International Human Resource Management (MSc)
- Duration: 1 year
- Mode: Full time
Open day
Find out more about studying here as a postgraduate at our next Open Day.
Why study this course
Acquire the expertise to become a responsible HR practitioner in a global business world.
Industry insights
Get the latest insights on HR research and practice from high-profile business speakers and company visits.
Change business for good
Address a contemporary business challenge in your Human Resource Management Project.
Socially responsible
As the world's first Public Value Business School, we're committed to delivering social improvement alongside economic development.
Advances in business operations and technology across a global marketplace have created challenges for the management of a multicultural workforce.
This has led to an increased demand for responsible HR professionals to facilitate cross-border activities.
The business of changing the world is ours.
Our MSc in International Human Resource Management attracts a global cohort seeking to manage people differently. In preparation for a career in international HR, you’ll learn to combine specialist technical knowledge with a strong understanding of the social, political, cultural and ethical context of business.
Supported by a team of academic and practitioner experts you’ll get to grips with the fundamentals of this influential field. You’ll put human resource management into the context of multinational corporations while addressing the challenges of creating sustainable and ethically informed HR solutions.
Accreditations
Cardiff Business School is accredited by AACSB international - the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Where you'll study
Cardiff Business School
We’re an AACSB International and AMBA-accredited Business School with a clear mission: to make a positive impact in the communities of Wales and the world.
Admissions criteria
In order to be considered for an offer for this programme you will need to meet all of the entry requirements. Your application will not be progressed if the information and evidence listed is not provided.
With your online application you will need to provide:
- A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts which show you have achieved a 2:1 honours degree in a relevant subject area such as business, humanities, law or social sciences, or an equivalent international degree. If your degree certificate or result is pending, please upload any interim transcripts or provisional certificates.
- A copy of your IELTS certificate with an overall score of 6.5 with 5.5 in all subskills, or evidence of an accepted equivalent. Please include the date of your expected test if this qualification is pending. If you have alternative acceptable evidence, such as an undergraduate degree studied in the UK, please supply this in place of an IELTS.
If you do not have a degree in a relevant area, your application may be considered on the basis of your professional experience. Please provide additional evidence to support your application such as signed and dated employer references.
Application Deadline
We allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications normally close at the end of August but may close sooner if all places are filled.
Selection process
We will review your application and if you meet all of the entry requirements, we will make you an offer.
Find out more about English language requirements.
Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK must present an acceptable English language qualification in order to meet UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) requirements.
Criminal convictions
You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.
If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:
- access to computers or devices that can store images
- use of internet and communication tools/devices
- curfews
- freedom of movement
- contact with people related to Cardiff University.
Course structure
This course is taught from September to June and you will study a range of both compulsory core modules and a range of options. Following on from the taught stage you will undertake a project with support from their supervisor.
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum. Final modules will be published one month ahead of your programme starting.
The Autumn Semester consists of three core modules, plus ONE optional module.
During the Spring Semester, you will undertake two core modules, plus TWO optional modules.
International Human Resource Management Project
Upon successful completion of the taught modules you will undertake the International Human Resource Management Project.
The purpose of the project is to provide you with the opportunity to test the applicability of your new learning while under close supervision. It introduces you to the methodology of research, the systematic analysis of ideas, the problems of data collection and the presentation of ideas in a clear way. A further aim is to enable you to apply the knowledge, understanding, methodologies and skills learnt in the taught modules to individual independent research under academic supervision.
It also requires reflection on the implications for professional practice from an ethical, professional and continuous professional development standpoint.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The Management of Human Resources | BST221 | 15 credits |
| Contemporary Issues in HR Research | BST224 | 15 credits |
| HRM, Context and Strategy | BST231 | 15 credits |
| International Management | BST446 | 15 credits |
| Sustainable Work in a Global Context | BST463 | 15 credits |
| The International Human Resource Management Project | BST230 | 60 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Relations | BST222 | 15 credits |
| Reward Management | BST223 | 15 credits |
| Leadership, Work and Organization | BST225 | 15 credits |
| Employment Law | BST226 | 15 credits |
| Cross Cultural Management | BST449 | 15 credits |
| Asian Business Systems | BST450 | 15 credits |
| Professional Services: People, Professions and Power | BST461 | 15 credits |
The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.
Learning and assessment
How will I be taught?
Our teaching is heavily informed by research and combines academic rigour with practical relevance. Our internationally leading faculty consists of academics who are at the forefront of knowledge within their field. They bring the lessons learnt from their most recent research into the classroom, giving you access to up to date real life examples and scenarios and critical business thinking.
