Masters Degrees in Business Psychology, United Kingdom

Our MBA (Business Psychology) gives you a solid grounding you in the principles necessary for running a successful business, including finance, management, strategy and marketing. The specialist business psychology modules will introduce you to the methods for managing organisational culture and the use of psychological assessments. You’ll study these modules alongside professionals and students from related disciplines, providing you with a collaborative and supportive environment of networking opportunities within business psychology administration.

More about this course

The London Met's MBA (Business Psychology) will teach you the fundamentals of administering a business and provide an introduction to the basics of business psychology. This will grow your potential in fields related to human resources, talent management and other leadership positions.

The core focus will be on the skills and knowledge you need to run a business including marketing, communications, accounting, leadership and more.

We supplement this with specialised modules in psychology that will help you manage culture and change within organisations, as well as learn the specific methods used to psychologically assess members of staff in the workplace.

On the research modules, you'll be able to further investigate any management processes and other business topics that you want to explore in more depth.

Our teaching staff and visiting academics, who you’ll meet both informally and formally through lectures and social events, are experts in areas including organisational psychology, leadership and management to promote business effectiveness.

Throughout the MBA, you’ll collaborate with students from a variety of professions and disciplines, including specialist postgraduate psychology students. Your specialised training will be supplemented by regular informal learning activities including the weekly student-led Business Breakfast; a monthly dinner; networking events; meetings with business leaders; entrepreneurs and consultants and lively charity fundraising events in the City.

We’ll provide regular coaching sessions to help improve your career potential, while you can also make use of our Careers and Employability Unit to help you find new roles in preparation for life after the MBA.

You’ll be assessed through individual and group work. This is likely to come in a variety of forms including reports, portfolios, presentations, videos, conferences and competitions, enabling you to develop the skills to master a multitude of situations in the world of business psychology.

Modular structure

Core modules:
-Accounting and Finance for Managers
-Leadership and Strategic Management
-People and Organisations: Principles and Practices in Global Contexts
-Marketing, Marketing Communications and Operations

Business Psychology modules:
-Managing Organisational Culture and Change
-Psychological Assessment at Work

Research-focused modules:
-Management Learning and Research
-Business Research Project

After the course

Graduates of the MBA may continue in their existing careers or choose to explore new opportunities. Recent graduates of our business related degrees are employed by companies including Oxademy, ALDI, Schwab Versand Hanau, Sapa, UBM plc, Carillion, Hanson Hispania SA, Triometric and BNP Paribas. They work in management roles in the fields of international sales, area management, business development, clients services and customer service.

Roles particularly relevant to the field of business psychology include human resources manager, occupational psychological consultant and talent management consultant.

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This programme is especially suitable for students wishing to develop a career in personnel functions, human resource management roles or as business consultants in areas such as selection and assessment, organisational development and change and employee development.

Taught by experienced researchers and practitioners, students are given in-depth training to equip them to apply psychological theories and research to influence and inform a range of important business decisions and to operate effectively at all levels within organisations.

There is a strong emphasis on developing critical thinking and consultancy skills, as well as the ability to work effectively with a wide range of organisational stakeholders.

Students can choose to extend and cement their practical skills by completing a research project that allows them to apply their knowledge to an organisational issue. Alternatively they may conduct a focused literature review that examines how psychological research and theory may be applied to a contemporary business problem.

See the website http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/programmes/departments/business-economics/business-psychology/

Programme modules

Semester 1:
- Gathering and Using Evidence in Work Psychology (Part I)
- Leadership and Performance Management
- Employee Engagement, Motivation and Voice
- Well-being and Work
- Work Design, Organisational Change and Development

Semester 2:
- Gathering and Using Evidence in Work Psychology (Part II)
- Psychological Assessment in Organisations
- Career Development
- Learning, Development and Knowledge Management

Optional Modules:
In each of Semesters 1 and 2 it may be possible to study one module from the School’s existing portfolio of Masters modules.

Summer:
Empirical Research Project in Work Psychology or Dissertation in Business Psychology.

Assessment

Each module is assessed by coursework. The coursework will be a mixture of essays, reports, group work, practical work and presentations. These assessment methods are designed to closely resemble the work carried out by psychologists in the business environment. There are no examinations.

Careers and further study

Many large organisations have their own teams of psychologists who provide specialist advice across their business functions. Graduates will be well-equipped to bring specialist expertise to leadership and management roles in both private and public-sector organisations.

Roles in human resource management, selection and assessment, talent identification and development, employee counselling, the management of employee well-being, organisational development and business consulting are particularly well-suited to those with knowledge and skills in business psychology.

