Business Psychology BSc (Hons)

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold award

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold award

Our commitment to high quality teaching has been recognised with a TEF Gold rating. The University has received an overall rating of Gold, as well as securing a Gold award in the framework's two new student experience and student outcomes categories.

Applying psychology to business can offer insight into how individuals and groups behave. This course combines psychological theory with business understanding. You'll learn how decision making, marketing, finance, human resources, and business strategy are all influenced by cognitive and social processes.

You'll benefit from the strong links between the University and employers, which allow you to gain the practical skills highly valued by businesses. Using specialised equipment and software, you'll measure brain activity, analyse how decisions are made and study how disruption can affect behaviour.

A wide choice of research projects covers all aspects of business and ranges from cognitive psychology to social psychology.

Attendance UCAS code Year of entry
3 years full time C811 2024
2025
4 years full time including sandwich year C815 2024
2025
4 years full time including foundation year C814 2024
2025
6 years part time Apply direct to the University 2024
2025

Please note: Teaching on this course may take place on more than one KU campus.

Main location Penrhyn Road

Reasons to choose Kingston University

  • Through a core work placement module, you'll be able to apply your knowledge of psychology to a real-life setting, gaining valuable experience.
  • You'll use purpose-built research laboratories and psychological analysis equipment, such as eye trackers, EEG (the recording of brain activity) and specialist survey software.
  • For the subject area Psychology, Kingston University is ranked joint 7th out of 107 for graduate employment amongst UK universities (Guardian University League table 2022).

Kingston's Department of Psychology

What you will study

Take a look at some of the content and modules that you may have the opportunity to study on this course:

Year 1

Year 2

Optional year

Sandwich year

Final year

In your first year you will acquire a broad foundation of knowledge of business principles and around key theories of psychological science.  You will be introduced to key strategies which are used in psychological research.

Core modules

Psychology Research Methods 1

30 credits

This module is a core requirement for students taking psychology in level 4. The module will introduce you to key strategies which are used in psychological research, including designing an experiment, hypothesis testing, and statistical analysis. The main features of the module will involve the acquisition of practical skills in psychological research, learning how to apply and carry out statistical tests using SPSS, and how to report research findings.

Throughout the module you will learn how to design a research project, analyse data and report a psychological experiment.

Foundations of Psychology

30 credits

This module introduces students to theories and ideas of psychological science in core areas of research. This module allows students to acquire a broad foundation of knowledge of these core areas, as well as many specialist sub-areas of psychology (e.g., biological psychology, learning, sensory and perceptual processes, memory, thought and knowledge, language, social, developmental, neuropsychology, individual differences, clinical).

Introduction to Business Psychology

30 credits

This module will introduce students to the main approaches (economic, individual differences, human relations and cognitive) to studying organisations and their psychology. It will focus on areas such as personnel selection, individual and group performance, decision making, communication and psychological well-being. The students will also be introduced to ethical principles and tools that can be used to deal with moral dilemmas often arising in business contexts

Business Management

30 credits

This module is designed to introduce you to the business function, with specific focus on marketing, data analysis, information systems, economics and the business environment. This module will equip you with the tools and skills to collect and analyse data, and present solutions to real-world problems based on marketing data. You will learn basic business and economic concepts and their application to current issues.

In the second year you will understand how businesses manage resources. And examine the relationship between brain function and our understanding of cognition and behaviour. Whilst developing experimental research designs and delve further into inferential statistics. 

Core modules

Psychology Research Methods 2

30 credits

This module builds on the introduction to research methods and inferential statistics offered in PS4001 Research Methods 1. It will cover more advanced research designs — involving multiple independent variables — and more advanced inferential statistics such as analysis of variance, regression analysis and factor analysis. It will also introduce students to qualitative research methods and data analysis. Students will learn to develop and implement multifactorial experimental designs through practical research exercises and a project. Students' scientific writing skills will be further developed on the basis of a series of lab reports.

