Occupational and Business Psychology MSc
- Business and management
- Psychology
- Postgraduate
If you want to apply the science of psychology to people at work, our Occupational and Business Psychology MSc is the ideal course for you. You'll learn how to successfully drive sustainable change at work through rigorous science, data, technology and experiential projects. When you graduate, you'll be prepared for a career as an Occupational and Business Psychologist.
Create meaningful change in the workplace, for employees and employers
Develop the theoretical and practical understanding to become an 'evidence-based practitioner'.
Our Occupational and Business Psychology MSc is your gateway to becoming a recognised expert in the field. Accredited by both the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Association for Business Psychology (ABP), this course stands as a symbol of excellence. These prestigious accreditations reflect the depth and quality of our curriculum, ensuring you gain a comprehensive understanding of psychology in business.
You will have a wealth of opportunities outside the classroom to further your learning and gain hands-on experience in your chosen field. As well as being taught by Kingston Business School's expert team – many of whom continue their work in industry while teaching – you will be taught by guest speakers.
For example, to complement your core modules, you can take part in an ‘Expert Speakers' series and an ‘Engaging the Profession' series. These programmes will provide you with valuable opportunities to meet practitioners and academics.
This course also sits under The Department of Management, which offers a broad range of accredited undergraduate and postgraduate courses covering all areas of business. Whether your ambition is to start your own company or become a senior leader in a global organisation, our programmes are developed in consultation with industry practitioners to ensure your studies are future-facing.
Discover occupational and business psychology at Kingston
Hear from our graduates as they reflect on their studies, share the skills they developed on the course and discuss how Kingston University prepared them for future careers.
Why choose this course
If you want to work in roles such as in-house and external consultancy, HR, organisational development and research, our Occupational and Business Psychology MSc course is ideal.
You will use psychological methods and specialist software, alongside the opportunity to undertake additional short courses covering psychometric testing. As a result, you will develop the theoretical and practical understanding to become an 'evidence-based practitioner'.
Your personal development is at the heart of this course. As well as building essential transferrable skills, such as communication and interpersonal ability, the programme places a strong focus on the competencies that employers value.
You will:
- Learn about the process of contracting with organisations as an occupational or business psychologist, and the consultancy cycle
- Analyse qualitative and quantitative data, and hone your presentation and report writing skills
- Develop skills and techniques, such as critical incident interviewing, job analysis and career coaching
- Learn to think creatively, to lead innovation and change in 21st-century organisations, and to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of those changes
- Understand the different psychological approaches to workplace issues, and how to apply them and synthesise them in practice
Kingston Business School Accreditation
Kingston Business School holds the prestigious international accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) in recognition of the excellence of its business education. This accreditation has been earned by just 6% of the world's business schools and recognises the high quality and standard of our business degree offerings.
Course accreditations
The course has been accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
If you already hold an honours degree in a BPS-accredited psychology undergraduate course, this MSc upon graduation will satisfy the criteria for stage one of the BPS Chartership process. Those without a background in psychology and/or an accredited psychology undergraduate course can complete a conversion diploma in psychology after their MSc. Both routes will enable you to become a full Chartered and Registered Occupational Psychologist in the future.
This course is accredited by the Association for Business Psychology (ABP). Our ABP accreditation demonstrates the quality and rigour of our approach, and shows employers and clients that you have a thorough understanding of psychology in a business context. Graduates who complete this MSc are able to use the post nominal Certified Business Psychologist (CBP).
Eligible registrations
'Occupational Psychologist' is a protected title regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Students who hold BPS Graduate Basis for Chartership as well as this MSc and then continue to successfully complete their Stage 2 training in Occupational Psychology are eligible to apply to register with the HCPC. Please note, this course is not accredited by the HCPC.
Ready for business
At Kingston Business School, we believe that professional success is shaped by honing your personal capacity and skillset, supported by the academic framework of knowledge. Through vocationally rich, employer-engaged and research-informed courses, we work alongside our students to help them meet personal goals and career ambitions.
Course content
The course considers how other disciplines such as behavioural science and data analytics inform occupational and business psychology.
The modules for this course investigate various approaches to applying psychological principles in the workplace and how these ideas can increase organisational, team and individual performance. You will learn to critically evaluate the evidence base when making decisions.
You will apply theories and evidence to case studies, examples from the field and real-life practice. You will also learn about ethical considerations and your role as a psychologist in organisations, enhancing your professional skills. You will complement this by learning about ways of overcoming the barriers many occupational and business psychologists face when trying to implement their programmes in an organisation.
Other practice-based training will also be offered, including psychometric testing (offered as additional short courses at a fraction of the market price).
MSc
Core modules
Optional placement year
The professional placement year is optional. It takes place after the full-time year. It allows students to do a 12-month work placement as part of their course. The work placement is an assessed part of the course and is therefore covered by a Student Route visa.
Find out more about the postgraduate work placement scheme.
Core modules
Kingston Business School
At Kingston Business School, we lead. We also challenge, research, change, create and collaborate. Together, we’re shaping the future of business.
Career opportunities
This course will equip you for a range of career opportunities in organisations where psychology can and should be applied to positively impact the workplace and implement change for the better. For example, roles include:
- Developmental and strategic roles (e.g. people strategist, people and culture partner, developmental advisor, R&D, employee insight)
- Leadership and management roles
- More traditional roles (private/independent practice, consultancies, civil service, human resources, test publishing and research bodies)
- Graduates can also choose to continue working towards becoming Chartered and Registered Occupational Psychologists, following further training
Teaching and assessment
Fees and funding
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree. Find out more through the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying Occupational and Business Psychology MSc at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop-down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.
If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select ‘new user’ and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
Information required to confirm your place
If English is not your first language, we will require proof of your proficiency to allow us to confirm your place on the course. This will generally be either an IELTS or TOEFL test certificate, which can be forwarded to us after you have submitted your application. If you do not hold a formal English language qualification, please indicate how you have acquired your proficiency in written and spoken English.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