Why choose business and economics at Loughborough?

Loughborough’s School of Business and Economics is a thriving forward-looking centre of education that aims to provide an exceptional learning experience.

Consistently ranked as a Top-10 UK business school by national league tables, our graduates are highly employable and enjoy starting salaries well above the national average.

The rich variety of postgraduate programmes we offer ranges from taught masters, MBA and doctoral programmes, to short courses and executive education, with subjects spanning Management, Marketing, Finance and Economics, Work Psychology, Business Analytics, International Crisis Management and Information Management. New for 2016, we are also launching two exciting new programmes in Human Resource Management. All of this contributes to a lively and supportive learning environment within the School.

- Internationally Accredited
The School of Business and Economics is one of less than 1% of business schools in the world to have achieved accreditation from all three major international accrediting bodies: The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), EQUIS accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

- Career Prospects
Our graduates are in great demand. Over 94% of our postgraduate students were in work and/or further study six months after graduating.* As such, you will be equipped with skills and knowledge that will serve you well in your career or enable you to pursue further study and research.

*Source: DLHE

Find out how to apply here http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/programmes/departments/business-economics/business-psychology/

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Overview

The MSc Business Psychology programme (See http://www.postgraduate.hw.ac.uk/prog/msc-business-psychology/ ) at Heriot-Watt University is one of the longest established of its kind outside North America. The programme is open to graduates from any discipline, and is aimed at people aspiring towards, or already pursuing a career in business. It equips graduates with theoretical knowledge of psychology and related practical skills to enhance effectiveness at individual, team and organisational levels within any business setting. You will study courses covering different aspects of management (leadership, diversity, organisational culture and organisational change) with the remaining courses covering human factors, marketing, coaching and research methods. You can choose to conduct your research project in any area relevant to Business Psychology giving you the opportunity to tailor your studies to fit your interests and professional needs. The programme has an international focus, and graduates are therefore well prepared to work anywhere within the global market.

The programme can be studied on-campus, either full-time, or part-time. Alternatively, the distance learning format allows you to (continue to) work full-time anywhere in the world. MSc students take all the courses below. Diploma students take all the courses except the project. Students may also take individual courses on a continuing professional development basis, leading to a letter of confirmation.

Study abroad option

Students have the opportunity to spend their second semester at either our Dubai or Malaysia campus (Subject to meeting academic and visa conditions).

Our students

Students come from a variety of backgrounds, both academic and professional. Some come directly from undergraduate study. Others already work in a business setting, bringing with them practical experience in a variety of business-related roles. Some students come from other professional backgrounds but with an interest in converting to a career in business. Students from all over the world come to Heriot-Watt to study Business Psychology. Therefore, as a student you will be part of, contribute to, and learn from a community comprising individuals from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds and cultures.

Career opportunities

The practical and international focus of the programme ensures graduates are quickly able to make a positive and effective contribution in a variety of roles, globally across a wide range of business settings, for example, organisational development, marketing, management, coaching, human resource management.

Teaching and research excellence

Business Psychology is taught by experienced, international staff with academic backgrounds in Psychology and practitioner backgrounds in a variety of settings.

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-Watt is one of the UK’s leading universities, and Scotland’s most international. Find out more about Heriot-Watt University’s reputation, rankings and international profile http://www.hw.ac.uk/about/reputation/key-facts.htm .

Programme duration

The full time on campus MSc programme lasts for one year (September to August inclusive) and includes a substantial research project. The Diploma covers the same classes as the MSc but lasts for just nine months. (September to May inclusive). The part time MSc programme is of two years’ duration, while the part time Diploma lasts 21 months.

Students studying via distance learning have a maximum of seven years to complete the MSc, or four years to complete the Diploma.

Find information on Programme content here http://www.postgraduate.hw.ac.uk/prog/msc-business-psychology/

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, or your first degree was not taught in English, we’ll need to see evidence of your English language ability. The minimum requirement for English language is IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. We offer a range of English language courses (See http://www.hw.ac.uk/study/english.htm ) to help you meet the English language requirement prior to starting your masters programme:
- 14 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with no more than one skill at 4.5);
- 10 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with minimum of 5.0 in all skills);
- 6 weeks English (for IELTS 5.5 with minimum of 5.5 in reading & writing and minimum of 5.0 in speaking & listening)

Distance learning students

Please note that independent distance learning students who access their studies online will be expected to have access to a PC/laptop and internet.

