Business Management with Human Resource Management

Business management combined with a focus on human resource management addresses one of the most fundamental questions in organisational life: how do you attract, develop, and retain the people that organisations depend on? Human resource management is concerned with recruitment and selection, employment relations, learning and development, performance management, reward, and the legal and ethical frameworks within which people management takes place. Business management provides the broader context, developing your understanding of how organisations function, how markets and competitive environments shape strategic choices, and how different business functions contribute to organisational success.

At Birkbeck this part-time programme introduces you to both disciplines in an accessible and flexible format designed for students who are already in work or who have other commitments alongside their studies. You will develop the knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes that employers in people management roles are looking for, building understanding of the key functions of business alongside the specific competencies needed to manage and lead people effectively. The part-time structure means you can develop these capabilities while continuing to accumulate professional experience, which often reinforces and contextualises what you are studying in ways that full-time study alone cannot.

You will study topics including organisational behaviour, employment law, resourcing and talent management, learning and development, employee relations, and the strategic role of HR within business, all grounded in a solid understanding of how businesses operate.

Graduates move into human resources roles across private, public, and voluntary sector organisations, including HR management, talent acquisition, organisational development, employee relations, and learning and development. Many pursue the CIPD qualification in parallel with or after their degree. Postgraduate study in human resources or business is an option for those wishing to advance further.