Human Resources and Business Management BSc

The course prepares students to apply their knowledge of individual attitudes and behaviours to organisational issues like productivity, employee engagement, workplace wellbeing, leadership and strategy. The successful completion of the course also provides you with an Associate membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), making you more attractive to employers.

The BSc in Human Resources and Business Management gives you the opportunity to develop specialised knowledge of factors such as motivation, commitment and emotions at work, which can then be applied to wider business management issues including productivity, work engagement and leadership. The BSc in Human Resources and Business Management is fully accredited by the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel Development) giving it additional standing as it is nationally recognised by the employers. 

What you’ll learn

During your studies you will have the opportunity to gain real-world experience through your placement. You will develop a deeper understanding of psychological mechanisms that play a role in decision-making and team work, as well as how leaders can strategically bring about change processes, and why individual employees play an important role in organisational productivity. Your placement will also help you to develop key skills in decision-making, negotiation and communicating effectively.

In the first year, you will develop an understanding of the historical context within which work has developed and changed in the last century. This will equip you with an appreciation of how information technology and globalisation have altered business structures. You will also develop knowledge of key elements of business management such as economics, marketing, law and accounting.

The second year shifts focus to a deeper understanding of the issues around individual attitudes and behaviours. You will study modules on ‘Creativity in Organisations’ and the ‘Psychology of Work’, alongside continuing to develop knowledge of the wider business management issues through modules including ‘Employee Resourcing’ and ‘Digital Marketing’. In addition, you will develop skills such as data analysis, contributing to your decision-making and negotiation acumen.

At the end of your second year you begin your placement year, where you will have an opportunity to practice and apply the knowledge and skills you have so far developed.

The final year brings all of your learning together with a study of strategy and management, where the combination of human resources and business management takes focus through modules such as ‘Strategic HR and Leadership’.

You will develop specialised knowledge of employment law and the skills to use evidence to make persuasive arguments. You will draw on your placement experiences to make sense of critical HR issues like productivity, work engagement, burnout and stress at work. All this will prepare you to start either a specialised career in HR or a more general management role within organisations across a range of different sectors. On successful completion of your degree you will be able to apply for Associate CIPD membership.

Two undergraduate degrees

This course offers an Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway, meaning you could study overseas at one of our partner institutions during your placement year and graduate with two undergraduate degrees for the price of one. Find out more about the Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway here.

Professional accreditation

Associate membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is open to Human Resource Management graduates. Graduates may be able to claim exemptions from a number of CIPD professional examinations.

Accreditation is a stamp of quality and prestige for a business school and its programmes. Aston is proud to be among 1% of business schools worldwide with triple accreditation. 

International students

Information for international applicants

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students. Students from over 120 different countries chose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

For more information on applying as an international student, visit our webpage: www.aston.ac.uk/international/students-applying

 

Post-study work visa

Graduate Immigration Route

Aston University welcomed the creation of a new Graduate Immigration Route which enables international students to remain in the UK for two years after you complete your studies to find work. This new post-study work visa applies to international students completing full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Find out more information about the Graduate Immigration Route.

Foundation programme

Choosing to start your Aston journey with our foundation programme in business will help you develop specialist knowledge to ensure that you are fully prepared to study your chosen undergraduate course. During your foundation year, you’ll have excellent support from academics while group projects will give you the chance to meet new people, make new friends and build a network of peers who will share your university journey. We also have a Learning Development Centre that can provide additional support and offer pre-sessional English language programmes.

For International Students intending to do a foundation year, visit ONCAMPUS

Modules

Year 1

In your first year you will study a range of topics, designed to give you a solid foundation for your business degree. 

