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If you are applying from outside the UK, click apply now. Year 1 - Full Time.
Course starts: 19 January 2026Apply now
Study a CIPD accredited course highly relevant to modern workplaces. Undertake a year-long placement and put your learning into practice. Gain sought-after skills and knowledge for a rewarding career in human resource management.
The BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management course focuses on the practical skills outlined in the CIPD Professional Map.
Compared to our core Business and Management course, there's a greater focus on how to inspire and develop people effectively. It concentrates on the acquisition of the skills required to manage the changing HR function including modern individualised contractual employment relationships, often remotely and digitally managed in an authentic, transparent, and ethical manner.
Sunderland Business School prioritises employability across all years of undergraduate degrees. These help you strengthen the six key essential attributes of being capable, enquiring, creative, enterprising, ethical, and global in outlook necessitated by the world today.
With an innovative mix of experiential learning and knowledge development in terms of the role, function, and influence of managers and leaders in a changing business world, the Business and HR Management course provides you with opportunities for creative, reflexive, innovative, and entrepreneurial skills development in live work environments.
Examples of experiential learning methods include live projects, placement opportunities, workplace shadowing, and panel presentations.
The course features innovative teaching methods and learning by doing and reflecting. This includes problem-based learning, where you’ll work within a small team to explore issues or decide how to manage a situation. This helps you to dissect, challenge, and debate issues.
Other learning techniques include company visits, guest speakers, and cutting-edge e-learning technologies. These are in addition to a combination of lectures, seminars, debates, tutorials, and workshops.
Assessment methods include narrative reports, e-portfolios, live employer-based consultancy projects, negotiated assessments, case studies, reflective statements, audio journals, posters, digital storyboards, blogs, podcasts, and YouTube videos.
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Our typical offer is:
| Qualification | Minimum grade |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade: SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement | GPA 3.0 or above and: Sat score of 1100/1600 from SATs AP (Grades 3+ in at least 2 subjects) ACT (score of 26+) |
If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.
If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.
Our admissions policy uses a range of flexible options to support you to study with us. This may include a reduced offer of up to 16 UCAS tariff points, (or equivalent). Find out if you are eligible.
If English isn't your first language, please see our English language requirements.
2025/26 fees:
The annual, full-time fee for this course is:
*Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2025/26 will be £9,535. You will pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.
If you're unsure whether you qualify as a UK, EU, or international student, or want to find out more about EU fees and funding, see our Help and Advice article.
Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
Our students graduate with current and sought-after skills and knowledge across all areas of human resource management. You'll understand how businesses create success, how to manage business operations, how to make informed decisions, and how to lead change in organisations. In addition, CIPD-accredited qualifications can significantly enhance your career opportunities.
The employability-focused curriculum of the course has been designed in collaboration with a range of employers including CDC Wealth Management, Caterpillar, Nissan, Network Rail, NCC, NHS, Enterprise Rent a Car, Uplift LP, Sedgefield SSP CIC, Castle Howard, and NRL.
Our regular programme of guest speakers from industry allows you to listen to people who are already in the type of management position that you may one day hold. Recent speakers include Maurice Duffy, CEO of Global Blackswan; Mike Johnson, CEO of Castrol and Executive Vice President of BP; Uday K. Dholakia, Senior Partner of Global Consulting; Neil Stephenson, CEO of ONYX; James Ramsbotham, CEO of the North East Chamber of Commerce; as well as other representatives from a number of our region’s largest employers.
The faculty-based employability team will support you in securing an optional paid work placement to further enhance your employability between your second and final year. It effectively becomes a third year of a four-year course, and you’ll earn an average salary of £14,000-£18,000 a year depending on your location.
Placements are an excellent opportunity to put your learning into practice and understand the context for your new knowledge. The contacts made during placements can also be valuable for future job offers.
The University supports student-led initiatives that help you gain practical experience of human resource management. Recently, the business school has launched an HR Society, meeting monthly, comprising staff, students of all levels, (undergraduate to doctoral) local employers, and the local CIPD branch. It's the perfect opportunity for networking and building relationships with other HR professionals and benefits include HR business mentors, shadowing, and attending north-east employer network meetings.
There's also the general Business Society, which organises events and guest speakers, as well as attending tours of various companies. With its professional approach, it’s a great way to put the lessons about how to make organisations function effectively into practice. There's something for every student who's studying a subject related to business.
A top-up entry option is available to those who've already successfully completed a Higher National Diploma (HND) or Foundation Degree and wish to progress onto the final year of the honours degree course. Topping up your existing HND or Foundation Degree will take one year of full-time study and may open up future career options to you, depending on your chosen career path.
Contact us to find out how you can get credit for your previous learning and top-up your qualification to a range of degrees.
I was offered to continue working on a flexible contract whilst studying my final year at University
My placement year was such a fantastic opportunity and enhanced my knowledge of the business sector.
The teachers and support staff have so much experience and knowledge so use them as much as you can.
