Are you interested in enrolling in free online human resource management (HRM) courses with certificates in 2023? If yes, then here we go.
In this article, I’m going to list out some of the best and free HR management courses for Master’s, Bachelor’s and Diploma students.
Most of these courses are completely free with printable certificate of completion.
If you are also looking for a list of recommended free HR courses from Google, Udemy, Coursera, Open University, edX, and from UK universities then you should go through this carefully.
Note: I’m going to share about 50 free online master’s/bachelor’s/diploma courses in human resource (HR) management with certificates for both beginners, undergraduate, graduates and diploma students.
Patiently go through this list carefully to choose the best for yourself.
Building a Career Human Resources Management Career
Wikipedia defines Human Resource Management (HRM or HR Management) as; “the strategic approach to the effective and efficient management of people in a company or organization, such that they help their business gain a competitive advantage”.
Human resources managers are well qualified persons or group of people in a company, in which the growth of the company may greatly depend upon.
Obtaining a any of Diploma, Bachelor’s, or master’s degree in human resources management is very important in 21st century as it is one of the most professional and top selling courses.
Free Online Master’s Degree Courses in Human Resource Management with Certificates 2023
Below are 8 best free online master’s degree courses in Human Resources with Certificates in 2023:
- MSc in Human Resources Management by Open University
- Strategic HR Management by MIT Open Courseware
- Master’s Degree in Human Resources by Western Carolina University
- UI Human Resources Management Master’s Program
- Online Human Resource Management Courses with Certificates by HSC
- University of Minnesota HR Course Via Coursera
- Wharton School HR Courses Via Coursera
- Human Resource Management Course on Alison
1. MSc in Human Resources Management by Open University
Open University is one of the best online University in the United State, the University started it’s free classes in the year 2006.
The University offers free online master’s degree for both ordinary and advance Human Resources Management courses. Most of its classes last for 6 hours to 12 hours.
In this course you will learn how to manage a company and also when to bring in a human resources and how to manage them.
Program link: visit the course website here
2. Strategic HR Management by MIT Open Courseware
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers courses like the People and Organizations.
This course teaches people on how to operate businesses, while providing measures for adapting to stress and business changes.
Massachusetts also offers Urban Labor Markets and Employment Policy that teaches student about the youth labor market, and unions etc.
Other Massachusetts HR courses like Strategic Human Resources Management teaches student on the best strategic ways to manage their organization’s assets.
The Massachusetts HRM programs are designed to help in shaping how students can think strategically on issues relating to human resources in other to be able to compete in the working industries.
In this human resources management program, students are trained for teamwork and leadership as it is one of the key to success in any organization.
Program link: visit the course website here
Master’s Degree in Human Resources by Western Carolina University
The Western Carolina University also offers free online Master’s Degree program for student who wants to study Human Resources Management.
Students are been trained with courses like legal issues in human resources, human resources and evaluation method, and performance appraisal and management in which these courses helps the students in leadership skills, and broad set of analytical.
As a person who wants to student Human Resources Management online, you should know that there are some necessary things you need to know and this things are;
- Applicant must have a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of at least 3.0
- Applicant must submit 3 recommendations letter
- Applicant must pass the GMAT exam and also a good score in GRE
There are also free courses that are offered by the institution.
Program Link: visit the course link here
UI Human Resources Management Master’s Program
This course is been offer by International University of Applied Sciences, and the course teaches student how to write an effective recruiting descriptions, and also how to conduct a job interviews etc.
In the UI Human Resources management program, you will be taught on how to recruit and select good employees that will give you a satisfying results.
The program trains you to become a good a Human Resource (HR) Manager that will play a key factor in helping companies and their workforce work together in order to achieve their shared goals.
The skills you acquire through this course will train you to a level that your expertise and experiences will be required by many big companies to help them bridge their gaps.
You can apply your skills to settling disputes and representing both the interests of the company’s employers and the interests of employees at the same time.
Interestingly, the IU’s Master’s Human Resource Management master’s programme covers all of these.
Program link: visit course link here
Online Human Resource Management Courses with Certificates by HSC
The Oxford Home Study Center offers free online human resource management courses with certificates of completion via its online master’s degree programs platform.
These courses are designed to teach the students the fundamentals of recruitment, staff development, staff training and human resources management. The program is split into the following courses:
- Human Resource Management
- Recruitment Skills (Short Course)
- HR Management (Short Course)
- Diploma in HR Management
- Certificate in HR Management
These courses are designed to enhance your CV and also boost your career prospects in HR without paying a penny. Meanwhile, you will have to pay a small fee to print your certificate upon completion.
Program link: visit the program link here
University of Minnesota M.Sc HR Course Via Coursera
This is a free human resource management course offered by the University of Minnesota via Coursera.
In this course, students will be trained on the strategic ways to managing human resources in a company or in an organization.
