Business and Human Resource Management

Business and human resource management is a degree that takes seriously both the strategic dimensions of running an organisation and the fundamental importance of the people within it. Human resources is not simply a function that handles contracts and payroll; at its best it shapes organisational culture, supports strategic change, ensures fair treatment, develops talent and helps organisations navigate the complex legal and ethical landscape of employment relations. Combined with a broad grounding in business management, the degree equips you to understand organisations from multiple angles and to contribute to them effectively at a professional level.

At Coventry University this three-year programme develops your understanding of business strategy, organisational behaviour, finance, marketing and operations alongside the specialist knowledge of HR practice that the combination demands. You will study recruitment and selection, learning and development, performance management, employment law, reward and employee relations, exploring both the theoretical foundations of each area and the practical challenges of applying them in real organisations. A sandwich year provides a substantial period of professional experience, and work placements and a year abroad are also embedded in the programme, giving you multiple opportunities to test your learning in real professional contexts and to develop the kind of commercial awareness that employers look for in graduates.

Graduates pursue careers in HR functions across every sector, from large corporations and public sector organisations to SMEs, charities and start-ups. HR business partner, talent acquisition specialist, learning and development adviser, reward analyst and employee relations adviser are among the roles that graduates move into. The broader business grounding also opens paths into management trainee schemes, operations management and consultancy.

Professional membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is a common aspiration, and many employers support graduates through the additional study required to achieve it. Some graduates go on to postgraduate study in HR, organisational psychology or business.