Business Management (Human Resource Management) with a Professional Placement Year (BSc)

Subject area: Business management
UCAS code: A321
Next intake: September 2026
Duration: 4 years
Mode: Full time with sandwich year

Entry year

2025
2026

Information on open days and visits How to apply

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Business Management (Human Resource Management) with a Professional Placement Year (BSc)

Why study this course

Learn from the best

Benefit from expertise and support of research-active staff in a school with the highest possible score for research environment.

Change business for good

Embody positive change with specialist knowledge of organisations and their workforces in the world's first public value business school.

Placement year

Gain industry experience in your area of choice; develop the skills, and connections to accelerate your career.

Marked for excellence

Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Effective, enthusiastic and empathetic HR professionals are central to the success of contemporary organisations. So you’ll be in high demand for roles in the public, private and third sectors with competitive salaries and excellent prospects for career progression.

This means you’ll be in high demand for roles in the public, private and third sectors with competitive salaries and excellent prospects for career progression.

Our BSc Business Management (Human Resource Management) focuses on organisations of all kinds from multinational corporations to social enterprises and charities. This holistic approach ensures you develop the skills to respond to the evolving needs of all businesses, irrespective of sector.

You’ll develop people management expertise from our team of international researchers and HR practitioners. They’ll introduce you to roles and relations in employment and the practices of managing people in multicultural organisations, strategy, analysis and effecting change.

Your Professional Placement Year is an opportunity to put your university knowhow into practice as you take up a paid role and complement your academic study with exposure to real-world business challenges.

Accreditations

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Subject area: Business management

Cardiff Business School
Get in touch
+44 (0)29 2087 4674
Colum Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 3EU

Entry requirements

We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:

A level

AAB-BBB

Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.

Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application. Eligible students will be given an offer that is lower than the standard offer (usually the middle or lower end of the advertised grade range).
Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional consideration in the selection process.

Learn about eligible courses and how contextual data is applied.

International Baccalaureate

34-31 overall or 666-665 in 3 HL subjects.

Baccalaureate Wales

From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.

GCSE and other essential requirements

You must have or be working towards:
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements.
- GCSE Maths grade B/6 or equivalent qualification (subject and grade). If you are taking A-level Maths (or equivalent), GCSE Maths is not required. Core Maths may also be accepted in place of GCSE Maths.

We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.
We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.

English language requirements

GCSE

Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.

IELTS (academic)

At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.

TOEFL iBT

At least 90 overall with a minimum of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading, and 20 for speaking.

PTE Academic

At least 69 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.

Trinity ISE II/III

II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
III: at least a Pass in all components.

Other accepted qualifications

Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.

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.

Other qualifications from inside the UK

Qualifications from outside the UK

Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.

Tuition fees for 2026 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

We are currently awaiting confirmation on tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year.

¹ The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable, we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase.

Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

We are currently awaiting confirmation on tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year.

Fees for island status

Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Fees for overseas status

We are currently awaiting confirmation on tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year.

Costs for sandwich years

During a sandwich year (e.g. year in industry, placement year or year abroad) a lower fee will apply. Full details can be found on our fees pages.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs.

Accommodation

We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.

Living costs

We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.

Course structure

This is a four-year full-time programme, consisting 120 credits a year. All Students, regardless of route, take a common Year 1, which does not count towards the final degree classification. At the end of Year 1, you have the option to either stay with the BSc Business Management (Human Resource Management) degree or to move to one of the other Business Management programmes if you have developed an interest in another area.

In Years 2 and 4, compulsory modules are determined by the choice of route but you also choose optional modules from an approved list enabling you to further tailor the degree to your interests.

Year three is spent on Professional Placement where you will put into practice the knowledge and skills you have already developed through your taught modules.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2026/2027 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2026.

Year one

Get to grips with the fundamentals on our universal business management first year.

We’ll introduce you to disciplines including accounting, technology and economics alongside classmates from our marketing, international management and logistics and operations pathways.

