International Human Resource Management MBA

Postgraduate

Student pointing to a white board showing recruitment process

Build a successful strategic management career, developing people in the complex and fast-changing world of the contemporary workplace.

Year of entry

2024-25

Location

Coventry University London (City of London)

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time

Course code

LONT079

Start date

September 2024
January 2025

How to apply

Book an Open Day

Download a prospectus

Course overview

Responding to global market trends, the digital economy and constant change, the MBA International Human Resource Management course addresses the needs of leaders by exploring the creation, development and sustainable growth of businesses globally.

Gain an understanding of how and why people function at work, and of the relevant legal frameworks governing human resource management.
Deepen your understanding of how to find, develop and engage the most appropriate talent for any organisation.
Develop an analytical understanding of international business in the context of a changing environment with a focus on people practice and related developments.
Study at our exciting London campus - full-time for one year or part-time for two years.

Global ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities

Icon of human figure in front of a whiteboard

Teaching excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field

Employability

Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Why you should study this course

CIPD and CMI accreditation¹
Study on a course with professional accreditation from some of the UK’s leading professional HR and Management bodies. The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
Real-world experience²
As far as possible, this course will aim to help you deal with the kind of challenges you’ll face in the workplace. As part of your learning, you might develop your own recruitment and talent management campaign, a bespoke training programme, and/or an employee engagement strategy. You might work with peers on the course or colleagues at overseas institutions to analyse international HR issues.
Industry insight
You’ll be taught by helpful, supportive and highly qualified academics with extensive career experience in human resource management, a majority of whom are members of the CIPD (please note staff are subject to change). They will apply their experience to illustrate your learning, and give you valuable insights into networking and professional development.
London location
Our campus is based in the heart of the City of London, close to the headquarters of some of the most famous organisations in the world. You’ll be surrounded by businesses of every description, from start-ups to multi-nationals, and will have opportunities to explore the dynamics of the way they manage their human resources.
Prepare for your future
You will have opportunities to mix with employers and to build your CV. You could do a dissertation on a current HRM topic or take up an internship² in the HR department of a notable London organisation. Should you wish to start your own business, we offer business start-up advice and support through our Enterprise Hub. MBA students also have the opportunity to take part in our Professional Development Programme, developed in collaboration with corporate learning and development specialists to help you develop key industry competencies.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited¹ and recognised by the following bodies:

Chartered Management Institute

This course has been accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) . Students who successfully pass the CMI mapped modules offered in this course on their way to achieving the full Coventry University qualification will be eligible for a CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice.

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) for the 2024/25 Intake. Students who successfully pass the CIPD mapped modules offered in this course on their way to achieving the full Coventry University qualification receive an approval letter from the CIPD.

When you graduate, you can become a CIPD Associate Member and use the designation Assoc CIPD. You may also be eligible to become a CIPD Chartered Member or CIPD Chartered Fellow, depending on your experience.

Immerse yourself in Coventry University London’s global community and emerge as a talented, career-ready graduate with an international outlook.

More than just a degree

Lecturers support the students to understand and complete the modules in the best way possible. The course director provides the best learning approaches along with many opportunities to improve your knowledge of HR through external and internal workshops, events, exhibitions and resources.
Parvaneh Sayyah Khabisi, International Human Resource Management student, quoted in 2021

Two students using a study space on the Coventry University London campus

What you'll study

Your main study themes are:

Strategy
You’ll look to develop a wide range of Strategic Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing and Finance skills which are transferable across all industries.
Professionalism
You’ll aim to learn to adhere to the highest levels of professional conduct, and dependent on which modules you decide to take you could be accredited by one of the world’s leading professional associations for management and HR.
Globalisation
You’ll seek to learn how approaches to issues such as labour, ethics, sustainability and finance differ globally, equipping you to work overseas, within a multi-national, or within an importing/exporting organisation.
Talent
You’ll aim to deepen your understanding of how to identify, attract, recruit, motivate, develop, engage and reward the very best people for any given role or context.

The MBA International Human Resource Management is an exciting, vibrant and intensive course that prepares students for successful careers in Human Resource Management and Business Management roles globally. There are eight mandatory modules on this course and a final term project. Some of these relate to business and leadership in general (so you may have the opportunity to study alongside students on some of our other MBA courses), whereas others are specific to human resource management. In all cases, your learning will be both internationalised and applied, with many practical opportunities for personal and professional development. In your last term, you’ll do a final major project offering an internship², or the more traditional dissertation.

Modules

Global Strategic Management - 15 credits

Marketing in a Global Age - 15 credits

During this module you will evaluate the policies, concepts and processes in the production and marketing of goods and/or services and apply business acumen to maximise the management of resources and efficiency of operations.

You will need to pass this module to be eligible for the CMI Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership.

