MSc Psychology in Business

  • International Students Can Apply

Overview

Course Length:1 Year Full-Time, 2 Years Part-Time
Start Dates:September 2020
Department:Department of Psychology
Location:Edge Hill University
  • Join an innovative inter-disciplinary programme that combines specialist learning in both psychology and business;
  • Develop the creativity, innovation and leadership skills needed for psychologists to thrive in contemporary business environments;
  • Learn using leading professional-friendly methods.

This taught Masters degree is designed for graduates in Psychology or a related discipline who wish to learn and apply the skills needed to thrive in a range of careers in organisations, from start-ups to multinationals. The programme is framed around the key skills of creativity, innovation, communication, teamwork, leadership and management. It provides an immersive learning environment that fosters theses skills through a combination of traditional, modern and technology-enhanced learning methods. Above all, the course is organic, enabling you to acquire the relevant skills by undertaking and discussing projects and activities that are derived from your own motives, knowledge and experience.

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In Depth

What will I study?

The programme provides the knowledge, skills and experience to form the springboard for a graduate in Psychology or a related discipline to embark on a career in a range of business environments. You will focus on contemporary issues and challenges facing organisations in the 21st century alongside the nature of leadership and management roles and the impact and influence of development interventions.

Modules explore the psychology of creativity, innovation, sales and marketing. The application of perspectives and insights from core areas of psychology to leadership, motivation, recruitment and employee wellbeing in the workplace will also be examined, as will the role of psychometrics in selection, assessment and development.

The programme will equip you with the advanced professional skills needed to underpin a successful career. It will additionally help you develop the soft skills of teamwork and communication through group work and individual reflective commentaries, underpinned by a distinctive and supportive learning environment.

How will I study?

The programme adopts ‘Professional Action Learning’ (PAL) methodology for selected modules, developed from the classic Revans approach. These modules are designed with a series of day schools/workshops using group-based discussion and action, with 5-6 students per group.

Other modules will take a more traditional approach and require attendance at one seminar per week. These sessions will be a combination of tutor-led and student-developed interactive activities. You will also be encouraged to engage with your tutors on a one-to-one basis.

The module timetables are structured so that all contact time falls on a maximum of three days per week.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through a combination of group-based presentations, written assignments, individual reflective portfolios and a 10,000 word dissertation.

Who will be teaching me?

The programme will be delivered by a cross-department team of academic experts from the Department of Psychology and the Business School who have specialist knowledge of areas such as marketing, sales, teamwork, psychological assessment and professional development.

A Great Study Environment

Psychology

Students walk past the Law and Psychology building at night.The £6m Law and Psychology building provides contemporary teaching and learning facilities for students in the Department of Psychology and the Department of Law and Criminology.

The three-storey building includes a 250-seat lecture theatre, seminar and tutorial rooms, and social learning areas which encourage a more informal and interactive style of learning. There are also specially designed experimental facilities for psychological research.

Psychology resources include state-of-the-art eye trackers, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) methods, and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for examining cognitive functioning and brain activity. Other specialist laboratories include a group testing laboratory, two bi-directional observation rooms, a ‘bar simulation laboratory’ (for alcohol research), audio-visual suites and dedicated IT facilities equipped with subject specific software installed to support experimental work.

Business School

A student makes notes during a seminar.A stunning £8m building provides state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities for students in Edge Hill Business School.

The three-storey building offers a 100-seat lecture theatre and modern seminar and meeting rooms. There are also social learning areas which encourage a more informal and interactive style of learning, in addition to an attractive roof garden and atrium.

Edge Hill Business School is home to a thriving research community, hosts a growing international partnership portfolio, and is a member of AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), the world’s largest management education network.