Core modules for year one

Module title	Module code	Credits
Society and Economy	BS1001	20 credits
Operations Management	BS1002	10 credits
Introduction to Accounting	BS1503	20 credits
Management: Theory and Evidence	BS1511	20 credits
Marketing	BS1528	20 credits
People in Organisations	BS1529	20 credits
Technology and the Digital Age	BS1532	10 credits

Year two

Combine theory and practice as your understanding of the basics grow.

You’ll start to appreciate how the study of people management intersects with finance, marketing and strategy while building a comprehensive understanding of the contemporary business landscape.

Complement your human resource toolkit with specialist modules in multiculturalism, purchasing and supply chain management.

Core modules for year two

Module title	Module code	Credits
Challenges in Managing and Leading Organizations	BS2002	20 credits
Performance and Financial Management	BS2517	20 credits
Employment Relations	BS2534	20 credits
Marketing and Strategy	BS2540	20 credits
Managing People	BS2542	20 credits

Optional modules for year two

Module title	Module code	Credits
Purchasing and Supply Management	BS2001	20 credits
Excellence in Managing Operations	BS2003	20 credits
Logistics Networks	BS2004	10 credits
Project Management	BS2005	10 credits
Inferential Statistics, Statistical Modelling and Survey Methods	BS2506	20 credits
Business, Government and Society	BS2518	20 credits
Managing in Multicultural Organisations	BS2520	20 credits
Buyer Behaviour	BS2535	20 credits
International Management	BS2537	20 credits
Marketing Research	BS2539	20 credits

Year three: Sandwich year

Apply your university know-how in the real world, as you embark on a salaried placement year in the UK or abroad.

This is your chance to enhance your career prospects by building a network of business contacts.

You’ll gain insights into organisations and industries with no long-term obligations, develop new skills and hone your competitive edge ready to stand-out in the graduate job market.

Core modules for year three

Module title	Module code	Credits
Professional Placement	BS4020	120 credits

Year four

Bring your professional experience back to the lecture theatre in your final year as you encounter current and emerging issues in work and employment.

Modules in strategy, analysis and change will preface opportunities to tailor your degree to career ambitions you got a taste for on placement.

Core modules for year four

Module title	Module code	Credits
Critical Perspectives for Contemporary Managers	BS3004	20 credits
Strategic Management	BS3543	20 credits

Optional modules for year four

Module title	Module code	Credits
Asian Management Systems	BS3002	20 credits
Entrepreneurship and Business Start-Ups	BS3003	20 credits
Responsible Strategic Supplier Management	BS3006	10 credits
Logistics Strategy	BS3007	10 credits
Logistics in the Digital Age	BS3008	10 credits
Contemporary Trends in Supply Chain Management	BS3009	10 credits
Analysing and Improving Operations	BS3010	10 credits
Digital Marketing	BS3012	10 credits
Understanding and Managing Reward	BS3013	10 credits
People Behaving Badly	BS3023	10 credits
Rheoli Busnes Bach	BS3024	10 credits
Exploratory Data Analysis	BS3519	10 credits
European Business Environment	BS3594	20 credits
Modelling in Management Science	BS3619	10 credits
Advertising and Marketing Communications Management	BS3725	20 credits
Ethics and Morality of Business	BS3728	20 credits
International Human Resource Management	BS3740	20 credits
International Business	BS3744	20 credits
Services Marketing	BS3746	20 credits
Cultural Marketing	BS3747	10 credits
Business Design	BS3748	10 credits
Stori Pwy? Cyfathrebu Cymru	MC3626	20 credits
Cyfiawnder Byd-eang	SE4394	20 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 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; they 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 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 Undergraduate Student Hub are available, in person, by telephone or by email, from 8am to 6pm each weekday during term time to answer your questions.

You will have access through the Learning Central website to relevant multimedia material, presentations, lecture handouts, bibliographies, further links, electronic exercises and discussion circles.

The University offers a range of services including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, and excellent libraries and resource centres.

How will I be assessed?

