Master of Human Resource Management (with specialisations)

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Shift your thinking and add value to your organisation with the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI)-accredited Master of Human Resource Management (with specialisations) from Charles Sturt University.

If you're an HR practitioner wishing to accelerate your career in a highly competitive marketplace, this online degree will allow you to sharpen your strategic, analytical and practice-based skills.

This course is part of an articulated program of study. Articulated programs allow you to build on your study to achieve the right level of qualification for you.

Make a difference

At Charles Sturt you can create a world worth living in. Let's do it together.

Key information

Study mode and sessions

Online
Next session start: July 14, 2025
Session 1 : March 3, 2025
Online
Session 2 : July 14, 2025
Online

Duration

Minimum time - 1.5 year(s)
Maximum time - 3 year(s)

Entry score

TBA

Indicative fees

Domestic online
Fee paying postgraduate:

Full-time - $32,400.00 pa
Part-time - $16,200.00 pa

Course points and codes

Credit Points: 96
AQF: Level 9
Cricos:

Additional information

  • Professionally accredited course
  • Credit and admission pathways

Applications close February 12

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Find out more

Why study with us?

Charles Sturt University's Master of Human Resource Management (with specialisations) provides the breadth and depth of HR knowledge that contemporary professionals require, presenting the latest in HR management best practice to deliver benefits for individuals and organisations. Gain skills to progress your career and become an asset to your workplace as you apply your advanced knowledge and capabilities.

Tailor your studies

Choose one of five specialisations in: business partnership, conflict and dispute resolution, employment relations, data and risk management or management of organisational change.

 

Contemporary knowledge

To ensure this human resource management course content remains relevant and up to date, our academics receive specialist advice from the Master of Human Resource Management Advisory Committee, consisting of senior executives working in senior HR roles. The quality of member representation, their depth of experience and their HR specialties add significant value to industry insights, including commercial trends and employee expectations.

Flexible study options

This HRM degree is delivered online across a three-session academic year. Study one subject a session or, with approval, fast-track your degree by studying two or more subjects in a session. Subjects are taught using blended learning techniques, including online education study materials, online meetings and subject forums.

Exit points

You may choose to exit the Master of Human Resource Management (with specialisations) with either a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management after completion of four core subjects, or a Graduate Diploma of Human Resource Management after the completion of eight specified subjects.

Professional Accreditation

This course is professionally accredited by -

  • Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI)

Please refer to the Charles Sturt Professional Accreditation resource for specific information and a link to the accreditation body.

5-star uni for business postgraduate salaries.

Our grads earn a median salary of $96,000.

*Good Universities Guide 2022/23

Career opportunities

A master's-level human resource qualification can be transformative in challenging and enhancing your personal and professional development. Charles Sturt University's Master of Human Resource Management (with specialisations) has a reputation for excellence in providing learning, professional and career development opportunities. Our graduates have moved into positions as diverse as human resource director, industrial relations manager, change manager, workforce consultant and organisational development manager. Your degree also prepares you to rise to the next level of management by helping you develop knowledge and skills to identify and solve complex problems, pursue a strategic approach to HR management practice, and implement effective solutions to achieve business goals.

    What you will study

    For each 8-point subject you are enrolled in, you should expect to spend 10 to 12 hours per week working on assignments and assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, and attending lectures, intensive schools, or examinations. If you are studying four subjects per session, this is equivalent to a full-time job. The workload for some subjects may vary as a result of approved course design.

    Intensive school

    You may need to attend an online or on-campus intensive school for certain subjects in this course. These schools usually involve lectures, tutorials and practicals that will give you a deeper understanding of your subject.

    The course consists of eight core subjects, an opportunity to complete a specialisation, research option or electives.

