Work Psychology

Develop the practical skills necessary for a career in enhancing organisational and personal effectiveness.

Course description

Our Work Psychology MSc is ideal for applicants who do not already have the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the BPS.

You’ll learn how to apply psychological theories and principles to the work environment to improve employee satisfaction and wellbeing as well as performance and productivity. You can apply these skills as a consultant to businesses or members of staff.

The course can involve a dissertation based on your interests in a real-world organisation, which will demand effective communication, negotiation and project-management skills. Alternatively, around half to two thirds of students take a project sourced through the Institute of Work Psychology’s business network or the Management School’s Employability Hub, solving real-world organisational issues. The dissertation project provides you with the chance to apply your knowledge to practical issues and develop organisational skills.

Throughout the course, hands-on workshops focus on developing psychology skills such as coaching, providing feedback, delivering presentations, using statistical software, group work and information management. Included in the course, at no charge, is additional training which allows you to work as a psychometric assessor for both ability and personality psychometric tests.

Recent dissertations included evaluating the effectiveness of the selection processes used by a large organisation; exploring the effects of home working on efficiency and wellbeing and; analysing the effects of workplace training interventions.

The MSc Work Psychology is not recognised by the BPS. It will help you develop the skills you need for research and practice as a work psychologist and is typically the route taken by international students. If you’re already eligible for the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, you can study for the MSc Occupational Psychology which is recognised by the BPS. It's possible to move from the MSc Work Psychology to the MSc Occupational Psychology if Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership is gained while on the course.

Accreditation