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Business and Human Resource Management (HRM)

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 07/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Paisley Campus

Course summary

Become a human resource management professional with our BA (Hons) Business & Human Resource Management programme.

This is a highly specialised degree programme, designed to support and develop current and future professionals in People/Human Resource Management. The programme utilises a range of learning, teaching and assessment methods to enable learning outcomes to be achieved - fostered by the University’s contemporary learning and teaching approach.

Furthermore, the programme aims at providing a meaningful balance between academic knowledge and employability-focused skills within its assessment strategy. This includes the use of written assignments, presentations, facilitation workshops, assessment centres/ in-trays, and role plays, amongst others.

Programme Highlights

UWS was the first Scottish university to offer an undergraduate human resource programme accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) – which ensures that the educational experience we provide meets the highest professional standards.

Change to - On successful completion of the Honours programme, you’ll automatically qualify for the Associate Membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

*Requires student membership — additional costs occur.

Programme Details

The programme has been designed to deliver up-to-date practical and professional skills, underpinned by appropriate academic theory. This is fostered by a comprehensive learning journey, supported by a clear programme structure.

Year 1: Foundation of Business & Human Resource/People Management

Areas covered include – Introducing People Management; Marketing; Business Finance; and Academic and Professional Skills

Year 2: Generalist Human Resource/People Management

Areas covered include – Organisational Behaviour; Talent Management; and The Human Resource Function

Year 3: Professionalism in Human Resource/ People Management

Areas covered include – HR Systems & Analytics; Managing Performance & Reward; and Critical Employment Relations

Year 4: Specialism in Human Resource/ People Management

Areas covered include – Transformational HRM; HR Policy & Practice; Equality & Diversity; International HRM; as well as the Dissertation Project

Careers

Thanks to the mixture of business and human resource management content provided, graduates from this programme leave with the knowledge and professional skillset required to pursue careers in human resources and general management.

BA (Hons) Business & Human Resource Management graduates are employed across the public, private and third sectors, working for organisations including:

NHS

BP

IKEA

Modules

Year 1:

First year lays the groundwork for the successful completion of the degree programme in Human Resource Management by providing an overarching outline of key business- and HRM-related concepts,
covered by the following modules:

Introducing People Management

Introduction to Marketing

Business Finance

HRM in Business Context

Aspire 1

Year 2:

Second year of the programme focuses on the further development of a generalist understanding of Human Resource Management, the role it plays in organisations and its contribution to organisational success, addressed through the following modules:

Organisational Behaviour

People, Planet & Profits

The HR Function

Talent Management

Aspire 2

Year 3:

Third year places a strong emphasis on the understanding and alignment of skills, knowledge and behaviours to the CIPD CPD Profession Map, as well as helping students to develop key research
skills, preparing them for their Honours Project in fourth year — through the following modules:

Professional; Practice HRM

Research Design & Methods

In addition, third year outlines more contemporary issues in HRM, including the following:

Performance & Reward

Employment Relations

HR Systems & Analytics

Year 4:

In fourth year, students will explore a variety of more specialist areas within Human Resource Management, including the following:

Transformation HRM

HR Policy & Practice

Equality & Diversity

International HRM

This is further nurtured by the completion of the Honours Project, where students will conduct their own research project, exploring a contemporary issue in Human Resource Management in great depth.

Assessment method

This includes the use of written assignments, presentations, assessment centres/in-trays, role plays, and vivas, among others.

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
N1N6
Institution code:
U40
Campus name:
Paisley Campus
Campus Code:
P

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 3
  • Year 4

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

Year 3 Entry:
HND (with relevant HRM modules): Human Resource Management; Business; Management & Leadership

International applicants

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. These are shown below.

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff

Not accepted

A level

Not accepted

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Not accepted

Access to HE Diploma

Not accepted

Scottish Higher

Not accepted

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)

Not accepted

Scottish Advanced Higher

Not accepted

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Not accepted

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

Not accepted

Scottish HNC

Not accepted

Scottish HND

Pass
Entry to Year 3 with HND HRM; HND Business (including Managing People & Organisations; HRM Core Activities/HRM: An Introduction; Behavioural Skills for Business; Business Culture & Strategy); HND Management & Leadership (including Managing People AND Managing People & Organisations, OR HRM: An Introduction AND Behavioural Skills for Business)

T Level

Not accepted

Minimum Qualification Requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

-

A level - Not accepted

-

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - Not accepted

-

Access to HE Diploma - Not accepted

-

Scottish Higher - Not accepted

-

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - Not accepted

-

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 minimum in each skill / component.
Cambridge English Advanced176 overall with no sub-test less than 169
Cambridge English Proficiency176 overall with no sub-test less than 169
Trinity ISEPassISEII with the minimum of a Pass in all sub-tests
PTE Academic54An overall score of 54 with no element below 51
TOEFL (iBT)78no sub-test less than: Reading: 17; Listening: 17; Speaking: 17; Writing: 17
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The reason for this is that it’s essential that you are able to read, speak and understand the English language to get the most out of your time at UWS. All international applicants are required to meet minimum English language standards, with the exception of: // Native speakers of English // Erasmus students (unless advised otherwise) // non-Erasmus students from EU partner institutions (your institution must provide confirmation of your English language ability in the absence of a formal qualification) The qualifications above must have been gained within two years prior to the start of your course at UWS.

UWS's English language requirements https://www.uws.ac.uk/international/english-language-requirements/

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Our Minimum Entry Requirements are applicable to those applicants who have not had an equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic ability at school or college and are known as ‘widening access’ applicants. We also sometimes refer to this type of applicant as receiving a ‘contextual’ offer. For more information, please visit our website using the link below.

Learn more on the University of the West of Scotland website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
Scotland£1820*Year 1
England£9535*Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535*Year 1
Wales£9535*Year 1
Channel Islands£9535*Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535*Year 1
EU£15500*Year 1
International£15500*Year 1

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

TUITION FEE INFORMATION - SCOTTISH STUDENTS:
Eligible Scottish domiciled students can usually apply to have their tuition fees paid for them each year of their studies by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). If you're not sure about your eligibility, you should contact SAAS. You need to apply to SAAS each year of study to have your tuition fees paid directly to UWS.

TUITION FEE INFORMATION - UK, IRISH & GIBRALTARIAN STUDENTS:
Eligible students who are domiciled in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland as well as from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar or the Republic of Ireland will qualify for tuition fees of £9,250 per academic session of study to a maximum of three years if you are studying on a four year bachelor degree course (eg. BAcc (Hons) / BA (Hons) / BEng (Hons) / BSc (Hons)). So, if your degree is four years' duration, you will only be charged tuition fees for three years. Similarly, if you are studying a five year integrated master's degree course (eg. MEng (Hons)) the you will only be charged tuition fees for four years.

TUITION FEE INFORMATION - INTERNATIONAL (NON-EU) & EU STUDENTS:
These tuition fees apply to all non-EU, EEA, and all other EU students (excluding those from Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar, whose fee level is as per UK (non-Scottish) students - see section above for more details).

ADDITIONAL COSTS:
The cost of attending university is an investment in your future career.

In addition to tuition fees and living expenses, some courses involve extra costs such as consumable study materials, field trips, equipment and uniforms. You may also want to purchase some core texts and technology such as a new laptop etc. Some of these additional costs are optional, some, such as uniforms or safety equipment may be mandatory.

Check the course entry on our website for more more information.

Sponsorship information

Visit www.uws.ac.uk/scholarships

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