Social, Individual and Developmental Psychology

30 credits

The module will cover a broad range of key theories and empirical research in social, individual and developmental psychology. This module will allow students to explore current theory and practice in psychology across range of topics that focuses on the person in psychology. In consideration of the social, individual (human abilities and personality attributes) and developmental areas of enquiry, the scientific approach and the notion of measurement is fundamental. 

Brain, Behaviour and Cognition

30 credits

This module covers major topics within the field of cognitive psychology and examines the relationship between brain function and our understanding of cognition and behaviour. You will be introduced to key theoretical explanations proposed to account for human cognition, alongside some real-life applications of cognitive psychology. You will study the structure and function of the nervous system before examining the contribution of specialised brain structures to cognitive functions such as perception, attention, language, memory and decision making, and behaviours such as motivation, eating, emotion and sleep. You will also learn about the effect of hormones, drugs and neurological dysfunction on cognition and behaviour.

Managing Resources

30 credits

This module considers the extent to which an efficient and effective management of human and financial resources can help organisations to achieve and sustain a competitive advantage. It examines key issues in human and financial resource management, using appropriate conceptual and analytical frameworks which can help to explain the choices available to organisations, and their likely reasons for adopting different approaches to the management of human and financial resources. The module examines key issues in strategic HRM. It demonstrates how various HRM policies and practices can be employed and intertwined to create an environment in which employees are satisfied and perform well. The module also explains the principles and construction of the key financial statements and prepares students to interpret financial information to make appropriate economic decisions and recommendations. In so doing, it provides opportunities for applied learning and professional development.

 

Study abroad optional year

You have the option to take an additional year to study abroad or to undertake a year-long work placement overseas (or even a mix of both).

This course has a sandwich year option which takes place between Year 2 and your Final Year. During this sandwich year you will take a placement within a relevant setting, ensuring you gain essential experience to add to your CV and help you secure a graduate job.

You will undertake a work placement and will carry out a research project. You will have a wide choice of project themes ranging from cognitive psychology through to social psychology that cover all aspects of business.

Core modules

Psychology Research Project

30 credits

This module will provide the opportunity to study and employ different methodologies in psychology by evaluating the strengths and limitations of different research designs. Students will execute an empirical research project on a topic agreed in consultation with a Psychology staff supervisor. Supervisory sessions with an academic supervisor will guide students to conduct a literature review, formulate a research question, design a research study, and consider research ethics relating to their study, culminating in data collection and writing up of a research report which satisfies APA guidelines.

Occupational Psychology

30 credits

This module introduces a range of issues in contemporary occupational psychology within four key areas:

  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Selection and Assessment
  • Leadership and Organisational Change
  • Training and Development

You will explore and critically evaluate the empirical research within each area, applying your knowledge to business case study examples.

Topics include stress and burnout, workspace design, bullying and harassment, motivation and performance, psychometric testing and selection processes, models of organisational change, leadership and management, personal development and job design.

Psychology Work Placement

30 credits

This module provides students with the opportunity to address workplace issues that can benefit from input by psychologists. Students will gain an appreciation of the challenges of applying psychological research and knowledge in workplace settings. Students will complete 40 hours of work experience, and apply psychological research findings and knowledge to their chosen context, under the supervision of a workplace supervisor. Students are required to reflect on their experiences in the workplace and examine how knowledge gained from their course can be used in their setting.  

Optional modules

Leading Change

30 credits

In this module you will analyse the concepts and theories of leadership and its application to contemporary organisations. You will reflect on the nature of change and the leader's role in managing through change in today's complex and uncertain environment. You will also examine the role of leaders and managers in developing a social conscience and learn how to recognise and address ethical issues.

Business Intelligence and Big Data Mining

30 credits

This module is designed to introduce students to the latest techniques in data analytics from a business perspective. It aims to make students familiar with, and proficient in applying, the fundamental principles of data visualisation and "data mining" (discovering patterns within data), which are essential skills for data scientists and data analysts working in the modern world. A particular emphasis will be placed on developing student's ability to identify the key features and factors influencing businesses' Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the context of large datasets, using appropriate software tools. Furthermore, the students will develop their communication skills and will be able to present their findings visually in a format suitable to be understood by people who may have had rather less training in scientific fields (managers, financial sponsors/clients, accountants, politicians or policy makers, the general public).

