Hi Mariella,

The Certificate in Personnal Practice is extremely useful if you are just starting out in HR as it provides a good platform to work from, many organisations actually look for it as a mimimum requirement for their HR staff. 

However as you aspire to have a management role in HR, I would suggest that you go for the Post Graduate Diploma in HRM, you have a degree in Social Science so I would say that you meet the required criteria to get onto the course.  This course can be done as a full time or part time basis, however I am unsure as to the distance learning route.

Another good reason for going with the Post Grad is that it gives you graduate status with the CIPD, my experience has shown that most organisations who are serious about HR want their senior HR staff to be graduate status and CIPD qualified (Well worth getting the qualification now instead of starting afresh when you reach the UK).

Hope this helps

Bernie

Hi Bernie,

Can I just please kindly clarify that when you mention a Postgraduate qualification in HRM; are you referring to the MA/MSc programmes?

Thank you

Hi there,

I know it as the PDG/MSC but I would guess that its nearly the same thing.  The PDG programme allows students to develop an effective mix of people management competencies as identified by the CIPD whilst developing professional, study and transferable skills and techniques which assist in career development.  In essence students develop skills which will allow them to articulate and maximise the HR contribution to corporate objectives.

You continue to Masters Level which provides an opportunity for students to develop and apply further critical, analytical and investigative skills, at a strategic level, through a Masters dissertation.

Try and have a look at the CIPD website (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), www.cipd.co.uk  this should give you a better idea, you never know there may even be better routes available to you. My advice to you is whatever route you do decide on make sure you become a member of the CIPD as it is being requested from nearly all employers.

Hope this helps you in finding the correct path.

Bernie

Hi

I'd like to add to Bernie's suggestion.  I did an MA HRM which was CIPD accreditated, however not all the postgrad courses are accredited so you would need to ensure you got one that was.

Incidentally the course was excellent and I know it has opened up many doors for the students who graduated alongside me [and for me too!]

Best of luck!

Nicola