Studies & Degrees in Human Resources
Human Resources Study Programs
Human resources (HR), also called human resource management or people management, is the part of an organisation that deals with its staff. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sums up the work of HR specialists as recruiting, screening and interviewing job applicants and placing new workers in jobs; they may also handle compensation and benefits, training and employee relations. HR managers plan, coordinate and direct these functions.
A programme in human resources usually covers recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management, pay and benefits, employment law, labour relations and health and safety at work. Master's programmes add strategy, change management and the use of data for decisions about people.
Qualifications and levels
- Vocational training. In Spain, human resources is part of the higher vocational training (FP) qualification Técnico Superior en Administración y Finanzas, a 2,000-hour programme with the modules Gestión de recursos humanos and Recursos humanos y responsabilidad social corporativa. One of the jobs it leads to is human resources administrator.
- Bachelor's degrees. In Spain the usual degree is the grado en Relaciones Laborales y Recursos Humanos. Official bachelor's degrees have 240 ECTS credits; at the Universidad de Murcia this degree takes four years and is taught in Spanish. In the United States, HR specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in human resources, business or a related field, according to the BLS.
- Master's degrees. Official Spanish master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The Máster Universitario en Dirección y Gestión de Recursos Humanos of the Universidad de Murcia has 60 ECTS credits and lasts one year. The Human Resource Management MA of the University of Westminster in London also lasts one year full-time. At The Ohio State University, the Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) can be completed in 12 months or on a 16-month full-time pathway; the GMAT or GRE test is optional and a business degree is not required.
- Certificates and continuing education. The University of the Fraser Valley in Canada offers a part-time Human Resources Management certificate with nine core courses and three electives. It has no entrance requirements, can be completed fully online and takes one to three years.
- Professional qualifications. In the United Kingdom the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) awards foundation qualifications, associate diplomas and advanced diplomas, and some university master's degrees, such as the Westminster MA, are accredited by the CIPD. In the United States the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offers the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certifications, which must be renewed every three years.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 140 active schools for human resources. Spain has 44, the United States 21, Canada 11 and the United Kingdom 8. France has four, Germany, Argentina and Cyprus three each, and Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria and Chile two each.
In Spain the list includes public universities such as the Universidad de Murcia, the Universidad de Cádiz and the Universidad de Oviedo, the postgraduate institute of the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid and the Fundació Bosch i Gimpera of the Universitat de Barcelona. Spanish schools offer both official master's degrees (máster universitario) and their own programmes. Before enrolling, ask the school what recognition the qualification has.
Abroad, examples are The Ohio State University and Purdue University in the United States, the University of the Fraser Valley, the University of Lethbridge and the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada, the University of Westminster in London, Avignon Université in France and Cyprus College in Nicosia.
The language of instruction is normally that of the country: Spanish in Spain, Argentina and Chile, English in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Employment law is national, so part of the content is tied to the country of study.
Fees depend on the country and the type of school. As examples, the University of Westminster lists £12,355 for UK students and £15,570 for international students per academic year for the MA starting in September 2027, and the University of the Fraser Valley lists $3,228 in total for its certificate.
Careers
Graduates work as recruiters, HR generalists, training and development officers, compensation and benefits specialists, labour relations advisers and, with experience, HR managers or HR business partners. The University of Westminster reports that past graduates of its MA work as consultants, HR managers, compensation and benefits managers and change management specialists.
In the United States there were 939,700 jobs for HR specialists and 224,900 for HR managers in 2025, according to the BLS. It projects employment in both occupations to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. A management post normally requires a degree together with several years of related work experience, and some posts require a master's degree. These figures apply to the United States only.
Frequently asked questions
Which degree do I need to work in human resources?
There is no single route. In the United States HR specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in human resources, business or a related field. In Spain the usual degree is the grado en Relaciones Laborales y Recursos Humanos, and higher vocational training in Administración y Finanzas leads to administrative HR jobs.
How long does a master's in human resources take?
Usually one year full-time. The master's degree of the Universidad de Murcia has 60 ECTS credits and lasts one year, the Westminster MA lasts one year, and the Ohio State MHRM takes 12 or 16 months full-time.
Are professional certifications compulsory?
No. According to the BLS, certification is usually voluntary, although some employers prefer or require it. The best-known bodies are the CIPD in the United Kingdom and SHRM in the United States.