MSc Business Psychology

Business Psychology

MSc

Summary

Study level
Award
Part time
1 year+
Location
Online
Faculty of Social Science

What makes Arden University special?

Education
Education for everyone, everywhere
Whether you're constrained by location, cost, time, or other life commitments, we're passionate about giving you access to higher education that fits into your busy, modern life.
Where to study
You decide how and where to study
We offer a wide range of flexible undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in both our online and blended study modes.
Support
Full support both online and on-site
We're also proud to offer non-standard entry, meaning your work experience and previous qualifications are taken into account when assessing your application.
Employability
Strong focus on employability
You will gain in-depth subject knowledge and transferable skills that employers from a huge range of industries will value. Many of our courses at Arden are also accredited by leading professional bodies in the UK.

Course Overview

The MSc Business Psychology has been devised to help both graduates and industry professionals alike to pursue a career-focused degree specialisation in occupational psychology. Organisations within both the public and private sectors are increasingly recognising the advantage of employees with business psychology expertise, and this course will help you gain the competitive edge needed to fill those all-important industry skills gaps.

This specialist postgraduate course covers all of the core areas of business psychology, providing you with a strong foundation in research, theory, and practice, as well as the highly sought-after ability to improve business operations at the individual, team, and organisational levels. Through the use of authentic assessments, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills in designing interventions to tackle contemporary business issues, such as improving employee well-being and performance and managing organisational change. Across the course you’ll develop the key practitioner skills you need to strategically apply psychology in your current or future role. 

Our academic staff members from the Faculty of Psychology and Social Science have a wealth of experience in the field, including multiple awards and publications, consultancy work with major organisations, and strong industry connections, meaning you’ll gain unique insights into both the academic and practitioner sides of business psychology. Alongside this, the course utilises the latest case studies and practical scenarios so that you graduate with the core knowledge and skills employers need right now.

The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and fulfils stage one of the two-stage process to becoming a Chartered Occupational Psychologist, a legally protected title in the UK and a hallmark of professional knowledge and skill. The second stage, after successful completion of the MSc, would be supervised practice under the guidance of a qualified supervisor. More information regarding stage two can be found on the BPS website. 

However, chartership is only one career pathway that is open to business psychology graduates. Due to their training, business psychologists are sought after by a wide range of organisations and are hired in roles as diverse as employee well-being, leadership development, recruitment and selection, consultancy and, with appropriate training, administering and interpreting psychometric tests. The programme has been designed to support you in developing a wealth of knowledge, skills and abilities that can unlock a wider range of career opportunities. You’ll be guided along your learning journey by academics with a variety of research and practice experience, who can support you in identifying interesting and exciting career paths. 

Find out more about Psychology at Arden
Video •

Quick tools

Explore your modules
Explore your brochure
Download the course brochure to take a look at your course modules and syllabus content.
Download brochure
Fast track your career with Arden
Career development resources
You'll have online access to a huge range of career development tools from the day you start studying.
Learn more
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Association for Business Psychology (ABP) and the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Learn more

Course details and modules

Your course modules have been designed to develop your knowledge and skills in modern business psychology. You’ll have the opportunity to engage with the most up-to-date, internationally focused research across key areas such as workplace well-being, coaching and mentoring, managing transitions, and the practical application of psychological interventions in the workplace - helping you graduate from from the course with the  skills to make a real impact to individuals, organisations, and within your own career.

Bettina Finna

Arden is for winners. Nobody will beg you to sit down and start working on your career, if you don’t do it yourself! At Arden, if you have an honest interest for what you learn and you want to reach out for more, you will be welcomed, helped, and advised. But to do that, you must be determined.

Bettina Finna
BSc (Hons) Psychology
  • Psychological Assessment at Work (20 credits)
  • Advanced Research Methods (20 credits)
  • Learning, Training & Development (20 credits)
  • Coaching & Mentoring (20 credits)
  • Leadership, Motivation & Engagement (20 credits)
  • Health and Well-being at Work (20 credits)
  • Work Design, Organisational Change and Development (20 credits)
  • Business Psychology Research Project (40 credits)

Study Support and assessments

Unparalleled support for your psychology degree studies

Alongside the extensive support available to all students studying with Arden, our MSc Business Psychology course features its own personalised support system to help you succeed with your studies. 

We go above and beyond to provide you with the resources and opportunities you’ll need to study with confidence and take pride in your personal development. Take a look at the support resources you’ll have access to as an Arden psychology student:

  • Study skills workshops to support you on your academic journey and help you achieve your goals.
  • Virtual coffee mornings, online office hours, and drop-in sessions to discuss your coursework with your tutors.
  • Quarterly student-lecturer feedback events that give you the chance to co-create your learning experience.
  • Annual student conferences to showcase your work and make valuable professional connections.
  • Guest speakers that will engage and inspire you through their industry insight and first-hand experiences.
  • Annual employability event held virtually so all can attend, with over 40 guest speakers from diverse branches of psychology.
  • BPS membership, giving you access to a wealth of valuable resources for learning and networking.