Compulsory

Managerial Finance - 15 credits

Leadership - Towards Mastery of Leading Self and Global Cultures - 15 credits

Leadership - Towards Mastery of Leading Change and Inclusivity - 15 credits

Learning, Coaching and Technology-enabled Practices - 15 credits

Global Resourcing and Talent Management - 15 credits

Employee Relations, Engagement and Wellbeing - 15 credits

Business and Management Research Methods - 0 credits

Final Project - 60 credits

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

Global business connections

Our strong global business connections provide students with access to real-life work experience, so you can put your skills into practice and make connections in the world of work.

How you'll learn

What you’ll learn on this MBA course is a true reflection of what’s current in industry, and will help to deliver the skills employers are looking for. That’s because we work hard to build strong relationships with professional associations (both in general management and in HR) and also with employers, especially when it comes to designing the content of the course.

Teaching methods may include lectures, seminars, textbooks, workshops, debates, case studies, consultancy projects, and online collaborations.
Develop your critical-thinking and decision-making skills. Besides time spent in lectures and seminars, you’ll tackle practical exercises and collaborations, and could do real work experience². You’ll be challenged by realistic business simulations, group projects and case studies. Beyond the classroom, you’ll be encouraged to go out and explore the learning opportunities that London offers the HR professional.
Our wide network of prestigious alumni, leading academics and industry leaders means you’ll also be able to enjoy a fascinating programme of guest lectures².In the past, this has included people from Amazon and a former contestant on The Apprentice. Your tutors may also organise visits to businesses, trade shows and/or conferences².
Take part in extra-curricular activities such as our Student Enterprise Business Society, student mentoring programmes and you could apply to take part in volunteering opportunities to develop your personal and professional skills. You could also take part in our High Flyers programme, to help you develop the personal and professional skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world, through a suite of extra-curricular, non-course specific workshops.

This course can be offered on a part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Please contact registry.london@coventry.ac.uk for more information about studying this course part-time.

Teaching contact hours

In your first and second semester, you will typically receive around 12 hours of contact teaching per week. The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials. A strong emphasis is placed on the project module in your final semester and therefore total teaching contact hours may be reduced. In addition, you will be expected to undertake a significant amount of self-directed studying and revising in your own time each week, which may include, for example, guided study using hand-outs, online activities.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

The assessments on this MBA course are designed to reflect the work you’ll undertake in industry, helping you to prepare for the workplace and for appraisals there. Your tutors will take an employer’s perspective, as well as an academic one, when assessing the content and delivery of your work. You will be assessed regularly, rather than relying on a few major events. This will help you to stay focused on your ongoing learning and will enable both you and your tutors to be aware at all times of how you’re performing and where you may need some additional study or support.

The course is infused with practical HR assessments such as creating a performance-management and reward-management system; a resourcing and talent-management strategy; a live training workshop; a learning and development strategy for a global client; and/or an employee-engagement survey.

You’ll be encouraged to prove your subject knowledge while demonstrating your ability to write professional reports, structure logical arguments, analyse data, and make compelling presentations. Your assessments will therefore consist of a mixture of seminar and workshop activities, debates, presentations, written assignments, and individual and group work.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.

International experience opportunities

As indicated by its title, this course has been designed to take a globalised approach, aiming to prepare you to work with people and organisations from different cultures, upon successful completion. You’ll learn how and why HR practices and frameworks vary around the world, and how to apply effective strategies when working cross-culturally and/or in a multi-national organisation. You’ll also explore how to track and respond to significant and far-reaching economic, social, technological and geo-political changes affecting the contemporary workplace – changes which demand different patterns of thinking and behaviour from those who wish to manage and lead.

The course also offers a truly multi-cultural experience because you may get the opportunity to study alongside students from other countries, each offering their own contexts, experiences and insights. You may also participate in an international field trip; past trips have gone to France, Switzerland, Japan and the Czech Republic, where students witnessed HR in action in SMEs and multi-national companies.

Coventry University Group aims to give you global opportunities needed to become a truly global graduate, enhancing your employability on a global scale. Choose from language classes, studying or working abroad, international field trips², leadership development or work experience². Opportunities such as these have enabled previous students to obtain higher starting salaries and develop the global skills employers require and achieve better career progression.

Human resource management is now at the forefront of all organisations, leading and managing teams. The course is infused with practical HR assessments such as creating a performance management and reward management system, a resourcing and talent management strategy, a live training workshop, a learning and development strategy and an employee engagement survey that prepare you for the dynamic corporate world of managing people.
Roopa Nagori, International Human Resource Management MBA Course Director, 2021

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

An honours undergraduate degree (minimum 2:2) or equivalent in an academic discipline relevant to Business and Management. Applicants with a degree in another discipline may be admitted after consideration on a case-by-case basis.

