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In this highly competitive time for businesses across all sectors, getting the best out of a workforce is vital for organisational success. Graduates who understand how human resource management can help an organisation grow are now well placed to enter successful careers.
The perfect choice for anyone who’s already completed a HND in business or an equivalent qualification, our BA (Hons) Business Management (HRM) (Top-Up) has been developed to bring traditional human resource management practices into the modern era. Through six carefully selected degree modules, you’ll explore subjects covering the development of high performance teams, talent management, rewarding performance, business transformation, and other key areas that you’ll find indispensable in the workplace.
The BA (Hons) Business Management (HRM) (Top-Up) has been developed with input from world-leading organisations and researchers, so that you are exposed to the latest developments happening in the field of human resources, people, and culture. This means you’ll be able to show future employers that you have what it takes to fill current skills gaps in the field.
This course awards a CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management & Leadership and offers CMI Foundation Chartered Manager Status.
Arden University is a member of the Business Graduates Association (BGA), meaning students will receive complementary BGA membership.
Arden University is a member of the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
During your top up degree studies you’ll gain a wider understanding of HR functions, operations, and technologies. You’ll also develop new personal and professionals attributes in dedicated skills-related modules to help build your soft skills and decision-making abilities. Learning research and data analysis techniques using academic and industry focused texts, articles, and reports, you’ll gain a better understanding of contemporary human resources management and overall business functions, with the ability to analyse practical case studies drawn from a range of international organisations.
Using our business simulation software, you’ll be able to access a virtual business, manage people and run it as your own enterprise – managing activities such as marketing, sales, finances, people, product development, operations, and your supply chain. This will give you the chance to practice making critical decisions within a safe environment, helping you develop your ability to interpret commercial information and apply your learnings to generate a profit for your enterprise. You’ll also have access to our Arden Enterprise Incubator throughout your course, which provides you with additional software and resources as well as real-world mentors and industry experts to draw knowledge from. The Arden Enterprise Incubator also gives you the chance to engage in social learning with your classmates, developing your collaborative skills and providing the opportunity for networking with fellow professionals.
It’s a great way to study if you’re looking for flexibility. It was challenging to balance a full-time job with my degree but once I was in a routine, it was much easier to manage everything. Online learning has actually helped me become very good with time management and given me the ability to prioritise tasks.
You have 1-3 years to complete this top up degree course, which means you can study at a pace that works best for you.
Unlike on more traditional degree courses, you don’t need to sit any exams on the BA (Hons) Business Management (HRM) (Top-Up), and you won’t need to spend the summer at home writing a dissertation either. Your assessments have been designed to help you apply your learning to real-word scenarios. This means you’ll be better prepared to apply the skills you’ve gained on the course to your professional role after graduation.
As you work through your course modules you’ll have the chance to compete a range of useful assessment methods such as individual reports, case study analyses, group presentations, and personal independent assignments devised in consultation with your course module leader. Your assessments will have an emphasis upon personal discovery, digital technology, the application of theory to real world business, and management practice and innovative thinking.
We encourage you to be innovative when carrying out your assignments and assessments. You can create podcasts, videos, infographics, consultancy reports, campaigns, posters, interviews, debate sessions, and more. This approach will help you develop skills you'll use in the real world, and most of all, is a fun and engaging way to demonstrate your knowledge and development.
This course is currently available to students as a fully online degree course, which gives you the convenience of being able to study from anywhere worldwide.
"I was already in the working world and running two businesses. Not to mention I also have a young family, so the freedom online learning offered, and the cost effectiveness of the course, was a big draw for me."
Studying the BA (Hons) Business Management (HRM) (Top-Up) online gives you the ultimate in convenience. You can enrol with Arden from anywhere in the world and study your degree from the comfort of home, without the requirement to attend classes in a physical location.
Our online students study their degree through ilearn, Arden’s university campus in the cloud. ilearn provides everything you need to study at University. It offers an integrated virtual learning experience, including your virtual classroom, lecture theatre, and online library (which when used along with our supplementary library, Perlego, gives you access to almost half a million books and journals – yours for free while you study with us).
ilearn is also integrated with Zoom, making it easier to chat with your course tutor during your scheduled seminar sessions. You can even integrate our study materials into your Kindle, making it possible to study wherever you have you Kindle handy.
Studying online doesn’t mean studying alone. As well as receiving regular feedback and guidance from your course tutor, you’ll be studying with likeminded students who you can meet with through our Unitu community, and you’ll have access to community message boards to discuss your course and the topics being raised within it. We’ve even set up community boards embedded into each of the course modules so you can have discussions with your tutor and classmates on the topics you’re currently learning.
Online learning students resident in the UK can apply for a Maintenance Loan if they cannot attend their course in person because of a disability. Please find more information on our fees and funding page. If you're a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland you can find information on Living Cost Loans from your student finance body.
At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.
Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can study in a flexible and convenient way. That's why we keep our requirements simple. All you need is a laptop or desktop PC (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good internet connection. Through ilearn, our online university campus in the cloud, you'll be able to access your course calendar, support services, learning materials, and our online library containing thousands of ebooks, as well as tools for creating assignments, keeping notes, and collaborating with other students on your course.
To be eligible for our BA (Hons) Business Management (HRM) (Top-Up) course, you must have:
Professor Alison Watson is the Head of School for Business Management and Creativity, she was also the Programme Team Leader for UG Business and Accounting programmes. Having taught at Arden for 15 years, she has supported many students on various management courses at all levels of study. Prior to this, Alison was an operations and project manager for a number of large retailers, and therefore has a wealth of experience in the field of business and management.
Alison will provide guidance to the School of Business and Creativity, ensuring that it delivers high quality academic provision and student satisfaction across all courses.
Perhaps you have a strong idea of where you want to go with your human resource management top up degree, or maybe you want to keep your career options open for now? Either way, don’t worry if you’re still a little unclear about what the future holds. The course will give you a range of in-demand and transferable skills that will help you understand how modern organisations work. This gives you the freedom to take your time deciding where in the business ecosystem you’ll fit best, be it as an entrepreneur, manager, or if you’re an experienced professional looking for a career change.
As well as developing important soft skills, up-to-date knowledge of business functions, and career planning abilities, you’ll also be encouraged to develop a Personal Development Plan as you work through your degree. With support from our lecturers, this will help you track your progress and identify areas where you excel.
On the course, your assessments will be linked to real-world workplace issues and practices. Added to the benefits of our enterprise simulation software and Digital Business Hub, you’ll graduate with hands-on experience in problem solving and identifying areas for business growth – all highly desirable skills for today’s employers.
The BA (Hons) Business Management (HRM) (Top-Up) will also give you the chance to:
Your top up bachelor’s degree in human resources, people, and culture will open up many opportunities across all aspects of the business sector. As you study with us you’ll have access to our dedicated career services portal, where you can access additional 'bolt-on' e-learning courses, employer presentations, and search for jobs worldwide. Of course, your course lecturers are always on-hand to provide advice and guidance when it come to your professional future. Just a few of the possible roles you might want to consider after graduation could include:
This course is accredited by both the Chartered Management Institute and the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), and is aligned with available certificates from Amazon and Salesforce which you will be able to pursue independently as you study.
This course awards a CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management & Leadership*
The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) promotes excellence in UK management and leadership. As the CMI possesses a Royal Charter, they are the only organisation in the UK that can award Chartered Manager status to their members – the gold standard in management. With 140,000 members, the institute aims to boost career development across the management sector and connect like-minded professionals.
As an Arden student, you’ll have free CMI Membership throughout your studies, giving you access to a range of additional resources including a mentoring service and invitations to networking events both online and offline.
*Upon completion of your course, the CMI award will depend on your level and length of study, whether you entered your course with Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL) or if any compensation is applied on your modules throughout the duration of study. If this criteria applies to you, you may receive one of the 2 different levels; an Award or Certificate.
This course awards the IOEE Professional Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
The Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE) is the first learning institute dedicated to developing and recognising enterprise and entrepreneurial skills. Arden University has been recognised as an IOEE Academy and our courses are accredited. This demonstrates our commitment to enterprise and equipping students with the skills needed to set up and run their own business, work in a small enterprise, or bring entrepreneurial skills to a larger organisation.
The Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), part of the City & Guilds group, is a professional membership body for leaders and managers with a mission of inspiring great leadership everywhere.
As an Arden student, you’ll receive free membership to the ILM for a year after your graduation, giving you access to over a thousand comprehensive learning resources, including webinars, videos, leadership assessment tools, a dedicated e-learning tool, careers advice, and networking opportunities.
During the course you will learn about some of the most prominent cloud-based tools used in business currently, allowing you to independently acquire certification from Salesforce and Amazon to add to your degree qualification. Certification from Salesforce and Amazon will help you understand how to process real time data and insights to create more meaningful relationships with your customers.
Arden University’s Faculty of Business is an esteemed member institution of the Business Graduates Association (BGA).
Once you’ve enrolled with Arden, our careers centre is easily accessible directly from inside our online platform, ilearn. The careers centre is here to help you discover the areas of your academic and professional life that you find most meaningful and rewarding, and then apply this to your career pathway.
Just a few of the career tools you’ll find in the careers centre include:
As an Arden University student, you’ll have access to the Arden Enterprise Incubator (AEI) online platform to support you in the area of entrepreneurship. Whether students are exploring the idea of setting up their own company or need help and guidance launching or growing an existing business, the AEI provides everything students need to kick start their entrepreneurial journey, as well as to support and empower them along the way.
The AEI has a wealth of resources available including monthly master classes, boot camps, podcasts, blogs, external events, and mentorship. Mentors include Arden University lecturers and industry experts, so our students receive the very best support and expertise.
As an IOEE Centre of Excellence, we foster an entrepreneurial culture among our students. We are dedicated to supporting their continuous growth by promoting enterprising thinking and practical entrepreneurial skills.
