Human Resource Management PgDip/MA: What our students say

"The MA course at Kingston was one of the most enjoyable years of my life. I had the opportunity to learn and share with people from a diverse background and level of work experience. I found the curriculum and learning very high quality with a good focus on practical application, such as the use of case studies based on recent issues or events. This was all quantified by guest speakers from various different industries.

"The lecturers were always very helpful and took a real interest in us as individuals as well as a group – a good sense of humour always helped everyone get along well together. This really helped me to manage any difficulties I was having or where I needed a little bit more explanation with understanding something – the support was always there.

"The MA has given me a solid, credible background from my first professional role and has continued to be one of the best decisions I have made in my life. I have carried my learning and experiences to all of the roles I have done since that time."

"I'd worked for over five years in a range of HR posts for UK and international organisations across the public, voluntary and private sectors when I decided to formalize my experience through the Kingston MA programme. I wanted to gain the professional (CIPD) qualification, but was also motivated by the personal challenge that studying at masters level would offer.

"I planned to do the course in the shortest possible time so that I could quickly put my new skills and knowledge into practice. Kingston gave me the opportunity to do just that through the one-year full-time programme.

"I enjoyed the challenge of the course immensely. Not only did it put into context the previous HR work I had done, but I gained enormous benefit from the diversity of the student group and from the experiences and perspectives of people of all ages and from all over the world.

"Although I took time out of the workplace to do the course, I worked for part of the time in the Cabinet Office – the organisation that I used for my dissertation. They were pleased with the results and felt that it had benefited the organisation; now they are looking to put some of my recommendations into practice. It's been a real added bonus for me to have my work recognised in this way."

"I decided to progress my career in HR by gaining the CIPD qualification and chose the Postgraduate Diploma in HRM at Kingston because of its excellent reputation. I found that the course not only provided me with essential knowledge and skills that I could apply in the workplace, but also enabled me to share the experiences of fellow students who worked in very different areas. Another bonus was that it gave me a network of people with whom I am now very good friends.

"The course was a challenge, especially when trying to juggle study with a full-time job, and an active social life, and still find time to run and swim. But I found that an organised approach to handling the workloads and sharing ideas at regular meetings with my study group got me through – I even managed to keep to my evening exercise schedule, which helped me to clear my head.

"All in all, I found the course to be very enjoyable and worthwhile. What's more, as I gained in experience and knowledge, so my salary increased – since starting the course two years ago, I have been promoted twice, from HR administrator to HR officer, and now to HR advisor."