Course Overview

The professionally accredited MSc in Human Resource Management (HRM) at University of Galway, is a one-year taught programme that is research-led and practice-driven.  Students will go beyond the traditional classroom by developing insights into new and emerging themes in HRM, based on sustainability, managing change and the employment relationship, ethics, business and society and analytics.  The programme is designed with a focus on decent work and leadership of self and others, and building professional and academic competencies such as critical thinking and business and people development skills.

We have designed the programme such that students can pursue one of two pathways; an Internship or the Summer School, thus allowing students to gear their Masters towards their own particular interests and focused career path. This personalisation of the Master’s offers students an opportunity to tailor the programme to suit their aspirations and ambitions in the way that best suits them.

The programme covers: HRM in Practice, Employment Relations and Law, Sustainable HRM, Business and Society, Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills, Business and Professional Development Skills, Leading Change and Business Transformation, Business Negotiations, International HRM and Project Management.

This is one of very few CIPD accredited MSc. Programmes in Ireland, that offers an Internship and Summer School pathway.  Both pathways require the student to undertake an applied project, where students will get to tackle a real business problem and develop suitable recommendations.

Here's our MSc class of 2021-22

MSc HRM Class of 2021-22

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Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System

Who Teaches this Course

Programme Learning Outcome:

 On completion of the programme students will be able to: 

  • Apply effective decision-making to global business problems.
  • Identify, analyse and solve applied problems in individual and team-based settings.
  • Critically assess a range of people practices and evaluate competing theories relating to HRM, HR sustainability, employee relations, leadership and change, and critically assess how these are put into practice by different types of organisations.
  • Critically evaluate how organisations are responding to different trends and contemporary debates in human resource management and develop suitable responses and recommendations in a local, national and international management context.
  • Demonstrate ability to take into account different interests and perspectives to make decisions with a positive impact on HR practice, business and society.
researcher
Dr. Denise Holland
B.Comm, M.Sc., PhD
Lecturer Above The Bar
E: DENISE.HOLLAND@nuigalway.ie
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researcher
Dr Deirdre Curran
B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD.
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researcher
Prof Kate Kenny
MBS, PhD.
Professor Of Business And Society
JE Cairnes School of Business an
NUI Galway
University Road
Galway
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researcher
Dr. Rachel Hilliard
BComm, MA, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer
Dept. of Management
Top Floor, St. Anthony's
NUI Galway
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researcher
Dr Ann Torres
B.A., M.B.A., PhD.
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researcher
Dr Fiona Sheridan
BA, CIPD, DBS, MBS, PhD
Lecturer Above The Bar
School of Business and Economics
NUI GALWAY
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Requirements and Assessment

Continuous assessment is a feature of each module. You will complete essays, projects and presentations, working individually and in groups. There are final examinations for most modules.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Normally a H2.1 degree (NFQ Level 8 or equivalent) in business or a related discipline. However, candidates with a H2.2 honours degree and who have a minimum of 2 years relevant work experience will also be considered. IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent, if applicable.


Additional Requirements

Duration

1 year, full-time

Next start date

September 2023

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

40 (some shared modules)

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

Offers are made on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to secure a place on the programme.


 

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

90

Award

CAO

Course code

MSC-HRM

Course Outline

Click here for: List of HRM Modules 2022

2 pathways to completion:

Two Pathways:

This programme offers a choice of learning pathway; the student gets to choose between:

  • Internship
  • Summer School

The Internship:

Our programme is among the first in the country to offer management internships at the postgraduate level.  All internships are paid and of four months duration. They may be longer if the student and company wish to extend the internship. For more information on the internships click here.

For more information about the internships, please contact our Placement Officer Ms. Brid Connolly (brid.connolly@nuigalway.ie).

The Summer School:

The Summer School will attract students for reasons best suited to their professional and personal aspirations at that time. The students undertaking this pathway will complete a Consultancy Project and Project Management and will choose between the following modules; Negotiations or International Human Resource Management. In the Consultancy Project module (20 ECTS) students will have the opportunity to investigate and diagnose ‘live’ business and management issues, to review and draw on best practice / academic literature, to further explore the issues, to collect and analyse relevant research data, derive logical conclusions and make recommendations.

