MSc Human Resource Management (International Development) / Course details

MSc Human Resource Management (International Development) is a practical yet critical introduction to the philosophy, values, policies and practices of human resource management in the context of low- or middle-income countries.

It is an ideal choice if you are involved in human resources at an organisation in the Global South.

You may, for example, be a personnel practitioner such as a personnel manager/officer, human resource officer or planner, or alternatively a line manager concerned broadly with the management of people in an organisation.

• We're Europe's largest dedicated development research and teaching institute and have been at the  forefront of development studies for over 60 years .  
• We're ranked 7th in the UK and 11th in the world for development studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021). 
• Our research was ranked first in the UK for impact and second in the UK for quality in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014). 
• We are proud to tackle global inequalities and rank first in the UK for our impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2021 ( THE Impact Rankings 2021 ). Most of the course units - core and optional - are closely associated with SDGs.  
• We bring cutting-edge insights from our research into all our postgraduate teaching. Our courses bring different development perspectives and voices to Manchester, from  activists from the Global South  to the leaders of multinational companies.  
• We are home to the internationally recognised  African Cities Research Consortium ,  Effective States and Inclusive Development  and  FutureDAMS  research centres. 
• Students are part of our vibrant research community, including our  public lecture series  which brings world experts, former heads of state, and leading development thinkers, to discuss current issues in development.

Part-time students complete the course over 24 months. There are no evening or weekend course units available; you should, therefore, discuss course requirements with the Programme Director and seek approval from your employer. Timetabling information is usually available from late August. You can discuss course unit choices during induction week with the Programme Director.

The taught elements of the course, carrying 120 credits overall, is continuously assessed by a variety of methods (e.g., project-based reports, essays), involving largely individual submissions, but also elements of group work.

You must also complete a 12,000-15,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice approved by the Programme Directors.

You are encouraged to base your dissertation on topics of direct professional concern.

I chose to study at The University of Manchester because of the postgraduate programmes offered and GDI's reputation for impactful research, and International Development was perfectly aligned with my career aspirations.  

It has been an incredible journey to tap into the lecturer's wealth of expertise. I was able to relate most of the courses to real work experience beyond developing a theoretical background.  

What I enjoyed the most was the diversity of the people and that I was able to meet and share experiences with different people from all over the world. 

It has been an asset having a degree from the prestigious University of Manchester, ranking 27th in the world, and GDI being one of the ten best developmental schools in the UK. My GDI qualification coupled with my previous work experience has allowed me to explore promising opportunities and to stand out.

Aida Erkihun Bayissa, MSc International Development