Full-time: 1 yearPart-time: 2 years
Full-time: £11,190
Part-time: £5,595 per year
Full-time: £20,290
Part-time: £10,145 per year
Full-time: £20,290
Part-time: £10,145 per year
Northampton Square
This course is for students who want to improve the working lives of employees. It is for those who want to understand how to improve organisational life.
We welcome applicants with a degree in Psychology, from a UK or international institution. We will also consider those with other degrees and a keen interest in improving people’s working lives. You will be expected to conduct some statistical analysis as part of the course so some experience working with data would be beneficial.
“The MSc in Organisational Psychology is for anyone from any background with an interest in people at work. We attract top students with a range of different and diverse experiences. It’s an engaging course where we expect you to get stuck in to group discussions and role plays from day one.”
Course Director, Dr Julia Yates
From understanding how to select the best employee, training them to reach their potential and investigating the politics of power on corporate boards, City’s MSc in Organisational Psychology gives you the opportunity to explore your own area of interest and conduct research within an organisation of your choice.
The programme has been designed to give you the theoretical and practical knowledge you will need to work as an organisational psychologist. Developed to reflect the Department’s unique research strengths, you will have access to specialist topics such as mindfulness within the workplace and the use of innovative selection methods.
At City we interrogate the discipline from a holistic perspective, considering the individual, the organisation and the socio-political framework in which both operate; taking a scientist-practitioner approach ensuring that everything we teach can be applied in practice.
Taught by academic experts who are also involved in consulting, this accredited Masters will give you the tools to understand human behaviour within the workplace.
These are some of the questions that the course poses:
The MSc in Organisational Psychology is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). This means as a graduate from this course you can use the MSc as the first step towards becoming a Chartered Occupational Psychologist. City's MSc programme has been designed to cover the five new knowledge areas as defined by the BPS division of occupational psychology.
All applicants should have an upper second-class honours degree (or an equivalent grade from an overseas institution). You should also be able to demonstrate some form of work experience within your application. Work experience in a psychology-related or human resource setting is highly desirable, but not essential.
Applicants who are interested in becoming a chartered psychologist within the British system should hold the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS). This membership is usually granted automatically to individuals who have completed an undergraduate degree in psychology that is recognised by the BPS.
If you are applying with an overseas degree, the following is an indication of international equivalents of an upper second class degree from a UK institution. Please note these figures are intended as a guide only and individual applications will be assessed on a case by case basis.
If English is not your first language, you need to provide evidence of English proficiency. We only accept the following English language qualifications:
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, INTO City, University of London offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Please click the links below for more information:
International Students (EEA and Non EEA) coming to study in the UK, may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study. The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:
For more information see our main Visa page.
Applications for 2021 are not yet open.
Once open you will be expected to submit the following:
All complete applications will be considered and shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an open day and interview at the Institution.
If you require assistance regarding your application or have any queries then please contact:
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London
EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom
T: +44(0)20 7040 0249
E: SASS-enquiries@city.ac.uk
Fees in each subsequent year of study (where applicable) will be subject to an annual increase of 2%. We will confirm any change to the annual tuition fee to you in writing prior to you commencing each subsequent year of study (where applicable).
In this film, City Alumna Gemma Leigh Roberts explains how her experience at City helped her change careers and become a charted organisational psychologist.
Placements are not a formal requirement of the course. However, this MSc generates interest from employers seeking talented students and graduates for voluntary work placements, evaluations, internships, and short-term work experience. Whilst on the course, previous students have secured excellent internships with London-based consultancies.
You have the opportunity to conduct your final dissertation within an organisation and there are also opportunities to get involved in the research being conducted by members of staff while you study.
As part of the University of London you can become a member of Senate House Library for free with your student ID card.
We offer a variety of accommodation options and support services for postgraduate students.
Read more about our postgraduate halls.
Our Accommodation Service can also help you find private accommodation.
We offer a free language course for City, University of London students.
Course timetables are normally available from July and can be accessed from our timetabling pages. These pages also provide timetables for the current academic year, though this information should be viewed as indicative and details may vary from year to year.
Please note that all academic timetables are subject to change.
We offer an extensive support network during your time here at City, University of London – from Learning Support (including disability support) and counselling to financial and career advice – leaving you free to enjoy every opportunity campus life has to offer.
Find out more about the different types of student support available.
Chat to our current students and read their blogs to gain an insight into studying at City and learn more about our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
To make sure that you can begin or continue your studies with us during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and adapted our courses to ensure a safe learning environment for our students and staff. We have modified the way some of our courses are delivered, with many programmes being made available online.
Contact us to find out more about how our programmes will be delivered.
