Human Resource Management with Law

Human resource management is the discipline concerned with how organisations recruit, develop, motivate, and retain their people. It draws on organisational psychology, sociology, and management theory to address practical questions about performance, wellbeing, equality, and the relationship between employer and employee. Combining HRM with law adds rigorous grounding in the legal frameworks that govern that relationship, including employment legislation, discrimination law, contract, and the regulatory context within which HR professionals must operate.

Together, the two subjects prepare you both to manage people effectively and to navigate the legal landscape that shapes what that management can and cannot do.

This four-year programme at Bedfordshire includes a foundation year, giving you the opportunity to build confidence and academic skills before moving into the main degree. Throughout the course you will study the core functions of HR, including recruitment and selection, learning and development, reward management, and employee relations, alongside modules in employment law, contract, and related areas of legal principle. The programme is delivered by a CIPD-accredited centre, meaning the content is aligned with the professional standards of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, an important benchmark in the HR profession.

The degree is studied full-time across four years in total.

Graduates from HRM with Law programmes are well positioned for roles in HR departments across public, private, and third-sector organisations, including positions in recruitment, employee relations, learning and development, and HR business partnering. The legal knowledge the degree provides is particularly valued in roles that involve policy development, workplace investigations, or managing complex employment situations. Further study, including CIPD qualifications at postgraduate level or a masters in employment law, is a natural progression for those who want to specialise or move into senior roles.