Business Management and Human Resource Management

Business management and human resource management is a combination that recognises a fundamental truth: that organisations succeed or fail primarily through their people. Human resource management is concerned with how organisations attract, develop, reward, and retain their workforce, and with the legal, ethical, and strategic dimensions of the employment relationship. Business management provides the broader commercial and strategic context within which people decisions are made, covering strategy, finance, operations, marketing, and analytics.

At the University of Southampton, you will study the key dimensions, issues, and concepts of human resource management alongside broader business areas such as strategy, commerciality, and analytics. You will develop both the theoretical understanding to analyse organisational behaviour and the practical skills to address real HR challenges in commercial contexts. The programme includes a sandwich placement year and a work placement, integrating substantial professional experience and ensuring that your learning is grounded in workplace realities.

It runs over three years full-time.

Graduates of business management and human resource management programmes pursue careers in HR, talent management, learning and development, recruitment, employee relations, organisational development, and general management. The combination of commercial awareness and people management expertise is valued across the private, public, and voluntary sectors. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in human resource management or business, or begin careers that lead to Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development membership and professional HR qualifications.