BSc (Hons) Business Management with Human Resource Management

At the University of Plymouth, this degree is designed to help you learn by doing. From your very first year, you’ll get involved in real projects, gain hands-on management experience, and develop the practical HR and business skills employers look for. The course combines theory with genuine industry engagement, so you leave not just with knowledge — but with confidence and competence in managing people and driving business performance.

Here’s how you’ll gain that experience:

• Work Placement Year
  You’ll have the option to take a full placement year between your second and final year. It’s a chance to gain real industry experience, build professional networks, and put your management and HR knowledge into practice within a real organisation.

• Live Consultancy Projects
  Throughout the degree, you’ll work on live briefs with local businesses and social enterprises. These projects allow you to apply your learning to real challenges — developing solutions, presenting findings, and making recommendations directly to clients.

• Practical and Reflective Modules
  Modules such as Developing Management and Leadership Competencies focus on teamwork, leadership exercises, and self-evaluation. In later years, the Experiential Practice module helps you reflect on your real-world learning and link it to your career goals.

• Honours Project / Dissertation
  In your final year, you’ll complete an independent research or consultancy project. Many students choose to partner with a business, exploring real HR or management issues to propose practical solutions.

• Human Resource Management Focus
  You’ll study specialised modules in People Management, Contemporary HRM, and HR in a Global Context, giving you an in-depth understanding of recruitment, motivation, talent management, and strategic HR decision-making.

• Digital and Analytical Skills Development
  Modules in Decision Making for Business and Financial Data Analysis teach you to interpret business data and use digital tools to make evidence-based decisions — skills that are essential for HR professionals in today’s data-driven environment.

• Modern Facilities
  You’ll study in the Fitzroy Building, home to Plymouth Business School. It includes collaborative learning spaces, advanced IT labs, and the Bloomberg Interactive Suite, where you can work with real financial and business data. The Cube enterprise hub also supports students who want to explore entrepreneurship and innovation.

• Career and Placement Support
  A dedicated careers and employability team offers one-to-one coaching, CV reviews, mock interviews, and networking events with employers — ensuring you’re fully prepared to secure placements and graduate roles.

Graduates of the BSc (Hons) Business Management with Human Resource Management at the University of Plymouth develop the leadership, analytical, and people management skills essential for driving organisational performance in a competitive business world. The degree prepares students for a wide range of roles that combine business insight with expertise in managing and developing talent effectively.

Typical career paths include:

• Human Resources Manager or Advisor

• Recruitment and Talent Development Specialist

• Business Consultant or Operations Manager

• Employee Relations or People Engagement Manager

At the University of Plymouth, students benefit from:

• Dedicated employability support through the Careers Service and Plymouth Business School’s Career Hub, offering placements, career mentoring, and employer networking events.
• Strong employment outcomes: Over 95% of University of Plymouth graduates are in employment or further study within 15 months of graduation.
• Industry partnerships: Close links with major employers such as Babcock International, PwC, Santander, and the NHS provide valuable work experience and project-based learning.
• Professional alignment: The course is designed in collaboration with industry professionals and reflects the standards of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), ensuring graduates are work-ready and aligned with current HR practices.
• Graduate success: Alumni progress into roles in HR, management, and consultancy across both public and private sectors, with many advancing into leadership positions over time.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, graduates may choose to pursue a CIPD-accredited MSc in Human Resource Management, MBA, or postgraduate studies in Organisational Leadership or Business Strategy — ideal for advancing into senior HR, consultancy, or executive business roles.