Arts & Humanities

Master of Philosophy (Human Resource Management)

The Master of Philosophy in Human Resource Management is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in human resource management, organisational development, and strategic HR leadership. The programme combines HR theory with research methodology and practical management application.

Core areas include human resource management, organisational behaviour, strategic HR management, performance management, industrial relations, HR development, compensation management, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both HR theory and practical organisational application through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Moi University and Maasai Mara University. Both are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time mode of study.

Students develop competencies in strategic HR management, organisational development, performance management, industrial relations, HR planning, compensation management, change management, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and a research thesis.

Moi University charges approximately KES 187,200/year for postgraduate programmes. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree in human resource management, business, or related fields with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as HR directors, HR managers, organisational development consultants, HR development specialists, compensation managers, and lecturers in human resource management and organisational behaviour.

Skills Required

Strategic Human Resource Management
Organisational Development and Change Management
Performance Management Systems
Industrial Relations and Labour Law
Human Resource Planning and Development
Compensation and Benefits Management
Research Methods in HR Management
Employee Engagement and Retention
Change Management and Leadership
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Strategic Human Resource Management
Organisational Behaviour and Development
Performance Management Systems
Industrial Relations and Labour Law
Human Resource Planning and Development
Compensation and Benefits Management
Change Management and Leadership
Research Methods in HR Management
Employee Relations and Engagement
Thesis Research

Certifications

IHRM Professional Membership
KIM Professional Membership

Specializations

Strategic HR Management

Focuses on strategic HR, covering HR strategy, strategic alignment, HR metrics, and managing strategic HR initiatives.

Organisational Development

Examines organisational development, covering OD interventions, change management, organisational culture, and managing organisational development.

Industrial Relations

Covers industrial relations, covering labour law, collective bargaining, dispute resolution, employee relations, and managing industrial relations.

Performance Management

Focuses on performance management, covering performance appraisal, KPIs, performance systems, and managing performance management.

HR Development

Examines HR development, covering training and development, career development, talent management, and managing HR development programmes.

Compensation Management

Covers compensation management, covering job evaluation, salary structures, benefits administration, and managing compensation systems.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 187,200
Private, up to: Ksh 233,865
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Strategic Human Resource Management
Organisational Behaviour and Development
Performance Management Systems
Industrial Relations and Labour Law
Human Resource Planning and Development
Compensation and Benefits Management
Change Management and Leadership
Research Methods in HR Management
Employee Relations and Engagement
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Strategic Human Resource Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines HR strategy, strategic alignment, HR metrics, strategic HR planning, and managing strategic HR initiatives.
Organisational Behaviour and Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers organisational culture, motivation, leadership, team dynamics, OD interventions, and managing organisational behaviour and development.
Performance Management Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines performance appraisal, KPIs, performance systems, feedback, performance reviews, and managing performance management.
Research Methods in HR Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting HR research, preparing students for their thesis.
Industrial Relations and Labour Law
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers labour law, collective bargaining, dispute resolution, employee relations, trade unions, and managing industrial relations.
Human Resource Planning and Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines HR planning, workforce planning, talent management, career development, training and development, and managing HR development.
Compensation and Benefits Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers job evaluation, salary structures, benefits administration, pay systems, and managing compensation systems.
Change Management and Leadership
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines change models, change implementation, resistance management, leadership, and managing organisational change.
Employee Relations and Engagement
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers employee engagement, employee retention, employee wellbeing, communication, and managing employee relations.
International HR Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines international HR, cross-cultural management, global talent management, expatriate management, and managing international HR.
Research Seminar
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparation of research proposal and thesis, including research design, literature review, methodology, and presentation.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a human resource management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and HR knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Strategic HR Management
Focuses on strategic HR, covering HR strategy, strategic alignment, HR metrics, and managing strategic HR initiatives.
Organisational Development
Examines organisational development, covering OD interventions, change management, organisational culture, and managing organisational development.
Industrial Relations
Covers industrial relations, covering labour law, collective bargaining, dispute resolution, employee relations, and managing industrial relations.
Performance Management
Focuses on performance management, covering performance appraisal, KPIs, performance systems, and managing performance management.
HR Development
Examines HR development, covering training and development, career development, talent management, and managing HR development programmes.
Compensation Management
Covers compensation management, covering job evaluation, salary structures, benefits administration, and managing compensation systems.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MPhil in Human Resource Management programme combines lectures, case studies, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover strategic HR management, organisational behaviour, performance management, industrial relations, and HR development. Strategic HR sessions examine HR strategy, strategic alignment, HR metrics, and managing strategic HR initiatives. Organisational behaviour sessions cover organisational culture, motivation, leadership, team dynamics, and managing organisational behaviour. Performance management sessions cover performance appraisal, KPIs, performance systems, feedback, and managing performance management. Industrial relations sessions cover labour law, collective bargaining, dispute resolution, employee relations, and managing industrial relations. HR development sessions cover training and development, career development, talent management, and managing HR development programmes. Compensation sessions cover job evaluation, salary structures, benefits administration, and managing compensation systems. Change management sessions cover change models, change implementation, resistance management, and managing organisational change. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Case studies provide practical experience with real-world HR challenges, policy analysis, and strategic decision-making. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in HR management. Guest lectures from experienced HR directors, OD consultants, and labour relations experts provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on a human resource management topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for strategic HR professionals in Kenya's growing corporate sector and evolving labour market.
MPhil provides strong research focus, preparing graduates for both professional practice and academic careers.
Programme is offered by multiple universities (Moi, Maasai Mara), providing institutional choice.
Moi University offers affordable fees at approximately KES 187,200/year.

