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We hold open days and information sessions throughout the year aimed at students considering an undergraduate, postgraduate or postgraduate research degree at UWS.
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An you can find full information on how to study at UWS in 2024 here.
Find your place at UWS in 2024
The BA (Hons) Business & Human Resource Management at the University of the West of Scotland is a highly specialist degree programme, designed to support and develop current and future professionals in Human Resource Management.
The programme has been designed to deliver up-to-date practical and
professional skills, underpinned by appropriate academic theory. This
is fostered by a comprehensive learning journey, supported by a clear
programme structure — in line with UWS’ Curriculum Framework,
aimed at delivering simple, coherent and authentic education:
The programme has been accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), and therefore meets the highest standards in the profession of People/Human Resource Management.
For that reason, the programme design is driven by the CIPD Core
Knowledge and Core Behaviour, in line with the CIPD CPD Map, as
outlined below:
On successful completion of the Honours degree, students will be
entitled to the Associate Membership of the Chartered Institute of
Personnel and Development (CIPD).
In line with UWS Curriculum Framework, aiming for flexible (using
best-in-class technologies and pedagogies, meeting the learning
needs of students in contemporary Scotland) and inclusive
(recognising the diversity of the student body, and the need to be
accessible to all) education, the programme is designed around the
various needs of our diverse student body. This means the programme
is offered full-time across all four years while providing a meaningful
part-time/blended learning approach towards meeting the needs of
students currently in Human Resource Management employment.
Furthermore, both the university and the programme aim to make a
contribution not only to the Human Resource Management profession
but also to communities and the wider society. This is nurtured by a
proactive approach towards incorporating the UN Sustainable
Development Goals (UNSDG), with a focus on the following:
The aim of working towards achieving these principles is embedded
throughout the entirety of the BA(Hons) Business & HRM at UWS, and
through the provision of the opportunity to develop the requisite
knowledge, critical thinking and skills.
Our Programme has achieve at 95% overall student satisfaction in the NSS 2023.
“Passionate lecturer who goes above and beyond constantly to ensure we have the best support and help possible to do well and understand everything.”
“Practical modules were very useful, helped me gain confidence going forward into my professional career.”
“The lecturers offered their time and gave extra help a€" their doors were always open.”
While there are currently no formal arrangements around placement,
we pro-actively help students obtain internships, placements, work
experience or part-time work through strong industry and alumni
connections.
The dedicated HRM Alumni Network continues to work with UWS to
help create opportunities for students, including work-placements,
guest lecturers and networking events.
Here at UWS, we pride ourselves in creating a supportive learning
environment, aimed at enabling all students to be successful in their
degree and beyond. The universe offers a wide range of support
mechanism, including the following:
Scottish, UK, EU and international students are all considered on an individual basis. A range of factors are considered when assessing applications, and alternative combinations of qualifications and experience are accepted.
Check the Undergraduate Entry Requirements page for more information about country-specific entry requirements.
As a Widening Access & Participation University, we can other students accelerated entry. This can give students the opportunity to enter into second or third year, depending on qualifications. Due to the professional accreditation of the programme, direct fourth year entry is unavailable.
*for more information on standard and minimum entry requirements, see our Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
Scottish Advanced Highers: BCC (128 UCAS Tariff points) Should have a relevant subject.
A Levels: BBB (120 UCAS Tariff points)
International Baccalaureate: 28 points
BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM in relevant subject
HNC: HNC titles with required Required Modules:
Human Resource Management : Business Managing People & Organisations; HRM Core Activities/HRM: An Introduction
Management & Leadership: Managing People (J1F5 34) (L8) AND Managing People & Organisations (F84T 34) (L7) OR Human Resource Management: An Introduction (H1KP 34) (L7)
HND: Business; Leadership & Management without relevant modules.
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.
General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)
Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see section below for more details).
SOCIAL WORK DEGREES
For our BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work programmes, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to, or require professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET)*.
For such courses, the IELTS score is as follows:
* Note that the Occupational English Test (OET) will now be accepted in addition to IELTS as proof of a Nurse's English Language Competence (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2019).
For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science programmes, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:
* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.
West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*
*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:
On our course pages, you will find details of our entry criteria listed as Standard Entry Requirements and Minimum Entry Requirements. These are the academic qualifications that, depending on your personal circumstances, you will be required to meet to allow your application to be considered for a place at UWS.
Competition for places on many of our courses can be very high and even if you meet the standard or minimum qualifications stated, there is no guarantee that your application will progress to the next stage of the admissions process. We review individual applications very closely and place great importance on your personal statement and academic reference as well as your academic qualifications before making selection decisions.
