MSc Occupational and Organisational Psychology
Course overview
Start date
September 2019
Subject area
Psychology
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Learning
On campus
Course summary
This newly re-shaped course for psychology graduates is distinctive in its applied approach to psychology and benefits from a strong professional emphasis. It is highly attuned to
the needs of working professionals, and will give you a competitive edge as you pursue a career as a practising occupational psychologist or go on to study for a professional doctorate.
The BPS re-accredited the course in 2018 for the next five years and commended it for several aspects of good practice, including the availability of and support by staff, the mix of research active and practitioner focused teaching staff, and the theoretical and practical nature of the course, which is highly regarded by students.
There is also invaluable input from experts in the fields of positive psychology, coaching and counselling, and past students offering insights into different applications of occupational psychology in practice.
We have deliberately steered away from more traditional assessment methods such as examinations, as these have little practical relevance to the kinds of challenges you will face as professionals.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact our Applicant Enquiries team on +44 (0) 20 8223 3333 or email study@uel.ac.uk
Get in touchFit your studies around you
You can tailor your programme of study to suit your needs. We offer a choice of six optional modules in subjects such as coaching, counselling and positive psychology. Our programme is taught exclusively through immersive weekend workshops - the only course of its kind to do so.
Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
We have been accredited by the BPS since 1988 and have recently been accredited for a further 5 years until 2023, showing our expertise and deep heritage in this topic. This accreditation will give you the opportunity to gain Chartered Membership of the BPS, which is an important requirement for becoming a professional psychologist.
Dedicated expertise
We are serious about occupational psychology, which is why this programme is taught entirely by occupational psychologists and specialist experts, who are dedicated to this specific profession of psychology. This means you get a more focused and richer learning experience.
Occupational Psychology is one of the fastest growing disciplines in Applied Psychology. Being an Occupational Psychologist means bringing balance to the workplace and contributing to employee wellbeing and organisational success. Our MSc is one of the longest established programmes of its kind in the UK and has been radically redesigned to meet the needs of working professionals who want to attain this valuable qualification.Dr Mark Holloway , Programme Leader
What we're researching
The recently published Research Excellence Framework is a six-yearly review by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
It rated 43 per cent of our research as ‘internationally excellent’ and a further 25 per cent as ‘world-leading’ – the highest accolade. It added that UEL’s School of Psychology was one of only four in the country whose research had a ‘100 per cent impact’ at the highest level.
Dr Francisco Jose Eiroa-Orosa researches the understanding of psychosocial wellbeing in the context of complex multi-dimensional problems such as addictions, trauma, migration or social change.
Dr Tim Lomas has explored the impact of meditation on men’s wellbeing, using a mixed-methods design comprising narrative interviews, cognitive testing, and EEG measurement.
Dr Christian van Nieuwerburgh is an internationally recognised academic and consultant whose ground-breaking research concerns his specialist area of coaching and mentoring, in which he conducts numerous international collaborations.
Dr Kate Hefferon’s work was the first to link participation in physical activity with post-traumatic growth. She has conducted several evaluation studies on the role of physical activity during and following breast cancer.
Among last year’s publications by Principal Lecturer Donald Ridley, who is a specialist in organisational development in the public sector in the former Soviet Union, are Safety management - the lessons of experience and The unspeakable and the sublime - the relationship between Stalin and Shostakovich.
Over the past few years Dr Aneta Tunariu has delivered psychological interventions in the UK and abroad working with disenfranchised young people to foster the development of positive identities, emotional resourcing and positive future perspectives.
Currently, Dr Tunariu is engaged in projects focusing on individual capacity for growth and resilience as a means of combating the risk of young people adopting radical belief systems.
Making a difference
UEL is one of the UK’s leading modern research universities. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), 17 per cent of our overall research submission was classified as ‘world-leading’ for its quality and impact – almost double our previous REF score. A further 45 per cent of our work was considered ‘internationally excellent’.