Find information on Fees and Scholarships here http://www.postgraduate.hw.ac.uk/prog/msc-business-psychology/

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Industrial/Organisational and Business Psychology deals with human capital issues and is instrumental in helping businesses become more effective and profitable, as well as improving employees' wellbeing and performance. This brand new MSc will prepare students for academic research and professional practice in this field.

Degree information

Our students will be exposed to the latest psychological tools and interventions currently used in business and other applied fields. Some of the key areas that we will be covering are: talent management, consultancy skills, and business seminars. In the latter students will follow a series of talks from professionals in the area, which provide a great opportunity to explore the latest techniques as well as network with like-minded professionals in the area.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of six core modules (90 credits), two optional modules (30 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits).

Core modules
-Consulting Psychology
-Talent Management
-Consumer Behaviour
-Business Psychology Seminars
-Influence and Negotiation
-Organisational Psychology

Optional modules - students choose two of the following:
-Applied Decision Making
-Judgment and Decision Making
-Social Cognition
-Current Issues in Attitude Research
-Understanding Individuals and Groups
-Social Psychology
-Principles of Cognition
-Project Management
-Mastering Entrepreneurship
-Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice
-Creativity and Innovation in Organisation

Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a substantial dissertation.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, presentations, case studies, practical experiments and statistical and computational work. Assessment is through examinations, essays, group projects, dissertation and oral examination.

Careers

After the successful completion of the programme our students are eligible to apply for a number of consultancy roles. One of the most popular routes has been management consulting, where graduates are currently enjoying successful careers. In addition, a number of our applicants have found positions as HR professionals within established as well as boutique firms in the UK and internationally. Finally, given the diverse and well-rounded training, some graduates have entered the word of marketing and communications where they apply the theories they have learnt to communicate with other companies and consumers more effectively.

Top career destinations for this degree:
-Business Development Manager, James-Lee Consultancy
-Research Psychologist, VisualDNA
-Human Resources (HR) Service Delivery Specialist, Unilever
-Director of Marketing and Business Development, MirrorBell Consulting Services
-Quantitative Research Consultant, Decipher

Employability
UCL's Industrial Organisational and Business Psychology group includes luminaries from the talent management and consumer psychology industries, as well as illustrious academics. In addition, our programme features speakers from Google, RBS, Havas Worldwide, Dunnhumby, Sainsbury's, Quantcast and many more.

Why study this degree at UCL?

One of the key principles that govern this programme is our focus on preparing practitioners utilising the latest theories in the area of organisational and business psychology. This unique focus drives our teaching methodology (applied workshops and training courses) and pedagogical focus (experiential learning).

Our cohort of students comes from a very diverse background and we make sure that we create an environment in which everyone can learn from one another. The modules, created by experts in their fields, have been designed to deepen students' understanding as well as prepare them for successful careers in the area of industrial organisation and business psychology.

A number of the tutors hosting our business seminars are among the leading professionals in the area of business psychology. This is an excellent opportunity for our students to be exposed to the latest thinking, and to network and develop projects.

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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.

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MSc Work Psychology & Business is suitable if you hold a good first degree in psychology and wish to pursue a career as work or occupational psychologist. Work psychology is a topic at the core of our understanding of healthy and effective organisations and employees. It gives psychologists a unique opportunity to study business alongside specialist work psychology modules and will enable you to operate within a global workplace.

This programme emphasises the study of practical, real world organisational and business issues, combined with the academic and scientific rigour of occupational psychology as an applied science. The business school context provides an excellent perspective on the application of occupational psychology in organisations, and gives the programme an applied and relevant focus.

In addition to your Aston degree, you will have the opportunity to participate in our international study exchange programme. Studying with one of our partner institutions, the programme will enhance your international experience and communication skills, preparing you for a career in the international business environment.

Subject guide and modules

Core Modules:
-Organisational Behaviour
-Learning & Talent Development
-Workplace Design & Health
-Research Methods in Human Resource Management & Business and Organisational Behaviour
-Employee Relations and Counselling
-Assessment Performance and Reward
-Strategy, Change & Leadership

Optional Modules (Choose one):
-Accounting for Non-Financial Managers
-Organisational Behaviour Theory and Practice
-Strategic Business Sustainability
-Strategic & International Human Resource Management
-Marketing Management
-Operations Management
-Strategic Management
-Management of Innovation
-Economic Environment of Business

The programme then concludes with a dissertation project.

Learning, teaching and assessment

You will be assessed through a mixture of examinations and coursework. The taught element of the programme is then complemented by a substantial piece of research leading to the completion of a dissertation.

Professional accreditation

MSc Work Psychology & Business is a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited postgraduate course in Occupational Psychology. Successful completion of the course leads to the academic basis for the BPS Chartered Occupational Psychology qualification (QOccPysch).