Our Standard Entry Requirements are the grades that you will need to achieve to allow you to be considered for entry to a specific programme of study.
Our Minimum Entry Requirements are applicable to those applicants who have not had an equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic ability at school or college and are known as ‘widening access’ applicants. We also sometimes refer to this type of applicant as receiving a ‘contextual’ offer. We may be able to provide you with a contextual offer if you fall into one of the categories below:
If you fall into any of the first four categories above, please mention this on your UCAS application. We will automatically apply category 5 if it applies to you.
If you have already achieved the required grades for either our standard or minimum entry criteria, we may be able to offer you an unconditional offer for some course areas. If you have not yet achieved these grades, we may be able to make you a conditional offer, which will rely on you achieving further qualifications before you can be accepted on to a programme of study.
Further details of our Admissions processes can be found as follows:
The programme has been designed to deliver up-to-date practical and
professional skills, underpinned by appropriate academic theory. This
is fostered by a comprehensive learning journey, supported by a clear
programme structure — in line with UWS’ Curriculum Framework,
aimed at delivering simple, coherent and authentic education:
Therefore, the programme takes a strategic approach to developing
skills and knowledge across all four years, throughout which it
develops students' intellectual and imaginative understanding and
judgement, the ability to resolve problems effectively and the ability to
recognise the relevance of a wide variety of approaches fundamental
to Human Resource Management. The programme engenders an
analytical and creative approach and encourages independent
judgement and critical self-awareness all directed towards continual
improvement in the business and Human Resource/people areas.
First year lays the groundwork for the successful completion of the degree programme in Human Resource Management by providing an overarching outline of key business- and HRM-related concepts,
covered by the following modules:
Second year of the programme focuses on the further development of a generalist understanding of Human Resource Management, the role it plays in organisations and its contribution to organisational success, addressed through the following modules:
Third year places a strong emphasis on the understanding and alignment of skills, knowledge and behaviours to the CIPD CPD Profession Map, as well as helping students to develop key research
skills, preparing them for their Honours Project in fourth year — through the following modules:
In addition, third year outlines more contemporary issues in HRM, including the following:
In fourth year, students will explore a variety of more specialist areas within Human Resource Management, including the following:
This is further nurtured by the completion of the Honours Project, where students will conduct their own research project, exploring a contemporary issue in Human Resource Management in great depth.
In line with the University’s Curriculum Framework, the BA (Hons) Business & HRM utilises a range of learning, teaching and assessment methods to enable learning outcomes to be achieved — fostered by
the university’s contemporary approach to hybrid learning. This approach exposes students to a wide range of learning, teaching and
assessment methods in order to assist in the development of a variety of skills within students and to achieve a wide range of learning
outcomes.
Furthermore, the programme aims to balance academic knowledge and employability-focused skills within its assessment strategy. This
includes the use of written assignments, presentations, assessment centres/in-trays, role plays, and vivas, among others.
The BA (Hons) Business & HRM programme is designed around the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF), with a focus on developing valuable graduate attributes to ensure our students are industry-ready on completion of the degree.
Please visit our ‘Programme Specifications and Module Descriptors (PSMD)’ page for more information on the aims and structure of the programme, and the teaching modules, assessments and course information.
Upon completion of the programme, our graduates are equipped with the professional knowledge, skills and understanding to pursue careers within human resources. The business modules arm our graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to explore careers in general organisation management.
Recent Business & Human resource management graduates are employed across the public, private and third sector in industries such as recruitment, NHS, BP, IKEA and local authority.
UWS offers various postgraduate qualifications which can help graduates further develop their knowledge and understanding of business and HRM. MSc HRM & Pathways, MSc International Management, and Master of Business Administration (MBA) are only a few of the options available to graduates of the BA(Hons) Business & HRM programme.
Graduates looking to pursue research or education may wish to consider an academic career and apply for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree.
Use the Link below to download details of our full-time, part-time tuition fees for Bachelor, Masters, Research, and English Language pre-sessional courses for session 2023-24.
Tuition Fees£1,820 cost per year of study (usually paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750
£9,250 Cost per year of study, but not more than £27,750
£15,500 per year of study
£305 per module (20 credits)
£1,550 per module (20 credits)
£1,550 per module (20 credits)
£2,580 per module (20 credits)
We will always try to make sure that we publish accurate course information but we do not accept responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We will also try to make sure that we deliver our courses in line with our published information. However, we may not always be able to do so and you can find further information about this in our enrolment terms and conditions.