Human Resource Management (PGDip) (MSc)

Entry requirements

Academic requirements A minimum of a second class honours degree or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply Other routes of entry If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore University of Stirling International Study Centre to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available. International entry requirements View the entry requirements for your country. English language requirements If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills: IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill. Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill. TOEFL exams taken before 21 January 2026: 88 overall with 20 in reading, 19 in writing, 19 in listening and 22 in speaking. TOEFL exams taken from 21 January 2026: 4.5 overall with no less than 4 in any band. See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements. Pre-sessional English language courses If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree. Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses .

Course details

In the first semester we give you a grounding in the key concepts and practices of HRM, the practical skills needed by HRM professionals, and the business context that HR contributes to. In the second semester you're given the opportunity to choose from a selection of specialist HR topics. The final semester of the course involves a consultancy case study – where you'll get an opportunity to act as a HR consultant to fictional companies, with realistic HR problems to solve. Develop your careers skills with our Flying Start Leadership Programme module. We go beyond textbooks and lecture rooms to focus on your personal and professional development. Our Flying Start module will help you develop practical career skills such as effective public or conflict management. Modules Teaching This is a one-year, full-time course of two taught semesters, followed by a further three-month independent study period, where you'll work on a consultancy case study. You'll be taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, presentations and practical case study exercises. Where possible, we further support your learning and development through guest presentations from HR managers and staff from local organisations. Assessment You’ll be assessed through a variety of methods including examinations and essays, as well as group video presentations and other electronic media to produce summaries and/or reports. Compulsory modules are usually assessed with a minimum of one open assessment (essay or report), and one closed examination at the end of the module. Professional Skills for HRM requires you to compile video and written evidence of the core HRM skills taught on the module. Classroom hours Each 20-credit module includes 40 contact hours of teaching. Contact hours comprise a mixture of lectures and seminars, or workshops. Our lectures will introduce you to the concepts and theories of HR, helping you put into context the additional reading and preparatory work needed for seminars. In addition to the 40 classroom hours, each module will involve an additional 40 hours of preparatory reading and exercises, necessary for seminar discussions. Workshops combine taught content with practical activities, and are usually taught in longer classes of about 3-4 hours. In a typical week, you can expect to be in scheduled classes for approximately 15 hours per week and this can rise to around 20 hours per week in the October-November period. Guided reading and preparation activities are in addition to the time required to fulfil assessment requirements such as essays and reports. Course director Dr Tom Montgomery msc-hrm@stir.ac.uk

Fees and funding

Fees and costs University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship . Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship . If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students. If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . Postgraduate tuition fee loans This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details. Additional costs There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees . Scholarships and funding Funding If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances. Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships. Postgraduate tuition fee loans Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £13,900 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs. English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,858 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme . Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £19,255 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales . Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI . International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers. Cost of living If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income. International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support. Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling Payment options We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay

After you graduate

The average salary for HR professionals in 2025 varies depending on the role and level of experience.  It can range from £35k for a HR advisor up to £180k for senior roles like HR director (source: Morgan McKinley). HRM jobs you can go on to include: HR manager HR business partner talent acquisition specialist training and development manager employee retention specialist HR consultant Our Masters in HR graduates have gone onto roles such as: HR specialists business partners development consultants recruitment specialists talent managers management trainers Our graduates can be found in central and local governments, as well as corporations such as: NatWest Group Royal Bank of Scotland Microsoft Heineken Deloitte