Business Management and the Human Resource BA

This industry-accredited degree offers you detailed study in strategic business management with a specialist focus on human resource management (HRM).

You’ll gain a thorough knowledge of key topics in management and HRM, such as organisational behaviour, industrial relations, management decision-making and the economic environment for businesses.

You’ll have the opportunity to select further specialist modules covering topics ranging from supply chain management to leadership and decision-making.

Accreditation

We’re proud to be one of a select number of universities to hold professional accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), meaning you will be eligible for associate membership of the CIPD once you have completed your degree.

Compulsory modules in your first year will give you the broad foundation you need to study management at this level, and specifically HRM. You’ll gain an understanding of basic accounting practices and economic principles, as well as organisational behaviour and the environment in which contemporary businesses operate. In addition, you’ll learn about the theory and practice of setting up a business of your own and examine the relationships between business and societies.

You’ll build on this in Year 2, where you’ll examine how the theories of organisational behaviour relate to real-world situations and learn more about the research and analytical methods used in HRM research. At the same time, you’ll study industrial relations and labour economics, as well as business topics such as decision-making, the legal environment for businesses, corporate social responsibility and marketing. An optional module will allow you to focus on a topic such as usage of information or supply chain management.

When you reach your final year, you’ll develop your management skills with compulsory modules in strategic management and leadership as well as gaining a firm grasp of employment law. You could explore topics such as managing innovation or take the Contemporary Management Consulting module, which gives you the opportunity to register with the Chartered Management Institute. If you successfully complete the module after this, you’ll gain the CMI Level 5 Certificate in Professional Consulting.

The course culminates with your dissertation, an independently researched project that you submit in your final year, allowing you to apply your research and analysis skills to a topic of your choice.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Discovery modules

Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.

This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

You’ll be taught using a range of methods including lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops. The rest of your time will be spent in independent learning, which allows you to develop your skills in research and analysis. Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies: it’s a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your programme and modules.

You’ll also benefit from dedicated academic counselling from your Head of Year, a lecturer in your subject area who will meet you individually suring the year and act as a personal tutor.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

We use a variety of assessment methods to help you develop a range of transferable skills that you’ll need in professional life, These are likely to include coursework, exams, oral presentations, group reports and dissertations.

Entry requirements

A-level: AAB

GCSE: Mathematics grade B/5 and English Language grade B/6 or equivalent, or an appropriate English language qualification.

• Access to HE Diploma

  We consider the Access to Higher Education Diploma to be suitable for mature UK/EU applicants (21+ at the start of the undergraduate programme).

  Applicants must complete a Business-related diploma of 60 credits with 45 credits at Level 3. A minimum of 30 Level 3 credits must be awarded at Distinction level and 15 at Merit.

  Applicants are expected to meet the GCSE Maths and English Language minimum requirements for their chosen degree programme.

  Please note that applicants presenting this qualification may be called for interview (where they must also present a recent piece of academic writing for review) - this requirement is assessed on a case-by-case basis upon receipt of the application.
  

• BTEC

  We will accept the RQF BTEC National Extended Diploma in Business with Distinction Distinction Distinction (an academic A Level is not required). For the QCF BTEC National Extended Diploma in Business, or other BTEC qualifications alongside academic A-levels, please see our BTEC entry requirements.

• Cambridge Pre-U

  D3, M1, M2 or D2, M2, M2. Please note that this requirement excludes the Cambridge Pre-U Certificate in Global Perspectives and Independent Research. We also consider applicants who offer a combination of Pre-U and A-Level qualifications. Please contact lubsugadmissions@leeds.ac.uk for further advice.

• International Baccalaureate

  35 points overall including 5 in Standard level/Maths Studies or 4 in Higher level Maths and 5 in English (Standard or Higher Level), with 16 points from Higher Level subjects.

  For those candidates who meet our Maths or English requirements through another qualification, these minimum points for Maths or English in the IB Diploma do not apply. If you are presenting Literature and Performance as one of your International Baccalaureate subjects, you will need to present a separate English qualification.

• Irish Leaving Certificate (higher Level)

  Applicants must obtain 4 H2 grades and 2 H3 grades in the Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher Level). Maths and English Language will be accepted at Ordinary level in lieu of GCSEs. A grade of O3 is required for GCSE B/5 (Maths) or GCSE B/6 (English).

• Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

  Scottish Highers and Scottish Advanced Highers are acceptable for entry onto our degree programmes in the following combinations: six Highers at AAAABB or one Advanced Higher at A with five Highers at AABBB, or two Advanced Highers at AB with five Highers AABBB. We will also accept three Advanced Highers at AAB. Intermediate 2 / National 5 Maths and English are acceptable in lieu of GCSE requirements on a grade for grade basis.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

How to apply

Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

The deadline for international students to apply to Leeds University Business School courses is 30 June.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

Fees

UK/EU: See fees section below

International: £21,000 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. When the fee is available we will update individual course pages.

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26
Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 are available on individual course pages. Fees for students starting in 2025/26 will be available from September 2024.

Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Additional cost information

<p>An additional fee is payable to fulfil CIPD accreditation. Whilst studying the course you will have the option to join as a Student Member and once you have graduated you will be eligible for Associate Membership. CIPD membership is optional and you are not required to join in order to complete the course. Please visit the <a href="https://www.cipd.co.uk/membership/become-member/fees">CIPD website</a> for the most up-to-date fee information.</p><p>All students who choose to take the final year optional module Contemporary Management Consulting will have the opportunity to register with the <a href="http://www.managers.org.uk/">Chartered Management Institute</a> (CMI). By paying this fee you will be registered with the CMI and if you successfully complete the module you will receive the CMI Level 5 Certificate in Professional Consulting.</p>

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Leeds University Business School awards a generous range of scholarships.

This degree is semi-vocational, as our CIPD accreditation ensures it prepares individuals for a career in human resource management, and other management roles that demand an understanding of the human element of business. Because you’ll be eligible for Associate Membership of the CIPD, should you choose to join the CIPD as a student member during your studies you’ll be able to use the designation Assoc CIPD after you successfully graduate.

Over the last few years graduates from our Human Resource Management and broader Management degrees have gone into jobs such as a Human Resources Manager, Business Development Manager, Recruitment Consultant, Information Technology Risk Consultant, Sales Executive, and Marketing Assistant.

Find out more about Careers and Employability in Leeds University Business School.

Careers support

You will be supported throughout your studies by the Business School’s dedicated Employability and Opportunity team who will help you develop and demonstrate the professional skills and experience that top employers are looking for through one-to-one support, workshops and lectures from graduate employers, including PwC, L’Oréal, Mars, Unilever and SMEs.

The Employability and Opportunity team also work with a large network of experienced professionals from companies such as Barclays, M&S and KPMG, who volunteer as mentors on our Nurturing Talent Mentor Scheme. Applying for the scheme is a competitive process and it offers Business School students a wide range of benefits as they are mentored on a one-to-one basis for one academic year.

In addition, Leeds University Business School students also have full access to the University Careers Centre and Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Studies. Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

Study abroad

On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. The University has partnerships with more than 400 universities worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America.

Read more about Study Year Abroad

Work placement

Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to spend a year in industry with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors, in the UK or overseas.

Read more about Work Placements.