Career opportunities

This programme will prepare you for a career in any organisational setting: including both the public and private sectors. Recent graduate positions include:
-Business Psychologist (Recruitment and Assessment) – Jaguar Land Rover
-Learning and Development Specialist - Network Rail
-Occupational Health and Wellbeing Scientific Advisor- NPower
-Occupational Psychologist – NHS
-Research Scientist – BAE Systems

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This joint Masters degree is designed for graduates wishing to start, or further develop, careers in Consumer Psychology and Business. The programme is delivered by schools which enjoy an international reputation in their field.

The marriage of both disciplines is a natural one, as understanding behaviour and specifically consumer behaviour in the world of business can be crucial to the success of businesses.

Today’s successful businesses and organisations need highly trained people who can help them understand their consumers and understand issues such as: What makes them choose one product over another? Do brand names and advertising really affect our thinking? Will the internet change the face of urban and suburban shopping areas?

In the first semester, Business and Consumer Psychology studies will be in equal proportions; however in Semester 2 there will be a greater focus on business, and the dissertation is undertaken in a business-related subject. It is also possible to undertake a Consumer Psychology and Business Masters degree that will involve a dissertation in Consumer Psychology. Please click here for further details.

Candidates may choose between the MA or MSc routes, which are differentiated by the nature of the dissertation. The MSc dissertation will involve undertaking empirical research, whilst the MA dissertation will involve an extended literature review.
Course Structure

The MSc and MA degrees in Business with Consumer Psychology are scheduled for a duration of 12 months. Each degree programme consists of two parts.

Part 1:

Is a wholly taught component, contributing 120 credits. All taught modules carry a credit weighting of 15 credits. Part 1 is taught during the two semesters which make up the academic year. Teaching during semester 1 normally runs from late-September to December, with examinations in January. Teaching during Semester 2 normally runs from late-January to early-May, with examinations in May and June.

Part 2:

Consists of a supervised Dissertation of around 10,000 words completed during the summer months, from late May to September. You are expected to submit your Dissertation by September in the calendar year following your initial registration for your postgraduate degree.

Compulsory Modules:

Consumer Psychology: This module is an introduction to consumer science as it is currently practiced in the marketplace and to relevant research in academia.
Nudges and Behaviour Change: Module details are currently not available.
Marketing Strategy: This module critically evaluates the contributions of various schools of thought in marketing, and examines the relevant analytical models and management practices, with emphasis on the strategic importance of marketing to all organisations.
Management Research: This module analyses the philosophical basis for research in the management sciences, and examines a number of key methodological issues and approaches.
Applied Consumer Psychology: This module’s aim is to provide practical research experience in consumer psychology and involves hands-on work with viable commercial enterprises. Students are partnered with local companies and are required to design and conduct a practical consumer research project, typically involving field work.

Optional modules (choose 3):

European Business: This module examines the opportunities and constraints faced by businesses that operate on a pan-European basis. Emphasis is placed on the multi-dimensional characteristics of an economic and social space that is subject to a unique system of supra-national governance
New Venture Creation: This module examines the advantages and disadvantages of the various routes to business start-up, including new venture creation, or establishing a business based on your own expertise, experience and ideas; buying an established busi9ness; purchasing a franchise; and succession through a family firm, an increasingly common way of becoming involved in entrepreneurial activity.
Contemporary Issues in Management: This module develops several theories and concepts in contemporary management theory and practice. It provides a detailed and critical analysis of management, further developing the conceptual, strategic and practical skills necessary for managers in complex, global organisational contexts.
Finance for Managers: This module is designed for those who aim to achieve a basic understanding of financial management and control, and who require an understanding of finance in order to manage an organisation effectively. Financial planning and control are central themes, as well as the appraisal techniques of investment projects.
Enterprise by design: module information currently unavailable.
Marketing Communication: This module critically evaluates the contributions of various schools of thought in marketing, and examines the relevant analytical models and management practices, with emphasis on the strategic importance of marketing to all organisations.
Entrepreneurial Marketing: This module explores relationship marketing theory and practice in a range of global environments and business contexts. Theoretical approaches, integrated with relationship marketing models and analytical tools will be used to develop managerial understanding and competence.

