MSc Organisational Psychology

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
Master of Science (MSc)
Duration
1 year
Entry requirements

We require a First or Upper Second class honours degree (2:1, with 60% average) from a UK university or the overseas equivalent. To be admitted to this British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited programme, your first degree must be recognised by the BPS as providing the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the BPS .

You will need to provide evidence that you have GBC or are eligible for GBC. Please visit the BPS website  for further information and to start a membership application. Please send proof of your membership to the Admissions Office.

If you are not eligible for GBC, you might wish to consider our MSc Business Psychology course. You will need to submit a new application for this programme online.

When assessing your academic record, we take into account your grade average and grade profile and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

Full entry requirements

How to apply

Apply online >>

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MSc Y N N N

Course overview

This advanced course gives you a route into occupational psychology that is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

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Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £14,500
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £28,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

Refund Policy

Due to the competition for places and limited availability, our courses require a deposit of £1000 to cover non-recoverable costs and secure your place. The deposit will be deducted from your tuition fees when you register on the course.

The deposit is non-refundable, except in the following situations:

  • you fail to meet the conditions of your offer (see below for further information); and/or
  • you are refused a visa or entry clearance to enter the UK (proof must be submitted)

If an offer has been made specifying an English Language condition which you do not meet, the Admissions Team will require the official certificate of an English Language test taken after the date of offer as evidence that you have attempted to meet your offer conditions for a refund to be approved. The English Language test certificate provided with your application documents will not be accepted as proof that you have attempted to meet your offer conditions as such a certificate will predate the offer.

If an offer has been made specifying an academic condition, the Admissions Team will require the official university documentation showing that you have not met this academic condition from the institution at which you have studied, as evidence for a refund to be approved.

The Admissions Team reserves the right to refuse to refund of any deposit that does not meet with the requirements outlined above.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Contact details

School/Faculty
Alliance Manchester Business School
Contact name
Master's Admissions Office
Email
Website
https://www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/msc-organisational-psychology/
School/Faculty
Alliance Manchester Business School was established in 1965 as one of the UK's first two business schools. Today, we are the UK's largest campus-based business and management school, and 'Original Thinking Applied' is at the heart of everything we do. Find out more .

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We require a First or Upper Second class honours degree (2:1, with 60% average) from a UK university or the overseas equivalent. To be admitted to this British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited programme, your first degree must be recognised by the BPS as providing the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the BPS .

You will need to provide evidence that you have GBC or are eligible for GBC. Please visit the BPS website  for further information and to start a membership application. Please send proof of your membership to the Admissions Office.

If you are not eligible for GBC, you might wish to consider our MSc Business Psychology course. You will need to submit a new application for this programme online.

When assessing your academic record, we take into account your grade average and grade profile and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

English language

For the latest information on demonstrating your English proficiency for those whose first language is not English, please see our language requirements .

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements see entry requirements for your country .

Professional entry qualification

Graduate Basis of Registration (GBR) of the British Psychological Society (BPS) is required. Relevant work experience is considered desirable, but not essential.

Application and selection

How to apply

Advice to applicants

Your statement of purpose should cover the areas outlined below: 

  • Tell us why you are interested in the MSc Organisational Psychology course at Alliance MBS and how the course will impact on your future
  • Describe what makes you an outstanding applicant and describe your potential to contribute to all aspects of the course
  • Please let us know about any relevant experience you have gained (full-time job, summer job, internships etc).

How your application is considered

We can only process applications with the following documents:

  • valid English language qualification
  • first and second year transcript (scanned copies are accepted at the time of application)
  • statement of purpose (this is included as part of your application form, you do not need to email your statement of purpose directly to the Admissions Team)

Skills, knowledge, abilities, interests

Work experience is not essential, but we give preference to applicants who have relevant work experience.