    Core subjects64 Credit Points

    Legend:
    • Intensive school
    • Workplace learning
    HRM502Human Resource Management8 credit pts
    HRM528Strategic Human Resource Management8 credit pts
    HRM550Evaluating Human Resources8 credit pts
    INR517Legal Frameworks of Employment Relations8 credit pts
    HRM514Cross Cultural and International HRM8 credit pts
    HRM534Contemporary Issues in HRM8 credit pts
    HRM563Organisational Development and Workforce Capabilities8 credit pts
    MGT540Facilitating Change8 credit pts

    Specialisation 32 Credit Points

    Legend:
    • Intensive school
    • Workplace learning
    Select one specialisation from the following:
    BP0001Business Partnership32 credit pts
    CR0001Conflict and Dispute Resolution32 credit pts
    DX0001Data and Risk Management32 credit pts
    ER0001Employment Relations32 credit pts
    MC0001Management of Organisational Change32 credit pts

    Restricted electives32 Credit Points

    Legend:
    • Intensive school
    • Workplace learning
    Select 32 points from the following: Restricted electives can also be chosen from any subjects listed in the specialisations
    EMG506Literature Review16 credit pts
    ITC516Data Mining and Visualisation for Business Intelligence8 credit pts
    ITC575Foundations of Big Data Analytics8 credit pts
    MBA551International Placement and Study Tour8 credit pts
    MGM501Theory to Practice of Leadership8 credit pts
    MGM512Transforming Services and Operations8 credit pts
    MGT501Contemporary Management8 credit pts
    MGT536The Leadership Experience8 credit pts
    MGT549Toxic Leadership8 credit pts
    MGT552Leadership and Social Impact8 credit pts
    MGT559Contemporary Issues in Leadership8 credit pts
    MGT568Difference and Leadership8 credit pts
    MGT569The Leadership Challenge8 credit pts
    MGT579Power and Leadership8 credit pts
    MGT598Strategic Business Research8 credit pts
    MKT510How and Why: Consumers and their Behaviour8 credit pts
    MKT525Digital and Social Media Marketing8 credit pts
    MKT563Big Data and Marketing Analytics8 credit pts
    MKT586Agile Thinking For Marketers In a Disrupted World8 credit pts
    MKT587A Deeper Dive Into Marketing Practice8 credit pts

    Research32 Credit Points

    Legend:
    • Intensive school
    • Workplace learning
    Students interested in pursuing Doctoral-level studies on completion select the following:
    MGT598Strategic Business Research8 credit pts
    MGM513Business Data Analytics and Storytelling8 credit pts
    EMG506Literature Review16 credit pts
    Business Partnership

    The Business Partnership specialisation provides students with an overview of the knowledge and skills required to research, monitor, analyse and make effective decisions in relation to the complex issues confronting managers at both strategic and operational levels. It is critical to an organisation's success that managers understand the principles of a range of functional areas of management and apply these principles to the analysis and management of organisational situations and lead effectively. In this specialisation, you will study subjects in the areas of business economics, strategic management, marketing management and business accounting and finance.

     
    Conflict and Dispute Resolution

    Dispute resolution is a growing and constantly changing area that requires continual professional practice and networking to keep informed. This specialisation provides graduates with an understanding of the causes of conflict, and the availability and suitability of various methods of dispute prevention and resolution, and their differing results. Students learn the skills and ethics of conflict resolution and are able to apply them to mediation processes in different settings including their own workplace.

    Students will be exposed to the interdisciplinary nature of conflict theory and will learn to:

    • appreciate cultural approaches and differences in dealing with conflict and resolution

    • design and evaluate systems and methods to resolve complaints and disputes in various settings

    • become familiar with the foundations of law and legal processes

    • compare adversarial with non-adversarial legal systems and advise pathways for effective dispute resolution

    • be aware of theories of morality and how they can be applied in exercising moral judgement.

    Students will also practice skills and identify attitudes that contain and prevent disputes in workplaces and other specialised settings.

    In this specialisation you will study subjects in the areas of the theories and skills of conflict resolution, methods and results in dispute resolution and mediation processes and uses.