 

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Our students have gone on to pursue careers in a wide range of human resource management roles right up to senior executive level including recruitment and talent acquisition, HR generalist roles, Business Partners, compensation and benefits, learning & development, subject matter experts e.g. pensions. Employers of previous graduates of the MSc in Human Resource Management come from a wide variety of industry sectors and include Aerogen, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Merit Medical, Eli Lilly, MSD, Charles River, Zimmer Biomet, Hollister, Sanofi Aventis, L’Oreal, Glanbia, ESB, KPMG, PwC, Accenture, EY, Mazars, Sigmar Recruitment, INTEL, Dell, AWS, LinkedIn and Paypal to name a few.

HRM new careers graphic 2022

We have a close relationship with the University of Galway Career Development Centre who provide high quality career guidance and information services focused on facilitating and empowering our students to manage their own career development and make effective career transitions.

Services include: Jobs Fairs, Seminars and panel discussions, Employer Presentations / Activities, Workshops and support with applications and work-related skills. Visit our Career Development Centre for more information.

Internship Opportunity

Students have the option to pursue an internship opportunity incorporating an Applied Management Report. The internship gives students an edge in the job market on completion of their programme. Most of our students are offered graduate roles by their internship organisation on completion of their course. 

CIPD Accredited

The MSc (Human Resource Management) is approved by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) for accreditation at the advanced level. Students on this programme can achieve Associate Membership of CIPD. After graduation, as they build professional experience, they can progress through the professional stages of CIPD membership from Chartered Member to Chartered Fellow. 

Alignment with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

We are delighted to announce that the MSc Human Resource Management programme has achieved alignment with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). It is the third programme in Ireland and among the first 10 in Europe to have achieved this recognition. 

Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Virginia, USA, the Society for Human Resource Management is the world's largest HR professional society. SHRM promotes the role of HR as a profession and provides education, certification, and networking to its members.  Since its inception, the Society has been serving the needs of its members and advancing the practice.  Students enrolled in SHRM HR aligned programmes are provided with the opportunity to earn their SHRM-CP credential prior to graduating, providing them with a competitive advantage in the job market. Throughout the world, over 500 programs in approx. 425 educational institutions have been acknowledged by SHRM as being in alignment with its suggested guides and templates. 

Student of the Year Award for MSc (Human Resource Management) This prize will be awarded annually. The prize will be awarded to the student who receives the highest overall aggregate mark in the examinations of the MSc in Human Resource Management programme.  In the event of a tie, the prize will be divided equally.

Scholarships 

Scholarship for MSc HRM: www.universityofgalway.ie/business-public-policy-law/cairnes/scholsprizes/businesspostgraduatemeritscholarships

University of Galway Scholarships: www.universityofgalway.ie/postgraduate_scholarships

Alumni Network

The MSc HRM has a strong alumni network and we nurture the ties between the Discipline of Management, our current students and our graduates. To facilitate professional and social contacts between graduates, current students and faculty members we established a LinkedIn Alumni Group. Members communicate regularly through this alumni group sharing job vacancies, knowledge or just helping alumni reconnect with past colleagues. Many alumni support regular activities organised by faculty for our current students. 

Many HRM alumni have supported activities organised by faculty for our current students for example:

 

  • Graduates spoke to classes about their areas of expertise (training, rewards, employment law) providing specialist input for modules including Human Resource Development, Reward Systems and Employment Law.
  • Graduates discussed their current employment and progression with current students providing career guidance.
  • Graduates have supported our Internship programme.

 

Who’s Suited to This Course

The MSc in Human Resource Management is for you if you:

  • Recognise the importance of professional HR practice and the value it can add to organisations
  • Are seeking to begin or advance your career in management, with a specific interest in people management 
  • Enjoy a variety of individual and team-based assignments that are both academic and practical
  • Are willing to commit one academic year to intensive study and self-development
Current Students and Faculty 2021-22

HRM Current Students and Faculty 21-22

Learning Outcomes

 On completion of the programme students will be able to: 

  • Apply effective decision making to global business problems.
  • Identify, analyse and solve applied problems in individual and team-based settings.
  • Critically assess a range of people practices and evaluate competing theories relating to HRM, HR sustainability, employee relations, leadership and change, and critically assess how these are put into practice by different types of organisations.
  • Critically evaluate how organisations are responding to different trends and contemporary debates in human resource management and develop suitable responses and recommendations in a local, national and international management context.
  • Demonstrate ability to take into account different interests and perspectives to make decisions with a positive impact on HR practice, business and society.