The students will also know the principles of human resources management, Non-monetary compensation, human resources for people managers specialization.
Instructors:
Below is a list of instructors that will handle this course:
- Professor John W. Budd: Center for Human Resources and Labor Studies
- Senior Lecturer Amy Simon: Department of Work and Organizations
- Stacy Doepner-Hove: Director, Masters in Human Resources and Industrial Relations program
- Senior Lecturer Larry Bourgerie: Carlson School of Management, Department of Work and Organizations
- Assistant Professor Alan Benson:
Carlson School of Management, Department of Work and Organizations - Senior Lecturer: Mike Davis: Carlson School of Management, Department of Work and Organizations
Available Courses:
- Preparing to Manage Human Resources
- Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding Employees
- Managing Employee Performance
- Managing Employee Compensation
- Human Resources Management Capstone: HR for People Manager
Course link: visit the course via Coursera here
Wharton School HR M.S Courses Via Coursera
The Wharton School offers free course like the Managing Human Capital. The course is designed to educate student on how to manage the most valuable and unpredictable resources in any business, maintaining good people in the business and aiming a high standard goals.
Human Resource Management Course on Alison
The Institution offers course like International and Strategic Human Resource Management which enhance the students strategies and how to sustain in businesses.
The two main skills on International and Strategic Human Resource Management is firstly the coping strategies and secondly the sustainability.
Note that all these courses listed with their various schools/institutions has specific time or weeks for it completion, most of them gives free certificate while some you need to pay a minimum amounts of money to obtain a cert.
Free Online Bachelor’s Degree Human Resources Management Courses with Certificates
Below are 10 free online bachelor’s degree human resources management courses with certificates in 2023:
- Human Resource Management: HR for People Managers offered by Coursera
- Strategic Human Resource Management offered by OpenLearning
- Human Resources Management: Recruitment and Selection offered by Alison
- Managing Human Resources offered by MIT OpenCourseWare
- Human Resources Management offered by Harvard Online Learning:
- HR Basics for Managers offered Udemy
- Human Resource Management Fundamentals offered by FutureLearn
- Managing Human Resources in Health and Social Care offered by FutureLearn
- Human Resource Management Essentials offered t edX
- Human Resource Management: HRM for People Managers Specialization offered by Coursera
Free Online Diploma Courses in Human Resources Management with Certificates
Below are 6 free online diploma in human resources management with certificates in 2023:
- Diploma in Human Resources offered by Alison
- Human Resources Management Diploma offered by Shaw Academy:
- Diploma in Human Resources Management offered by Oxford Home Study Centre
- Diploma in Human Resources offered by Brentwood Open Learning College
- Diploma in Human Resource Management offered by Ashworth College
- Diploma in Human Resource Management offered by Penn Foster College
Please note that while some of these courses are free to enrol in, there may be requirements to pay a certain fee to receive a certificate upon completion.
List of Free Online HR Courses for Beginners.
Thankfully to online schools that offer 100% free online HR courses for beginners. With these courses, you can easily complete your human resources management program online for free
Below are 20 free online HR certification courses for beginners with certificates in 2023:
- Human Resources Management: HR for People Managers by Coursera
- Human Resources Fundamentals by LinkedIn Learning
- Human Resources Management and Development by OpenLearn
- HR Management and Compliance by Alison
- Introduction to Human Resource Management by edX
- Human Resources: Recruitment and Selection by OpenLearn
- Human Resource Management: HR Basics by Udemy
- HR Metrics and Analytics by LinkedIn Learning
- Managing Human Resources in the Hospitality Industry by edX
- HRM – Human Resource Management by Saylor Academy
- Human Resource Management Essentials by FutureLearn
- Effective Communication and Human Relations Skills for Managers by Alison
- Strategic Human Resources by OpenLearn
- Employee Engagement and Motivation by edX
- HR for Non-HR Managers by Udemy
- HR Fundamentals for Small Business by LinkedIn Learning
- Performance Management by Coursera
- HR Planning and Staffing by Udemy
- Human Resources Management: Training and Development by Udemy
- Introduction to Human Resources by Khan Academy
Free Online HR Courses with Certificates in UK.
Do you need free online HR courses with certificates in UK? Well, there are several free and low-cost online HR courses with certificates offered by UK schools.
If you want to enrol in an online HRM program that is offered by a UK university, then below are some outstanding free/cheap online HR courses with certificates offered by UK schools:
- Learning Lounge – Recruitment Policies and Processes
- University of Glasgow – Recruitment and Selection
- co.uk – Human Resources (HR) Online Course
- Oxford Home Study Centre – HR Management Course
- ESSEC Business School – HR Management by Coursera
- University of Minnesota – Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding Employees by Coursera
- Wharton School – HR Management and Analytics
- Open University HR Management:
- Coursera HR Courses by University of London and the University of Warwick
- FutureLearn HR Management
1. Recruitment Policies and Processes by Learning Lounge:
This one-week HR course offered by Learning Lounge covers the basics of recruiting ranging from planning to probation.