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The programme is designed for students who wish to acquire the skills and knowledge that will enable them to apply psychological principles within the business world. The course will appeal equally to those with a business or psychology background. Graduates are equipped for a variety of careers including human resource practitioners or careers in consultancy and business psychology. The course includes the following modules:
-Psychological Assessment at Work
-Learning, Training and Development
-Research and Professional Skills
-Well-being at workHuman Resource Management for psychologists
-Strategic Management for psychologists
-Marketing for psychologists
-Consulting Skills

And an option from:
-Work Design, Organisational Change and Development
-Leadership, Engagement and Motivation

You will also carry out a project which is a substantial piece of investigative work, normally carried out in an external organisation. Host organisations for MSc projects have included large commercial concerns in both manufacturing and service sectors, a range of consultancies, charities, and in local government and government departments.

Projects are sometimes conducted abroad; past locations include Germany, Greece, Turkey, Malaysia, Kenya, Indonesia, China, India and Taiwan.

Staff who teach on the course include permanent academic staff who have industrial experience and who undertake regular consultancy work, and external psychologists from consultancies, large organisations and other universities. Teaching and learning methods include lectures, workshops, seminars, tutorials and practical sessions. There is an emphasis on putting theory into practice.

Why choose this course?

-Accredited by the Association of Business Psychologists
-This programme provides many of the professional skills and competencies needed to apply psychology in the workplace
-At a recent review the course was commended for the helpful and supportive staff; the applied nature of many of the assessment tasks most notably the project and delivery by staff who are involved in cutting edge research and the ‘contemporary practice’ of Industrial and Work Psychology
-Students will not only have access to the knowledge and skills base from our Department of Psychology, but also gain insight and expertise from the University's Business SchoolOne of the largest psychology departments in the country
-Our staff are actively engaged in significant research which is reflected by our excellent, Grade 4 rating in the Higher Education Funding Council's last Research Assessment Exercise. See a list of our Psychology staff here
-Well equipped laboratories with excellent computing facilitiesWe were awarded a Teaching Quality rating of "excellent" (23 out of 24) in our subject review
-A vibrant research seminar series- contributed to by leading academics from across the country

Professional Accreditations

The Association of Business Psychologists.

Careers

Graduates of business psychology courses enter careers in management trainee positions, consultancies or as human resource management practitioners.

Teaching methods

Teaching and learning methods include lectures, workshops, seminars and tutorials. There is an emphasis on the development of practical skills. Staff who teach on the course include permanent academic staff who have industrial experience and who undertake regular consultancy work, and external psychologists both from consultancies and from large organisations.

Structure

Core Modules
-Behaviour and Marketing Creativity
-Business Psychology Project
-Consultancy Skills
-Consulting Skills
-Contemporary Strategic Management
-HRM for Psychologists
-HRM in Organisations (Business Psychology)
-Human Potential and Performance
-Individual & Organisational Learning
-Leadership, Engagement and Motivation
-Learning, Training and Development
-Marketing for Psychologists
-Organisations and Change
-Project
-Psychological Assessment at Work
-Research and Professional Skills
-Research and Professional Skills in Action
-Selection and Assessment
-Strategic Management for Psychologists

Optional
-Wellbeing and Work
-Work Design, Organisational Change and Development

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This course will help you to understand the way people behave at work, giving you a new perspective on everyday business decisions and preparing you for career advancement. Graduates leave this course with a scientific approach: they can gather evidence and critically evaluate it to make better decisions in the workplace. They stand out from competitors with human resource management qualifications.

-The only course in the UK to hold dual institutional accreditation from the British Psychological Society and the Association for Business Psychology. Graduates have the option to become a Chartered and Registered Occupational Psychologist in the future.
Students can qualify in occupational testing for ability and personality at a fraction of the private market cost.
-No exams – you will be assessed entirely on your coursework.
-Access to a dedicated career psychologist with a strong focus on personal development, helping you to improve your employability – for example, though work shadowing, internships networking opportunities and targeted assignments.
-Course materials grounded in research and practice, delivered by a course team currently working in the field.
-Regular guest speakers from a range of organisations, including major test publishers and business psychology consultancies.
-Research and consultancy internship opportunities.
-A supportive environment and an expert academic team to help you achieve your academic goals. Kingston Business School is one of only a few of the 120 UK business schools to be awarded an 'excellent' rating for its teaching quality by the Higher Education Funding Council.
-Attend classes in the £26 million Kingston Business School building, opened in 2012, on a leafy, peaceful hillside campus. Kingston upon Thames has been rated London's happiest borough and has the lowest crime rate in London, as well as fast transport links to the city centre.
-Kingston Business School has joined an elite group of global institutions to be awarded the prestigious international accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). A hallmark of excellence in business education, the accreditation has been earned by just 5 per cent of the world's business schools.

What will you study?