You will learn through a substantial amount of group work and discussions around the core content from the first term onwards. One of the benefits of this programme is the blend of diverse perspectives you will experience collaborating with peers from a broad skillset and age range.
When it comes to assessment, you will find a substantial amount of the assignments are practitioner focused rather than being purely essay and exam based. For example, you might be asked to write a pitch for a company, where we would expect you to write about the theoretical underpinning of what you are proposing and then present it to the client as a practitioner.
One of the benefits of this varied assessment style is that you learn to write from an academic and practitioner perspective and understand different client needs.
The MSc Organisational Psychology consists of eight taught modules, plus an applied research dissertation, which normally takes five months to complete and forms the final part of the programme.
There is a substantial amount of theoretical work in all of the modules, but you will have the opportunity to apply your learning through practical exercises, group role plays and case studies.
Full-time students complete all eight modules and the dissertation in one calendar year (from September to September). Part-time students complete the course over two years.
This module specifically focuses on employees' individual wellbeing, mental health, and personal responses to stress. It draws from various prominent models of human functioning and associated interventions that have been applied in workplace settings.
This module outlines prominent theories that link certain aspects of work design to psychological and physical health, and introduces participative work reorganisation interventions that are designed to enhance employee engagement and well-being. The module also provides insight into the UK Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) recommendations for managing work-related stress, with involvement of honorary visiting lecturer Dr. Claire Stone.
This module covers two aspects of career development, exploring the topic from the perspective of the individual and the organisation. Looking at the theories and evidence of occupational choice, we will explore 21st century career paths, focusing on how people make their choices and how their careers unfold. From the perspective of organisations, we will look at both theoretical and practical aspects of training.
In this module we will focus on developing practical skills in coaching. With a strong emphasis on ethical practice, the module will offer an introduction to the well-established GROW model, as well as focusing on alternative approaches such as solution focused coaching and the use of creative tools. The module will provide an overview of the coaching profession, and your coaching skills will be underpinned by the latest research into effective evidence-based practice.
This module introduces you to assessment within organisations. It will give you an understanding of how selection decisions are made by and about individuals in the workplace. It will also introduce you to the selection theories, methods of assessment, and issues to consider in designing assessment procedures including those relating to fairness and diversity. It also covers the candidate’s perspective of the selection process. Assessment includes a pass/fail case study focused on selection scenario (assessed as a presentation and with a 20% weighting), and an essay of 1,500 words.
You will need to submit a dissertation as part of the programme. In the second term you will start with a research methods seminar where you will be given support to develop the necessary skills for undertaking independent research.
You will choose a topic under the guidance of a project supervisor and conduct empirical research in your chosen area, which will involve gaining access, collecting and analysing data and submitting an 8,000-word dissertation. In the summer term, you will work full-time completing your final dissertation.
Many students choose to conduct research within an organisation for their final dissertation so they can address a real-world problem. One of our current students is working with a large public health organisation to explore how employee engagement has changed since a major internal change programme; whilst another is investigating what impact shared parental leave has on men’s careers with a professional severance firm.
The programme specification contains more information on how the course is organised, the requirements for progression for each part and credits required for awards.
Our graduates go on to apply their learning in a range of professional settings across the public and private sector, including organisations such as Aviva, Accenture, the Ministry of Defence and the BBC.
Whilst completing her Masters at City, Lucy worked for Assessment and Development Consultants as a Centre Administrator supporting the manager in running assessment and development centres. Soon after completing her Masters, Lucy completed a Graduate Scheme at Saville Consulting, gaining experience in the three core business areas.
Now working as a consultant at Saville Consulting, Lucy works on a number of projects including partner recruitment, assessment centre design, selection and assessment, employee development and competency framework design. She is passionate about making sure the right people are in the right roles and that individuals get the help and development they need to reach their full potential.
Since graduating from City in 2008, Tara has worked in India as the Head of HR for RBS Technology Services and managed change programmes at Mischon de Reya, a law practice based in London and New York. Tara is currently working as Group HR Director at Wonga.com.
In 2008 Tara was awarded the MSc Occupational Psychology Research Prize for her research into the employee engagement challenges, barriers and biases faced by maternity returners on the 'Partner track' at a city law firm. The prize recognises academic excellence and is awarded by the British Psychological Society.
Applications for 2021 are not yet open.
Once open you will be expected to submit the following:
All complete applications will be considered and shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an open day and interview at the Institution.
If you require assistance regarding your application or have any queries then please contact:
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London
EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom
T: +44(0)20 7040 0249
E: SASS-enquiries@city.ac.uk
Find out more about City and all our postgraduate degree programmes.
