Master of Human Resource Management

Course summary for international students

Year	2026 course information
Award granted	Master of Human Resource Management
Campus	This course is only offered Online
Length	The time and cost can be reduced based on your previous qualifications and professional experience. This means you can fast track the masters degree from 1.5 years down to 1 year duration. See entry requirements below for more information.
Fee paying annual fee - commencing 2026	$34,200 for 1 yr full-time AUD
Level	Higher Degree Coursework (Masters and Doctorates)
Deakin course code	M782
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS - International students should note that, due to visa regulations, this course can only be undertaken while living outside Australia.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Human resource (HR) policies and practices continue to evolve amid rising risks such as high turnover, low productivity, increasing use of artificial intelligence, and cybercrime. Deakin’s Master of Human Resource Management will help you develop up-to-date skills to implement contemporary HR strategies that are highly impactful at both the individual and organisational level.

Whether you’re working directly in human resource management (HRM) or in general management with responsibilities in human resources development and management, extend your skills and knowledge with this formal qualification.

Skilled professionals with contemporary HRM knowledge are integral to the functioning of every industry. The breadth and depth of HR roles have expanded the opportunities to impact staff wellbeing and retention while driving organisational change.

Do you have the skills required to lead contemporary HR strategies in a changing industry?

Accredited by the Australian Human Resources Institute, this specialised course is designed to provide enhanced qualifications for graduates in business, government and industry.

Undertake units that are highly relevant to industry, including employment relations, human resource strategy, leadership and management development. You will enhance your existing employment experience and gain the knowledge and skills to progress to managerial-level positions in HR.

Complement your primary studies with a specialisation, chosen from a wide range of business-related fields. Designed to meet industry demand for skilled professionals with a breadth of transferrable skills, a specialisation can help deepen your knowledge in a particular business field and benefit your future career.

Professional recognition

Deakin Business School holds both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. These prestigious accreditations are awarded to business schools that meet strict standards of quality, academic and professional excellence, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing improvement and innovation in their courses, ensuring our graduates are employable worldwide

The Master of Human Resource Management is accredited by the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI). As a graduate, you may be eligible for entry into the AHRI Practising Certification (APC) Program. This may include credits for up to four units completed as part of the APC professional accreditation program.

Graduates who have met the requisite work experience requirements will be eligible for direct entry into the Unit 4 Capstone: Applied Project in Organisational Capability of the APC Program. If you have any questions about the APC Program, contact enquiries@ahri.com.au.

Fees and charges

The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical first-year tuition fees for students enrolled in this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.

One year full-time study load is typically represented by eight credit points of study. Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together eight credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.

You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook. Learn more about fees and available payment options.

Career opportunities

The Master of Human Resource Management equips you for advanced and strategic roles in the evolving HR landscape. With a strong focus on strategic alignment, data-informed decision-making and people-focused leadership, graduates are well placed for senior HR positions in organisations of all sizes.

Career opportunities include:

human resource manager

People and culture director

human resource business partner

talent acquisition manager

learning and development manager

diversity and inclusion manager

employee relations specialist

human resource data analyst

organisational development consultant

This degree prepares you for roles where you will influence business outcomes, shape organisational culture and implement workforce strategies across diverse, global settings.

Course learning outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Integrate advanced understanding of a contemporary body of knowledge in human resource management to operate as a skilled HR professional in business
Communication	Select and apply advanced appropriate communication skills within the context of the management of people and resources in organisations
Digital literacy	Select and apply appropriate digital technologies to identify and disseminate complex information, concepts and theories in human resource management
Critical thinking	Review, critically analyse, consolidate and synthesize human resource related knowledge to respond to specialised and authentic contexts encountered by human resource professionals
Problem solving	Relate and develop advanced problem solving skills necessary to conceptualise and solve human resource issues in the workplace
Self-management	Employ a range of advanced skills in undertaking independent learning in human resource management
Teamwork	Apply team working skills in addressing human resource issues in the contemporary workplace
Global citizenship	Evaluate emerging global human resource issues as they effect organisations

Course rules

The Master of Human Resource Management is typically 8 or 12 credit points. The exact number of credit points you study depends on how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) – your professional experience and previous qualifications – which can save you time and money.

For students undertaking 12 credit points, you study 8 credit points of core units and 4 credit points of elective units (which may include an optional Faculty wide specialisation), plus completion of MAI010 Academic Integrity (0 - credit point compulsory unit). Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point.

Students who wish to enter the AHRI Practising Certification (APC) program are advised that it is their responsibility to ensure that they take the appropriate units required for entry.

Specialisations

Faculty-wide specialisations

Refer to the details of each specialisation for availability.

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point module

To be completed in the first trimester of study:

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin

Core units

Core units

MMH701

Human Resource Strategy

Strategic Staffing

Workforce Capability

Managed Change

Workplace Relations

Financial Decision Making

MIS714

People Analytics

MMH711

The New World of Work ^(Capstone)

Open electives

The 4 credit points of electives may be selected from:

Recommended electives^{^}

a postgraduate business specialisation^{^^} or any business unit not previously studied

postgraduate units offered by the University (subject to eligibility)

Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials)

^{^}Recommended electives:

MMH733

Ethical Decision Making in Organisations ^

MPM779

Leadership in Complexity ^

^^Recommended postgraduate business specialisations:

Leadership

Management consulting

Stackable short courses

Mix and match Deakin stackable short courses (0.5 cp microcredentials) to earn up to 4 credit point(s) of open electives, subject to eligibility. Any stacking must add up to a whole number to be used for credit. See more information on Deakin stackable short course options.

Admission criteria

Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.

Academic requirements

To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet
at least one of the following criteria:

completion of a bachelor degree or higher in any discipline and at
least two years’ relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent)
completion of a graduate certificate or higher in a related discipline
and at least two years’ relevant work experience (or part-time
equivalent).

Examples of relevant work experience include, but not limited to: at least two years (full-time equivalent) in a managerial role with people management responsibilities or in a human resource professional role.

English language proficiency requirements

To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

bachelor degree from a recognised English-speaking country
IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)

Admissions information

Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.

Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn’t have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you are able to commit to your study.

Credit for prior learning - general

If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for Recognition of prior learning. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your Recognition of prior learning.
Your Recognition of prior learning is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.

You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.

Note: Recognition of prior learning into the Master of Human Resource Management may be granted to students who have completed appropriate postgraduate studies in a related discipline. However, recognition of prior learning cannot be granted on the basis of relevant work experience alone as this is a requirement of entry. It may be considered on a case-by-case basis in addition to formal postgraduate level equivalent learning.

Credit for prior learning - specific

Applicants who have completed the AHRI Practising Certification Program (2016-current) may be eligible for up to 4 credit points of RPL.

Find out more about RPL with business partners

Find out how to apply for postgraduate study

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Human Resource Management (M515)
Graduate Diploma of Human Resource Management (M615)

Course duration

You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.

Workload

You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Work experience

This course provides students the opportunity to complete one or more elective work integrated learning units.

Explore Business and Law WIL opportunities.

Participation requirements

Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.