MSc Work Psychology and Business

Course outline and modules

If you’re looking to build on your psychology qualifications and gain a competitive advantage when pursuing graduate roles, then our MSc Work Psychology and Business is the ideal platform to launch your career.

This fascinating course focuses on applying psychological principles to the workplace. You’ll learn how to get the best from people in a commercial environment, develop a range of practical skills and gain the academic basis for professional accreditation from the British Psychological Society (BPS).

You’ll learn from one of the best known and most successful academic groups in applied psychology in Europe, with experienced practitioners who’ve worked for businesses across the world. They use a mix of innovative and inspiring teaching methods to enable you to get the most from the course and all sessions are delivered in a friendly, supportive atmosphere.

The department is recognised internationally for its research activities principally around challenges concerning the future of work and organisations. Staff are active in research studies including aspects of leadership and innovation, strategic and international human resource management, diversity, inclusion and meaningful work, CSR, ethics and is course is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in psychology recognised by the BPS with graduate basis for registrations (GBR). If you didn’t specialise in psychology at undergraduate level or your psychology degree doesn’t give you GBR status, then please consider our MSc in Business Psychology.

How will my skills develop?

You’ll learn advanced psychology concepts and develop your understanding of how these can be applied to various business issues, such as the assessment of individuals in the workplace, organisational behaviour as well as strategy and leadership.

You’ll study The Aston Global Advantage module which focuses on professional development and employability, helping you to apply the key skills that you will gain throughout the year.

Practical experience

You’ll develop an understanding of what makes a healthy, happy and effective organisation in a practical learning environment. For example, you’ll look at research studies about human behaviour in the workplace, as well as case studies linking employee well-being and the efficiency of organisations. This will give you the ability and confidence to practically apply psychological concepts to a business environment.

We’ll teach you effective training and development tools, various approaches to change management as well as negotiating techniques, which are key to dealing with difficult workplace situations. These practical skills will significantly enhance your employability and better equip you for a variety of graduate roles.

How will this course help my career?

This course will prepare you for a variety of roles in areas including assessment, selection, recruitment, learning and development, occupational health and wellbeing and other areas of workplace psychology.

You’ll be exposed to industry experts, employers and guest speakers throughout your studies and you’ll also have the opportunity of studying abroad or pursuing an internship in your third term.

Some of our modules are partnered with leading organisations. This means that they provide live business issues for our students to work on. Students’ present back to the organisations and the top students may be offered a placement as a result.

The course includes a Business Projector or Dissertation; a substantial piece of work designed to provide you with an opportunity to analyse a business problem and practically apply the knowledge and skills developed during the course.