The module will be taught in a very practical way using an example driven approach to present applications of the theory, and subsequently interpretation and communication of the outcomes in a range of business contexts such as, but not limited to banking, car manufacturing, sales and healthcare. These have broad application in a range of careers and enhance the employability of graduates.

 

Advanced Issues in the Psychology of Thinking

30 credits

This module explores the psychology of higher cognitive processes, such as thinking, reasoning, judgement and decision-making. You will be encouraged to evaluate critically whether human thinking is rational, and the normative models with which that rationality is measured. The module will also introduce you to quantitative models of these processes as well as applications of cognitive psychology research, especially in terms of judgement and decision making in areas such as politics, sports, economics and health.

Management Strategy and Operations

30 credits

This module considers the development of the role of management in organisations, the importance of strategic analysis and decision making to enable sustainable development and the different contexts in which organisations might operate. You will develop an understanding of the environment in which organisations operate and how organisations use internal resources and competences to achieve competitive advantage. The module examines the role of culture and management in organisations, and the options for growth and development.

Please note

Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.

Foundation year – Social Sciences

If you would like to study this degree at Kingston University but are not yet ready to join the first year of a BSc (Hons) course, you may want to consider studying this course with a foundation year. 

Future Skills

Knowledge to give you the edge

Embedded within every course curriculum and throughout the whole Kingston experience, Future Skills will play a role in shaping you to become a future-proof graduate, providing you with the skills most valued by employers such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability.

As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills, learning to demonstrate and articulate to employers how future skills give you the edge.

At Kingston University, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it.

A female engineering student, in the engineering lab.

Kingston School of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences

The School offers courses in economics, sociology, law, psychology and criminology. Our degrees are underpinned by a vibrant research culture and delivered by a blend of practitioners and academics who are dedicated to equipping you with the employability skills to thrive in your career.

You will have a wealth of opportunities outside the classroom to further your learning and gain hands-on experience in your chosen field.

Life on the course

Psychology conference

Check out the video from the department's annual Psychology conference

After you graduate

This degree is a great stepping stone to skilled employment in a business setting. You may continue training to specialise as a chartered occupational psychologist or any other chartered psychology profession.

Specialist careers support

You will take part in an Assessment Centre Experience, providing the opportunity to experience the pathway to employment with tailored feedback to help develop your employability skills for the world of graduate employment.

  • Develop your understanding of the jobs market, including current trends and opportunities, different recruitment processes and how to identify relevant roles
  • Receive personalised feedback reports to help you to improve and progress
  • Access additional webinars on top tips, employer expectations and best practice
Specialist careers support

Entry requirements

Typical offer 2025

  • 112-128 UCAS tariff points (to include at least two A-levels or equivalent qualifications); Degree with foundation year 64
  • BTEC Lvl3 National: Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM).

Typical offer 2024

  • 112-128 UCAS tariff points (to include at least two A-levels or equivalent qualifications); Degree with foundation year 64
  • BTEC Lvl3 National: Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM).
  • Candidates are normally required to hold five GCSE subjects at grade C/4 or above, including Mathematics and English Language.

Additional requirements

  • Entry on to this course does not require an interview, entrance test, audition or portfolio

International

  • We welcome applications from International Applicants. Please view our standard entry requirements from your country
  • All non-UK applicants must meet our English Language requirements. For this course it is Academic IELTS of 6.0 overall, with no element below 5.5

Country-specific information

You will find more information on country specific entry requirements in the International section of our website.

Find your country:

Typical offer and UCAS points explained

Like most universities, we use the UCAS Tariff point system for our course entry requirements.

Find out more about UCAS Tariff points and see how A-level, AS level, BTEC Diploma and T-level qualifications translate to the points system.

