Human Resources Management, MA Full-time
Charakter Fresenius Hochschule · Köln, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The full-time Master’s program in Human Resources Management (M.A.) helps you develop leadership and people-management skills. You gain practice-oriented knowledge in labour law, modern personnel strategies, and current HR trends, while also building competence in qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Through themes such as recruiting, employer branding, talent identification and development, and change processes, you learn how to evaluate strategic and intercultural HR issues professionally. The program supports an international orientation and prepares you for HR roles in global settings.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- You build a structured understanding of modern Human Resources Management, including HR trends and practical HR decision-making.
- You cover HR topics such as recruiting, employer branding, executive search, and related people-and-organisation themes.
- You develop skills to evaluate HR topics using both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- You study working in organisations with a focus on inter-cultural and strategic HR aspects.
- You deepen your knowledge through three elective modules that you can choose to shape your individual focus.
- You expand key HR capabilities such as change-process support, HR-related moderation and mediation, and negotiation approaches.
- You work with HR practice themes like digital HR management trends and workforce development.
- You strengthen your coaching and consulting profile for HR roles and People & Culture responsibilities.
- You complete your master degree after the advanced modules and elective learning path.
- You consolidate your HR leadership and management profile for roles with responsibility in People & Culture Management.
- You use the skills from the programme to connect HR strategies with organisational implementation in real contexts.
Curriculum
120 CP master's with a structured semester study plan (strategic and operative HR management, HR development and research methods, electives based on admission pathway, and a final thesis).
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS / CP | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Semester | 1. Semester compulsory modules | Strategisches und operatives Personalmanagement | ||
| Personalentwicklung und Talentmanagement | ||||
| Forschungs- und Wissenschaftsmethodik | ||||
| Digitalisierung der Arbeitswelt | ||||
| Selbstreflexion und Profilbildung | ||||
| 2. Semester | 2. Semester compulsory modules and elective modules | Vertragsgestaltung im Arbeitsrecht | ||
| International Human Resources Management | ||||
| Einführung in das Individual- und Kollektivarbeitsrecht | ||||
| WAHLPFLICHTMODULE BEI BACHELORZUGANG (wähle 2 aus 3): Generative KI und ChatGPT | ||||
| WAHLPFLICHTMODULE BEI BACHELORZUGANG (wähle 2 aus 3): Digital Entrepreneurship | ||||
| WAHLPFLICHTMODULE BEI BACHELORZUGANG (wähle 2 aus 3): Digitales Produktmanagement & KI Produkte | ||||
| 3. Semester | 3. Semester compulsory modules | Innovationen und Trends im Human Resources Management | ||
| Nachhaltiges Personalmanagement | ||||
| Personalmarketing, Recruiting und Employer Branding | ||||
| Angewandte Volkswirtschaftslehre | ||||
| Entscheidungstheorien und Entscheidungsverhalten | ||||
| 4. Semester | 4. Semester compulsory modules | Klassisches und Agiles Projektmanagement | ||
| Führung und Management | ||||
| Motivierung und Steuerung | ||||
| Case Studies zu Organisation, Führung und Unternehmenskultur | ||||
| Gesellschaften im Wandel | ||||
| 5. Semester | 5. Semester final thesis | Abschlussarbeit | ||
| Total | All compulsory modules across semesters and the final thesis | |||
Career outcomes
- You graduate with a master’s qualification focused on Human Resources Management, helping you pursue People & Culture and HR leadership roles across industries.
- The programme builds job-relevant HR capabilities in recruiting, employer branding, and executive search, so you can support talent acquisition and hiring strategies from day one.
- You develop expertise in modern people strategies, including HR change processes and the practical handling of mediation, negotiation, and workplace conflict topics.
- By studying contemporary HR trends and digital developments in HR management, you become better prepared for evolving HR departments and transformation projects.
- You gain applied coaching and consulting foundations for professional roles such as Talent Recruiting & Development and Employer-Branding specialist pathways.
Employability rate
Graduates of Human Resources Management programmes in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 85% and an unemployment rate of about 15%, reflecting steady demand for qualified HR and People & Culture professionals across companies.
Together, these figures point to a fairly stable career outlook with reliable opportunities in HR, talent management, and organisational development.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Bachelor degree with required subject-related credits | International applicants need a completed bachelor’s degree with at least 180 ECTS (or equivalent) and must meet the program’s subject-specific credit requirements: at least 15 CP in business/economics, at least 5 CP in human resource management, at least 5 CP in civil law and employment/labour law, and at least 10 CP in quantitative methods. If you have missing credit points in these areas, an admissions test may be required. |
Language requirements
The program is taught in German. You must provide proof of German language proficiency required for admission and enrollment; if the university allows an English-taught pathway or exemptions, this will be specified in its official language requirements guidance.
Exam / assessment
| Component | Required? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Admissions test (if required due to missing credit points) | conditional | The university states that if you have missing credit points in the required subject areas, you may need to complete an admissions test for this master’s program. |
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 850 / per month | Semestergebuehr: 850 EUR monthly (as published on the programme facts). |
| Application fee | EUR 695 / one time | Anmeldegebühr: 695,00 EUR (as published on the programme facts). |
Proof of financial resources
To study in Germany, international applicants typically need proof of sufficient financial resources for living costs and study-related expenses. The exact amount and format depend on the visa/residence route and are checked as part of the German immigration process.
- Blocked account or equivalent official proof of financial resources as required for a German student visa/residence permit
- Any additional financial document requirements published by the university or consulate for enrollment and visa processing
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A |
| Semester begins | N/A |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A |
🎓 Scholarship
| Provider | Scheme name | Coverage | Eligibility notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD | EPOS — Development-Related Postgraduate Courses | Tuition fees, monthly stipend, travel allowance, health insurance | DAAD EPOS supports graduates from eligible development and newly industrialised countries for postgraduate studies in Germany, based on the DAAD scholarship eligibility criteria. This Master’s programme is a postgraduate degree in Germany and can be funded if it is listed in the DAAD EPOS postgraduate course list used for EPOS applications. |
📝 How to Apply
Submit your application online
Submit your application through the university’s official application process. The application is possible throughout the year, and the university reviews your submitted documents to check whether you meet the specific master admission requirements. Prepare your bachelor transcript(s) and document your completed credit points in the required subject areas.
Admissions review and possible admissions test
After you submit your documents, the university checks whether you meet the subject-specific credit requirements for this master’s program. If credit points are missing in the required areas, the university indicates that an admissions test may be required. Respond promptly if the university asks for additional documents or arrangements for assessment.
Complete enrollment for the selected intake
Once you receive an admission decision, complete enrollment steps for the intake you intend to join. Confirm your intended campus location (the program listing shows campuses in Köln and Hamburg). Make sure you follow the university’s instructions for document submission and timelines required for enrollment.