Master of Commerce in Human Resources

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Curtin University Perth

Program Overview

The Master of Commerce (Human Resources Major) at Curtin University Perth is a two-year, on-campus postgraduate degree designed for professionals who want to build advanced expertise in human resource management, including workplace performance, employee engagement, strategic HR planning, employment relations and HR analytics. It is particularly suitable for HR managers, employment-relations professionals, consultants and graduates from other disciplines seeking to enter or advance in HR, with learning centred on Curtin’s global, responsible, innovative and technology-driven GRIT approach.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by developing broad commerce and business capabilities that support modern HR practice, including business project management, business analytics and data visualisation, and transformative technologies affecting organisations and society. Alongside these core areas, the Human Resources Major introduces key HR concepts such as building high-performing teams, remuneration and performance, and strategic HR planning, giving students a strong foundation for analysing and managing people within organisations.

Year 2: Students move deeper into specialist HR practice, focusing on areas such as HR analytics, employment relations, and health and safety management, while developing their ability to address complex workplace and organisational challenges. The second year also incorporates Curtin's transformative learning opportunities, including Corporate Sustainability Immersion, Wicked Problems, Executive Education masterclasses and a Capstone Experience, which may involve an internship, consultancy experience, research project or international study tour.

Focus Areas

Focus areas: Strategic HR planning, high-performing teams, remuneration and performance, HR analytics, employment relations, health and safety management, negotiation, comparative global HR management, business analytics, data visualisation and technology-driven business practice.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes: Graduates develop advanced HR management knowledge and professional competencies, with the ability to analyse workplace issues, optimise employee performance and engagement, apply HR analytics and research, address employment-relations challenges, and solve complex business problems through practical and research-informed approaches.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Professional alignment: The program is delivered through Curtin Business School, which holds AACSB and EQUIS accreditation. Curtin states that these internationally recognised business-school accreditations support the global recognition of its business education and reflect quality, industry relevance and professional standards.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Reputation: Curtin Business School has a strong international profile and industry orientation, with Curtin highlighting its connections with business and industry and practical learning opportunities. Curtin also states that its Master of Commerce is designed to enhance employability through business project management, analytics, data visualisation, transformative technologies and industry-focused learning experiences.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Commerce (Human Resources) at Curtin University Perth is designed around practical application rather than theory alone. Students develop professional HR competencies through in-class learning, collaborative projects and guided independent research, with the major focusing on high-performing teams, remuneration and performance, strategic HR planning, HR analytics, employment relations, and health and safety management.

The program also develops students’ ability to use HR analytics and research to address workplace challenges. At Curtin Perth, students have access to dedicated study and collaboration spaces, computer laboratories, extensive library resources and university-provided software that can support research, data analysis and academic work.

Students can build these practical and research capabilities through:

Collaborative projects: The Human Resources major specifically includes collaborative projects, allowing students to work with peers while applying HR concepts to organisational issues.
HR analytics: Students develop knowledge in HR analytics, giving them an opportunity to work with data-informed approaches to workplace and people-management decisions.
Guided independent research: The major includes guided independent research, strengthening students’ ability to investigate HR and employment-relations issues and develop evidence-based recommendations.
Real-world HR applications: Coursework addresses practical areas such as building high-performing teams, remuneration and performance, strategic HR planning, employment relations and health and safety management.
Statistical software: Curtin provides students with access to SPSS through its site-licensed software, including availability on Library computers. This can support quantitative analysis and research activities relevant to HR analytics.
Microsoft Office and research tools: Students can access Microsoft Office 365, while EndNote is available for organising references and creating academic bibliographies.
Computer laboratories: Curtin Perth has major Abacus computer laboratories in Buildings 303 and 501, providing dedicated computing facilities for student study.
Postgraduate study facilities: The TL Robertson Library has a dedicated postgraduate study room with computers and a bookable six-person meeting room, supporting individual research and small-group collaboration.
Business-focused library: The Curtin Graduate School of Business Library provides a specialised collection of business, management and law books, journals and audiovisual resources, along with PCs and printing facilities.
Group and individual study spaces: Curtin Perth provides dedicated study environments, including individual spaces, group areas, study rooms, booths and collaboration hubs.
Practical learning approach: Curtin describes the Human Resources major as developing professional competencies and enabling students to optimise workplace performance and engagement through negotiation, comparative global HR management, employment relations, analytics and research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Commerce (Human Resources) at Curtin University Perth is designed to help students build advanced HR expertise and professional competencies for roles across human resource management, employment relations and workplace performance. The major develops capabilities in areas such as HR analytics, strategic HR planning, remuneration and performance, employment relations, and high-performing teams, preparing graduates to move into specialist and managerial HR careers.

Potential career directions include HR Manager/Consultant, HR Business Partner, Employment Relations Consultant, and HR/People Analytics Specialist. The program is particularly suited to professionals seeking to enter HR or advance into more strategic people-management responsibilities.

Career support and industry connections can further strengthen your transition into employment:

Curtin Careers: Students can access one-to-one career guidance, job-application support, resume feedback, leadership-development workshops and resources designed to improve employability.
UniHub employment platform: Curtin's UniHub provides an online jobs board, discipline-specific career guides, job-application resources, career workshops, presentations and employer events such as the Curtin Careers Fair.
Employer engagement: Recruit Curtin connects employers with Curtin students and graduates through recruitment campaigns, careers fairs, information sessions, presentations and career-development workshops.
Industry partnerships: Curtin Business School supports placements, internships and projects through its work-integrated learning and employment programs, connecting students with organisations and real workplace challenges.
Employment outlook: Curtin notes that demand for HR and training professionals is expected to grow by more than 14% by 2035, reflecting continuing demand for HR capabilities as organisations respond to workplace and technology changes.
Salary figures: Curtin's official pages identified for this program do not publish a specific graduate salary figure, so a salary number would not be reliable to attribute to this particular degree.
Professional recognition: Curtin Business School holds AACSB and EQUIS accreditation, providing international recognition for the business-school environment and strengthening the global value of a Curtin business qualification.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates can pursue HR careers across local businesses, multinational enterprises, government and non-government organisations, giving the qualification relevance across a broad range of employment settings.
Long-term career value: The program's focus on strategic HR, analytics, workplace relations and performance helps graduates develop skills relevant not only to entry-level HR positions but also to longer-term progression into strategic people-management and HR leadership roles.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Master of Commerce, students can continue into higher-level postgraduate study, including a research-focused higher degree such as a Master by Research or PhD, subject to Curtin's entry requirements. Curtin also structures the Master of Commerce as a stackable qualification, meaning eligible students can exit earlier with a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Commerce and use further study to build toward the master's qualification.