain practical, career-relevant experience to support your next step in human resource management.
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Placement Year
The placement is a compulsory part of the programme and takes place in your second year. During the first semester, you’ll build on your employability development and focus on finding and securing a suitable placement, with support from the University and our specialist placement partner.
Placements typically last eight to ten months and take place with a UK organisation. Our specialist partner provides tailored guidance throughout the placement search, helping you develop your application skills and maximise your chances of securing a suitable paid role.
While you’ll receive comprehensive support, finding and securing a suitable placement is ultimately your responsibility. You’ll need to engage fully with the employability programme and work closely with our placement partner throughout the process.
If you’re unable to secure a placement, or don’t meet the academic requirements for the placement route, you’ll have the opportunity to complete three employer-led industry projects with different UK organisations. These projects will allow you to apply your learning to real-world challenges and gain valuable professional experience.
Whichever route you take, you’ll graduate with practical experience and skills that can support your future career.
Explore the Placement Year and find out what you can expect.
Careers
Career Pathways
Example of careers that you could enter include:
- HR Manager (generalist)
- HR Recruitment and Selection Officer
- Trainer
- Payroll Officer
- HR Consultant
- Academic (by pursuing a PhD)
Discover more on our Careers pages.
Career Support
Career development runs throughout the course through modules, placements, and applied learning activities. You’ll build professional skills, confidence, and experience through partnerships with schools, charities, and community organisations. These real-world links bring practical learning and professional insight into your studies.
Our academic staff offer research-informed guidance and mentoring to support your career planning and postgraduate study.
You’ll also benefit from expert guidance through Career Central, UEA’s dedicated careers service, offering personalised advice, skills development, and career support to help you stand out in a competitive job market.
After the Course
In an ever-changing business world, HR is a constantly evolving specialism. On this course, you’ll develop the critical skills needed for lifelong learning and professional success.
You’ll graduate prepared for a career dedicated to investing in people. You’ll be equipped to make a meaningful impact with the skills and knowledge needed to help organisations build cultures where individuals and teams can thrive.
With its strong international perspective, this course positions you well for a global career, whether working for international organisations or multinational corporations.
Study and Modules
Structure
You’ll start your studies with Welcome Week, giving you the opportunity to get to know your course, meet the academics who will teach and support you, and connect with your fellow students. It’s also a chance to begin building your professional network from the start of your degree.
Throughout the course, you’ll develop your understanding of the key principles and practices of human resource management, from attracting and developing talent to supporting people throughout their careers. You’ll consider how HR operates within organisations and explore topics such as recruitment and selection, performance management, career development, diversity and inclusion, women in leadership and employee loyalty.
You’ll also explore the psychological and organisational factors that influence the workplace, including motivation, job satisfaction, organisational culture, employment law, learning and development, workplace psychology and HR systems. This will help you understand how HR can contribute both strategically and practically to organisational success, while developing your professional and interpersonal skills.
As you progress, you’ll be able to shape your studies around your interests and career ambitions through a choice of optional modules. You can also choose to complete a dissertation or take additional taught modules, giving you flexibility to develop expertise in areas that align with your future goals.
To prepare you for your placement year, you’ll complete a year-long Employability Skills module, developing the skills and confidence to find, secure and succeed in a placement through activities including CV and LinkedIn workshops, interview preparation, coaching and mock interviews.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional C Modules
(Credits: 20)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
Your second year is designed to give you meaningful experience of applying your HR knowledge in a professional setting. You’ll have the opportunity to undertake an industry placement relevant to your area of study, with the first semester focused on preparing for and securing your placement. You’ll receive ongoing support from our specialist placement partner, alongside six in-person workshops at UEA.
If you’re unable to secure an industry placement, you’ll instead work on three employer-led projects with different UK organisations. These projects allow you to apply your learning to real-world challenges and gain practical experience of working with employers.
You’ll reflect on your placement experience through an assessment comprising a portfolio of your placement search activities and a reflective report. This will give you the opportunity to demonstrate your development, consider the skills you’ve gained and identify your future career direction. The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis.
By the end of your second year, you’ll have developed practical experience, strengthened your professional network and increased your confidence in the workplace, giving you a strong foundation for your next career step in the UK or internationally.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
You’ll benefit from our research-led teaching, learning from academics who are part of the Employment Systems and Institutions (ESI) research group. ESI is a group of applied social and behavioural scientists dedicated to examining the dynamics of human behaviour at work. Their specialisms include productivity, job satisfaction, appraisals, and well-being at work. They regularly hold talks and seminars that are open to the public as well as students, where you can meet and debate with people already working in human resources. You'll also develop your emotional intelligence, which is considered vital for personal and professional success. You’ll learn through a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, masterclasses and independent study.
Assessment
You’ll experience a variety of assessment methods, including exams, coursework, group work and presentations. You’ll submit both formative and summative work for assessment. You’ll receive feedback to help identify areas for improvement and areas of strength.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area.
Please note that if you have studied business before at undergraduate or postgraduate level, we recommend you check the modules carefully to make sure that this course is right for you.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area.
Please note that if you have studied business before at undergraduate or postgraduate level, we recommend you check the modules carefully to make sure that this course is right for you.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each component).
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, our UEA International Study Centre(opens in a new window) offers a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partner INTO UEA. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences (opens in a new window)
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2026/27 are:
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UK Students: £14,500
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International Students: £25,700
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
If you choose to take this course with a placement year, your tuition fees for the first year will be as shown above. An additional fee of £3,500 will apply for the placement year (see our FAQs page for further details).
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.