Modules

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BUS4520Leadership and Management Development (20 credits)

Leadership and Management Development explores the nature of leadership and management roles as well as the impact and influence of development interventions on the individual and the organisation. At the organisational level the module considers how far organisational culture and strategic change can be influenced by development interventions, thereby enabling organisations to deal more effectively with environmental uncertainty. At the individual level, the module evaluates the importance of the identification of development needs, as well as work-based and formal development interventions, for career development. You will consider leadership and management development in a range of organisations and enterprises and conduct an examination of contemporary trends in the area.


Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

BUS4524Management in the 21st Century (20 credits)

Management in the 21st Century explores the challenging contemporary issues facing organisations in the 21st century. It considers the alternate economic and social structures that are applicable throughout the world and how these differences collude and conflict with the development of the global economy. The success of the free market ideology, the international movement of capital, globalisation and the emergence of developing economies will all be considered within the module, as will technological developments and the social, environmental and ethical challenges which organisations are facing.


Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

PSY4001Advanced Professional Skills (20 credits)

Advanced Professional Skills focuses on client-facing processes to present the range of skills that underpin a successful professional career in psychology and related disciplines. The module immerses you in systematic information retrieval, analysis, synthesis and dissemination. You will gain the skills required for academic and professional practice, reflect on ethical considerations and consider public understanding of science. The module concludes with a practical exercise which will prepare you for writing and managing a research proposal or business plan for a research project.


Assessment: Coursework: 70%, Practical(s): 30%.

PSY4008Psychology of Creativity and Innovation (10 credits)

Psychology of Creativity and Innovation recognises that it is commonly thought that being creative is a gift that either you have or do not have. In common with most skills, however, there is a science to achieving high levels of skill. This module will enable you to undertake extensive practice – on an issue that is important to you – in a challenging but supportive environment. You will complete a project that enables you to develop and assess your skills and engage in a reflective commentary on the process. The aim is to enhance the skills of innovation and creativity in your everyday life, creating an innovative approach and then developing the idea further.


Assessment: Coursework: 50%, Practical(s): 50%.

PSY4010Psychology of Teamwork (10 credits)

Psychology of Teamwork recognises that there is a pernicious misconception that being a good team member depends upon the fit between one’s team role and one’s personality. This module will enable you to undertake extensive practice – on an issue that is important to you – in a challenging but supportive environment. You will receive an overview of key approaches to teamwork, complete a project that enables you to develop and assess your skills, and gain experience of providing feedback to individuals as to how they might improve their teamwork skills.


Assessment: Coursework: 50%, Practical(s): 50%.

PSY4012Psychology of Sales and Marketing (10 credits)

Psychology of Sales and Marketing recognises that knowledge of the principles of sales and marketing is a central requirement for individuals working either as independent practitioners or as a member of any organisation that has products to sell. Focuses on client-facing processes, the module begins by presenting the key concepts in marketing, such as market segmentation, product positioning, differentiation and competitive advantage. Important concepts in sales will also be considered, with a focus on consumers, customer value proposition and advertising. The module will address the psychology of sales, examining Rackham’s spin-selling approach and bringing in core psychology theories including that of planned behaviour.


Assessment: Coursework: 50%, Practical(s): 50%.

PSY4014Applied Psychometrics: Personality and Individual Differences in Selection, Assessment and Development (20 credits)

Applied Psychometrics: Personality and Individual Differences in Selection, Assessment and Development explores the use of psychometrics in the work place. The theory and application of psychometrics for the purpose of assessment, selection and development will be subject to critical consideration. Through project work, you will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge of psychometrics either through the evaluation of current selection, assessment or development processes or via the development of novel approaches that utitlise the principles of psychometrics. The module will also highlight the moral and ethical concerns related to the application of psychometrics in practice


Assessment: Coursework: 50%, Practical(s): 50%.

PSY4015Organisational Psychology (10 credits)

Organisational Psychology focuses on the application of theoretical perspectives and insights from core areas of psychology to issues such as leadership, motivation, decision-making, employee selection, training and stress management. The module contributes to the study of employee well-being and effective management and places a particular focus on the experience of women and minorities in the work place. The relevance of research methods in psychology in the workplace will also be considered.


