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Areas of interest

Study human resources and employment , Te pūmanawa tangata me te whai mahi

Study entrepreneurship and innovation at Massey to break into new and emerging markets. Be at the leading edge of business.

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On trend

Our world-leading experts at Massey will get you up to speed with the latest trends in the HR and employment field.

Get hands-on

As part of your study get involved in projects across a variety of industries. Build a network of HR contacts with Massey.

Top-rated

Massey's Business School is ranked in the top 5% of business colleges worldwide by AACSB International.

Overview

Good HR and safe work practices are key to any thriving business.

Learn from our world-leading experts, with experience in the HR industry and specialisations such as diversity and living wages. Discover new trends in HR, occupational safety, and employment relations. Get hands-on with projects for different industries and organisations. Link with HR contacts while you study, including internships.

Business internships through Massey

Studying human resources and employment is a good fit if you:

  • enjoy business studies or psychology
  • want to help make work a better place for all – employers and workers
  • like managing relationships between people.

Courses in HR and employment may cover:

  • employment relations and law
  • equity and diversity in the workplace
  • health and safety, including staff wellbeing
  • hiring and managing staff
  • organisational culture.

How to study human resources and employment

Discover what we offer if you’re interested in human resources and employment – whether you’re coming to university for the first time, changing direction or returning to advance your study or career.

Undergraduate study

An undergraduate qualification is generally the first thing you’ll study at university.

Bachelor's degrees

Degrees are the standard qualifications you do at university – the most common is called a bachelor’s. Degrees give you enough time to explore your interests, and also focus on specific subjects.

Graduate diplomas

Graduate diplomas can help you advance to postgraduate study or research in a subject you haven’t majored in for your undergraduate study.

Relevant undergraduate subjects to major or specialise in

When you apply to study at Massey, for some undergraduate qualifications you can choose what subject you’d like to specialise in. You can usually change your mind after you get to university, depending on the courses you enrol in.

Postgraduate study

Once you’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree – or have equivalent experience – you’ll be ready to take on postgraduate study.

Master's degrees

A master's degree normally builds on a main subject of study from your undergraduate degree.

Postgraduate certificates

Postgraduate certificates give you an introduction to postgraduate-level study. They’re shorter than postgraduate degrees. If you’re successful, you may be able to use the credits towards a postgraduate diploma

Postgraduate diplomas

Postgraduate diplomas are postgraduate-level qualifications that are longer than a postgraduate certificate. If you’re successful, you might be able to use the credits towards the longer master’s degree.

PhD and other doctoral degrees

Doctoral degrees, including PhDs, are the highest degrees we award. They’re very demanding and their entry criteria reflect this.

Jobs in human resources and employment

HR and employment careers span most organisations, from working with small businesses to corporates or government departments. Some of our graduates work in general HR. Others specialise in training or strategy. Many go into general management roles.

Careers include:

  • health and safety advisors
  • HR managers or HR advisors
  • HR specialists in learning and development or people and culture
  • policy analysts, who often work in government
  • recruiters, who find the right people for the right roles
  • workplace relations advisors, who specialise in areas such as collective bargaining or dispute resolution.

Annual salary ranges for jobs

Salary ranges disclaimer

Indicative pay rates are:

Which human resources and employment qualification?

Examples of where our qualifications may take you.

Table showing jobs and what you could study to enter them.
Jobs Examples of what you could study
HR advisor or manager, workplace relations advisor, learning and development specialist Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management and Employment Relations)
Health and safety advisor, occupational health consultant Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Health and Safety)
Management and consulting roles Master of Business Studies (Human Resource Management)
Master of Management (Human Resource Management)

Accreditations and rankings

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Massey Business School is rated in the top 5% of global business colleges by AACSB International.

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Association of MBAs (AMBA)

Massey's MBA programmes (MBA and EMBA) are accredited by the Association of MBAs

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Institute of Management New Zealand (IMNZ)

Massey Business School and IMNZ have a collaborative partnership to offer development pathways that transform talented people into valuable managers, visionary leaders and global executives.

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ShanghaiRanking – Business Administration

Massey University is ranked #2 in New Zealand for business administration by ShanghaiRanking.

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QS Ranking - Business Management Studies

Massey University is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 350 universities for business and management.

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​Get an information guide

Download our guide to find out more about studying human resources and employment at Massey.

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