Our teaching is heavily informed by research and combines academic rigour with practical relevance. Internationally recognised faculty, who are at the forefront of knowledge within their field, bring the lessons learned from their most recent research into the classroom, giving you access to critical business thinking and contemporary real life examples and scenarios.

We will provide your teaching and learning resources, and 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 make good use of the facilities provided.

Most modules involve a mixture of lectures and small group teaching (called classes, seminars, workshops or tutorials).

Lectures provide an overview of the key concepts and frameworks for a topic, equipping you to carry out independent research for the seminars and to develop your own ideas. Seminars provide an opportunity for you to explore the ideas outlined in the lectures. Seminars may take various formats, including plenary group discussion, small-group work and student-led presentations.

What skills will I practise and develop?

Knowledge & Understanding:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:

Understanding of the internal aspects of the structure, governance, functions and processes of organisations.
An appreciation of the dynamic interaction between organisations and the social and economic business environment within which they operate.
Knowledge of various processes, procedures and practices for the effective and responsible management of organisations.
An appreciation of the importance to organisations of understanding and managing their markets.
Understanding of how people interact within organisations and how they can be led, managed and developed.
Knowledge of different systems and processes for the effective management of operations within and between organisations.
Awareness of appropriate policies and strategies to meet stakeholder interests, manage risk and maximise achievement of strategic objectives.
An appreciation of how organisations can create social as well as economic improvement.
An appreciation of the factors that influence the management of people at work.
Understanding of policy making in Human Resource Management and the factors that need to be considered in designing work and organisational systems.
Knowledge of Human Resource processes including methods of resourcing, development, reward, and employee involvement.

Intellectual Skills:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:

Critical capacity to analyse, evaluate and synthesise information.
Ability to solve problems.
Competence in exhibiting balanced and informed critical arguments.
Capability to apply relevant theories and approaches to practice.

Professional Practical Skills:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:

Skills in People Management.
An ability to use research to take an evidence-based approach to management.
Commercial acumen.
Innovation, creativity and enterprise.
Understand the nature and operations of a professional environment.
Operate in the workplace confidently and professionally.
Develop, enhance, and demonstrate work-related skills, knowledge and experience, in areas including professionalism, ethics, health and safety.
Be able to identify and adapt to working and related practices in an employment setting and reflect critically on them.

Transferable/Key Skills:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:

Effective self-management and a propensity for personal development.
An ability to communicate effectively through a variety of media, and to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
A capacity to exercise co-operation skills and work effectively with others
Analyse and reflect on personal management skills, identifying ways to improve through personal development planning.
Develop work-based skills and experience, building on confidence and professionalism.

Careers and placements

Career prospects

97% of our students are in employment and/or further study within six months of graduating.

Our dedicated career professionals have got you covered on things like industry placements, internships, work experience and insights.

You’ll benefit from career consultations, interview and CV writing workshops, industry-specific events and specialist psychometric assessment and broad skills training.

Placements

This programme includes a professional placement year during year 3 of the 4-year programme. You will be responsible for sourcing your own placement, though support will be given by the School’s employability team. If you are unable to secure a suitable placement you will be permitted to transfer to the equivalent ‘non-placement’ programme, assuming the relevant academic requirements are met. Placements can be conducted in English or in Welsh.

International Study

To give you the opportunity to gain a global perspective, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria (overall average mark of 60% or higher in the first year and a successful interview with the Director of International Exchange), you may transfer to the Semester Abroad programme. On this programme you take six compulsory single modules in the first semester of year 2 before spending the Spring semester of year 2 at one of our partner universities abroad studying relevant modules in English.

We have exchange agreements with high ranking Business Schools and universities worldwide where you will study modules taught and assessed in English at the partner university. A list of partner institutions, all of which offer modules taught in English, can be found on our website.

Our Exchange team and the University Global Opportunity Centre work closely with you in preparation for and during your studies abroad.

Next steps

Open Day visits

International

Learn more about our truly global university.

Get in touch

Send us a question or talk to our admissions team.

How to apply

Find out how to apply for this course

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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.