Teaching and assessment

Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars and small group tutorials.

Guided independent study (self-managed time)

Outside of the scheduled learning and teaching hours, you will learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, preparing for and completing your work for assessments. Some independent study work may need to be completed on-campus, as you may need to access campus-based facilities such as studios and labs.

Academic support

Our academic support team here at Kingston University provides help in a range of areas.

Dedicated personal tutor

When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, support you throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University. 

Your workload

A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.

One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 120 credits across a year (typical for an undergraduate course) would equate to 1,200 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below for each year of study. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.

  • Year 1: 22.67% scheduled learning and teaching
  • Year 2: 22.5% scheduled learning and teaching
  • Year 3: 18% scheduled learning and teaching

The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.

Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.

How you will be assessed

Types of assessment

  • Year 1: Coursework 75%; exams 25%
  • Year 2: Coursework 60%; exams 30%; practical 10%
  • Year 3: Coursework 78%; exams 22%

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback to you on your assessments within 20 working days.

Your timetable

Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.

Class sizes

To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally attracts 20 students and lecture sizes are normally 20–60. However this can vary by module and academic year. 

 

Who teaches this course?

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on this course. The team includes senior academics and professional practitioners with industry experience. Postgraduate research students may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.  

The following group of staff members are currently involved in the delivery of different elements of this course. This pool is subject to change at any time within the academic year. 

Course fees and funding

2025/26 fees for this course

The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2025/26 the fees for this course are:

 Fee category Amount
Home (UK students)

£9,250*
Foundation Year £5,760

International

Year 1 (2025/26): £18,500 
Year 2 (2026/27): £19,200
Year 3 (2027/28): £19,900
Year 4 (2028/29): £20,700

For courses with a sandwich year, the fee for the placement year can be viewed on the undergraduate fees table. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.

* For full time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.

Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.

2024/25 fees for this course

The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2024/25 the fees for this course are:

 Fee category Amount
Home (UK students)

£9,250*
Foundation Year: £9,250

International

Year 1 (2024/25): £16,200 
Year 2 (2025/26): £16,800
Year 3 (2026/27): £17,500
Year 4 (2027/28): £18,200

For courses with a sandwich year, the fee for the placement year can be viewed on the undergraduate fees table. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.

* For full time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full time taught international fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.

Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.

Additional Costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Textbooks

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to, or be required to, buy your own copy of key textbooks.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan. You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residence.

Free WiFi is available on each campus.

Printing

In the majority of cases coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees.

Travel

Travel costs are not included but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses and halls of residence.

Note for EU students: UK withdrawal from the European Union

The Government has recently announced that new students from the European Union and Swiss Nationals starting their course after August 2021 will no longer be eligible for a student loan in England for Undergraduate or Postgraduate studies from the 2021/22 academic year. This decision only applies to new EU students starting after 2021/22. If you are an existing/continuing EU student, you will continue to be funded until you graduate or withdraw from your course.

Need to know more?

Our undergraduate fees and funding section provides information and advice on money matters.

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Textbooks

Most of your readings will be available through the library at no extra cost to you. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to buy your own copy of key textbooks – these can cost between £50 and £250 per year.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan. You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residences. Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

Photocopying and printing

In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees, this may cost up to £100 per year.

Travel

Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston-upon-Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.

Placement

If students choose the optional second year module Applied Psychology: Theory and Practice, they will spend time working in an organisation or with an individual family. Students usually choose a placement that is local to them. Travel costs will vary, but if a student's placement required a peak time zone 1-6 student Travelcard for one day per week for 10 weeks, the total travel cost would be around £200.

If the placement year option is chosen, during this year travel costs will vary according to the location of the placement, and could be from £0 to £2000.

Field trips

Some modules have optional field trips but these vary year to year. 

There may be other optional trips which would incur a travel cost of approximately £15. Optional trips will usually be organised to free-entry events or locations. If there is an entry free it will be approximately £15.

Key information set

The scrolling banner(s) below display some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).

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. Course changes explained.

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.