The MSc Human Resources and Organisations is a challenging one-year programme designed to prepare students for outstanding careers in people management and human resources. Grounded in LSE’s critical and analytical approach to learning, the programme provides a unique bridge between theory and practice. Not only will you develop critical thinking skills as an adaptive, innovative and strategic manager, but you will also gain a clear understanding of the practical issues which organisations face today in managing individuals and workforces.

You will also have the opportunity to acquire valuable experience and industry contacts with a real-world independent consulting project with an external client, through our Links Scheme. The Scheme enables students to apply their learning in practice during the programme, and past projects have worked with a broad range of clients such as HSBC, Accenture and Revlon.

All students will gain core knowledge in the general foundations of HR management and strategy. Building on this foundation, students will then develop their learning into three distinct streams, offering the opportunity to specialise according to your specific career goals and interests:

This stream is designed to further develop your knowledge and skills in general HR management, in particular focusing on competencies needed to satisfy the educational requirements of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's (CIPD) professional levels of membership. CIPD certification is an indispensable qualification for HR managers in the UK, and is also well-regarded in the HR field across the globe. Core courses in this stream provide a solid understanding of HRM in the global context as well as a foundation in management disciplines (e.g., accounting) that are relevant to HR management. Graduates from this stream will be qualified for HR-related careers, including general HR management and HR consulting.

This stream is designed to develop your specialist knowledge in the dynamic relations between employing organisations, national and international institutions, and large-scale labour forces. You will develop expertise in analysing and managing high-level employment relations, and in driving engagement with diverse issues raised by policy-makers, employers, and workforces, alongside representative bodies ranging from trade unions, employer associations and public agencies through to civil society groups. Core courses are underpinned with a global, cross-cultural focus, comparing practice and learning from a variety of political and economic contexts across the world, to shape your knowledge as a globally-adaptable and culturally intelligent manager. Graduates from this stream will be qualified for careers in a variety of areas including HR and general consulting, global HR policy, employment relations, and labour and international organisations such as the ILO. This stream also provides a strong theoretical foundation for further study at PhD level.

This stream is designed to develop your specialist knowledge in behaviour and change in organisations. You will develop expertise in analysing and managing organisational change and employee behaviour at the macro (i.e., group) and micro (i.e., individual) levels. Core courses take a multi-disciplinary approach and are grounded in theories, concepts, and empirical research from psychology, sociology, and management studies. Graduates from this stream will be qualified for careers in a variety of people-management areas, including HR and general consulting, organisational psychology, employee engagement, and learning and development. This stream also provides a strong theoretical foundation for further study at PhD level.