Business and Organisational Psychology MSc
Study level: Postgraduate
Study on campus or 100% online, this MSc ‘Hybrid’ course will help to understand and apply psychological and behavioural factors relating to individuals and organisations in the workplace.
Year of entry
2023-24
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
100% online study
Study mode
Full-time
Part-time
Duration
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Course code
On campus - HLST272, Online - HLST282
Start date
September 2023
January 2024
May 2024
The information on this page is for 2022-23 entry and should be used as guidance for 2023-24 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.
Course overview
Study on campus or 100% online, this MSc ‘Hybrid’ course will help to understand and apply psychological and behavioural factors relating to individuals and organisations in the workplace.
Upon successful completion, and through practical case studies, you will understand the individual, team and organisational factors that can affect workplace behaviours, such as decision-making, personnel selection, motivation, and teamwork, as well as the techniques needed to manage such situations.
- Aims to provide you with a thorough grounding in the theory and practical skills required to apply psychological research, business tools and methods within a variety of organisational settings and corporate cultures.
- Learning business psychology-related techniques to promote individual workplace wellbeing and organisational success.
- Aims to prepare you for business and organisational psychology roles in management or consultancy, in human resources and the many other occupational functions, such as learning, training and development, recruitment, health and wellbeing.

Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects
Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2023Why you should study this course
- Accredited1 by the Association for Business Psychology (ABP).
- Taught by academics, many of whom benefit from practitioner experience either as a Business Psychologist or through consultancy-based work (staff may be subject to change).
- Dedicated consumer psychology module, which provides a critical understanding of consumer behaviour and applied marketing and advertising practice.
- Opportunity to develop an evidence-based practice intervention plan as an outcome of a systematic literature review that will be publication ready.
- The opportunity to attend professional business conferences, which have previously included the National Work and Wellbeing Conference or the Workplace Sustainability Conference2 (subject to availability and additional costs may apply).
Accreditation and Professional Recognition
This course is accredited1 and recognised by the following professional bodies:

Association for Business Psychology
The course is accredited by the Association for Business Psychology (ABP) and aligns to their standards and codes of practice.

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
The course currently includes the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accredited module, Leading Strategic Change through Creativity and Innovation. Upon successful completion of the module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost. Further details can be found on the Professional Development module homepage.
Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules, but is frequently reviewed and monitored by the CMI through their quality systems.
What you'll study
The main study themes of this course are:
- Work and Wellbeing: An introduction to employee wellbeing, based in applied theory and practice looking at workplace behaviours and issues, such as work life balance, stress and bullying, performance coaching and counselling including emotional triggers, mental and physical health symptoms related to the workplace, disorders and potential coping strategies and interventions.
- Psychological Assessment at Work: The principles, theories, methods and legal issues concerning recruitment, selection and assessment.
- Learning, Training and Development: How to design, implement and evaluate training programmes according to the context and requirements. Consumer Psychology: Provides an overview of consumerism and buyer behaviour, marketing research linked to the psychological concepts of consumer decision-making. Considering how to reach consumers effectively, through an exploration of their behaviours and attitudes and effective advertising.
- Leadership, Engagement and Motivation: The concepts of leadership, power and influence and their impact on employee engagement and motivation.
- Consultancy/Management: How to critically evaluate and develop solutions to complex, inter-related, multi-faceted issues that can be found in a variety of organisations and professional contexts.
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
How you'll learn
This course can be taken either on-campus or completely online and can be studied over three semesters in one year as a traditional full-time master’s programme or can be offered on a part-time basis.
The on-campus version of the course shares the same learning platform as the online students (FutureLearn) and students are supported with workshops designed to apply the knowledge gained via applied and practical sessions. Online students benefit from the opportunity to attend synchronous online sessions.
The course takes a digitally rich teaching and learning approach and will consist of a mixture of the following methods:
- Interactive lectures
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Guest lecturers
Study on campus
Study 100% online
This course can be offered on a part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Request further information about part-time study.
Teaching contact hours
In a typical teaching week you will have around 6 ‘contact’ hours of teaching. Later in the course you will have 10 hours (total) of project supervision.
Teaching is typically organised as two-hour sessions for 20-credit modules and one-hour sessions for 10-credit modules, incorporating engagement on our digital platform with content material and applying learning in associated workshops.
In addition, you will be expected to undertake approximately a further 25-28 hours of self-directed study each week, for example, completing the recommended reading that accompanies your lectures, working on coursework assignments and taking part in group work.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2022/2023 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Assessment
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.
Assessment methods include:
- Essays
- Consultancy reports
- Practical reports
- Systematic Literature review
- Evidence–based intervention plan
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
2023/24 tuition fees.
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK | £11,200 per year | Request fee information |
International | £18,600 per year | Not available |
For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.
We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
- Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
- Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).
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How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.
If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.
Facilities
As part of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, this course will take place at our Coventry University main campus. Some lessons may be provided in our Health and Life Science buildings, such as the Alison Gingell Building or the Richard Crossman building which hold a range of innovative teaching rooms.
- Specialist teaching facilities4 such as an observation suite, counselling rooms and specialist software, such as OpenSesame,or Gorilla experiment builder, E-Prime, SPSS statistical analysis, Pinnacle Studio and NVIVO.
Careers and opportunities
On successful completion of this course you should be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the theoretical principles of Business and Organisational Psychology as applied in a business (occupational) setting, together with relevant psychological business analysis techniques.
- Critically evaluative psychological literature and apply research findings to professional practice.
- Demonstrate the appropriate application of ethical and codes of conduct, analysing complex employee-related issues and selecting appropriate intervention techniques to produce creative and effective business solutions.
- Produce consultancy reports based on theoretical concepts and knowledge in line with professional reporting standards in psychology.
- Evidence a range of transferrable and professional skills, thereby enhancing employment and promotion opportunities. These could include presentation; problem-solving; aptitude in literacy, numeracy and IT; working independently and with others to complete tasks effectively; excellent verbal and written communication; report writing; and self-management strategies to organise time and workloads.
The knowledge and skills you’ll receive on successful completion of this course can be applied to many different settings, including human resources, sales, training, and development. The course is accredited1 by the ABP, affording student and graduate members opportunities to network with individuals from varied business sectors and be part of a growing community of business practitioners. The ABP’s mission is to promote professional excellence and a community of practice in business psychology.
Where our graduates work
Many of our graduates have gone on to work as independent business consultants for companies like Kelloggs and Ricoh UK. Graduates have also found employment in sales, in HR, and as learning, training and development practitioners.
How to apply
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UK students
To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.
For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form.
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International students
Full-time international students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degree view our International hub.
You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Chat with our admissions team.
Complete our contact form.
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Disclaimers
Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.
1Accreditations
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
2UK and international opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.
3Tuition fees
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
4Facilities
Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The 2023/24 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
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