University of New South Wales
Master of Strategic People Management
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
- Course Type: Master's
Develop the systems thinking, leadership and people management capabilities to translate organisational strategy into workforce action, with broad elective choice and an AHRI-accredited study pathway.
Course overview
Middle managers, HR professionals and others responsible for leading people and organisational change can strengthen their strategic capabilities through UNSW Canberra’s Master of Strategic People Management. The course examines how effective people management can contribute to organisational strategy, performance and long-term capability.
Through an exploration of workplace systems, students develop an understanding of the relationships between people, organisational structures and business outcomes. Key areas include performance management, organisational development, strategic implementation and change, supported by capabilities in analysing complex workforce challenges and connecting people initiatives with organisational priorities.
Combining three compulsory people management subjects with a choice between strategic management and change management, the course also offers four prescribed electives. These enable students to explore areas such as leadership, strategic HR, workforce planning, diversity, organisational behaviour, business analytics and public sector management.
Available fully online and designed for completion in one year of full-time study, the degree includes a program of study accredited by the Australian HR Institute. Career directions may include people and culture, human resources, organisational development, workforce planning, performance management, employee relations and change management roles.
Key facts
24th May, 2027
What you will study
To earn the Master of Strategic People Management, you must successfully complete units totalling 48 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 6 credit points.
Complete 18 credit points from the following:
- People and Systems
- Driving Performance
- Developing Organisational Capability
Select 6 credit points from the following:
- Strategic Management
- Change Management
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To gain entry into the Master of Strategic People Management, an applicant must meet one of the following entry requirements:
- Completion of a bachelor's degree with honours in the same or a related discipline* from a recognised institution.
- Completion of a graduate diploma or graduate certificate in the same or a related discipline from a recognised institution.
- Completion of a bachelor's degree in the same or a related discipline from a recognised institution; and completion of at least three years of relevant full-time professional experience.
- Completion of a bachelor's degree in a non-related discipline; and completion of at least four years of relevant full-time professional experience.
- Evidence of other qualifications and professional experience to be assessed as acceptable grounds for admission into the program by the relevant Program Authority. In certain circumstances, students may be required to undertake and successfully complete a relevant non-award course as a condition for admission into the program. This non-award course may also be credited towards the program upon admission.
*Related discipline/s: Business, management, economics, accounting, information technology, engineering, human resource management, project management and law.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses.
- Prior study in the medium of English.
- Other qualifications.
Contact the university or visit their website for more information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Analyse scenarios in ways that reflect specific contexts, dynamics and risks.
- Understand systems theory and its implications for implementation.
- Interpret organisational strategy and developing appropriate, people focused implementation plans.
- Synthesise multiple data sources to create novel scenarios.
- Reconceptualise a situation from multiple perspectives.
- Create appropriate capability for a given organisation.
- Influence behaviour through strategic performance and reward management.
Career outcomes
Potential roles:
- Change Management Consultant
- Employee Relations Manager
- Human Resource Manager
- Learning and Development Specialist
- People and Culture Manager
- Performance and Talent Manager
- Recruitment Manager
- Strategic HR Advisor
- Workforce Analytics Manager
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $41,000 (Full-fee paying place)
Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- The number of units studied.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university program.