Your teaching and learning resources will be provided and we will be responsive to your needs and views. For your part, you will need to put in the necessary amount of work both during and outside formal teaching sessions, and to make good use of the facilities provided.
Methods of teaching
Most modules involve a mixture of lectures and small group teaching (called classes, seminars, workshops or tutorials).
In a lecture, the lecturer will mainly be giving an overview of a particular aspect of the module content (as well as opportunities for you to ask questions and be reflective), while in classes and workshops you will have an opportunity to practice techniques, discuss ideas, apply concepts and consolidate your understanding in the topic.
How will I be assessed?
Assessment methods vary from module to module but, across your degree scheme as a whole, you can expect a mixture of exams, coursework, essays, practical work, presentations, and individual and group projects.
How will I be supported?
You will be allocated a personal tutor at the beginning of your studies. Normally, your personal tutor will teach on your own degree course and you will keep the same personal tutor throughout your course.
Your personal tutor will be able to give you advice on academic issues, including module choice and assessment. If you encounter any problems which affect your studies, your personal tutor should always be your first point of contact; she/he will be able to put you in touch with the wide range of expert student support services provided by the University and the Students' Union as appropriate. You are required to meet with your personal tutor at three points during each academic year but you are also encouraged to get in touch with them at any other point if you need help or advice.
For day-to-day information, the staff of our Postgraduate Student Hub are available, in person, by telephone or by email, from 8am to 6pm each weekday during term time to answer your questions.
Feedback
We’ll provide you with regular feedback on your work. This comes in a variety of formats including oral feedback, personalised feedback on written work, and generic written feedback.
You will be given general feedback in relation to examinations following all examination periods and you will be able to discuss your overall performance with your personal tutor.
When undertaking the dissertation/project you are expected to meet regularly with your supervisor to review progress and discuss any questions. Your supervisor will be able to provide feedback on your research plan and drafts of your work as you progress.
What skills will I practise and develop?
As a result of engaging fully with this course, you will acquire and develop a range of valuable skills, both those which are discipline specific and more generic ‘employability skills’. These will allow you to:
- Grasp complex issues with confidence.
- Ask the right questions of complex texts.
- Have an imaginative appreciation of different views and options and analyse these critically.
- Identify and apply relevant data.
- Develop practical research skills.
- Propose imaginative solutions of your own that are rooted in evidence.
- Communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively in writing and speech.
- Sourcing, interpreting and presenting relevant numerical information – to support the composition of projects reports and business cases.
- Work to deadlines and priorities, managing a range of tasks at the same time.
- Work as part of a team, developing a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
- Use IT programmes and standard software packages, where appropriate.
- Take responsibility for your own learning programme and professional development.
Tuition fees for 2025 entry
Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.
Learn how we decide your fee status
Fees for home status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £12,200 | None |
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2025/26 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.
Fees for island status
Learn more about the postgraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £28,450 | £2,500 |
More information about tuition fees and deposits, including for part-time and continuing students.
Financial support
Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.
Additional costs
Living costs
We’re based in one of the UK’s most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Funding
Career prospects
At Cardiff Business School, you’ll receive a career-changing education from world-leading academics that have different points of view. They’ll challenge your thinking as you consider the world of business from a range of alternative perspectives.
On our MSc in International Human Resource Management programme, you’ll benefit from the knowledge and expertise of our Career Enhancer Team. They’re ready and waiting to identify events and opportunities to help you achieve your future aspirations.
We’ve developed relationships that range from the largest multinationals to the smallest micro-businesses, and include a wide variety of social enterprises and cooperatives. We use these networks to deliver value for our students through:
- real-world case studies and insights
- collaboration with our Public Value Entrepreneurs in Residence
- guest lectures
- field trips and workshops.
This wide-ranging and varied learning experience will help enhance your career and demonstrate how you can make a difference along the way.
International Human Resource professionals need to have the skills to evaluate new ideas, identify which new practices will have the greatest impact on their organisations and have the confidence to disregard others in an international context. It is a field of management that offers promising careers.
This MSc programme is primarily designed for those interested in the changing nature of human resource management in a globalised world. It will provide a strong basis for a variety of careers and support:
- Those wishing to enter into international human resource management positions in multinational firms.
- Those wishing to join small and medium sized enterprises that are linked to global production networks and/or trading in overseas markets.
- Those interested in working in policy making institutions or in social movements concerned with business and society.
Those wishing to pursue an academic career will also benefit from the programme as the basis to further PhD studies in international human resource management.
Graduate careers
- HR Manager
- HR Advisor
- HR Systems Administrator
- Recruitment Co-ordinator
- Reward Manager
Next steps
Open Day visits
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Contact us for more information about this course.International
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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.