You can choose to study this course in one year, with our full time programme, or in two years, with our part-time, executive weekend programme. Both courses cover the same core modules, and both are taught by research-active academics and experienced practitioners.

The modules for this course investigate various approaches to applying psychological principles in the workplace and how these ideas can increase organisational, team and individual performance. You will learn to critically evaluate the evidence base when making decisions.

You will apply theories and evidence to case studies, examples from the field and real-life practice - either at your own company or during a short internship. You will also learn about ethical considerations and your role as a psychologist in organisations, enhancing your professional skills. You will complement this by learning about ways of overcoming the barriers many occupational and business psychologists face when trying to implement their programmes in an organisation.

The course also considers how other disciplines such as neuroscience, ergonomics, economics, human resource management and sociology inform occupational and business psychology.

Your development is at the heart of this course. The programme begins with a focus on the skills you need to gain for your personal career aspirations. As well as building essential transferrable skills, such as communication and interpersonal ability, it has a strong focus on teaching and refining the competencies that employers value, and which will help you succeed in higher level jobs. Students tell us they are impressed with the course and feel it's highly practical.

You will:
-Learn about the process of contracting with organisations as an occupational or business psychologist, and the consultancy cycle;
work with new data and updated approaches, and hone your presentation and report writing skills
-Develop skills and techniques, such as critical incident interviewing, job analysis and career counselling
-Learn to think creatively and work independently, developing management and leadership skills
-Develop an understanding of the different psychological approaches to workplace issues, and how to apply them and synthesise them in practice.

We offer you practice-based training that teaches you to use psychological tools and specialist software, including a wide range of additional short courses covering psychometric testing.

Assessment

You will be assessed using a mixture of coursework assignments, group and individual exercises, skills sessions, and a data analysis assignment and dissertation.

Course structure

Other practice-based training will also be offered, including psychometric testing (offered as an additional short course).

You can substitute any core module other than Research Methods and Dissertation for a module from our Human Resources Management MA.

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

Modules
-Career Counselling, Training and Development
-Leadership, Change and Consultancy
-Performance Appraisal and Identifying Talent
-Wellbeing and Work
-Research Methods and Dissertation

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Psychology has long been applied to the workplace, and has become one of the main professional practice areas for many managers and supervisors of staff.

Applications of the major theories and models of business/occupational psychology occur in the practices of, for example, personnel assessment, selection and training the design of work environments, implementation of training interventions, management of careers, motivation and development of staff and the management of organisational change.

This innovative development at the University of Worcester presents two postgraduate qualifications that apply psychology to business and organisations in general.

The Business Psychology MSc is open to students with a non-psychology related degree, although some elements of psychology or business should have been previously studied.

The Occupational Psychology MSc is only open to those students who hold a psychology degree with Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) from the British Psychological Society (BPS).

The Occupational Psychology Masters is targeted at those wanting to become Chartered Occupational Psychologists.

Study options

The programme is taught in blocks, with each module being two blocks of two days (Friday and Saturday). The days are organized into blocks of different learning activities, e.g. presentation/facilitation by the tutor, practical exercises (individual and/or group task), discussion and reflection. Importantly, between the blocks the students are supported with additional reading, provided in the form of primary source articles, book chapters and practitioner journal articles. The programme has an 80% attendance requirement.

Modules

A sample of available modules includes:

• Advanced Research Analysis
This module aims to consolidate undergraduate research abilities, and equip the student with the skills necessary to undertake Masters level research

• Personnel Selection and Assessment
This module introduces the student to the means of fulfilling the organisational need to have people in work positions that either have the characteristics required for effective performance

• Personal Development
This module introduces the student to the assessing of performance, and level of performance, of people working for an organisation.

• Human Factors
This module introduces the student to the concept that whilst human performance in any task might be affected by anatomical and psychophysiological limitations.

• Organisations and the Employee
This module introduces the student to the wide range of theories of motivation in the workplace, management systems and relations between management and employees.

• Training
This module introduces the student to procedures designed to bring about changes in individuals, the acquisition of skills, the development of work related competence and attitudes.
• Advanced Independent Study

Assessment

A wide range of assessment techniques are employed in the course. Current assessment methods include essays, seminar presentations and research projects.

Teaching and Learning Methods

A variety of teaching and learning methods are used to create an opportunity for students to identify the relevance of learning to their own professional/personal development agenda.

Experienced Staff

The course team are enthusiastic, supportive and well-qualified with staff carrying out research and consultancy in a wide range of areas pertinent to Business and Occupational Psychology. Staff regularly attend academic conferences in the UK and abroad and publish their research in learned journals and books. The research active nature of the staff means that teaching is enriched and students benefit from up-to-date knowledge and contemporary perspectives.

