Master of Science
MSc International Human Resource Management and Comparative Industrial Relations
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Year of entry: 2026
Duration: 1 year
Due to high demand for this course, we operate a staged admissions process with multiple selection deadlines throughout the year, to maintain a fair and transparent approach.
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Overview
Course overview
With the increasing number of people working for multinational corporations and in global supply chains, the study of international human resources and comparative industrial relations is essential to understand trends and practices in different contexts and their impact on work and employment. Study at a triple-accredited and top-ranking UK business school.
Open days
There will be opportunities to meet the team at a range of in person and online events. See if our team will be visiting a city near you.
If you are based near Manchester, visit one of our information sessions hosted at AMBS. If you would prefer to connect online, we host a series of virtual information sessions, so you can join from anywhere in the world.
Discover more about our master’s courses, get tailored advice about your eligibility and learn how to strengthen your application.
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- Alliance Manchester Business School
- Contact name
- Master's Admissions Office
- Telephone
- +44 (0)161 306 1339
- pgadmissions.ambs@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/msc-international-human-resource-management-and-comparative-industrial-relations/
- School/Faculty overview
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Alliance Manchester Business School was established in 1965 as one of the UK's first two business schools. Today, we are the UK's largest campus-based business and management school, and 'Original Thinking Applied' is at the heart of everything we do. Find out more .
Related courses
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We require a First or Upper Second class honours degree (2:1, with 60% average) from a UK university or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.
When assessing your academic record, we take into account your grade average, position in class and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
English language
For the latest information on demonstrating your English proficiency for those whose first language is not English, please see our language requirements .
English language test validity
Other international entry requirements
Fees and funding
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:
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MSc (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £18,600
International, including EU, students (per annum): £32,300
The fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs.
Fees for entry are subject to yearly review. The University reserves the right to increase your tuition fee by up to 7% each year for courses lasting more than one year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our educational and wider student experience. Postgraduate fees information .
Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.
Additional expenses
If you wish to become a student member of the CIPD then visit the CIPD website for further information.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
Scholarships will be available for 2026 entry, information will be updated on our scholarships page.
Application and selection
How to apply
Staged admissions
We operate a staged admissions process for this course, see more information on how to apply and our deadlines.
Tuition fee deposits
If you are successful in receiving an offer, you will be required to pay a tuition fee deposit of £2,500 by the deadline stated in your offer letter to confirm your place. We ask for the deposit as competition for places is high and there is limited availability. The deposit amount is then deducted from your tuition fees when you register on the course.
Advice to applicants
Your statement of purpose should cover the areas outlined below:
- Tell us why you are interested in the MSc International Human Resource Management and Comparative Industrial Relations course at Alliance MBS and how the course will impact on your future
- Describe what makes you an outstanding applicant and describe your potential to contribute to all aspects of the course.
How your application is considered
We can only process applications with the following documents:
- valid English language qualification
- first and second year transcript (scanned copies are accepted at the time of application)
- statement of purpose (this is included as part of your application form, you do not need to email your statement of purpose directly to the Admissions Team)
Deferrals
Re-applications
Course details
Course description
People are at the heart of workplaces. Managing and developing them is essential to help organisations achieve their goals and supporting employees to thrive and lead meaningful working lives.
- Learn about the differences between the employment practices and industrial relations systems in diverse countries and multinationals
- Understand how social, economic and technological as well as the implications of AI and digitalisation
- Study the influence of economic integration on changing systems of employment and industrial relations
- Academic skills development workshops to help transition into master's level coursework requirements
- Emphasis on professional skills development with opportunities to participate in the annual MSc HRM and case study competition, inter-university student debate, a live negotiation exercise and career development workshops
- Learn from experienced academics and researchers who are part of the University of Manchester’s Works and Equalities Institute (WEI) a leading international employment research centre.
CIPD Course recognition
The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) offering the ability to fast track your career through professional membership.
CIPD credentials are increasingly sought out by employers around the world, with CIPD hubs existing in the UK, Ireland, Middle East and Asia, and a network of 160,000 CIPD worldwide registered members.
Special features
Manchester Industrial Relations Society Debate: AMBS hosts the annual Manchester Industrial Relations Society Debate. This is a competition between students of the HRM and IHRM programmes and participants from other Universities. This is a great opportunity for students to hone their critical thinking and argumentation skills and learn about recent issues related to employment relations, HRM and the everchanging workplace
Annual MSC HRM Conference: This event features a case study competition where students provide solutions to real life industry problems and is judged by HR leaders from the industry. The conference provides an excellent opportunity to network and develop students’ consultancy skills. The event also invites alumni and practitioners as guest speakers.
CIPD Conference: The Annual CIPD Conference and Exhibition is held in Manchester and students are encouraged to attend the event which features various free sessions. It is an opportunity learn about the latest HR trends, meet HR solution providers and hear from industry experts
Teaching and learning
Assessment across the course units varies, and includes a combination of examinations, essays, course work, assignment, report and group presentations. A dissertation is also undertaken in the final semester over the summer that will bring together your learning and knowledge from across the course.
Course unit details
During the course you will be taking 180 credits in all.The eight taught modules during semester one and twototal 120 credits and consists of both compulsory and optional taught units which can be viewed in the list below.
Over the summer period, you will carry out your Research Dissertation, worth 60 credits. This will provide you with the practical opportunity to work with real world businesses and organisations, developing critical business research and problem-solving skills on a topic of your interest.
Examples of recent dissertation project topics include:
- Work-life balance: perspectives of female teachers from the UK and India
- Demographic change in Germany and Japan and the implications for the labour market
- A comparative study of gender discrimination at work in the UK and China
- The impact of support practices on expatriate adjustment in a Russian multinational corporation
- Coping mechanisms of Nigerian women balancing motherhood and managerial roles
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMAN60261 | 15 | Mandatory | |
| BMAN60992 | 15 | Mandatory | |
| BMAN70051 | 15 | Mandatory | |
| BMAN70231 | 15 | Mandatory | |
| BMAN71911 | 15 | Mandatory | |
| BMAN75332 | 15 | Mandatory | |
| BMAN71242 | 15 | Optional | |
| BMAN72382 | 15 | Optional | |
| BMAN72391 | 15 | Optional | |
| BMAN73302 | 15 | Optional |
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
This course is ideal for those intending to pursue careers within multinational companies based in the UK or elsewhere and broaden the international understanding of HR professionals who wish to work in a global context .
Recent recruiters
Accenture, AstraZeneca, BAE Systems, Bentley, Deloitte, Department for Education, EY, European Central Bank, Hewlett-Packard, Nestlé, Proctor and Gamble, RBS Insurance, Saudi Aramco, Shell International and Ultramar Group.
Read more about graduate career destinations >>
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