Charlotte Vaughan
MSc Occupational Psychology
As an experienced HR practitioner, it was important that the MSc course had a focus on the reality of practising Occupational Psychology in the workforce. All of the lecturing staff provided lots of real-world examples throughout all the modules, constantly using the language of the profession. This is something that has made my transition to evidence-based practice a lot easier.
Fees and funding
£10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme
Postgraduate Loans (PGL)
The Postgraduate Loan (PGL) provide non means-tested loans of up to £10,906 to taught and research masters students. It will be paid to students as a contribution towards tuition fees, living costs and other course costs.
Applications are made directly through Student Finance England
Eligibility
Whether you qualify depends on:
• if you’ve studied on a postgraduate course before
• your course
• your age
• your nationality or residency status
Full eligibility can be found here
Please take a look at the Postgraduate Loans for an overview of the new funding.
The scholarship is open to full-time and part-time UK and EU students of taught postgraduate courses.
Find out more about full eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Terms and conditions apply.How we can help you
Did you know that with a postgraduate qualification you can expect to earn more than someone who only holds an undergraduate degree?If you want to build new skills, change career paths, or further your career prospects, a postgraduate degree can help you. Our range of scholarships and bursaries will make financing your education that much easier. Below are some of the funding available to support you in your studies:
- Alumni Discount - up to 15% fee waiver
- Early Payment Discount - 5% fee waiver
- Asylum Seeker scholarship - 100% fee waiver
- Civic Engagement - £1,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Sport Scholarships – Up to £6,000
- Team UEL - £1,000
Terms and conditions apply.
- Apply for a Postgraduate Loan
- Take advantage of UEL scholarships and bursaries
- Ask your employer to sponsor your study
- Study part-time so you can work at the same time
- Look at Research Council Awards
- Check out the Professional and Career Development Loans
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer Full information on making payments can be found here
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate
your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and
university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
£10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme
Postgraduate Loans (PGL)
The Postgraduate Loan (PGL) provide non means-tested loans of up to £10,906 to taught and research masters students. It will be paid to students as a contribution towards tuition fees, living costs and other course costs.
Applications are made directly through Student Finance England
Eligibility
Whether you qualify depends on:
• if you’ve studied on a postgraduate course before
• your course
• your age
• your nationality or residency status
Full eligibility can be found here
Please take a look at the Postgraduate Loans for an overview of the new funding.
The scholarship is open to full-time and part-time UK and EU students of taught postgraduate courses.
Find out more about full eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Terms and conditions apply.How we can help you
Did you know that with a postgraduate qualification you can expect to earn more than someone who only holds an undergraduate degree?If you want to build new skills, change career paths, or further your career prospects, a postgraduate degree can help you. Our range of scholarships and bursaries will make financing your education that much easier. Below are some of the funding available to support you in your studies:
- Alumni Discount - up to 15% fee waiver
- Early Payment Discount - 5% fee waiver
- Asylum Seeker scholarship - 100% fee waiver
- Civic Engagement - £1,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Sport Scholarships – Up to £6,000
- Team UEL - £1,000
Terms and conditions apply.
- Apply for a Postgraduate Loan
- Take advantage of UEL scholarships and bursaries
- Ask your employer to sponsor your study
- Study part-time so you can work at the same time
- Look at Research Council Awards
- Check out the Professional and Career Development Loans
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer Full information on making payments can be found here
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate
your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and
university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA page for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.
International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
Entry requirements
We would normally expect you to have Grade C in GCSE English and Maths.
INTERNATIONAL
(Including European Union)
We accept a range of qualifications from across the world. Please see our country pages for information on specific entry requirements for your country.
If you don’t quite meet the academic requirements for this course, you can apply with an additional foundation year. Read more about the International Foundation Programme. SEE YOUR COUNTRYIf you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course. Find out more here.
