BSc Hons Management and Human Resources (Industry)

The BSc (Hons) Management and Human Resources (Industry) degree at Lancaster University combines academic learning with real-world experience. A key feature is the year in industry, typically taken in the third year, where students work full time in a business or organisation doing HR, management, or people-related roles. This hands-on placement builds professional experience and helps make your CV stronger before you even graduate.

Throughout the course, students engage in applied learning through case studies, group-based assignments, and research-driven modules. You’ll study topics such as organisational change, performance management, employee relations, and strategy, applying theory to real business issues. In later years, you complete a capstone project where you research a specific HR or management problem, analyse data, and propose evidence-based solutions.

Additional practical learning components include:

• A structured placement year, with full-time work in a real business where you apply HR and management skills.

• Support from a dedicated Placements & Internships team, guiding you through finding, preparing for, and performing well in your placement.

• Professional alignment through CIPD-accredited coursework, ensuring your HR learning meets recognised standards.

• Training in research methods, preparing you to carry out business research independently and effectively.

• Optional modules that cover organisational psychology, sustainability, ethics, or digital organising — giving you space to specialise according to your interests.

• A final-year capstone project, where you investigate a real-world HR or management issue in depth.

• Regular engagement with guest HR practitioners, business leaders, and academic lecturers who bring practical insight into the classroom.

Facilities & Resources

Lancaster University Management School provides a supportive and resource-rich environment for this degree:

• Lecture theatres, seminar rooms, and breakout spaces for classes, discussions, and collaboration.

• Computer labs and learning spaces equipped with business-relevant software for data analysis, simulation, and assignments.

• Library access to a wide range of academic and professional resources — business journals, HR databases, e-books, and printed texts.

• A dedicated Placements & Internships support team to help you secure, prepare for, and thrive in your industry placement.

• Careers coaching tailored to management and HR students — helping with CVs, interviews, and long-term professional planning.

• A campus environment that combines academic facilities with relaxing green spaces — promoting both study and wellbeing.

Why This Degree Is a Smart Career Move

1. Real-World Experience: The placement year provides practical experience, making you job-ready and attractive to employers when you graduate.

2. Professional Validation: The CIPD alignment lends credibility to your HR knowledge and makes the qualification more valuable for HR roles.

3. Highly Employable Graduates: The combination of academic study, industry experience, and professional accreditation enhances your job prospects in HR, consulting, or organisational development.

4. Broad Skill Set: You learn management, leadership, HR, and organisational behaviour, which opens up a variety of career paths.

5. Research & Analytical Strength: Through coursework in research methods and your capstone, you develop strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

6. Ethical and Forward-Thinking Leadership: Modules on ethics, sustainability, and contemporary work issues prepare you to lead responsibly in modern organisations.

Graduates from the BSc (Hons) Management and Human Resources (Industry) leave Lancaster with a valuable mix of academic understanding, professional HR knowledge, and hands-on experience gained through a full industry placement year. This combination makes them highly employable and well prepared for roles where they manage people, support organisational change, and contribute to business strategy.

Typical career paths include:

• HR Manager or HR Advisor

• Talent Acquisition or Recruitment Consultant

• Organisational Development Specialist

• Management or Change Consultant

Here is what strengthens your future prospects:

• University support & services:

  • Careers guidance is embedded into the curriculum, with specialist coaching, skills workshops, employer events, and one-to-one support available throughout your degree.

  • The university actively supports students in finding and securing their placement-year opportunities, giving you a year of real industry experience before you graduate.

  • You can complete the Lancaster Award, which formally recognises work experience, leadership, volunteering, and extracurricular development.

  • Career support continues even after graduation, offering lifelong guidance and access to employer networks.

• Employment statistics & salary figures:

  • Business and management graduates from Lancaster typically achieve strong career outcomes, with competitive salary levels soon after graduation and rapid growth with experience.

  • Placement-year students often secure graduate roles more quickly, as employers value real-world HR and management experience.

  • Many graduates enter highly skilled positions immediately after completing their degree.

• University–industry partnerships:

  • The programme is shaped by real organisational needs, with case studies, guest lectures, and insights from practising HR and management professionals.

  • During the placement year, students work directly with employers in sectors such as consulting, public service, manufacturing, technology, and financial services.

  • Graduates often move into roles within well-known organisations thanks to the School’s strong employer relationships.

• Long-term accreditation value:

  • The degree is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), meaning students become CIPD student members and can progress toward Associate Membership upon meeting the necessary requirements.

  • Lancaster University Management School is triple-accredited, providing additional international recognition and adding long-term value to your qualification.

• Graduate outcomes:

  • Graduates progress into roles across HR, change management, organisational development, recruitment, and management consulting.

  • The industry placement gives students a competitive edge, helping them build confidence, professional networks, and workplace readiness.

  • Many alumni quickly advance into specialist or managerial positions due to the programme’s focus on leadership, people strategy, and organisational behaviour.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates may choose to continue their studies through an MSc in Human Resource Management, MSc in Management, or other business-related postgraduate degrees. Professional development options include progressing through higher CIPD qualifications or specialising in areas such as organisational psychology, employment law, or leadership. Research-focused students may pursue a PhD in Management, HRM, or Organisational Behaviour.