International Human Resource Management MSc

The programme focuses on the management of human resources in international companies and the issues associated with management of staff abroad. You'll develop a strategic view of the importance of globalisation in helping international organisations compete and understand the multi-faceted dimensions of international HRM, which include cultural, institutional and legal contexts. Acquire, modify and integrate key contemporary and relevant HRM knowledge to help fulfil individual career aspirations.

Core modules

• HRM in international context
  The module focuses on the examination of HR theories, concepts and principles in an international context.
• People management and leadership
  This module examines essential people management and leadership techniques and practices, which enable employees to engage with and to contribute, creatively and innovatively, to corporate and strategic goals.
• Creativity, enterprise and innovation
  The module encourages students to question what they see and experience around them with an aim to enhance their creativity and to discover new and improved ways of doing things.  
• International and comparative employment relations
  This module introduces students to the main actors in employment relations and the employment relations strategies employed in contemporary organisations. It then locates those strategies in an international context, examining them in a variety of countries and sectors.
• Strategy in international HRM
  The module investigates and analyses current practice and developments in strategic HRM with full regard to the international context. It focuses clearly on the importance of strategic HRM as being a key to the success and competitive edge of today’s organisations.
• Curiosity, creativity and research
  This module introduces students to the research process, the mind-set of the researcher and in particular to the idea of creativity in research and what it means to be a ‘creative researcher’.
• Research in action
  The module focuses on the nature, approaches, methods, tools and techniques of research within relevant disciplines from the business environment. Thus the module is practically oriented towards the completion of a research proposal that will form the basis of the final practice-based project module.
• Management consultancy in a global environment
  This module is designed to develop professional consultancy skills by studying organisational structure and culture, situational analysis and diagnosis, communication strategies for consulting and group dynamics
• Capstone business project
  This capstone, independent research project draws upon the students’ skills and knowledge gained thus far enabling application of learning to a scenario resulting in added value to an organisation and creating real world impact.

Optional modules

Two 10 credit modules (including the below or any other Business School module) or the internship module

• Contemporary issues in HRM (10 credits)
  This module offers participants the opportunity to explore two highly pertinent, contemporaneous, and important issues in the field of Human Resource Management – namely the issues of employee engagement and equality, diversity, inclusion in the modern workplace.
• Managing people in an intercultural work context (10 credits)
  This module enables participants to understand the specifics of managing in an intercultural work context. In a globalised and digital economy everyone comes in contact and works with people from very different cultural backgrounds.
• Internship (20 credits)
  This module allows the student to gain valuable work experience while studying for a master’s degree. Responsibility for securing the work placement lies with the student. However, the student is supported by both the work placement team and by the University’s Employability Module both during the search process and when the student is actually working.

The course provides a good grounding in HR issues, theories and practice and several modules are based on international professional standards. Successful students can enter a variety of HR roles, particularly the international market or within multinational companies in their country of practice.

Many students on this course are from overseas wishing to gain a UK Masters level degree in international HR which they can then utilise back in their country of origin or to further an international career. The course also attracts a number of UK students wishing to specialise in international human resource management.

Having gained 5 years working experience in the area of training and development in Mauritius, I decided to further my education - I chose to study in London as it's such a bright and vibrant city. So far, I am thoroughly enjoying this course and I am certain I will be able to add great value to my field upon my return to Mauritius.

Nadjma Khodabux, student

Employability Service

We are University of the Year for Graduate Employment for the second year in a row - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018, 2019.

At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:

• An online board where you can see a wide range of placements: part-time, full-time or voluntary. You can also drop in to see our Job Shop advisers, who are always available to help you take the next step in your search.
• Our Careers Gym offering group workshops on CVs, interview techniques and finding work experience, as well as regular presentations from employers across a range of sectors.

Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.

Centre of Excellence status is the IoEE’s (Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs) flagship organisational accreditation for organisations that promote and deliver enterprise skills development – and is in recognition of the School’s entrepreneurial culture and leading-edge practice.

Placements

Course members will be offered the opportunity to liaise with our professional placement staff in order to secure a work placement attached to an HR department of a London-based organisation.

A placement can provide you with an organisational context for learning, giving you the opportunity to become involved in short projects/process tasks in HR, and could also be a valuable source for your dissertation.

A distinctive feature of the full-time programme is that for half of the modules students will share classes with practising HR professionals following the part-time Masters route. These students, typically aged 25 - 35, work in HR departments in London while studying for the professional CIPD qualification. This exposure will considerably enhance your learning experience.

• Bachelor degree equivalent to UK Second Class Honours Lower Division in business or social sciences;
• Work experience may be useful although is not essential.

Note: All overseas candidates whose first language is not English should have attained a minimum of IELTS Level 6.5.

International students

International (non Home/EU) applicants should follow our international how to apply guide.

Postgraduate students and research students should apply through our dedicated application system. Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply section for postgraduate students and our How to apply section for research students.

See our admissions policy (PDF File 544 KB) and complaints policy (PDF File 127 KB).

Accommodation

Students should apply for accommodation at London South Bank University (LSBU) as soon as possible, once we have made an offer of a place on one of our academic courses. Read more about applying for accommodation at LSBU.

Finance

It's a good idea to think about how you'll pay university tuition and maintenance costs while you're still applying for a place to study. Remember – you don't need to wait for a confirmed place on a course to start applying for student finance. Read how to pay your fees as a postgraduate student.

Postgraduate Application Service

Book a session with one of our specialist Postgraduate Advisors. Over a one on one Advice Session they'll advise you on postgraduate degrees at LSBU that match your interests and experience. Book an Advice Session.

For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.

See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 177 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 102 KB).

Possible fee changes

The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.

The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.

Postgraduate loan (PGL) for Masters study

If you are starting a Masters course, studying either full- or part-time, you may be entitled to apply for a postgraduate study loan. Find out more at our postgraduate fees and funding section.

Scholarships

We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on funding your studies on the scholarships and fee discounts page.

Fee status

Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a Home, EU or International student for fee-paying purposes and for our regulatory returns, by reading the UKCISA regulations.

We help our students prepare for university even before the semester starts. To find out when you should apply for your LSBU accommodation or student finance read the How to apply tab for this course.

Welcome Week

Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Welcome Week pages.

Suggested reading

• Harzing, A. W & Pinnington, A. (2011) International Human Resource Management, Sage.
• Briscoe, D.R & Schuller, R.S & Tarique, I. (2011) International Human Resource Management: policies and practices for multinational enterprises, Routledge.
• Edwards, T & Rees, C (2011) International human resource management: globalization, national systems and multinational companies, FT/Prentice Hall.