As an inclusive university we recognise that applicants who have been out of education for some time may not have the formal qualifications usually required for entry to a course. We welcome applications from those who can demonstrate their enthusiasm and commitment to study and have relevant life/work experience that equips them to succeed on the course. We will assess this from the information provided in your application (particularly your personal statement) and may ask you to attend an interview or submit a piece of work to help us decide on your eligibility for the course. Our pre-entry Information Advice and Guidance Team are able to provide further advice on entry requirements and suitability for study.
What you'll study
We consistently review and develop our courses and modules to ensure they are
up-to-date with sector and industry graduate skills demands. Course structure, modules and options are subject to change.
Autumn Term
Core Modules
How Organisations Work (15 Credits)
Helping Organisations to Change (15 Credits)
Psychological Assessment in the Workplace (15 Credits)
Research Methods & Dissertation 1 (30 Credits)
Optional Modules
Facilitating Group Learning (15 Credits)
Core Counselling Skills & Processes (15 Credits)
The Search for Something Higher (15 credits)
Spring Term
Core Modules
Becoming a Professional Psychologist (15 Credits)
Working in a Global Context (15 Credits)
Research Methods & Dissertation 2 (30 Credits)
Optional Modules
Coaching for Career Development (15 Credits)
Designing & Managing Safety Critical Systems (15 Credits)
Multidimensional Flourishing (15 Credits)
The Skills of Effective Coaching (15 Credits)
How you'll be assessed
Each module is assessed by a challenging and innovative assignment, which captures the kinds of professional work you would be undertaking as an occupational psychologist. All assignments are tackled in small groups, apart from the dissertation, which is an individual piece of work.
We have produced an imaginative range of assessment tasks, which include writing and presenting a client proposal, delivering a group learning workshop, writing a briefing paper, designing and delivering a poster presentation, writing a press release, running a coaching session, writing a research proposal and writing a publication ready journal article.
How you'll learn
The course runs on Friday afternoons, Saturdays and Sundays. You would be expected to attend between 12 and 15 of these weekend workshops throughout your time with us.
This mode of study benefits the many students who are working, either in the profession or in related fields. These intensive teaching blocks also mean we can tackle areas in greater depth and give our students a more rigorous experiential study programme, where they can immerse themselves in the different areas of occupational psychology.
UEL’s School of Psychology is one of the largest providers of psychology education and training in the UK.
This means you will benefit from a huge breadth of academic expertise, with teaching available in occupational psychology, coaching psychology, positive psychology, counselling psychology and vocational psychology.
What you'll learn
This course has a strong emphasis on professional practice and evidence-based management principles.
You will become equipped to operate successfully in the profession by taking a series of core modules.
These include psychological assessment in the workplace, helping organisations to change, research design and methodologies, becoming a professional psychologist and working in a global context.
In addition, you can choose to study optional modules in coaching, counselling and positive psychology alongside the more mainstream occupational psychology modules.
Instead of using exams for assessment, we have opted for a rich mix of techniques to measure your progress, including writing bids, position papers, poster presentations and live group projects.
Your future career
The practical emphasis of this course, balanced with a focus on developing critical thinking, means many of our students have progressed to highly successful careers.
Over the past five years, our students have gained employment as occupational psychologists, coaching psychologists, sports and performance psychologists, leadership development specialists, and human factors experts for a wide range of companies and organisations.
These include Google, Amazon, Vodafone, Deloittes, Emirates Airlines, Siemens, Royal Bank of Scotland, RAF, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence and a number of occupational psychology practices including Saville Consulting, A&DC, Peoplewise and Genius Within.
The course also enables you to continue your studies by undertaking a professional doctorate in occupational psychology.
The strong professional emphasis, combined with a comprehensive skills curriculum, will develop your transferable skills and equip you with a competitive edge for the world of work.
As our range of internships attests, we have profitable links across some of the key areas of the industry, which is good news for our graduates.
