Organisational and Business Psychology MSc | PGDip – Online Course

Programme duration: approximately30 months(part-timeand online)
Programme Start: 8 October 2024, 14 January 2025
Other awards: MSc/PGDip
Awarding body: University of Liverpool
Delivered by:

Enhance your knowledge of employee behaviour and psychological theories for success in workplace settings with the Organisational and Business Psychology MSc.

What is Organisational and Business Psychology?

Organisational and Business Psychology continues to grow in the field of psychology, particularly after the impact of the pandemic on workplace settings and professional demeanours.

This discipline of psychology focuses on behaviours within the workplace and its impact on the organisation as a whole. Professionals applying organisational and business psychology theory and knowledge to workplace environments help develop appropriate staff interview and selection techniques, study the workplace to suggest improvements, support change productive management, promote effective leadership, consult on staff development approaches, and focus marketing and product development based on consumer behaviour.

About the programme

This MSc will help you develop critical awareness and application of psychological theory and principles to a range of real-world workplace and organisational settings. These skills and developed understanding will empower you to enhance modern-day organisational effectiveness and support employee well-being.

The programme will help guide your career within the business sector, providing you with the key knowledge of general psychology and theoretical approaches to organisational and business psychology as well as their historical development and their relationship with other relevant areas and disciplines of psychology. Specialised modules will help deepen your understanding within the field and potentially explore different career paths such as within global talent management.

You will also evaluate and develop awareness of the ethical concerns and challenges within contemporary and global issues of psychology to help identify best practise and bias in organisational environments.

You will apply a wide variety of quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis in organisational and business psychology to generate further knowledge in the discipline.

The assessment strategy includes online discussions, case studies, reflective activities and applying theory to practice. The aim of this is to bring learning to life and demonstrate the practical application of the theory taught in the programme.

Download a prospectus for more details on this programme. 

Programme structure

What will I study?

This programme consists of the following modules. You are required to complete 180 credits to achieve a full Master of Science (MSc) and 120 credits to achieve the postgraduate diploma (PGDip).

ModulesMScPGDip
Mind, Brain, and Behaviour (15 credits)
x
x
Data Analysis for Psychology (15 credits)
x
x
Social Psychology (15 credits)
x
x
Personality, Individual Differences, and Intelligence (15 credits)
x
x
Evidence Based Coaching (15 credits)
x
x
Inspiring others; the Psychology of Leadership (15 credits)
x
x
Global Talent Management (15 credits)
x
x
Organisational Development and Change (15 credits)
x
x
Dissertation (60 credits)
x

For more information on the modules, including syllabus and learning outcomes, please download our programme booklet

Entry requirements

All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you want to discuss your previous qualifications and experience before applying, please contact us now via LiveChat.

Applicants should possess either:  

  • A minimum of a 2:2 class degree in any subject, equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree; or
  • Professional work experience in a related field and/or other prior qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Non-psychology applicants will normally require a GCSE Grade 4 (grade C) or GCE O Level pass in Mathematics and English, or an equivalent qualification.

All applicants must provide evidence that they have an English language ability equivalent to an IELTS (academic) score of 6.5 (overall) and 7.0 (reading and writing).

If you don’t have an IELTS or equivalent certificate, you can take our free online English test to assess your proficiency. You don’t need to prove your English ability if you are a national of or have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in, any of these countries.

Fees and funding 

Fees for the academic year 2024/25

MSc: £16,868
PGDip: £11,246

This fee* is fully inclusive of all costs, including all teaching materials, core textbooks, assessments and resits.  

Executive Scholarship

An Executive Scholarship of 15%** is available for our October 2024 intake for the MSc award. This reduces the total fee from £16,868 to £14,337.80  Contact our admissions team for more information. 

Other scholarships and discounts

You may be able to benefit from the following scholarships and discounts:

  • Regional Scholarships of up to 20%. To find out the scholarship offered in your region, please make an enquiry now.
  • 10% discount for University of Liverpool alumni.
  • 5% discount for up-front full tuition fee payment. 

Further support

We aim to make it as easy as possible for you to cover the costs of your studies. You could benefit from:

  • Simple monthly payment plan provided to spread the cost over the duration of study 
  • Students living in England may be eligible for a postgraduate loan to cover some of the programme cost. 

Please speak to our admissions team for more details of fees, scholarships, discounts and support.

*All tuition fees shown are net of any applicable sales tax payable by you in your country of residence. Where we are required to add sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the tuition fees shown and confirmed.

**Please note that the Executive Scholarship can only be used with the Up-Front Payment Discount.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching and assessment 

The learning, teaching and assessment strategies for all online programmes are aligned with the three University of Liverpool Hallmarks of research-connected teaching, active learning and authentic assessment – as well as the three University of Liverpool Graduate Attributes of confidence, digital fluency and global citizenship. 
 

Teaching methods 

Studying online allows you to study in your own time and from wherever works best for you – whether that is from your home, during your lunch hour or anywhere else you have internet access. 