Authentic assessments. No exams.

Unlike on more traditional degrees, you won’t be sitting any exams on this course. Instead, a range of authentic assessments have been designed to help you apply your learning to real-world scenarios in business psychology, providing you with the unique opportunity to align your studies to your career goals.

Practice-driven

Your course assessments will be practice-driven, mirroring real-world practitioner skills to ensure that you graduate from your course ready for the working world. Through this innovative, modern approach, you’ll be able to engage with and respond to the real organisational challenges you might face in your future role.

Business psychology research project

The MSc Business Psychology culminates in an independent research project pertaining to a key business psychology issue, empowering you to identify and examine a relevant topic related to your prospective career, and to gain transferable skills for your future.

Assessment methods

Throughout the course you’ll have the opportunity to engage with a variety of authentic assessments designed to mirror the skills you’ll need within your career. These include: 

  • Consultancy reports
  • Presentation
  • Case studies
  • Intervention design
  • A Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental (PESTLE) analysis
  • Empirical research project

Study options

This course is currently available to students as a fully online programme, which gives you the convenience of being able to study from anywhere worldwide. 

Cynthia Blow

I chose online learning because I do not currently have the capacity to attend classes as my days are full with running my household, my elderly parents’ household and tending to the needs of my 3-year-old. Online studying has been extremely helpful because it provides the flexibility I need in order to study at random times during the day or night.

Cynthia Blow
BSc (Hons) Psychology

Part-time online learning

How does it work?

Studying the MSc Business Psychology online gives you the ultimate in convenience. You can enrol with Arden from anywhere in the world and study your degree from the comfort of home, without the requirement to attend classes in a physical location. 

Our online students study their degree through ilearn, Arden’s university campus in the cloud.  ilearn provides everything you need to study at University. It offers an integrated virtual learning experience, including your virtual classroom, lecture theatre, and access to our Library Portal. The portal includes an extensive digital library including thousands of journal titles, eBooks, and academic and industry databases which you can use to research your assignments and projects. All of these materials are provided to you free of charge, and contain all the research information you’ll need to complete your degree with us.

Studying online doesn’t mean studying alone. As well as receiving regular feedback and guidance from your course tutor, you’ll be studying with like-minded students who you can meet with through our Unitu community, and you’ll have access to community message boards to discuss your course and the topics being raised within it. We’ve even set up community boards embedded into each of the course modules so you can have discussions with your tutor and classmates on the topics you’re currently learning. 

Online learning students resident in the UK can apply for a Maintenance Loan if they cannot attend their course in person because of a disability. Please find more information on our fees and funding page. If you're a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland you can find information on Living Cost Loans from your student finance body.

Learn more about online learning

Introducing your Digital Backpack

Once you’ve enrolled on your MSc Business Psychology degree with Arden you’ll get access to your Digital Backpack, a toolkit of digital resources we’ve put together to help you succeed during your time studying with us.

Here are some of the digital resources you’ll have available throughout your course:

  • Office 365 subscription
  • Integrated zoom video conferencing
  • Career services through Abintegro to ready you for your future career
  • Free online access to our Library Portal, which includes thousands of eBooks and journals, as well as industry databases which we’ve carefully hand-picked to support your studies – all yours for free while you study with us
  • Subscription to Togetherall for an abundance of mental health support

Entry requirements

At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.

What do you need to study with us?

Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can join us, wherever you are.

That's why we keep our requirements simple. All you need is a laptop or computer (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good stable internet connection. With this one tool, you'll be able to access information, advice, support, learning materials and our online library, as well as create assignments, keep notes, and collaborate with other students effectively. 

We’ll also support you with getting access to the resources you need, wherever you study from, including assistance with obtaining any software you need to successfully complete the course.

Eligibility

To be eligible for our MSc Business Psychology, you should normally have:

  • A UK Honours Degree at a minimum of second class (2.2) or equivalent, that is related to the field of psychology, social science or business (if you want to progress to Stage 2 training in Occupational Psychology this needs to be a BPS accredited undergraduate degree in Psychology)
  • In the absence of a UK Honours Degree, professional work experience that is relevant to business psychology will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • A maths qualification or equivalent to at least Grade C at GCSE.
  • In the absence of evidence of a GCSE or equivalent in mathematics applicants will be able to complete an assessment-free module before the start of the course to substitute for this.