Time Commitment

The MSc is awarded following the successful completion of nine modules. These include the six mandatory modules within the course and the completion of an Independent Dissertation of 15,000 words (equivalent to three modules of study). The course can be taken part-time and takes 1-4 years to complete.

How to Apply

Please apply directly to University of Worcester via application form (available on the University website).

When we receive your application form, your details will be passed to the Masters Programme Leader who will contact you to arrange an informal interview. You may include additional material, such as references, in support of your application or bring them with you to interview.

You can apply for postgraduate taught courses and PG Certs at any time, but preferably as early as possible before the start of the academic year, which begins in September.

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This Masters degree is designed for graduates wishing to start, or further develop, careers in Consumer Psychology and Business and is delivered by schools that enjoy an international reputation in their respective fields. The marriage of both disciplines is a natural one, as understanding behaviour and specifically consumer behaviour in the world of business can be crucial to organisational success. Today's successful businesses and organisations need highly trained people who can help them understand their consumers and understand issues such as: what makes them choose one product over another? Do brand names and advertising really affect our thinking? Will the Internet change the face of urban and suburban shopping areas?

In the first semester, Consumer Psychology and Business studies will be in equal proportions, however in Semester 2 there will be a greater focus on consumer psychology, and the dissertation is undertaken in this field. It is also possible to undertake a Business with Consumer Psychology Masters degree that will involve a dissertation in Business. Candidates may choose between the MA or MSc routes, which are differentiated by the nature of the dissertation. The MSc dissertation will involve undertaking empirical research.

Compulsory Modules
- Research Dissertation - Students will collect, analyse and interpret their data, and present their empirical project in a formal thesis.
- Consumer Psychology: Theory - Provides a basic knowledge of market research, practical issues in consumer science, and an introduction to some of the key psychological perspectives on these problems.
- Quantitative & Qualitative Analysis - The aim of this module is to provide students with in depth understanding of research methods
- Marketing Strategy - Introduces the "fundamentals" of marketing, by illustrating strategies in a wide range of situations, and covering the various schools of thought in marketing, together with relevant analytical models and management practices.
- Organisations and People - Provides an integrated analysis of management, organisations and people, developing the conceptual, strategic and practical skills necessary for managers in complex, global organisational contexts.
- Advanced Statistics - This module focuses on the statistical techniques that are used in studying psychology
- Applied Consumer Psych - The module provides practical research experience in consumer psychology and involves hands-on work with viable commercial enterprises.

Optional Modules
- Nudges & Behaviour Change
- New Venture Creation
- Entrepreneurial Marketing
- Financial Crises & Bank Regulation
- Marketing Communication

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The MSc Business Psychology provides the opportunity to focus on a range of organisational behaviours and apply psychological theory and practice to key issues that affect the internal and external functioning of organisations. Not only will you learn about the theory and research which exists in business psychology, but you have the chance to apply this to your own working experiences.

The programme offers a psychological perspective to understanding key organisational functions such as leadership, organisational culture, change management, marketing and communications. It is a very practical programme which encourages students to consider the application of psychological research evidence to their own working case studies and workplace interventions for change.

MSc Business Psychology applies to a broad range of sectors and is designed for anyone wishing to understand more about the underpinning psychological research and mechanisms for employees, organisations and business practices.

See the website http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/1258-msc-business-psychology

What you will study

Certificate Stage (3 modules)
The Certificate stage involves completion of the following module:
- Psychological Theory and Applications in the Workplace: For this module you will draw on the work of classical and contemporary researchers in the field of organisational behaviour. You will explore core themes and concepts in relation to various working environments.

Plus two additional modules from the following:

- Effective Communication within Organisations: On this module you will examine models of communication and some of the barriers to communication which exist in organisations. You will develop and evaluate practical strategies to carry out internal communication audits and accompanying practical interventions based on psychological evidence.

- Developing and Managing External Communication:This module will examine how organisations communicate with many and varied external contacts. You will focus on issues such as advertising and marketing and the psychological impact strategies have on consumer behaviour.

- Leadership in 21st Century Organisations: The changing nature of organisations and the response of leaders to such changes will be studied on this module. You will examine psychological models of leadership and evaluate them in terms of their contribution to approaches to leadership. You will also analyse the language and behaviour of leaders in ensuring effective leader/employee relations.

- Managing Organisational Culture and Change: For this module you will study both internal cultural issues which arise and impact on an organisation and its identity, as well as the relevant psychological processes for managing change in organisations across a range of scenarios and experiences.

