Master of Human Resource Management and Employment Relations
PostgraduateGRF-EMP-MAS2025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Influence organisations with your people skills
Explore human resource management at an advanced level. Deepen your understanding of employment law, workplace health and safety and managing diversity. Develop your leadership skills so that you can help individuals and organisations thrive.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 16 Feb 2025,
- 29 June 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- Approx. 1.5 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 12
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Master of Human Resource Management and Employment Relations
About this degree
Program Learning Outcomes communicate to the community the value of the Griffith educational experience as benchmarked against national qualification standards.
Program Learning Outcomes for this award describe the knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills you will acquire through studying the Griffith program of your choice.
This Masters degree covers essential areas of human resource management including strategy and HR, evidence-based HRM, organisational change, international and comparative HRM, recruitment and selection, and performance and reward management. You will gain a critical appreciation of the role and practice of human resource management in local and global business.
This degree will further develop and deepen your understanding of key policy formulation, negotiation and implementation matters pertaining to the employment relationship in dynamic contexts. It encompasses workplace and institutional practices and strategies, employment law, negotiation and dispute resolution, managing equity and diversity, workplace health and safety, managing rewards and performance and employment relations strategy. It will deepen your understanding of the management of employment relations.
Recommended study pattern
Students must complete all 12 subjects (120cp) for this degree
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Master of Human Resource Management and Employment Relations a student must complete twelve subjects (120 credit points).
From 2016 the maximum period for completing this program is 5 years.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
When you have completed your final session of study, OUA students should notify Griffith University of their intention to graduate with the award of Master of Human Resource Management and Employment Relations. Please contact Griffith Student Connect via OUA.programsupport@griffith.edu.au
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
2025 Changes
The following subjects have been removed from the Program with Advanced Standing stream.
- EHR706 Work Health and Safety
- EHR704 Managing Diversity and Inclusion
- EHR712 Regulation of the Employment Relationships
Students admitted prior to 2025 completing the Program with Advanced Standing will follow the old structure and can complete the three subjects. The submitted changes are applicable to students admitted from 2025 onwards.
Students commencing in the Advanced Standing pathway who have completed the Graduate Certificate in Employment Relations (3180) or the Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management (3274) will need to contact Griffith University for a study plan.
2022 Changes
Program title has changed from the Master of Employment Relations to the Master of Human Resource Management and Employment Relations.
Removal of two core subjects and replaced with two new core subjects
- EHR710 Australian Employment Relations has been replaced with EHR716 Recruitment and Selection
- EHR711 Dynamics of Workplace Relations has been replaced with EHR715 Human Resource Development
A communication strategy is not required as current students can continue to complete their degree subjects without a gap in availability.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$32,500
Indicative total fee $48,750
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.
Learn more about Griffith University.
Explore Griffith courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 18
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 20
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
To be eligible for admission to the Master of Human Resource Management and Employment Relations you must have:
- A recognised Bachelor degree (or higher) in any discipline with a minimum grade point average of 4.0 using a 7.0 scale; OR
- A combination of alternative admission criteria such as formal, informal, and non-formal learning deemed to be equivalent to the above.
A higher qualification refers to a qualification at a higher level than a Bachelor qualification, which includes any of the following: a Bachelor Honours Degree; Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Masters Degree, MPhil or PhD.
English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:
- A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 6.0
- OR a minimum score of 575 on TOEFL
- OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 79 (no sub-score less than 19)
- OR no score less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
- OR a minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
- OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.
English test results must be no more than two years old.
The Graduate Certificate in Employment Relations and Human Resource Management (3407) will articulate into the Master of Human Resource Management and Employment Relations. Students will be awarded credit towards the Masters degree. The Graduate Certificate in Employment Relations (3180) and the Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management (3274) will also articulate into the Master of Human Resource Management and Employment Relations, students will need to contact Griffith University for a study plan.
Credit may be awarded for study undertaken at another tertiary institution and students are encouraged to contact the Course Convenor for further information.
Career opportunities
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Human Resource Managers | Over $120K | Up 85.7% |
Human Resource Professionals | $75K to $93K | Up 24.6% |
Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.