During this program, students will learn about recruitment policies and processes, including how to write job descriptions, how to advertise vacancies, and how to conduct interviews.
This course is free, and a certificate is available upon completion. Visit here
2. Recruitment and Selection by University of Glasgow:
During this HR program, students are trained on the legal and policy frameworks, the practical advice for effective recruitment and selection, and the shortlisting and behaviour interviewing skills.
This program is highly recommended for Appointing Committee members, job board members or anybody that is hoping on building a career in recruitment and selection process.
The program is free, and is for Appointing Committee members of the University of Glasgow. There’s also a certificate of completion.
3. Human Resources (HR) Online Course by Reed.co.uk:
This HR program covers a range of HR courses, topics and specialities such as recruitment and selection, staff training and development, performance management, and employment law.
The Reed.co.uk human resources (HR) course is self-paced and costs as low as £10 which is very affordable and almost free with a certificate of completion. Visit here
4. HR Management Course by Oxford Home Study Centre:
This Human resource management program covers HR management principles and practices, including recruitment and selection, staff training and development, and performance management.
Just like the Reed.co.uk human resources (HR) course, this HR course is completely free and self-paced with a certificate of completion. Visit here
5. ESSEC Business School HR Management Program via Coursera
The ESSEC business school’s HR management program is free and self-paced. The course covers HR specialties and topics like:
- Management principles and practices,
- Recruitment and selection
- Performance management
- Employee relations.
Students who complete this program will be issued a certificate of completion. Visit here
6. University of Minnesota Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding Employees Program via Coursera
The University of Minnesota recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding Employees course focuses on the best practices for recruiting, hiring, and onboarding new employees.
This program is completely free, and a printable certificate is available at the end of the program for a fee. Visit here
7. HR Management and Analytics by Wharton School
The Wharton School HR management and analytics program is offer via coursera.org with a printable certificate at the end of the program. The program is free and self-paced.
This program covers important aspect of human resources management like the HR management and analytics.
Students in this program will be trained on how to use data to make informed HR decisions. Visit here
8. HR Management by Open University
The Open University offers many HR management courses including free and cheap HR courses. Some of its HR courses covers topics like:
- Managing people
- Organizational behaviour
- Recruitment and selection, etc.
9. HR Courses by University of London and the University of Warwick via Coursera
Coursera has many free and cheap HR courses from UK universities. Some of the best free and affordable HR courses on Coursera by UK universities include:
- University of London HR management
- University of Warwick HR management
The HR programs offered by these two universities covers a wide range of HR topics and specialties such as:
- Managing employee performance
- Strategic HR management
- Talent management
10. HR Management by FutureLearn
Futurelearn offers a range of free and cheap HR courses hosted by UK universities with printable certificates at the end of the courses.
Some of the free and affordable HR courses on futurelearn that are offered by UK universities include:
- Introduction to People Management
- Managing the Human Resources Function
- HR Fundamentals
List of Online Udemy HR Courses Free
While Udemy does offer a range of HR management and practices courses, many of such courses require a little enrolment fee.
However, Udemy occasionally offers discounts and promo HR management courses that can significantly reduce the cost of courses and some of the promo courses are free.
Below is a list of few cheap HR courses available on Udemy:
- HR Basics: An Introduction to Human Resources
- HR Analytics
- Employee Training and Development
- Performance Management
- Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
- A Guide to People Management
- Human Resources: Employees Recruitment and Selection
- HR for Non-HR Managers
- HR Management: Staffing, Training, and Development
- Employee Relations
1. HR Basics – An Introduction to Human Resources:
This Udemy HR management course covers the basics aspect of HR management. The topics and specialties in this course include the following:
- Recruitment
- Compensation
- Employee relations
Enrolment cost: the course cost about $14.99 for enrolment
2. HR Analytics:
This Udemy HR course trains students on how to use data to drive HR decisions. At the end of the program, the student will be able to use data analysis to make informed HR decisions.
Enrolment cost: the course cost about $13.99 for enrolment
3. Employee Training and Development:
This Udemy course covers best aspect of HR management such as employee training and development.
Enrolment cost: the course cost about $19.99 for enrolment
4. Performance Management:
This is a very special HR course that focuses mainly on Conduct Performance Reviews. During this program, students are trained on how to conduct effective performance reviews.
Enrolment cost: the course cost about $19.99 for enrolment
5. Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace:
This Udemy HR management course focuses on the diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
The course trains students on the strategies needed to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Enrolment cost: the course cost about $19.99 for enrolment
6. A Guide to People Management:
This Udemy HR Basics course is a guide to people to people management. The course covers the fundamentals of HR management.