Diploma Stage (3 modules):
The Diploma stage will require you to complete a further two modules from the Certificate stage plus the following:
- Research Methods
- Project Management Skills for use in Organisations

Masters Stage:
- Dissertation: You will carry out a piece of empirical research within an organisation, or with a working population, where psychological theory and/or interventions are applied.

Learning and teaching methods

You will only be required to spend one day a week 3-9pm for 10 weeks & from 6-9pm for the remaining 14 weeks on campus. This will be supplemented by home study and distance learning.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to network with a range of professionals from diverse employment experiences on the programme and to practically apply some of the seminal and contemporary approaches to understanding employee and organisational behaviour. The programme has been developed to ensure study can be undertaken by employees in a wide range of occupational environments.

Work Experience and Employment Prospects

This programme offers you the opportunity to gain skills and knowledge for your continuing professional development and career progression.

You will gain an array of transferable skills to use in organisational environments including marketing, advertising, public and private sector management, consultancy, retail, health management, project management and human resource management.

There will also be opportunities for you to progress into further study via a PhD.

Assessment methods

Assessments will take the form of organisational audits, essays, case studies, critical reviews, presentations and a final stage dissertation.

Facilities

Postgraduate students have access to Psychology Lab 1 (Ty Hywel) and a newly resourced Computer Suite for participation in, and running of their own research. The facilities include a large multi-user laboratory (Psychology Lab 1) containing 14 PCs workstations with desks and chairs (separated by dividers to form cubicles), Psychology Labeach installed with software designed for quantitative and qualitative statistical analyses and also for the design and generation of psychological experiments.

The large multi-user laboratory space can also serve as a teaching hub, with AV equipment available for presentations and meetings (Including a wall mounted flat panel large screen and teaching laptop). There is also a small single-testing/interview room (Psychology Lab 2) that allows for one-to-one research activities such as interviews or experiments involving the running of one participant at a time.

The IT Computer Suite accommodates 40 – 50 plug-and-play PC laptops in a flexible multifunctional computer-based learning and teaching environment.

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For students without a BPS accredited degree, MSc Business Psychology offers you the opportunity to study alongside the students of MSc Organisational Psychology and gain a fascinating look at the science of how people and groups behave at work.

A deeper understanding of organisational psychology is an asset to anyone currently working in the field of social sciences or human resource management, or thinking of studying to become an occupational psychologist.

This course gives people with an appropriate background the theoretical knowledge and practical skills used in organisational psychology to help them develop or change careers.

You learn about Psychological Assessment at Work, Learning, Training and Development, Leadership, Engagement and Motivation, Well-Being and Work, Work Design, Organisational Change and Development, Research Design, Advanced Data Gathering and Analytical Techniques and Applying Psychology to Work and Organisations.

You study with students on the MSc Organisational Psychology course, which will enhance your experience, but you do not need to register with the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Special features

Students taking the MSc Business Psychology course will sit with students from MSc Organisational Psychology and study the same course modules.

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The aim of the Business Psychology MSc is to prepare graduates who can diagnose and communicate organisational and behavioural needs, design and implement business psychology interventions, and build strategic HR goals and programmes. The emphasis is on equipping you with theoretical and analytical skills, as well as practical business psychology skills, in areas such as team building, conflict resolution, decision making, facilitation and organisational diagnostics.

You will therefore gain knowledge and skills designed to enable you to work effectively within a wide range of interpersonal and multicultural situations, while formulating costeffective solutions to operational HR problems. The course has an outstanding professional development programme, one that runs in parallel with the taught schedule and which will bring you expertise from existing practitioners through workshops, seminars and mentoring.

Modules

The following modules are indicative of what you will study on this course.

Core modules
-Conflict Resolution: Negotiation
-Development of competency frameworks: an approach for individuals, teams and organisations
-Facilitated decision making
-Organisational diagnostics: tools and approaches
-MSc Business Psychology Project
-Teamwork for effective organisations

Associated careers

Business psychology employment opportunities for graduates continue to rise as organisations address performance and behavioural issues central to quality, innovation and competitiveness. Management training and development companies are frequent employers of our graduates.

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Psychology has long been applied to the workplace, and has become one of the main professional practice areas for Occupational Psychologists, Business Psychologists, Personnel Managers, Human Resource Managers and most staff managers.

Applications of the major theories and models of business/occupational psychology occur in the practices of, for example, personnel assessment, selection and training the design of work environments, implementation of training interventions, management of careers, motivation and development of staff and the management of organizational change.

This course is open to students with a non-psychology related degree, although some elements of psychology or business should have been previously studied.

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