How Dean Bowles is applying business psychology to his HR career

For Dean Bowles, studying business and organisational psychology is already shaping how he thinks about the challenges he sees every day in human resources.

Dean is a Human Resources Advisor based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He started the fully online MSc Business and Organisational Psychology from Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University in April 2024 after considering the decision for a number of years.

Dean said: “I always wanted to continue my education and after several years of life getting in the way, I decided it was finally time to pursue a master’s.”

With a background in education and a career in HR, Dean wanted a programme that would help him build stronger business knowledge while giving him practical ways to apply business psychology in the workplace.

Why Dean chose to study online

For Dean, studying in person would have meant making a major life change. There were no suitable part-time, in-person programmes available in his city, and relocating wasn't an option. That's what led him to explore online master’s programmes in organisational psychology and, ultimately, Heriot-Watt Online.

Dean said: “Heriot-Watt’s online programme seemed to provide a good balance of quality, flexibility, and affordability.”

As someone who works full-time and sometimes travels for work or personal reasons, being able to access his course content on demand helps him keep studying around other commitments.

“The flexible nature of the programme is a real advantage. There have been times when I’ve needed to travel for work or personal reasons, and I’ve still been able to access my course content in a way that would not be possible in a conventional, in-person programme.”

Learning that connects directly to HR

One of the strongest parts of Dean’s experience has been the relevance of the programme to his work.

The online MSc Business and Organisational Psychology explores how psychological theories and evidence can help us understand people, workplace culture, behaviour and decision-making in organisations. For Dean, the ideas he studies often have an immediate connection to situations he sees at work.

“There are times where I learn about a particular psychological model in the evening and then I see it play out in real life the next day,” he said.

Dean has also found that the assessments reflect the kind of work business psychology professionals may carry out in practice

“The assessments resemble the type of things that people in the field of business psychology would actually do,” he said.

This applied approach was a key reason for choosing the subject. As Dean explained: “I chose Organisational Psychology to give me the ability to apply evidence-based psychological theories and models to my work in human resources.”

An engaging online learning experience

Online learning can sometimes be associated with studying alone, but Dean’s experience has been different.

“I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable distance-learning can be”, he said.

The programme uses a combination of readings, videos and discussion boards, giving students different ways to engage with the subject and connect theory with practice. The discussion boards also give Dean the chance to learn alongside students based in different parts of the world.

“When I look at the course discussion boards, I get insights from the experiences of people all over the world. I really do feel as though I’m getting an international view on business psychology.”

We currently have more than 182,000 alumni across over 190 countries worldwide. For professionals in people-focused roles, this global community brings a wide range of perspectives that can provide valuable context, particularly for those working in international organisations and cross-cultural teams.

Finding a study routine that works

Flexibility does not mean studying without structure. Dean has created a routine that works around his job and family life.

Dean explains, “I aim to do two hours every day - one in the morning before work, and one after. That approach gives me time on evenings and weekends to spend with my family.

Because the programme is delivered online and on demand, students can organise their study time in a way that fits their circumstances. Dean’s routine works for him, but other students can take a different approach.

Building confidence and credibility

Dean chose postgraduate study because he wanted to strengthen the way he contributes as an HR professional.

“Many senior leaders have MBAs or postgraduate degrees,” he said. “They expect us HR folks to show our work and provide justification for decisions. A master’s degree helps with that.”

The MSc Business and Organisational Psychology is accredited by the Association for Business Psychology (ABP), the UK professional body for people applying psychological principles to workplace challenges. Graduates of the accredited programme can follow a fast-tracked route towards Certified Business Psychologist status, subject to the ABP’s membership and verification requirements.

Would an online MSc Business and Organisational Psychology work for you?

Dean’s experience shows what online postgraduate study can look like for a working professional: flexible enough to fit around a career and personal commitments, while still offering applied learning that connects with work.

His advice to anyone considering online study is straightforward:

“If you’re considering an online programme, I would definitely look into Heriot-Watt. The application process is simple and straightforward, the quality of the course content is excellent, and the tuition is reasonable. The affordable tuition and straightforward application process make post-secondary education accessible.”

If you want to deepen your understanding of workplace behaviour, strengthen your evidence-based decision-making, and develop your skills in areas such as human resources, people management, leadership, and organisational change and transformation, our fully online MSc Business and Organisational Psychology could be the next step.

Find out more about the online MSc Business and Organisational Psychology.