Industrial Relations & Managing Human Resources – (M.A.)

Contents

We will provide you with an excellent grounding in both the theory and practice of employment relations. Our course will be relevant to you whether you want to work in personnel, or general management, unions, consultancy, or research. Because we are recognised for our research training by the Economic and Social Research Council, the course provides a sound footing for going on to doctoral research.

Our study programme consists of:

• Five core modules with an element of choice
• General & Practioner seminars
• Two elective modules
• A dissertation.

Modules are assessed primarily by written assignments, with examinations taken if you do not meet the required standard in those assignments. Class presentations form part of the assessment in some modules. CIPD route students do additional assessments including unseen tests.

Core modules

You will start your course with an Introductory module with two elements. An induction week, which introduces you to the style of the course, is followed by a short foundation programme covering understanding and researching employment. This will introduce you to key concepts and features of industrial relations and current controversies in the regulation of employment.

There are then three core modules:

• International Context of Employment Relations
• Managing Human Resources
• Researching Industrial Relations and the Management of Human Resources.

Your choice of one of the following two modules will complete your core modules:

• Employment Relations in Britain (compulsory if you are taking the CIPD professional qualification)
• Comparative Employment Relations.

The taught modules are complemented by our General & Practitioner seminars. These non-assessed events develop your general skills and competencies, and broaden your exposure to contemporary issues and practice.

Elective modules

Elective modules allow you to explore your own interests in the field, building on the solid foundation of your core modules.

Choose two modules from one of two streams.

Transnational Employment Relations

• Multinationals & Employment Relations
• Global Governance of Employment Relations
• European Integration & Employment Relations

Critical Issues in Managing Human Resources

• Organisational Behaviour
• Employment Law & Practice
• Equality & Diversity

General & Practitioner seminars

The taught modules are complemented by our General & Practitioner seminars. These non-assessed events develop your general skills and competencies, and broaden your exposure to contemporary issues and practice.

Some seminars are followed by an informal social event to help you to get to know your tutors and fellow participants.

This seminar series gives you access to senior practitioners within industrial relations with whom you can discuss contemporary issues. Additionally, graduates of our previous course return to speak about their post-MA experience giving you an insight into different career opportunities.

Workshop sessions are also run about general academic issues, such as writing essays in the field of industrial relations. There are also sessions covering personal career development strategies, with an introduction to the services of the University of Warwick's excellent Career Advisory Service.

Recent events include:

• Rebalancing trade: the need for global labour standards
  Sam Gurney, Trades Union Congress, European Union and International Relations Department
• The journey to becoming a Top 100 company - can you start it too?
  Michael Doolin, Director of Human Resources and Training, GeoPost UK
• How HR adds value
  Carla Barnett, HR Adviser, Britvic
• The cooperative perspective
  Bob Cannell, Suma
• Exploring HR directions - Generalist, Specialist & Consulting
  Reman Singh, Human Resources, Hewitt Associates, New Delhi
• Enforcing labour rights in the UK
  John Page, Trainee Employment Relations Barrister, Hackney Community Law Centre and TSSA union

Dissertation

Your 10,000 word dissertation is the cornerstone of the MA. The topic you choose can be anything within the broad scope of issues covered on the course. Most dissertations are based on field research that provides you with the opportunity to practice and develop the range of skills you have acquired through the taught modules. It allows you test out and apply these skills in a practical setting rather than in the realm of academia.

You will write your research proposal as part of the assessment for the core module Researching Industrial Relations.

Recent dissertation subjects have included:

• Expansion of small businesses & the relevance of a human resources function
• How does gender structure the experience of disability?
• The management of organisational change: the role of human resource professionals
• The role of Trade Unions in workers' training: the case of Singapore
• The real determinants of high turnover among IT workers: a case study of a Japanese IT company
• The effects of stress within the HR department of a young telecommunications company
• The skills crisis & employee retention within the information technology industry.

Funding details

We strongly advise you to arrange funding for your time at WBS as early as possible.

Scholarships

In 2011-2012, we are offering more than 80 WBS scholarships for UK/EU students,
worth over £400,000. We automatically consider all eligible applicants to WBS courses, while funds are available.

We strongly recommend that you apply for a place on your chosen course as early as possible if you'd like to be considered.

WBS Scholarships

WBS Scholarships are intended for participants who are likely to be in the top 20 percent of their class. You must bring both outstanding experience and diversity of background to the class, and be a successful ambassador for WBS following graduation.

Warwick Scholarships

The University of Warwick Graduate School also offers some scholarships which may be available to applicants. You will generally need to apply for these separately.
Scholarships are usually awarded towards payment of your academic fee. Some funding sources have deadlines, some closing as early as February in the year of entry.

Banks & loans

Your bank might be able to offer you preferential borrowing rates on a loan, or an interest-free overdraft. You might want to make an early appointment with a bank representative to discuss your requirements.

Some United Kingdom banks may offer you a Career Development Loans (CDL), backed by the Government. The scheme is available to those intending to work in the United Kingdom or European Union countries. It can help fund up to two years of study.

Overseas students

There is some funding available for overseas students who are studying in the UK. However, available funding is usually awarded on a competitive basis and there are often many applicants for few awards.

The University of Warwick International Office's web site holds lots of information on funding for overseas students.

It may be possible to apply in your own country for British government awards. Talk to your local British Council office. In particular, overseas students are able to apply for a British Chevening Scholarship.

Check the conditions of eligibility in the booklets produced by the different grant-awarding bodies to see if you are eligible. Sometimes you may be able to put together small grants from different agencies, one paying fees alone while another contributes to your living expenses or travel.