MSc Occupational and Organisational Psychology
Course overview
Start date
September 2021
Subject area
Psychology
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
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 and coaching, and past students offering insights into different applications of business psychology in practice.
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.
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out moreFit your studies around you
You can tailor your programme of study to suit your needs. 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.
Business Psychology Lab
On top of our industry links and free life-long career support, you will have a chance to take part in our innovative Business Psychology Lab. This way you can start accumulating valuable relevant work experience before graduation and get the competitive advantage you need.
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.Sonya Dineva , 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.
Over the past few years, our Head of School, 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. *Exclusions apply.
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 is some of the funding available to support you in your studies:
- Alumni Discount – up to 15% fee waiver *exclusions apply. Please see Alumni Discount page for information.
- Early Payment Discount – 5% fee waiver
- Asylum Seekers scholarship – 100% fee waiver
- Civic Engagement – £1,000
- Hardship Bursary – up to £2,000
- Sport Scholarships – Up to £6,000
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 (applicable to courses that have a part-time mode)
- Look at UK Research and Innovation funding options
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer
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
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
£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. *Exclusions apply.
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 is some of the funding available to support you in your studies:
- Alumni Discount – up to 15% fee waiver *exclusions apply. Please see Alumni Discount page for information.
- Early Payment Discount – 5% fee waiver
- Asylum Seekers scholarship – 100% fee waiver
- Civic Engagement – £1,000
- Hardship Bursary – up to £2,000
- Sport Scholarships – Up to £6,000
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 (applicable to courses that have a part-time mode)
- Look at UK Research and Innovation funding options
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer
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
Per 30 Credit Module
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
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
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
Tuition fees are subject to annual change. Fees for future years will be published in due course.
Entry requirements
We would normally expect you to have Grade C in GCSE English and Maths.
Overall IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening (or recognised equivalent).
If 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.
Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined on the course page. 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
Health and Wellbeing at Work
Assessing and Developing People in the Workplace
Spring Term
Subject Specific Modules
Work Design, Organisational Change and Development
Leading, Engaging and Motivating People at Work
Summer Term
Core Modules
Developing as a Researcher Part One
Developing as a Researcher Part Two
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. You will be working in small groups to complete some of your assignments while others, including your dissertation, will be individual pieces 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.
Assessment will include 50% coursework based on real-life case studies and 50% practical exercises. There will be no exams.
You will always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 15 working days.
How you'll learn
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 and positive psychology. You will be taught by qualified academics, practitioners, researchers and industry experts as guest speakers (full details of the teaching team will be provided in the student handbook and module guides). Our modules are highly interactive with a special emphasis on the application of theoretical knowledge and contemporary research to practice. You will also have an opportunity to take advantage of the myriad of professional networks, which staff bring with them.
When not attending timetabled lectures, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve reading journal articles and books, watching videos, undertaking research, working on individual and group projects as well as preparing coursework assignments and presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and Moodle.
Our academic support team provides help in a range of areas, including but not limited to academic writing skills and learning and disability support. In addition, our teaching team will provide you with module-specific help to ensure the success of your studies.
When you arrive, we will introduce you to your personal tutor (usually your dissertation supervisor too). This is the member of staff, who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at UEL and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer.
As a full-time student, you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities per year (part-time students can expect 150 hours of these per year). These may be lectures, workshops, seminars, facilitated discussions and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
The approximate percentages for this course are:
Scheduled teaching – 300 hours; guided independent study – 1500 hours.
The course runs on Saturdays and Sundays, with an occasional extra Friday teaching session. You would be expected to attend between 12 and 15 of these weekend workshops throughout your time with us. Your individualised timetable is normally available within 48 hours of enrolment. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
The weekend 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.
To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally attracts 50–60 students a year (this can vary by academic year). Lecture sizes are normally 40 plus students. However, in the classroom, you will do many of the experiential learning activities in small groups of up to five students, so you will have a chance to work closely with your peers, practice everything being learned and get feedback.
Who will teach on this course
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
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 and subject specific modules.
The core modules are developing as a researcher, and health and wellbeing at work. The subject specific modules are assessing and developing people in the workplace, work design, organisational change and development, and leading, engaging and motivating people at work.
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, Deloitte, 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 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.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal
