Home » Business » Human Resources » Masters in Human Resource Management Online

Masters in Human Resource Management Online

A Masters in Human Resource Management is the ultimate development program for HR professionals. Masters in HR are available 100% online from leading Australian universities.
Female professional in a meeting

Studying for a Master of Human Resource Management is a way to become a human resources manager or give your current HR career a boost. Programs are open to uni grads (any discipline) and professionals with relevant experience.

With a masters in HR, you learn how to manage staff strategically. For example, students explore how to align employee and company goals to achieve great results for everybody. Online HR masters allow you to do this kind of training as a working professional. Study online part-time while you work full-time.

Featured HR Degrees

Accelerated, Fast-Track Program

Young woman using a laptop

To get your online HR masters quickly, consider an accelerated, fast-track program. Accelerated online programs allow you to complete a subject every 2 months as a part-time student. Fast-track programs give you academic credit for previous study and/or professional experience, potentially cutting program length from 16 subjects to 9-12 subjects.

ECU Master of Human Resource Management

The 100% online Master of Human Resource Management from Edith Cowan University is flexible and exam-free. Online study is accelerated, meaning you study part-time throughout the year. You can also fast-track your degree, and skip 3 of the 12 subjects, if you have a major in HR, management, business administration, or employment and/or industrial relations. Students explore the key aspects of being an HR manager, including managing people and organisations, employee relations, managing and rewarding performance, healthy work and wellbeing, and people analytics.

HR Masters with a Leadership Specialisation

Business professionals walking and talking

An attractive study option for many HR managers is an online masters that emphasises contemporary leadership. Companies are increasingly investing in workplace culture to drive productivity improvement. That is propelling demand for HR managers with the skills and knowledge to be agents of change. In a leadership-orientated program, you learn modern techniques for shaping culture to support people and businesses.

RMIT Master of Human Resource Management

RMIT Online offers an accelerated Master of Human Resource Management degree. The program is forward looking and aims to build leadership expertise for creating better workplaces. Topics include key concepts, professional practices, strategic human resource development, contemporary strategic issues, employment law, and managing for entrepreneurship and innovation. The 100% online program is ideal for working professionals. You study flexibly in an interactive online environment, with each subject delivered in a 7-week study block.

Master of Business Administration (HR)

Young management professionals talking outside

Instead of a dedicated HR masters degree, you can do a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an HR specialisation. This option is for ambitious professionals seeking broad management responsibilities. An MBA in HR is ideal for (a) experienced HR managers who want to diversify their skill set and (b) managers and professionals who would benefit from stronger HRM skills. You'll receive a general business education plus some HR management training.

UTS Online MBA (Organisational Learning)

The flexible MBA from UTS Online has an 'Organisational Learning' specialisation. The program suits HR managers who want to lead and support innovation in how employees learn. The 100% online MBA is made up of 12 subjects, with 8 core subjects and 4 electives. For this specialisation, you have 6 electives to choose from: Designing Innovative Learning, Evaluating Learning and Innovation, Leading Innovative Practices, Leading Learning, Mentoring in the Workplace, and Strategic Learning in Workplaces. The forward-looking MBA also explores business analytics, finance for managers, leading people and change, and strategy and negotiation.

What You'll Study (Course Structure)

A good Masters in HRM explores the discipline's core topics, developing essentials skills HR managers routinely use. Programs may also offer elective units, which are usually drawn from related management fields. Here are example subject lists for an online HR masters.

Edith Cowan University

  • Managing People and Organisations
  • HRM Fundamentals
  • Managing Employee Relations
  • Acquiring and Managing Talent
  • Managing and Rewarding Performance
  • Healthy Work and Wellbeing
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • People Analytics
  • Connecting Strategy and HRM
  • Current Issues in HRM
  • Managing Change

RMIT Online

  • Key Concepts in HRM
  • Professional HRM Practices
  • People and Organisations
  • Employment Law
  • Strategic Human Resource Development
  • Employment Relations from a Global Perspective
  • Contemporary Issues in Strategic HRM
  • Global HRM
  • Business Research Design
  • Issues in Diversity
  • HRM for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of an HR master's program have well-developed knowledge and advanced skills in key areas of responsibility for HR managers. Competencies you can expect to build include being able to:

  1. Formulate and communicate strategies to improve people and organisational management
  2. Apply knowledge of employment law and agreements to manage employee relations
  3. Acquire and cultivate talent through recruitment and performance management
  4. Use HR information systems to support data-driven planning and decision-making.

Career Opportunities

Businesswoman executive

An HR master's can be used to launch a career in HR management. If you already work in HR, the degree will improve your prospects of achieving high-salary, high-responsibility roles. Here are some of the potential job opportunities from going to business school.

HR specialist positions

  • Employee adviser
  • Human resources officer
  • Learning and development officer
  • Pay/rewards officer
  • Recruitment manager
  • Trade union officer
  • Training facilitator
  • Workplace relations officer

Executive HR roles

  • Change management consultant
  • Employment relations manager
  • Human resources director
  • Industrial relations manager
  • People and culture manager
  • Training and development manager
  • Work, health and safety manager
  • Workplace relations manager

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements are typically that you either have a bachelor degree in any discipline OR substantial (say, 5+ years) experience in a professional setting. Holding a business-related degree can reduce the number of subjects you need to complete, especially if your degree was focused on HR or related fields.

Here are course admission requirements. Enquire for further details.

FAQs

HR meeting

Human Resources (HR) Manager Qualifications in Australia

At a postgraduate level, HR managers often hold a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters in Human Resource Management.

HR managers

How to Become a Human Resources Manager: 5 Steps

To qualify as an HR manager, study for an HR bachelor or master's degree. Build management skills and knowledge of labour laws and practice.
† Online courses are available in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Gold Coast, Newcastle. Australia Wide.