All our online programmes are delivered through a specially designed online learning platform. This allows 24/7 access to your study materials, which includes: 

  • innovative lecturecasts consisting of audio recordings, infographics, videos, animation, short tasks, and written content 
  • a comprehensive eLibrary of ebooks and academic journals 
  • forums for you to discuss programme content with peers 
  • support from academic staff and a dedicated Student Support team 

Assessments 

Online programmes are assessed based on work carried out in the virtual classroom. Reflecting the hallmark of authentic assessment, this may include report writing, reflective practice, research projects, and individual or group presentations that represent the kinds of tasks you would be expected to undertake in a professional setting. 

We are committed to: 

  • providing frequent and transparent feedback 
  • ensuring our assessment criteria are simple and clear 
  • making it easy for you to clearly view your marks in your gradebook when you log into the learning platform 
  • delivering provisional marks and feedback of assessed work usually within seven days for taught modules 
  • ensuring academic support through weekly lecturer office hours 
  • providing access to our Student Support team, with whom you can discuss any concerns or issues 

Online learning experience 

We will support your online learning experience with high-quality learning materials and resources, which can all be found on our state-of-the-art virtual learning platform. 

Typically, your learning experience will include the following: 

  • directed learning including participation in virtual discussions with peers, led by the lecturer, working through relevant and specially prepared videos and lecturecasts; completing interactive exercises on the learning platform; appointments with your lecturer during office hours 
  • self-directed learning – including wider reading and research in your subject area to further develop your knowledge and understanding 
  • assessment – time taken to prepare and complete assignments and activities which contribute to your overall assessment 

On average, you will need to dedicate a minimum of 15-20 hours of study per module, per week. 

Study duration 

Our master’s award has an approximate study duration of 30 months, studied online and part-time. Our PG Diploma award has an approximate duration of 20 months.  

Please note, that the actual study duration may be longer depending on study options chosen, speed of study, and module availability. 

Students pursue the programme in a linear fashion, which is organised into modules, typically with a one or two-week break between modules, and a three-week break for the Christmas period. You will receive an indicative module timetable during the enrolment process.  

On successful completion of your degree, and payment of any outstanding tuition fees, you will receive an invite to attend an in-person graduation ceremony in the vibrant city of Liverpool  

Academic staff 

We are committed to delivering an enriching online study experience, and all our lecturers are experienced subject specialists with demonstrated learning and teaching proficiency.  

They play an integral part in ensuring the latest theories and research feature in our programmes and are dedicated to providing a high level of support throughout your studies.  

All lecturers and supervisors are honorary faculty at the University of Liverpool. 

Discover more about our key academic staff and their experience. 

Quality and assurance  

As one of the Russell Group’s 24 members, the University of Liverpool is recognised as a world-class, research-intensive institution, that adheres to strict quality standards. 

The University is registered with the Office for Students and an established member of the Quality Assurance for Higher Education.  

Applying

Apply for this course by completing a simple online form

In order to apply, you will need to provide copies of the following supporting documentation: 

  • School or college transcripts/certificates 
  • University transcripts and certified translations if applicable 
  • Degree certificates 
  • Evidence of English language proficiency (EU and international applications only) 
  • Personal statement 
  • An up-to-date CV 

Acknowledgement of your application 

The admissions team will acknowledge receipt of your application and will pass it to the Department Head and/or appropriate academic department(s) for consideration. 

Students with disabilities 

We welcome applications from students with disabilities and consider them on the same academic grounds as those of other students. If you have a disability, medical condition and/or support needs it is important that you inform the University so that you receive appropriate support. 

Deadlines 

We have regular start dates throughout the year with regular application deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to apply in good time, particularly if they have special requirements. 

Career prospects

On completion of the programme, you will have a foundation in the science of Psychology in four contemporary areas of Organisational and Business Psychology: Leadership, Coaching, Organisational Change, and Global talent management.  The resulting knowledge, skills and attitudes will enable you to put psychological principles into effect in a variety of settings including research, practice and the interface of applied research in organisational settings.  

The scientific aspects of the course, including the application of a reasoned approach, problem solving and manipulation of data, provide useful tools for sustainable performance at an organisational, group and individual level. The understanding about human behaviour and motivation, ability to critically analyse a problem, formulate a considered response, create an argument and generate new ideas, lend themselves well to careers in the general areas of Human Resources, Training and Development, with specific focus on the development of knowledge and skills for independent consulting in areas such as Leadership and Coaching. 

About us

The Department of Psychology at the University of Liverpool is one of the UK’s oldest academic psychology departments, having been established in 1947. We are known for our world-class research, which is focused on improving the health, wellbeing, and lives of societies across the globe. Today we are one of the UK’s leading psychology departments. The latest Research Excellence Framework 2021 placed us joint 1st in the UK for our world-leading (4*) environment and ranked top 10 in the UK for Research Power. 

By studying online with Liverpool, you can gain a highly regarded qualification from a prestigious redbrick university and a member of the Russell Group, a group of 24 research-led UK universities committed to maintaining the highest possible standards of research and education. You will acquire new skills and knowledge, all while continuing to work in your current role.  

The University of Liverpool has been offering online programmes since 2000. We are recognised as one of Europe’s leading providers of wholly online postgraduate degrees. All our programmes are designed for online delivery, and our state-of-the-art learning platform encourages collaboration with fellow professionals from around the world.

Study Online with the University of Liverpool

Discover Online Psychology Programmes Webinar

In this webinar, our team give an introduction to online Psychology programmes at the University of Liverpool, the admissions and enrolment process, the support available to students and a demonstration of how you will study.