MSc in Business Psychology

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Heriot Watt University Edinburgh

Program Overview

The MSc Business and Organisational Psychology at Heriot‐Watt University equips students with a deep understanding of how psychological principles apply in the workplace, and how they can be used to improve individual and organisational performance. It is ideal for those aiming to work as business psychology practitioners, consultants, HR specialists or organisational development professionals.

Curriculum structure:

Year 1: Students begin with foundational courses such as Introduction to Human Factors, Coaching Psychology, Organisational Culture and Social and Organisational Change, which lay the groundwork in workplace psychology, human factors, change processes and coaching practices.
Later in the year, modules like Selection and Assessment: Tools and Techniques in Business Psychology, Psychology for Marketing, Psychology of Leadership and Research Methods deepen skills in assessment, leadership dynamics, consumer-psychological insights and empirical methodology.
The programme culminates in the Independent Project in Psychology (also called Business Psychology Project) where students apply theory and methods to a real-world organisational problem, designing and executing research or consultancy work.

Focus areas:
"organisational behaviour, leadership, assessment at work, coaching & human factors, business psychology research methods"

Learning outcomes:
"Graduates will be able to apply psychological theory to workplace contexts, conduct assessment and intervention in business settings, use research methods to analyse organisational data, and deliver evidence-based solutions for organisational performance."

Professional alignment (accreditation):
This MSc is accredited by the Association for Business Psychology (ABP), thus satisfying professional standards for business psychology practitioners, though it is not accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) for chartered psychologist status.

Reputation (employability rankings):
Heriot-Watt is recognised for its strong global and online learning environment; the programme reports that around 95% of students are in employment or further study within six months of graduating.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students develop practical skills through applied research projects and professional skills training. They utilise the School of Social Sciences resources and have access to business psychology research facilities. The programme's experiential components include:

Research Project: A dissertation applying psychology to workplace issues
Professional Skills: Training in psychometric testing and assessment
Software: Training in statistical analysis software for organisational data
Applied Focus: Development of evidence-based business solutions
Research Methods: Practical training in organisational research techniques

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the MSc Business Psychology at Heriot-Watt University are well-prepared for roles that enhance workplace performance and employee wellbeing through applied psychological principles. Typical job roles include Business Psychology Practitioner, Human Resources Manager, Organisational Development Consultant, and Leadership Coach. This program equips students with skills in coaching, leadership, diversity management, and organisational change, fostering career success in diverse sectors.

Progression and Future Opportunities:

Heriot-Watt’s Careers and Employability Service offers individualized career consultations, CV and interview preparation, and access to employer networks and internships to enhance job prospects.
The university is ranked first in Scotland and second in the UK for graduate employability, reflecting high post-graduation employment rates.
Strong industry partnerships enable practical consultancy projects and networking opportunities with leading organisations across various sectors.
The MSc is fully accredited by the Association for Business Psychology (ABP), providing long-term professional credibility and pathways to chartered status.
Graduates achieve excellent employment outcomes, with many securing roles that influence organisational culture, employee wellbeing, and business performance.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates can pursue doctoral research (PhD) in business psychology, organisational psychology, or human resource management or obtain professional qualifications in coaching and leadership development to advance their careers