COURSE CURRICULUM

The MSc Occupational Psychology curriculum provides a comprehensive exploration of the psychological factors that influence behaviour, performance, wellbeing, and organisational effectiveness in modern workplaces. The Understanding Organisations: Work Design, Organisational Change and Development module examines how organisational structures, cultures, systems, and strategic decisions shape employee experiences, performance, and wellbeing. Students develop an understanding of organisational change processes and learn why workplace initiatives succeed or fail depending on how underlying organisational issues are addressed. The Research in Organisations module focuses on evidence-based consultancy and develops skills in organisational diagnosis, research design, data collection, analysis, and communication. Students learn how to gather meaningful evidence, interpret findings, and present recommendations effectively to clients and decision-makers. Organisational Practice: Leadership, Engagement and Motivation explores the psychological foundations of motivation, leadership, employee engagement, and workplace performance. Students critically examine how leadership styles, work design, and meaningful work influence behaviour and organisational outcomes. The Psychological Assessment at Work module investigates evidence-based approaches to recruitment, selection, and talent management, including psychometric testing, assessment centres, and fair selection practices that support effective workforce decisions. Learning, Training and Development focuses on how individuals and organisations acquire knowledge and skills, examining why training programmes often fail to create lasting behavioural change and how coaching, mentoring, and career development strategies can support professional growth. The Work and Wellbeing module explores workplace stress, employee wellbeing, organisational culture, and changing patterns of work. Students learn to identify the root causes of wellbeing challenges and evaluate interventions that effectively improve employee health, satisfaction, and performance. The programme culminates in an Independent Research Project, allowing students to design and conduct their own applied research study on an occupational psychology topic aligned with their interests or career goals. Working closely with an academic supervisor, students develop advanced research, analytical, and problem-solving skills while contributing to knowledge within the field. Together, these modules provide a strong foundation in occupational psychology, combining theory, research, and practical application to prepare graduates for careers in consultancy, human resources, organisational development, talent management, employee wellbeing, leadership development, and further professional or academic study.