MSc Occupational and Organisational Psychology

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Northumbria University

Program Overview

The MSc Occupational & Organisational Psychology at Northumbria University gives you advanced training in how psychological science is applied in workplaces — from recruitment and assessment to wellbeing and organisational change. It suits graduates and professionals who want to become occupational psychologists or use psychology to shape HR, consultancy or organisational development roles.

Curriculum structure:
In Year 1 you’ll study core modules including The Organisation (exploring culture, change, leadership and teams) and Employee Selection and Assessment (learning job-analysis, psychometric testing and assessment centres) which build your understanding of workplace systems and talent evaluation. You’ll also take Organisational Research Methods (qualitative & quantitative techniques) to gain strong data-analysis and research design skills. In the second part of the year you’ll complete Organisational Psychology Consultancy Skills, where you apply theory to real-world organisational problems, and a major MSc Thesis, where you plan and conduct an empirical investigation into an O/OP topic.

Focus areas:
“workplace psychology; employee selection & assessment; organisational culture & change; consultancy skills; research methods; empirical thesis”

Learning outcomes:
“understand and evaluate key occupational & organisational psychology theories; apply advanced research and data-analysis skills to workplace contexts; design and conduct an independent empirical study; develop professional competence and ethical awareness in O/OP practice”

Professional alignment (accreditation):
This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as Stage 1 training, so when combined with Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) it provides the foundational step toward becoming a Chartered Occupational Psychologist.

Reputation (employability rankings):
Psychology at Northumbria ranks 15th in the UK for research power according to REF 2021. The university is also placed in the Top 10 in the UK for Student Experience in Psychology in the Times Good University Guide 2026

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students develop practical research skills through hands-on laboratory work and a major research project. They have access to Northumbria's state-of-the-art facilities including the Northumbria Sleep Research Laboratory and psychophysiology equipment. The programme's experiential components include:

Research Project: A substantial independent empirical project
Specialist Laboratories: Access to sleep research, eye-tracking, and brain stimulation labs
Software: Training in SPSS, MATLAB, and E-Prime
Technical Equipment: Use of EEG, eye-tracking, and TMS apparatus
Practical Training: Hands-on experience with advanced psychological research methods

Progression & Future Opportunities

The MSc Occupational and Organisational Psychology at Northumbria University develops graduates' expertise in applying psychological principles to workplace issues such as employee selection, wellbeing, and organisational change. Graduates commonly work as occupational psychologists, organisational development consultants, HR specialists, or workplace wellbeing advisors, well-prepared with practical skills including psychometric testing qualifications.

Progression & Future Opportunities:

University services include personalized career coaching, assistance with securing placements and internships with SMEs, local authorities, and NHS Trusts, plus access to workshops on psychometric testing and professional networking.
The program has a 100% graduate employment rate reported within 15 months, with typical starting salaries around £21,000 and strong prospects for rapid advancement.
Key partnerships with NHS Trusts, business consultancies, and local government organisations provide strong practical training and employment pathways.
Accredited by the British Psychological Society as Stage 1 training, the MSc ensures eligibility for professional Stage 2 accreditation and long-term career growth.
Typical roles: Occupational Psychologist, Organisational Development Consultant, HR Specialist, Wellbeing Advisor.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates may continue to doctoral-level Stage 2 clinical psychology training, pursue PhD research, or specialist postgraduate courses such as the MA Psychoanalytic Studies.