Against it

Maasai Mara University fees not independently verified, limiting fee comparison.
No private university confirmed offering this exact programme, limiting options.
MPhil is research-focused, which may not suit those seeking coursework-only programmes.
Programme may overlap with MSc in HR Management or MBA HR options, causing confusion for prospective students.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public118k to 187k

118k at Maseno University187k at Moi University

Private221k to 234k

221k at Daystar University234k at KCA University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Moi 187.2K/yr(wsf). Maseno 236.7K(yumpu). Daystar 110.4K/sem2(official). KCA 78K/tri3(official)

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. IHRM may provide training support for HR professionals. KIM may provide training support for management professionals. Some organisations may sponsor HR staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
IHRM Training Support
KIM Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
IHRM Training Support
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Institute of Human Resource Management supports training for HR professionals.
KIM Training Support
GrantKsh 150,000Kenyan
Kenya Institute of Management supports training for management professionals.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require Upper Second Class Honours in HR, business, or related field. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. Postgraduate Diploma in HR Management may also be accepted. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, seminar presentations, group projects, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering strategic HR, organisational behaviour, performance management, industrial relations, and HR development.
Research Project
Research30% of the mark
Research project applying HR concepts to real organisational challenges, demonstrating analytical and practical skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a human resource management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and HR knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Moi University and Maasai Mara University (both public) offer MPhil in Human Resource Development. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in human resource management. Graduates are eligible for IHRM professional membership and KIM professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Moi University and Maasai Mara University (both public) offer MPhil in Human Resource Development. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in human resource management. Graduates are eligible for IHRM professional membership and KIM professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

HR Director
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 900,000
Leads HR function in organisations, overseeing HR strategy, HR operations, and managing all human resource activities.
HR Manager
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages HR operations, overseeing recruitment, performance, compensation, employee relations, and managing HR services.
Organisational Development Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 700,000
Consults on organisational development, providing OD interventions, change management, and managing organisational transformation.
HR Development Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages HR development programmes, overseeing training, career development, talent management, and managing HR development.
Compensation Manager
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages compensation and benefits, overseeing job evaluation, salary structures, benefits administration, and managing compensation systems.
HR Management Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 550,000
Teaches HR management at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, student supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for HR research, data analysis, and analysing and interpreting research data for thesis.
HRIS Software
Software
HR information system for HR data management, covering employee data, payroll, performance, and managing HR information.
Survey Tools
Software
Survey tools for HR research, covering employee surveys, engagement surveys, climate surveys, and managing survey data.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for HR data management, payroll, compensation analysis, and managing HR data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

HR management is just about hiring and firing.
HR management covers comprehensive people management including strategy, development, performance, compensation, relations, and organisational development.
This programme is only for those working in HR departments.
HR management skills are valuable in any management role, consulting, training, and any organisation dealing with people management.
HR management has limited career prospects.
With growing recognition of HR as a strategic function, demand for qualified HR professionals is increasing in Kenya.
MPhil is less valuable than MSc or MBA.
MPhil is a research-focused masters that provides strong research skills and academic rigour, valued in both academic and professional settings.
Industrial relations is just about unions.
Industrial relations covers comprehensive employment relations including labour law, dispute resolution, employee engagement, and workplace governance.
Organisational development is just about training.
Organisational development covers comprehensive organisational change including culture, structure, processes, and strategic transformation.