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€10,290 p.a. 2023/24

Fees: Tuition

€10,150 p.a. 2023/24

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2023/24

Fees: Non EU

€18,590 p.a. 2023/24


Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2023/24).  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  An F5 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Postgraduate fee breakdown = Tuition (EU or NON EU) + Student levy as outlined above.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here


What Our Students Say

Mohanjit

Mohanjit Kaur |   MSc HRM Scholar Recipient 2022-23

I'm humbled to be awarded with the PGT Scholarship as it eliminates my fears since it’s a new culture and country that I'm stepping my foot into. It's a beautiful opportunity where I get to meet and study with people of many different nationalities, age groups and backgrounds. Looking forward to my new home amidst the charming campus and this alluring country as I begin this new chapter of life.
Joan

Joan Burke |   HR Manager at Boston Scientific

The Masters in HR at NUIG gave me the ideal platform to start my career in HR. The subjects covered provided me with a strong knowledge-base to have confidence in taking on my first role. The practical assignments we completed and the ongoing team based activities developed my communication and collaboration skills. It was an exciting year and contributed significantly to my development!
Thalita

Thalita Pereira Da Silva |   Training Specialist, Scaled Engagement EMEA & LATAM LinkedIn

The quality of the lecturers, the CIPD accreditation and the fantastic support to international students were the factors which made me decide to choose NUI Galway. I would definitely recommend doing the MSc HRM. The balance between academic and practice which improves the quality of research and also the development of theoretical approaches in the workplace. There is a ‘magical’ atmosphere everyone is friendly, helpful and you feel welcome everywhere you go.
Megan

Megan McDermott |   Talent Acquisition Specialist at TE Connectivity

The MSc in Human Resource Management provided so many opportunities for career development, through CIPD networking events, teamwork and panel presentations, which really stood to me in my HR career so far. I would recommend this course to anyone who is considering a career in HR because you develop professionally and personally and that is thanks to the amazing lecturers. I have completed a Talent Acquisition Internship with Creganna Medical.
Ebony

Ebony Wells |   Principal’s Secretary / Bookkeeper at Harlem Middle School

Being over 3000 miles from home has been tough, but I found comfort in my classmates and professors here at NUIG. The professionals and students on campus not only take an interest in us as students, but also as people. Whether it be having a voice through class reps, or having coffee, someone was always available to listen. I'm glad to have spent a year in Galway.
Priyanka

Priyanka Shankaran |   Recruiter at Walmart Labs India - Allegis Global Solutions

"I chose the MSC Human Resources Management at NUI Galway because I received only positive feedback about the college were from my experience, the J.E. Cairnes possesses friendly and understanding faculty, top class facilities and the course is very insightful. The courses here are very practical where projects are based on real-life scenarios that help an individual grow professionally and personally."
Nigel

Nigel Feerick |   HR Information Specialist at Medtronic

I would recommend NUI Galway because it has amazing students, excellent facilities and dedicated lecturers. I would recommend doing the MSc in Human Resource Management as it has improved my chances of employability and sets you up for the workplace. Through opportunities that arose from the programme, I have met a lot of HR professionals during this year and use those connections I have gained to take the next step in my career.

CIPD Accredited

Internship Opportunity

Intern

Alignment with the SHRM

Alignment with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

SHRM

AACSB - Global Accreditation

AACSB - Global Business Accreditation 2

AACSB is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools, and the largest business education network connecting students, educators, and businesses worldwide

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Downloads

  • Business Postgraduate Programmes 2023

    Business Postgraduate Programmes 2023 PDF (4.7 MB)

  • Postgraduate Prospectus 2023

    Postgraduate Prospectus 2023 PDF (20.6MB)

  • Management Work Internships

    Management Work Internships PDF (16 MB)