The topics and specialties in the course include the following:
- Recruitment
- Employee relations
- Performance management
7. Human Resources – Employees Recruitment and Selection:
This Udemy HR course focuses mainly on the employees recruitment and selection process. This course trains students on the best practices for selecting and recruiting new employees.
8. HR for Non-HR Managers
This Udemy course is suitable for non-HR managers. The course covers topics in HR management principles and practices.
9. HR Management – Staffing, Training, and Development:
If you are looking for an HR course that focuses on Staffing, Training, and Development, then this course is suitable for you.
This Udemy course covers special topics in HRM such as HR management principles and practices. The course trains on staffing, and employee development.
10. Employee Relations:
This course is a guide to building stronger relationships between employees and the employer/company they’re working with.
The course covers strategies topics that will help in building stronger relationships with employees and improving employee engagement.
List of Online Google HR Certification Free
Google does not actually offer a free HR certification. Meanwhile, Google offer a number of free online courses and resources that are related to HR and people management through its Google for Education platform.
Below are some free Google HR online courses that can be beneficial for HR professionals are:
- Preparing to Manage Human Resources by University of Minnesota
- Effective Communication – fundamentals of effective communication
- Understanding Diversity and Inclusion
- Leadership – how to manage a team
List of Open University Free HR Courses
Open University offer a range of free/cheap HR courses. These courses can be accessed online and some of them are available for free.
Below are Open University HR courses that can be useful for individuals looking to develop HR skills.
- Human Resource Management: Context and Concepts
- Employee Resourcing and Development
- Employment Relations
- Human resources analytics
- Employee engagement
- Preparing to manage HR
- Employment contracts
- Project management
- Strategic HR management
- Management
- Hiring practices
Some of these courses are very affordable with enrolment fees starting from £720.
Cheap HR Certification Online Courses
Below are intensive and full HR management program that are offered by reputable institutions and are very affordable:
- HR Management Certification Course by HR University – This course costs $199 and covers HR management fundamentals.
- Navigating Diversity – This course costs $29.99 and teaches how to deal with differences in the workplace.
- HR 101: Compliance Made Easy – This course costs $199 and helps with compliance to U.S. employer regulations.
- Professional in Human Resources (PHR) by the HR Certification Institute – This certification costs $395-$495 and covers HR operations, recruitment and retention, and employee relations.
- SHRM-CP (Certified Professional) by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – This certification costs $395-$495 and covers HR competencies, leadership and strategy, and employee relations.
- HR Essentials Certificate by eCornell – This certification costs $3,600 and covers HR management fundamentals, including talent acquisition and development, compensation and benefits, and labor laws.
- Certified Human Resources Specialist (CHRS) by HR Certification – This certification costs $299 and covers HR compliance, employee relations, and benefits administration.
- HR Analytics Certificate by eCornell – This certification costs $3,600 and covers HR data analytics, including employee retention, workforce planning, and performance management.
- Certified Talent Management Practitioner by Talent Management Institute (TMI) – This certification costs $225-$325 and covers talent management, including recruitment, retention, and development.
- Professional in Benefits Administration (PBA) by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) – This certification costs $795-$1,690 and covers benefits administration, including healthcare, retirement, and welfare plans.
Note: the above prices are subject to change at anytime. So always check for updates on the official course website.
Best free Online HR Courses with Certificates in 2023
There are many excellent online human resources management courses available, offered by reputable universities and institutions. Here are ten of the best, with links to the courses:
- Human Resource Management: HR for People Managers offered by Coursera
- Strategic Human Resource Management offered by Harvard Online Learning
- HR Management and Analytics offered by Wharton Online
- Human Resource Management Professional Certification offered by eCornell
- Mastering HR Fundamentals offered by Cornell University ILR School
- HR Management offered by Duke University
- Human Resource Management Fundamentals offered by FutureLearn
- Human Resource Management: HRM for People Managers Specialization offered by Coursera
- Human Resources Management Certification offered by SHRM
- Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) Management offered by ATD
What to do with Human Resource Management Degree?
What can one do with a Degree in Human Resource Management? This is an important question. Of course, you can do the following with a degree in HRM:
- You can use the degree to get higher jobs or to be promoted in the company
- A degree in HR management makes you worthy for companies to seek advice from you
- With skills in HR, you can easily meet the standard of any company, making you employable
- It’s make you more strategic in planning and management
Jobs you can get with HRM Degree.
What job can I get with a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management? You can get the following jobs a master’s degree in HRM:
- Compensation and Benefits Manager
- Human Resources Specialist
- Human Resources Manager
- Labor Relations Specialist
- Training and Development Specialist
At this point, I believe you have known how to obtain a free online master’s, bachelor’s or diploma degree in human resources management (HRM).
Feel free to share and drop a comment in the comment section for more interesting and personalized guidance.