
MSc Business Psychology
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Key information
- Mode of delivery
- Online
- Start date
- May, September, January
- Duration
- 18 months
- Degree Qualification
- MSc
Contact
Contact our enquiries team
Contact usOverview
Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University's Online MSc in Business Psychology will provide you with a critical understanding in human behaviour in the work place. Understand what makes individuals thrive at work, improve organisational performance, and learn the skills to make the workplace a healthier environment.
Our MSc Business Psychology designed by experts within our department of psychology has been created to provide you with an in-depth and detailed understanding of various aspects of psychology that drives positive performance in the workplace. This degree equips graduates with the knowledge and understanding of psychological theory, evidence and methods relevant to business practice. This degree will equip you with the necessary skills and personal qualities to apply your knowledge successfully in your business career.
Degree duration
On average it takes 150 hours to complete each course. You can choose your own pace by picking up your studies when it best suits you. Your schedule takes priority.
Start planning your study schedule and set yourself up for success.
You have the freedom to study when and where it suits you. Use this Study Time Calculator tool to plan how you’ll fit your studies around your other commitments.
Who should study this degree?
This degree has been tailored to meet the needs of those working towards a number of job roles, this includes a business psychology practitioner, human resource manager, organisational development manager, management consultant or leadership consultant.
Our online degrees are designed for you to complete a MSc degree. This degree has been designed to equip graduates with the knowledge and understanding of psychological theory, evidence, and methods relevant to business practice. Heriot-Watt Online will provide you with the necessary skills and personal qualities to apply your knowledge successfully in your career.
Meet the Business Psychology team
Dr Cakil Agnew
Dr Cakil Agnew is the Programme Director of the MSc in Business Psychology. Dr Agnew was awarded her PhD in Psychology from the University of Aberdeen in 2010. Her doctoral research, supervised by Prof Rhona Flin and Dr Kathryn Mearns, examined how staff perceptions related to safety issues are linked to safety behaviours and to the consequences both for the workers and the patients in a healthcare domain.
Following her PhD, she worked as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Industrial Psychology Research Centre at the University of Aberdeen. Her work here focused on the leadership behaviours of senior charge nurses as team leaders in relation to safety-related outcomes.
Online learning delivery
Studying this programme will allow you to learn in a collaborative and social environment with your global cohort. With guidance from your experienced tutors, you will read and interrogate the underpinning theory and research and apply critical thinking to prepare you for weekly focused tasks. You will get hands-on and creative to find innovative solutions to real world problems, supported by audio and video designed to help you explore key concepts and enhance your learning. Your course activities and assessments will encourage you to step into the shoes of practitioners, giving you the skills to integrate business psychology into your current or future career.
Student support
Even the most confident of students need a little help from time to time. Whether you study online at home or with a learning partner you’re never far from the support of our faculty and your fellow learners. Additional support and other online resources are available such as tests, practice essays, collaborative discussion forums where you can engage with your fellow students around the world and tools to help you track your progress through the course materials.
Course content
Year 1
The MSc Business Psychology aims to offer you an in-depth understanding of the psychological mechanisms that drive positive behaviours and performance in workplace behaviour and gain the managerial skills that will allow you to enhance and improve performance of teams and individuals.
The degree comprises of eight courses. Each course is assessed by two pieces of coursework. On completion of the eight taught courses, students will also undertake a research project. When you have passed all courses you will join our global network of graduates and business professionals.
Degree structure
Core
- Organisational Culture
- Psychology of Leadership
- Introduction to Human Factors
- Social and Organisational Change
- Coaching Psychology
- Diversity
- Psychology for Marketing
- Research Methods
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
View fees for this course.
Scholarships and bursaries
Each year Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University makes available a number of scholarships and discounts to help students to achieve one of our awards.
Entry requirements
Typically, you will hold a recognised first or second class honours degree, or equivalent professional qualification. Students whose native language is not English and who have not been educated previously in the English language must provide evidence of their English language proficiency.
Rewarding previous study
Edinburgh Business School recognises that some students entering our online MBA or MSc programmes will have completed prior academic study in subjects that align closely to certain EBS courses.
The qualification being presented for exemption consideration should have been gained within the last five years. Qualifications gained over five years ago may be considered if additional supporting evidence shows that you have keep abreast of the current developments and trends in the subject area.
Exemptions are considered only on the basis of qualifications which have been gained through formal assessment. No consideration will be given for life/work experience.
Exemption from mandatory and optional courses may be granted on the basis of master’s/postgraduate level qualifications and professional qualifications only. Undergraduate level qualifications cannot be considered.
Exemptions will not be awarded on the basis of courses which have been used towards the award of another degree (of the same discipline) at master’s Level, whether this was awarded by Heriot Watt or any other institution. For example, a student who has gained an MSc in Accounting will not be given an exemption in Accounting from Edinburgh Business School’s MBA or MSc degree programmes.
If you would like to enquire about your eligibility, please complete an
Exemption Application Form.
English language requirements
If English is not the applicant’s first language a minimum of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent is required with all elements passed at 6.0 or above.
Applicants who have previously successfully completed courses delivered in the medium of English language may be considered and will be required to provide documentary evidence of this. Examples would be secondary school education or undergraduate degree course. A minimum of at least one year of full time study (or equivalent) in the medium of English language will be required.
We offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement prior to starting your masters course:
- 20 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.0 with no skill lower than 4.5)
- 14 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.0 with minimum of 5.0 in writing and no skill lower than 4.5)
- 10 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with no skill lower than 5.0)
- 6 weeks English (for IELTS 5.5 with no skill lower than 5.5)
Why Edinburgh Business School?
Flexibility and affordability
Study at a time and pace that suits you, and even while you work. HW Online offers pay-as-you-study courses and fees inclusive of exams and study materials, meaning you can focus on success, not extra costs.
Your career
Employers around the world actively seek out our graduates because they are work-ready. All our degrees are career-focused and relevant to the needs of industry. Around 95% of our students are in employment or further study within six months of graduating.
Online events
We host online events throughout the year, giving you the opportunity to speak to our academic teaching staff, meet students, find out what it is like to study using our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and discover how to enrol.
Lifelong connections
Upon completing your studies you will automatically join the UK’s oldest alumni association The Watt Club, with 147k members worldwide.