The core modules are:

• Introductory Accounting for Business
• Introduction to Organisational Behaviour
• Introduction to Human Resource Management
• Skills for HRM
• Law for Business
• Introduction to Marketing Management
• Principles of Operations Management
• An Introduction to Business Economics

Year 2

From your second year, you will begin to specialise in human resource management issues. You will also develop theoretical knowledge to consider the ways in which people behave and contribute to organisations. The core modules are:

• Employee Resourcing 
• Psychology and Work
• Fundamental Strategy 
• Digital Marketing
• Effective Teamwork
• Developing Creativity 
• Business, Government and Society 
• Solving HR issues 

Year 3

You will spend this year in a professional placement or you may choose to take up an international study opportunity at one of our partner institutions. The placement year is compulsory for all UK students.

See placement year section or find out more about the Aston placement year.

Final Year 

You will explore how organisations relate to their wider context from both a socio-psychological and socio-economic perspective. In particular you will examine how changes in the external environment (social, financial, competitive and legislative) relate to the processes of management. The core modules are:

• Strategic HRM 
• Employment Law for HRM 
• Employee Relations 
• Learning and Development 
• Global Working
• Strategic Management 
• Theory and Practice of Leadership
• Critical Issues in Human Resource Management

Typical offers:

A Levels

BBB (standard offer)

BBC (with EPQ or Core Maths minimum grade B)

BBC (contextual offer*)

IB

31 points overall in the IB diploma with 5, 5, 5 in 3 higher level subjects.

BTEC, Access & other

BTEC Extended Diploma - DDD (standard offer)

BTEC Extended Diploma - DDM (contextual offer*)

We accept the QAA-recognised Access Diploma which must consist of 45 credits at Level 3. You must obtain a minimum of 30 distinction and the rest must be at merit or distinction. Please note that we do not accept the English and Maths components within the Access qualification and you must meet the GCSE entry requirement.

The University also accepts the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate/BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma and BTEC Level 3 National Diploma/BTEC Level 3 Diploma for entry onto degree programmes, provided that they are studied in combination with other qualifications that are equivalent to three full A2 Levels.

T Levels

The following T levels are accepted qualifications for this course:

• T-Level - Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Grade D
• T-Level - Digital Production, Design and Production Grade D
• T-Level – Education and Childcare Grade D
• T-Level – Onsite Construction Grade D
• T-Level – Building Services Engineering for Construction Grade D
• T-Level – Digital Business Services Grade D
• T-Level – Digital Support Services Grade D
• T-Level – Health Grade D
• T-Level – Healthcare Science Grade D
• T-Level – Science Grade D

GCSEs

5 GCSE grades A*/9 – C/4 to include:

• GCSE Maths – grade C/4
• GCSE English Language or English Literature – grade C/4

Learn more about admission to this course

View our Admissions Policy.

Whilst the grades listed here are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only an estimate. We will therefore consider applicants with predicted grades that fall below these entry requirements if the application is of a high standard (however, initial offers will not be lower than stated above).

Entry onto our Foundation Programme may be offered as an alternative to the degree course if lower entry grades are achieved. Aston University welcomes applications from students with a wide range of qualifications from the UK and overseas, including combinations of qualifications. If your qualifications are not listed here and you wish to check whether they meet the entry requirements for this course, please contact the university.

Please note that General Studies does not contribute towards the UCAS points requirement but is welcomed as an additional qualification.

International students

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification. Find out more about our English language requirements.

For more information about qualifications view our Aston in your country webpage. 

Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston. Find out more.

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here.  

Our close links to industry and our focus on delivering practical business experiences provide a blend of learning to equip you for your future career.

Learning and teaching

You will encounter a range of teaching methods on our Human Resources and Business Management degree at Aston University, including lectures, tutorials, group working and case studies, as well as individual and group presentations.

Traditional teaching is enhanced by a virtual learning environment that is used to host a range of electronic supporting materials.

You will benefit from being taught by staff who are involved in research in this subject area.

Assessment

You will undertake a mix of coursework, examinations, online tests, presentations and group work.