English proficiency

  • IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 90; or equivalent.
  • Alternatively, evidence you have previously studied in English, such as a letter to show that the Medium of Instruction was in English can be accepted.

We also offer an internal English test for applicants who are unable to provide the above evidence of English proficiency. More information can be found here.

Before you start studying

Whilst you can read your study materials on your smart phone or tablet, to make the most of your learning experience, you will need access to a laptop or computer (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good stable internet connection.

Course fees and funding

Funding and Scholarships

The Arden University Postgraduate Merit Scholarship offers UK Online Learning students with a 2.1 undergraduate degree or higher £2,000 off our postgraduate tuition fees. You can also apply for up to £11,836 funding from Student Finance England fund your studies.  

If you’re an international student, we have a number of Regional Offers that can help you save money on your tuition fees.

Refer a Friend

When you help a friend or family member to study with Arden through our Refer a Friend programme, both you and the person you refer will receive a £500 Amazon e-voucher or £500 tuition fee credit.

Find your country

Use the dropdown above to find course fees and funding information for your country. If you can’t find information for your country in the dropdown, visit our International support page.

Meet the faculty

Dr Anthony Thompson

Anthony’s areas of interest include occupational psychology, health psychology and co-creation. Anthony’s PhD explored solutions to sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity in workplace settings. Anthony also has a keen interest in personality and intelligence research, is a qualified psychometrician and has been a recipient of the Psychometrics Forum’s Excellence in Psychometrics Award. Alongside academic research, Anthony has also worked as an independent business psychology consultant helping organisations to develop evidence-based recruitment and selection practices. Passionate about making psychology more accessible, Anthony has written and contributed to books, blogs and magazines within the field of occupational psychology, with his research being featured in publications such as Forbes.

Dr Anthony Thompson
Programme Leader (Postgraduate Psychology)

Career prospects

The course will help you develop your existing skills and knowledge in business psychology, alongside the latest theoretical, practical, and emerging advancements in the field. Through this, you’ll gain the expertise needed to successfully apply business psychology across a range of exciting industries.

What will the MSc Business Psychology do for me?

You’ll graduate from the course with the hands-on business psychology and leadership skills required to effectively bring about positive change in the workplace across individual, team, and organisational levels. Throughout your studies you’ll be provided with the valuable opportunity to:

  • Gain in-depth knowledge of business and occupational psychology in a variety of industries.
  • Understand the important and strategic role psychology plays in the workplace.
  • Develop practical skills in applying appropriate psychological interventions at the individual, team, and organisational levels.
  • Gain transferable skills for a range of exciting roles in both the public and private sectors.

What can I do after Arden University?

Employers today recognise the strategic advantage of having employees who are versed in applying psychology in the workplace, meaning you’ll graduate from your MSc Business Psychology degree ready to accelerate your career in the field. A few of the roles you might consider include:

  • Occupational Psychologist (after completion of BPS stage 2 chartership under the supervision of an independent BPS approved supervisor)
  • Business Psychologist
  • Employee or Leader Coach/Mentor
  • Workplace Assessment/Training
  • Recruitment and Selection
  • Business Consultancy
  • Business Manager
  • HR

Industry skills

  

This course is accredited by the the Association for Business Psychology (ABP) and the British Psychological Society (BPS).

The British Psychological Society

The British Psychological Society (BPS) is the representative body for psychology and psychologists in the UK. The society is responsible for the development, promotion, and application of psychology for the public good.

Students obtaining at least a lower second-class honours degree (2:2) in a BPS accredited undergraduate psychology degree will be eligible for the society’s Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) - the prerequisite requirement to go on to further training as a professional psychologist after graduation. 

While you’re studying this course with us, we’ll cover the cost of your student membership with the BPS, which gives you access to a large range of useful resources including access to the British Psychological Society Library, the UK’s leading national resource in psychology.

The Association for Business Psychology (ABP)

The Association for Business Psychology (ABP) works to provide information, training, and support for those interested in business psychology, to promote professional excellence, and to demonstrate the effective application and impact of business psychology in the workplace. 

During your studies you’ll have free student membership with the ABP, giving you access to a wealth of professional resources, networking opportunities, careers advice, professional recognition and influence, as well as keeping you up-to-date with current trends and developments.

Campaign for Social Science

Arden University is a member of the Campaign for Social Science. 

The Campaign demonstrates how social science improves public policy, society, and all our lives. It highlights the value of applied social science research and advocates for its greater use in decision-making and in government. It is supported by a coalition of universities, social science societies, and publishers.

As a member, Arden receives access to case studies, research into the value provided by social sciences, and insights into the employability of social science graduates. Through this, you will gain a better understanding of the skills you are learning and their value to employers.