Strategic People Management (MA)
The Strategic People Management MA programme is designed for those looking to develop a strong understanding of how people work within organisations, focusing on both the broad skills needed in Human Resource Management (HR) and specific People Management skills.
This PG Diploma and MA qualification, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), prepares students to become leaders in people practice and management. Through a structured course, you’ll learn how to bring real value to organisations by developing and leading successful HR practices.
The course offers two major stages of study. Part one, the PG Diploma, lays the groundwork by providing the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the essentials of people management and shape people practice in the workplace. By completing this part, students gain CIPD Level 7 Associate status, which is a globally recognised standard in HR and people management. For those seeking further qualifications, completing the second part of the course leads to the full Strategic People Management MA.
As a student, you will learn how to approach strategic and operational level leadership, equipping you with the knowledge to make decisions that will shape people practices and influence the success of your organisation. This course is especially suited for those who are either already in a management role or are looking to move into one, helping you to understand how to handle the challenges and responsibilities that come with leading a team. The course also covers business growth and employability, showing how effective people management can boost both individual and organisational success.
For those interested in the practical application of what they learn, the Strategic People Management MA provides opportunities to understand an interdisciplinary HR approach. This means that you’ll learn to address complex people management issues from multiple angles, bringing value to different areas within the business. As organisations today work in a global environment, the course content covers relevant international HR perspectives, helping you to gain insight into how people practice, and management operates, on a broader scale.
Ultimately, this qualification is an investment in your future as a people professional. The course will prepare you to take on a people practice role that not only meets the standards of the CIPD but also gives you the tools to build and improve the quality of people practice in your workplace, helping you create lasting value and impact.
The CIPD accreditation gives graduates from this course a competitive edge, with a clear path to achieving full CIPD membership.
Course details
- On-campus
- Part-time
- English
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
Our teaching philosophy combines practical and theoretical learning to prepare you for leadership in people management. With a focus on strategic thinking and CIPD-aligned skills, we support your development with expert-led modules, interactive group discussions, and a virtual learning environment.
Year 1
In the first year, you’ll gain core skills in Understanding the Business Context, Shaping Cultures and Behaviours, and Resourcing and Talent Management. Modules emphasise essential People Management skills and equip you to apply HR principles across organisational settings, building a strong foundation in both strategic and operational practices.
Year 2
Year two advances into complex topics, including Driving Change and Building Business Cases, Driving Performance, and Advanced Application of Employment Law. This year strengthens your capacity for strategic and operational level leadership, providing tools to shape people practices effectively and manage complex organisational challenges.
Year 3 (MA Completion)
The final year focuses on a dissertation project, allowing you to explore a strategic people management issue in depth. This capstone experience develops practical problem-solving skills and prepares you for high-impact roles by demonstrating the ability to integrate research into actionable HR strategies.
Compulsory
(60 credits)
(15 credits)
(15 credits)
(15 credits)
(15 credits)
(15 credits)
(15 credits)
(15 Credits)
(15 Credits)
Disclaimer
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The modules outlined above provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this course based on recent academic teaching. We continuously review our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
You’ll typically complete 120 credits per year of study on a full-time course. For more information visit our Student Agreement.
Ratings and Rankings
Staff
Our People
You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Further information
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2:2 honours degree 
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or UWTSD recognised equivalent.
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or relevant professional qualification eg. CIPD Intermediate qualification, ILM, CIM
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or those who do not meet the above criteria may be admitted to the course provided their professional or managerial experience is deemed to be appropriate.
Alternative entry routes 
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Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCert). This is the first part of the full Master’s degree.
Once you have successfully completed your PGCert studies, you will be eligible to progress for the remainder of the Master’s degree. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
These are ideal routes if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied this subject, or if you did not achieve the grades you need for a place on this degree. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Admissions Advice and Support 
For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
English language requirements 
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Visit the International Applications section of our website to find out more about our English Language Requirements and pre-sessional English Language Courses.
Visa and funding requirements 
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
For full information read our visa application and guides. â¶Ä¯â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
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There are no exams. Assessment will be via reports, academic posters, portfolios, practical demonstrations, short presentations and the creation of learning resources for managers.
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Extracurricular Welsh Opportunities
There are many ways to engage with Welsh culture and life at UWTSD, including joining clubs and societies for Welsh speakers and becoming a member of our vibrant Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol branch. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Opportunities to Learn Welsh
We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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Additional costs include mandatory CIPD student membership and optional purchase of textbooks.
Student Membership of the CIPD costs £109 per year, plus a £40 joining fee. -
You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.
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The qualification will enable students to apply for positions requiring level 7 CIPD status and subject to one year’s experience, for Chartered Membership of the CIPD.