Human Resources Courses

The human resources department is an integral part of any successful company, so there's a consistently high demand for qualified HR professionals.

This means that the rewards for working in HR are great. According to the CIPD, entry-level HR officers earn on average £26,000 a year, rising to £31,000 with experience.

HR Managers earn around £46,000 a year and HR Directors earn an average of £75,000, rising to upwards of £150,000 with bonuses included.

Depending on the level you study at, your human resources qualification could lead to desirable roles such as:

• HR Assistant
• HR Advisor
• HR Analyst
• HR Manager
• People & Culture Manager
• HR Business Partner
• HR Consultant
• Head of HR
• HR Director
• Director of People & Culture
• Chief Human Resources Officer
• Chief People Officer

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the world’s largest professional body for those involved in the management and development of people.

It has 150,000 members worldwide, and every year, more than 25,000 professionals study a CIPD HR or L&D course. CIPD is also the only organisation in the world that can confer Chartered status on HR and L&D professionals.

CIPD HR training and accreditation is the gold standard for professional quality in human resources, so CIPD qualifications are highly respected and sought-after by employers. Our HR Employer Survey found that 78% of senior HR jobs and 72% of mid-level HR jobs listed CIPD HR qualifications as desirable or essential.§

Whether you're just starting out in HR or looking to take your career to the next level, our CIPD HR qualifications can help you:

• Enhance your CV and attract top employers globally
• Secure promotions and new roles
• Increase your earning potential
• Stand out in your organisation for the high quality of your work
• Build your professional credibility and confidence

There are three CIPD human resources qualifications available.

The CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice is an ideal introduction to HR and L&D for those with no or minimal experience. It’s perfect if you're aiming for an entry-level role such as HR Assistant.

The CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management is right for you if you're looking for a mid-level HR role such as HR Advisor or Manager. It’s ideal if you have some HR experience, whether it's through working in HR directly or through working in a role which involves aspects of HR, such as management.

The Associate Diploma is also a great choice if you’re new to people management but have a university degree and want to begin your studies at a higher level.

The CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management is for those with significant HR experience or an HR degree who are ready to take on postgraduate-level study. It will prepare you to take on strategic senior roles like HR Business Partner, Consultant or Director.

If you’d like to specialise in L&D, you could also study one of our CIPD Learning & Development courses.

We know every learner is different, so before you enrol with us, our CIPD Advisors will talk through your experience, education, and ambitions to ensure you’re choosing the right course for you.

We think our students say it best. They've rated us Excellent from more than 9000+ independent Trustpilot reviews, making us the UK's most recommended CIPD centre (as well as the most experienced - we've been in education for 130 years).

We're committed to helping everyone build a career that they're proud of, and a huge part of that involves giving people the freedom to shape their qualification around their lives. 

Our online HR courses are perfect for you if you have a full-time job, kids, an irregular working pattern, a busy schedule, or if you simply want to be in control of your learning.

From our self-paced online course structure to our extended study periods to our unlimited support, we give you the flexibility you need to achieve your HR qualification, no matter what life throws at you.

That’s why every year, we help thousands of CIPD students like you get the training and qualifications they need to succeed.

We currently offer a fast-track option for the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management. You'll cover the same content on an accelerated timeline of 10 months, and you'll be expected to study for 8 to 10 hours each week (this includes attending classes, reading, working through content, and writing assessments).

This type of accelerated study may be ideal for students who are balancing study with work or family commitments or may be tied to achieving a qualification for a performance review or appraisal. 

For more information on our CIPD fast-track programmes, get in touch with our HR course advisors by webchat, email or phone.

If you’re not ready to commit to a full human resources qualification and would like to focus on only the essential modules, you could study one of our CIPD Core programmes.

The CIPD Level 5 Core programme covers 3 modules:

• Organisational Performance and Culture in Practice
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Professional Behaviours and Valuing People

It has an average completion time of 6 months and a support period of 9 months. It costs £1,529 which can be paid in interest-free monthly instalments.

The CIPD Level 7 Core programme covers 4 modules:

• Work and Working Lives in a Changing Business Environment
• People Management and Development Strategies for Performance
• Personal Effectiveness, Ethics and Business Acumen
• Business Research in People Practice

It has an average completion time of 9 months and a support period of 12 months. It costs £3,449 which can be paid in interest-free* monthly instalments.

Bear in mind that our Core programmes won’t give you a HR qualification, just the essential skills you need to succeed in an HR position.

If you complete a Core programme and then decide you’d like to move onto the full CIPD Diploma at that level, you won’t need to take the whole course again – you can simply complete the extra modules and you’ll be CIPD qualified!

For more information on our CIPD Core programmes, get in touch with our course advisors by webchat, email or phone.