Personal development

One of the key outcomes of engaging with this degree is that you develop a more considered, confident sense of self. The degree tests your ability to communicate professionally, articulate ideas and write effectively – all transferable and practical skills you will need to engage in your chosen career path. We make extensive use of group working and presentations to prepare you for the reality of working life. This experience will develop your teamworking and negotiating skills.

The integrated placement year gives you genuine, practical work experience that is invaluable in developing an appreciation of issues such as office politics, which cannot be replicated in the lecture room.

Placement year

The Aston placement year forms an integral part of your educational journey and is compulsory for all home students. International/EU students can request permission to opt out of the placement year, but we strongly recommend that it is completed where possible. 

Find out more about the Aston placement year.

The integrated placement year gives you the genuine, practical work experience that is invaluable in developing an appreciation of issues such as office politics, which cannot be replicated in the lecture room.

We have a dedicated Employer Team within our Careers and Placements department who have links with local, national and international organisations and advertise vacancies to students through an online platform exclusively for Aston students and graduates.  

Aston University was recognised as the 'Best University Placement Service'.

The Careers and Placements team at Aston University won the 'Best University Placement Service' category at the National Undergraduate Employability (NUE) Awards 2022. This was achieved by launching Virtual Employability Festivals and recognising the power of peer-to-peer communication by pairing 500 students looking for placements with 500 students who had completed placements.

Aston University embeds employability into 80% of subjects in the curriculum through their incredible relationships with academic staff, the university-wide commitment to employability sets the benchmark.

The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as home students. Further information can be found here.

Tuition fees for students are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees and funding

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs. Find out more about our scholarships here.

This course provides you with an in-depth knowledge of individual attitudes and behaviours at work, which is essential to understand and solve wider business management issues such leadership, developing strategy for organisational change, increasing productivity and work engagement.

Further, the CIPD accreditation signals to potential employers that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to link understanding of individual attitudes and behaviours to wider organisational issues. This prepares you to take a flexible approach to developing your career trajectory.

You can choose a Human Resources specialisation path or you can opt for a more generalist role in business management.  During your placement year, you will also be able to develop your learning and showcase your skills, helping you to accelerate your employability through work experience.

Recent graduates

Our Human Resources and Business Management graduates are in demand from a wide range of organisations that require managers who understand the human side of enterprise. Graduates have gained employment in a variety of positions, including:

• Medical HR Assistant
• Talent Analyst
• HR Consultant
• Human Resource Management Coordinator
• Business Analyst
• Graduate Audit Assistant.

Graduates have gone on to work at companies such as Great Ormond Street Hospital, Hilton Worldwide, Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd, BMW, Deutsche Bank and KPMG.

Why study Human Resources and Business Management at Aston Business School?

Across the four years of study and the opportunity to practice in a workplace through the placement, you will develop a deeper understanding of psychological mechanisms that play a role in decision making and teamwork, as well as how leaders can strategically bring about change processes, and why individual employees play an important role in organisational productivity. The BSc in Human Resources and Business Management at Aston is fully accredited by the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel Development) giving it additional standing as it is nationally recognised by the employers. 

Is a placement useful in Human Resources and Business Management?

Your placement year helps to demonstrate to employers that you are able to transfer your knowledge to a real-world environment. There are opportunities to study abroad as well as undertake a double degree through studying at one of our international partner universities.

What kind of jobs does a degree in Human Resources and Business Management lead to?

You’ll be prepared for a breadth of career paths in any organisation that needs managers who understand the human side of enterprise. Recent graduates have gone on to work in roles such as HR Consultant, Business Analyst and Talent Analyst in companies such as Great Ormond Street Hospital, Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd, Deutsche Bank and KPMG.

What is the Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway at Aston Business School?

You can deepen your learning and stand out from other graduates whilst gaining a fantastic learning experience overseas. The Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway is similar to an exchange programme, but during your placement year you’ll follow a particular curriculum, setting you on track for our partner institution’s degree award. This means, if successful, you will graduate with two undergraduate degrees. Find out more here.

Why should international students choose Aston University?

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students. Students from over 120 different countries choose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career.