Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management

Study in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management (IR&HRM) equips students with essential skills and knowledge to build a career in the ‘people’ function in organisations and in many policy fields. Students examine the major HR functions and roles across the employment lifecycle including recruitment and selection, remuneration and reward, performance management and employee training and development. This is balanced with the study of industrial (or employment) relations, which covers changes at work, the role of institutions such as trade unions, and builds an understanding of how work is regulated through contracts, legislation and bargaining.

Options for studying Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management

Major and minor in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management

Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management is available as both Table A major and minor options in the Bachelor of Commerce and the Bachelor of Commerce combined degrees.

The Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management major and minor are also available to students not enrolled in a Commerce degree through the shared pool (Table S) - see the Interdisciplinary studies handbook for details.

Please note. Students cannot complete both a major and a minor in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management for their degree.

The requirements for the major and minor in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management can be found in the Unit of study table.

Honours in Work and Organisational Studies

Honours study in work and organisational studies is available to eligible students who complete Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management or Management and Leadership major. For eligibility requirements and details of the admissions application process, students should refer to the Current Students Honours page.

The units of study required for Honours in Work and Organisational Studies can be found in the Honours unit of study table.

Further information

For further information regarding study in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management at the University of Sydney, please refer to the Study human resource management and industrial relations page.