Applications from candidates with relevant experience are encouraged and will be considered on an individual basis. Careful monitoring of applications to ensure that successful applicants are suited to the course takes place. Where necessary, applicants are interviewed, especially those that do not appear to meet standard admissions criteria. Where deemed appropriate, a written exercise may be administered to establish suitability.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Russia and Central Asia

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with the International Pathways Programme. Upon successful completion our International Pre-Master's - Business will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this postgraduate degree.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

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Fees and funding

2024/25 tuition fees.

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£20,350	Request fee information
EU	£20,350 per year with EU Support Bursary £22,550 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£22,550	Not available

If you choose to do a work placement², you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee³ of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³ and student loans visit our Fees and Finance page.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our international scholarships page.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Additional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Our International Human Resource Management MBA students have access to a wide range of resources⁴ to help you build a successful strategic management career, developing people in the complex and fast-changing world of the contemporary workplace. Take a virtual tour of our campus to explore all of the facilities⁴ available to you.

Enterprise Hub

Our Enterprise Hub⁴ supports student entrepreneurs by providing extensive industry knowledge and guidance to help develop ideas into viable ventures. It is a dedicated space for enterprising students and professionals to solve problems, network professionally and collaborate on projects.

recruitment session two ladies and one man

The Talent Team

Need employability support? Our dedicated Talent Team is on hand to help. It can assist you in applying for work placements, graduate level jobs and offer skills development workshops. The team also aims to organise networking events to introduce you to potential employers and industry contacts (subject to availability).

Male student standing in finance district of London

Professional Development

MBA students have the opportunity to take part in our Professional Development Programme, developed in collaboration with corporate learning and development specialists to help you develop key industry competencies. You will be assigned a professional coach as part of the programme.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

Critically evaluate the impact of contextual forces such as economic, environmental, social, legal, and technological change issues, international developments and corporate governance to apply concepts and frameworks in Strategic Management for a range of business and people management contexts.
Systematically assess social and ethically responsible leadership, organisational strategies and practices in relation to their response to diverse and uncertain international market environments, to evaluate the needs and expectations of diverse stakeholders and develop plans and proposals that achieve business outcomes in a sustainable manner.
Evaluate the policies, concepts and processes in the production and marketing of goods and/or services and apply business acumen to maximise the management of resources, efficiency of operations in a range of international business and people management contexts.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of Finance and Management Accounting principles and regulations to apply the relevant analytical tools for business and people practice decision-making.
Analyse the theories and practices for the management and development of people within international organisations relating to Organisational Behaviour, Human Resource Management practices, Change Management to resolve contemporary people issues in an ethical and inclusive manner, formulating a critical assessment of your own professional practice.
Critically investigate complex business and people management issues by analysing a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods/techniques, applying business acumen to recommend appropriate options in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) environment.
Evaluate the management and exploitation of relevant information systems, digital media and technologies and utilise analytics for decision-making, reviewing ethical challenges presented by these for a range of business and people management contexts.
Collaborate with and lead diverse cross-cultural teams to develop inclusive business policies and organisational strategies to adapt and innovate in changing contexts and communicate professionally through a flexible and personalised learning experience.

We aim to help our International Human Resource Management MBA graduates develop skills which are in high demand from employers in private, public and third-sector organisations around the world.

You should complete the course with well-developed powers of analysis, clear perspectives on strategy and strategic thinking, and highly effective communication and research skills. You’ll graduate with the skills you need to impact positively and strategically on human resource management, and to lead and influence organisations at the highest levels.

Importantly, you’ll also get the opportunity to develop a deep understanding of international and globalised perspectives on HR, equipping you to work, or to advise, across different cultures, faiths and countries. In summary, the course will prepare you well to launch or develop a successful career in senior HR management. However, if you would prefer to start your own business, start-up advice and support is available to you during the programme.

Where our graduates work

Our graduates can expect to have the choice of several management and leadership careers in HR, whether in-house with an organisation or working at an agency or consultancy. There are many generalist HR roles, or you could specialise in recruitment, employee relations, reward systems, employee engagement, or learning and development. For example, you might go on to work as a HR business partner, an HR data analyst, a researcher, or a benefits advisor/analyst. You could also work for a search and selection consultancy, advising organisations and identifying the talent they need to meet their business goals. Our graduates have gone on to work at The Ritz, NHS, Handelsbanken, SCOR and The British Council.

Further study

As part of the journey of professional and role development, students are encouraged to continue their academic journey through access to a range of higher degrees, including PhD and other taught doctorates.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University London, you can apply online.

How to apply

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

(+44) 024 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Chat with our admissions team

Complete our contact form.

International students

Students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an postgraduate degree view our International hub.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

(+44) 024 7765 2152

ioadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Chat with our admissions team.

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2023/2024 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2024/25 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.