    Data and Risk Management

    In HR, being able to analyse and interpret data sources to inform people-related issues, such as recruiting, performance evaluation, leadership, hiring and promotion, job design, compensation, and collaboration, are skills increasingly required by the HR manager. This specialisation allows students to complement their HR knowledge, skills and capabilities by choosing from subjects in data analytics, data management, risk assessment, governance and strategic planning.

    Employment Relations

    Australia's system of industrial relations has been designed in response to a rapidly changing contemporary context and reflects the impact of economic conditions and theories, as well as the social, political and structural transformation of the Australian economy and society. Since the beginning of last century, there has been an explosion of laws that govern the relationships between employers and employees in the Australian workforce. The aim of the specialisation is to give insight into the managerial and specialist roles in the industrial relations field within the private, public or trade union sectors.

    This specialisation provides students with an overview of the theory and practical knowledge of Australian industrial relations and covers issues such as the roles played by trade unions, employers and their associations, and federal and state governments. Students will also learn about contract of employment; employer liability for negligence; workers compensation; collective bargaining; compulsory arbitration; conciliation and negotiation; mediation and conflict resolution; the various types of industrial offensive and defensive actions taken by the parties; organisational behaviour theory; and the various controls and pressures that exist in Australian industrial relations today.

    In this specialisation you will study subjects in the areas of the industrial relations environment, industrial relations systems and issues, industrial relations practice, and industrial relations in the legal environment.

    Management of Organisational Change

    In today's business environment, organisations are required to undergo changes almost constantly if they are to remain competitive. Managing organisational change is the process of planning and implementing change in organisations and minimising employee resistance and loss to the organisation while simultaneously maximising the effectiveness of the change effort.

    The aim of the specialisation in Management of Organisational Change is to provide students with skills, knowledge and attributes needed for the facilitation of organisational change. It is designed for all managers and consultants working in private, public or not-for-profit organisations by providing them with a foundation of theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as a set of skills they can draw on in their roles as agents for change.

    In this specialisation you will study subjects in the areas of organisational politics, culture and change management, management theory and practice, management of change and management of sustainable business.

    For enrolment pattern please refer to the handbook.

    Graduation requirements

    As a Charles Sturt University student, throughout your course you have a responsibility to continue to develop skills in English language, literacy and numeracy as appropriate to your discipline. This ongoing development will enable you to effectively participate in your course and graduate prepared to enter the workforce.

    Costs

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    How is this calculated?

    This is an estimate

    • Fees calculated based on 1 year of full-time study (ETSL).
    • Fees dependant on chosen subjects.
    • Subject to annual increase each year.

    Scholarships

    We have scholarships and grants, totalling over $11 million annually!

    They cover various areas such as academic performance, volunteering, sports achievements, community service, specific courses, on-campus living and individuals in unique circumstances.

    Explore scholarships

    Entry requirements

    Selection rank:

    TBA

    Learn about how our selection ranks are calculated (including ATARs and adjustment factors).

    View the course profile for this course.

    An  undergraduate degree from a recognised Australian tertiary institution (or equivalent).  Applicants without a tertiary qualification may be admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management on the basis of prior post secondary study, professional attainment and/or work experience.

    Standard English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements apply.  Click here to view the specific international course entry requirements.

    Credit and pathways

    If you’ve completed relevant tertiary study, or work experience related to your course, you could receive credit towards your degree. Which would mean completing your qualification quicker. Find out how to apply for credit and see our credit policy.

    Check your eligibility for credit

    We also have several admission pathways to help you take the step into your preferred course, even if you don't quite meet the entry requirements at first. Find out what admission pathways are available to you.

    How to apply

    Applying to Charles Sturt University is easy. Choose how you want to apply below, or get in touch with Charles Sturt University and we can help you with your application.

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    Completing the course made me feel more confident and increased my knowledge base. This qualification will certainly assist me with a promotion or to move into another field more easily in the future.

    Geoff Drummond - Charles Sturt graduate
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