MSc Business Occupational and Work Psychology

The MSc Business, Occupational & Work Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire equips students with applied psychological theory and research skills to improve workplace performance, well-being, and organisational culture. It is ideal for students aiming to work in HR, business consultancy, or organisational development — or who want to progress toward Chartered Occupational Psychologist status. 

Curriculum structure:
Through taught modules, students first cover Evidence-Based Practice, where they explore how psychological research can be translated into organisational interventions. In Culture Change & Leadership, they study how leadership styles and organisational culture drive performance, engagement, and change. The Individuals in the Workplace module examines how personality, motivation, and diversity influence behaviour at work, while Learning, Training & Development focuses on designing and evaluating workplace learning programs. In Consulting & Psychological Assessment, learners develop consultancy skills and learn to use assessment tools for recruitment or development. They also complete Mixed Methods Research, which gives them expertise in both quantitative and qualitative designs, and culminate their studies with a Work Psychology Project, a 60-credit dissertation investigating a real-world organisational psychology issue. 

Focus areas:
“organisational change; leadership; employee assessment; training & development; consultancy; applied research”

Learning outcomes:
Graduates will develop practical consulting skills, design evidence-based interventions, apply psychometric tools in organisational settings, conduct robust mixed-method research, and deliver an independent project relevant to business psychology.

Professional alignment (accreditation):
The programme is accredited by both the Association for Business Psychology (ABP) and the British Psychological Society (BPS), providing eligibility toward Chartered Occupational Psychologist status. 

Reputation (employability rankings):
Herts Business School has strong industry links with companies like BT, Tesco, and Ocado, and graduates commonly move into roles in HR, organisational development, or business consultancy.