Business Psychology MSc

This masters degree gives you a solid grounding in the business psychology science relevant to consulting and management.

You’ll apply modern psychological principles to contemporary organisations and organisational problems, working alongside psychologists to develop your skills in research, problem-solving and consultancy.

From change management to designing green workplaces, you’ll develop the skill set to tackle key growth areas. Case studies, workshops and real-world projects will help you build commercial awareness and professional skills. During the course you’ll have the opportunity to gain certification in Occupational Test User: Ability and Personality at no additional cost, which is a valuable tool for selection and development.

Taught by leading researchers and experienced practitioners among one of Europe’s most influential groups of organizational psychologists, you’ll gain a broad understanding of contemporary organisations to prepare for a career applying business psychology in the public or private sector.

Academic excellence

You’ll learn from an influential group of organizational psychologists, introducing you to the latest thinking from our research centres, the Socio-Technical Centre (STC) and the Workplace Behaviour Research Centre. They undertake research at the cutting edge of organizational psychology and behaviour. The centres combine expertise in psychology, management, engineering, environmental science and geography to form a thriving research community.

Students also benefit from our strong corporate connections, as well as links with several leading organizational psychology consulting firms. Recent project partners have included Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Arup, the National Health Service, Network Rail and Marks and Spencer.

Course content

This masters provides you with an important grounding in systems thinking, its theoretical basis and practical use in workspace design, IT systems and more. You’ll build critical understanding of research design in psychology and social science.

You’ll consider the factors that affect employee behaviour and how psychological insights can help to design effective organisations. You’ll also explore the personnel selection and training process from interviews and psychometric testing to training evaluation.

The course will expand your understanding of behavioural research and the development not just of employees and their performance, but also of organisations themselves. The course also places a strong emphasis on applying your knowledge in practical business scenarios, and you’ll undertake fieldwork to develop professional skills in a variety of real-life situations.

The research skills you’ve developed throughout this degree will prepare you to complete your final project, which can be either an independent research project on a topic of your choice, or a practical consultancy project with a business.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

You'll take nine compulsory modules including your dissertation.

• The Psychology of Effective Organizations 15 credits
• Personnel Selection and Training 15 credits
• Systems Thinking and Consulting Practice 15 credits
• Organizational Development and Change 15 credits
• Dissertation 60 credits
• Managing Performance and Developing Careers 15 credits
• Research Design and Analysis 15 credits
• Advanced Behavioural Research Design and Analysis 15 credits
• Commercial and Professional Skills 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Business Psychology MSc Full Time in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies. These will include lectures, seminars, workshops, online learning and tutorials.

Independent study is also vital for this course allowing you to prepare for taught classes and sharpen your own research and critical skills.

Assessment

Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques including exams, group projects, written assignments and essays, in-course assessment, group and individual presentations and reports.

Career opportunities

As a graduate of this course you will have a broad appreciation of the workings of contemporary organisations and will be strongly positioned for a career in the public or private sector as a skilled manager, consulting business psychologist or human resource specialist.

Graduates may look to develop a career applying specialist psychological expertise within management consultancy, working on practical problems across many organisations. Skills from this course are also valued within an HR function, or to improve your own effectiveness as a future manager.

Links with industry

Students have the opportunity to develop leadership skills as part of our Leaders in Residence initiative, which gives management students the opportunity to engage with senior figures from the world of business. This is a rare opportunity where successful and established business people will help you connect the theory of your course to real world practice, and offer their advice for career success.

You will be able to connect with leaders from a range of firms including major manufacturers and retailers, charity chief executives, entrepreneurs and directors of companies large and small, through structured meetings and events. This typically includes workshops, social events, guest lectures and professional skills development.

Careers support

We help you to achieve your career ambitions by providing professional development support as part of the course. You benefit from our Professional Development Tutor, who will help you to develop the important professional skills that employers value. This means you will develop the academic skills to successfully progress through the course, and also the professional skills you will need to start a successful career.

Read more about our careers and professional development support.

The Careers Centre also provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

Visit the Business Psychology MSc page on the University of Leeds website for more details!