Deferrals

To defer you offer to the following year, you must contact your admission officer to get a copy of the deferral form.  You can only defer your offer for one year.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.  In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.  We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course. If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should provide additional evidence of your suitability for the course. If you are applying through clearing you are required to meet the clearing requirements. In both UCAS Extra and clearing the places will be subject to availability.

Course details

Course description

This advanced course gives you a route into occupational psychology that is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Take the psychological principles and theories you learned in your graduate degree and apply them to the world of work 

  • Build theoretical understanding and research skills required by the Division of Occupational Psychology of the BPS in the following seven areas:
  1. Psychological Assessment at Work
  2. Learning, Training and Development
  3. Leadership, Engagement and Motivation
  4. Well-being and Work
  5. Work Design, Organisational Change and Development
  6. Research Design, Advanced Data Gathering and Analytical Techniques
  7. Applying Psychology to Work and Organisations
  • BPS Occupational Test User (Level A and B) training included in the tuition fees
  • Prepare for a career as an internal consultant in large commercial or industrial organisation, the Police or the NHS, or as a management consultant.

The course runs over one year and comprises two taught semesters plus a research dissertation. The taught modules use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, group work, case studies and practical exercises, and are assessed using a range of techniques, including examinations, essays, applied coursework and presentations.

Additional course information

Read Sheena Johnson's article discussing older workers in the workplace.

Coursework and assessment

Assessment across the course units varies, and includes a combination of examinations, report, course work, practical assessments and presentations. A dissertation is normally undertaken.

Course unit details

The course provides psychology graduates who are intending to become Chartered Occupational Psychologists with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required by the Division of Occupational Psychology of the British Psychological Society (BPS), in the following seven required areas: 

  • 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
  • Applying Psychology to Work and Organisations

During the course you will be taking 180 credits in all. The eight taught units during semester one and two total 120 credits which can be viewed in the list below.  

Over the summer period, you will carry out your Research Dissertation, worth 60 credits.  Examples of recent dissertation project topics include:

  • Customers pay our wages: a diary study examining how to optimise customer interaction and employee wellbeing in the service sector
  • Client verbal aggression: an examination of emotional labour and associated outcomes for employees in the legal sector
  • Effects of job stressors, organisational commitment and individual attributes on Malaysian Chinese primary school teachers' burnout
  • Corporate psychopathy: the truth behind the hype
  • Improving safety using a combination of transformational and transactional leadership: a longitudinal study
  • Creativity in the workplace: a self-report measure and unanticipated costs
  • Leader effectiveness and leader-member relations: the role of interpersonal emotion regulation, follower attributions and leader empathy

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Selection and Assessment in Organisations BMAN70091 15 Mandatory
Professional Skills for Organisational and Business Psychologists BMAN71951 15 Mandatory
Research Skills for Professional Practice 1 BMAN71961 15 Mandatory
Work Design, Performance & Wellbeing BMAN71982 15 Mandatory
Research Skills for Professional Practice 2 BMAN71992 15 Mandatory
Managing People and Organisations BMAN72242 15 Mandatory
Relationships at Work BMAN74911 15 Mandatory

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

The majority of graduates pursue the practical experience required to become Chartered Occupational Psychologists. This is usually carried out within consultancy firms or within specialist sections of large organisations. Graduates are employed as internal consultants in large commercial and industrial organisations, in HR departments, in the Police, the NHS and as management consultants.

Recent recruiters

Aldi, Amoria Bond, CAPP & Co, Carter Corson, Cubiks Ltd, Bentley Motors Ltd, Civil Service College, Impact Consulting Psychologists,NHS, Nestlé, Occupational Psychology Group, ORC International, Robertson Cooper Ltd, Saville Consulting, Stonewall and WorkPsychology Group.

Read more about graduate career destinations >>

Read about our Postgraduate Careers Service >>

Read the latest information on visa changes and opportunities in the UK for international students >>

Accrediting organisations

The MSc Organisational Psychology course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) . We are one of only 20 schools in the UK to be accredited by the BPS to offer the Masters course that allows students to become a Chartered Occupational Psychologist.