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Human resource management residential school

This residential school module is offered online only.

You need to complete this module if you're seeking Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) accreditation of either the Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management (E84) or MSc in Human Resource Management (F68). You should have joined as a student member when you enrolled on the relevant programme. Both the Postgraduate Diploma and the MSc provide you with the necessary knowledge and some of the required skills, but you will need to complete the other parts of the CIPD application concerning the level at which you operate at work (more or less strategic).

Once you complete the relevant programme and the CIPD paperwork, you will join at the level corresponding to your professional experience (generally either Foundation Member or Associate Member). If you are already an Associate Member, gaining your qualification allows you to apply using the CIPD form-based method only to upgrade to Chartered Member for free – as long as you do this within 12 months of achieving the qualification. The application also asks for details of your current role and your CPD log/ portfolio.

Qualifications

BXR868 is a complementary module to gain CIPD Accreditation for our:

  • MSc in Human Resource Management (F68)
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management (E84)
These qualifications are no longer available to new students.

Module

Module code
BXR868
Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
0
Study level
Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU postgraduate modules correspond to these frameworks.
OU Postgraduate
SCQF 11
FHEQ 7
Study method
Distance learning
Module cost
See Module registration
Entry requirements

Find out more about entry requirements.

Module details Entry requirements Module registration Study materials

What you will study

The focus of this module is practising the key skills of the HR professional. You’ll develop an awareness of your personal strengths and weaknesses and what these mean for working in teams; and communication skills, including listening skills and presentation skills. You’ll also develop interviewing skills using recruitment and selection and performance management scenarios. You’ll gain an understanding of the application of various research methods in the workplace and identify the practical skills associated with workplace research. You’ll become familiar with the conducting of grievance and discipline interviews and negotiation skills using a variety of different scenarios. You’ll also gain skills associated with HR consultancy and change management, as well as coaching and mentoring.

During the online school, you'll have the opportunity to practise and receive feedback on the skills introduced in the human resource management (HRM) modules you've studied. The learning objectives and outcomes are related to professional skill development and are complementary to the learning outcomes of these five HRM modules. The online school involves synchronous contact time over a 2.5-day period.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

The online school will be facilitated by a Group Tutor and involves synchronous contact time for 2.5 days. As part of the daily engagement, the sessions will combine tutor-led input, group discussions and students working together in smaller teams to prepare for specific tasks. The school will run on either of the first two weekends in September.

Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

There are no formal assessment activities or submissions required for this module. The module is the online school where the key skills of the HR professional are developed and practised.  However, you will be evaluated in terms of your participation in the online school, and you will have to achieve a Satisfactory Participation mark to pass the module.

Professional recognition

This module is part of the Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management (E84) and MSc in Human Resource Management (F68) qualifications that are both approved by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) for professional membership status. 

Course work includes

No examination

Future availability

Human resource management residential school starts once a year – in May. This page describes the module that will start in May 2026 when you can access the module website and the preparatory reading material before the online school takes place in early September. We expect the module to start for the last time in May 2028.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Entry requirements

The module is only available to students studying for the Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management (E84) or MSc in Human Resource Management (F68). If you are on either of these programmes, you should have successfully completed B863 and B864 and ideally have completed any of the optional modules B865, B866, and B867. However, you may have studied a combination of the later modules from the new MSc in Human Resource Management (F93), for example B812 and either B813 or B814, instead.

If you wish to complete the Postgraduate Diploma, you should look towards taking this module towards the end of your studies.

If you wish to complete the MSc in Human Resource Management, you are advised to take this module towards the end of the elective modules and before embarking on the final module, Dissertation (HRM) (B894).

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.

Preparatory work

You will be required to engage in some preparatory reading. This material will be made available via the module website. 

Register

Start End England fee Register
02 May 2026 Oct 2026 £950.00

Registration opens on 01/03/26
This module is expected to start for the last time in May 2028.

Future availability

Human resource management residential school starts once a year – in May. This page describes the module that will start in May 2026 when you can access the module website and the preparatory reading material before the online school takes place in early September. We expect the module to start for the last time in May 2028.

Additional costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

Ways to pay for this module

We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how much it’s going to cost and how you can pay.

That’s why we keep our fees as low as possible and offer a range of flexible payment and funding options, including a postgraduate loan, if you study this module as part of an eligible qualification. To find out more, see Fees and funding.

Study materials

What's included

There will be a module website where guidance, teaching and support material will be available. This will include an outline of the online school, the timings and the learning outcomes for each session. 

Computing requirements

  • Primary device – A desktop or laptop computer. It’s possible to access some materials on a mobile phone, tablet or Chromebook; however, they will not be suitable as your primary device.
  • Peripheral device – Headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone for online tutorials.
  • Our OU Study app operates on supported versions of Android and iOS.
  • Operating systems – Windows 11 or latest supported macOS. Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10 as of 14 October 2025.
  • Internet access – Broadband or mobile connection.
  • Browser – Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are recommended. Mozilla Firefox and Safari may be suitable.

If you have a disability

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Other alternative formats of the module materials may be available in the future.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.

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