If your aim is academia and a PhD then do the MSc and enjoy

If your career is a practical hands on one in HR then given your background I would say get a good grounding with the L5

In reply to Keith:

Thanks so much Keith . By completing one year of MSc degree that is also CIPD accredited , will I have to do level 7 CIPD to gain full CIPD qualification ?

In reply to Samia:

Just been reading about this last night , got a quick question if anyone can help please . A PhD in any HR related specialism , does it have any career options outside the Academia? Do the employers see this as something valuable or will it only push me down the Academia route ?

Also , by doing my MSc HRM , will CIPD automatically give me the level 7 qualification and the same benefits that it gives to the members who are completing level 7?

and lastly , from the employers perspective , will they value MSc degree more or a CIPD level 5 ?

Many thanks for helping me with this . I have called CIPD and the universities and scrolled all over the internet , but cant seem to find answers to satisfy my queries . All advise will be so very much appreciated .

In reply to Samia:

I have never come across a requirement for a PhD helping or advancing a practical HR career. I think it "might" help you get a role in say the CIPD (or similar) but not really in a blue chip.

Most Masters that are approved will get you automatic CIPD membership,. But check the specific course

From an employers perspective it depends what sort of job you are going on. Many people do however find themselves over qualified and lacking the grounding that a L5 gives. Its the combination of relevant experience and the qualifications that works best.

hi Samia
I had the same queries when starting out as I already have my CIPD Level 3 in HR Practice, however, what I found through my closer research was that university programmes aren't all affiliated with CIPD and so they will not accredit you with CIPD as you would like. Hence, I chose the CIPD Level 5 option and am half way through my course.

I have also run into other people who assumed that because it was a higher level academic qualification used within the industry that it would come with the CIPD accreditation, a few of which were in my CIPD Level 3 course, simply for the membership! Despite being able to walk the walk in the business they were working in, some couldn't talk the talk required for CIPD assignments!

My advice, if you want professional accreditation, do CIPD. If you want academia, do the MSc. It's always possible to go back and do the other once you have finished one option, however, I imagine this will create some duplication which I sense you're trying to avoid.

Good luck

In reply to NICOLA:

Whilst not all MA/MSc programs are accredited /exempt from CIPD most/many are. It should be relatively easy to find one that is. But think this was more about PhDs V MA/MScs

If a PhD is something that you really want to do, then I'd begin by checking with universities whether the masters that you've already got will allow you to do that, and if not, what you would need. That way you're in a better position to make an informed decision about the MSc HRM.

If, on the other hand, a career in HR is your main goal then I'd start with the L5 CIPD as that's most likely to help you achieve that. I did my PhD because I wanted to, not because it was tied to career ambitions, and I don't think it helped me to get the job I'm in (as in, I would have got the job without the PhD). As Keith said, the L5 will give you the practical grounding in HR practice that will be far more beneficial in the short term.

Hope that helps

Hello Samia,

Depending on your location, there are few universities that offer MSc HRM or MA HRM accredited by CIPD (Level 7).

I am currently studying MA with University of Westminster however I have completed Level 5 CIPD last year as I did not feel I had sufficient "ground experience/knowledge" within generalist HR.

I find that fellow students who only have HR Administration experience (or none at all) and no CIPD qualifications, lack understanding or ability to relate with more strategic approach and in depth theories on this course.

I would only go for MSc if you feel confident that you will not have knowledge gaps as your experience (as you state) is within recruitment/resourcing.