Assessment: Coursework: 50%, Practical(s): 50%.

PSY4100Psychology Masters Dissertation (60 credits)

Psychology Masters Dissertation requires you to carry out a supervised empirical piece of extended psychological research. A dissertation provides you with the opportunity to undertake independent research in a relevant area of your choice (subject to the approval of the programme team). The aim is to demonstrate your effectiveness as an independent learner and researcher as you design and execute a piece of substantive, original research. A supervisor will be responsible for overseeing the work in an advisory capacity but you will be expected to plan, execute, interpret and write up your own work.


Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

Timetables

You can expect to receive your timetable at enrolment. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day or evening of the week.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information, however our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.

Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Entry Criteria

Entry Requirements

To join this MSc you should have a degree equivalent to UK upper second class honours (2:1 or above) in psychology or a cognate discipline involving human sciences, including Business and Management, Geography, Social Sciences or Sport and Exercise Science, or a health related subject.

Students with a lower second class honours degree (2:2) may be admitted at the department’s discretion, based on evidence of relevant experience and/or prior learning.

An interview forms part of the selection process.

English Language Requirements

International students require IELTS 6.5, with a score no lower than 6.0 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.

If your current level of English is half a band lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.

Are there any alternative ways to meet the entry requirements?

Mature students who are in full-time employment and have a minimum of five years’ work experience can potentially access the programme without a degree if able to demonstrate evidence of continuous professional development. This is subject to a successful interview.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Edge Hill University recognises learning gained elsewhere, whether through academic credit and qualifications acquired from other relevant courses of study or through recognition of an individual’s professional and employment experience (also referred to as ‘experiential learning’).

Previous learning that is recognised in this way may be used towards meeting the entry requirements for a programme and/or for exemption from part of a programme. It is your responsibility to make a claim for recognition of prior learning. For guidance, please consult the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning Policy and contact the faculty in which you are interested in studying.

Career Prospects

What are my career prospects?

Successful completion of this programme will equip graduates in Psychology and related disciplines with a competitive advantage for entry to, and success in, a range of potential careers.

If you have previously gained eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society, you will be well placed to continue your progress towards becoming a chartered psychologist with a wider knowledge of organisations and 21st century business environments.

If you studied a non-accredited degree or are looking for an alternative career path, you will graduate from this Masters degree with the skills and expertise required for a career in areas such as human resources, market research, recruitment and training, or sales and marketing.

Potential job roles include working as an industrial counsellor, industrial-organisational psychologist, corporate consultant, human factors specialist, customer relationship specialist, employee retention consultant, professional development coach, customer relationship specialist, professional development coach, customer service manager or change management specialist.

Finance

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for full-time study on this MSc are £5,400 for UK and EU students and £13,250 for international students enrolling on the programme in academic year 2020/21.

Tuition fees for part-time study on this MSc are £30 per credit for UK and EU students enrolling on the programme in academic year 2020/21, i.e. £600 per 20 credit module.

180 credits are required to complete a Masters degree.

The University may administer a small inflationary rise in part-time postgraduate tuition fees in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

Financial Support

For comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK and EU students joining postgraduate courses at Edge Hill University, together with details of how to apply for potential funding, please view our Money Matters 2020/21 guide at www.edgehill.ac.uk/postgradfinance2020.

Financial support information for international students can be found at www.edgehill.ac.uk/international/fees.

Apply

How to Apply

There is an online application process for this programme.

For academic year 2020/21 entry, you will need to apply using our own online application system rather than UCAS Postgraduate.

The online application form will be available from the end of October 2019. Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/applydirect for more information about the application process.

Further information for international students about how to apply is available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/applyinternational.

Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

Visit Us

If you are considering applying to study at Edge Hill University, the best way to gain an insight into student life is to discover our stunning campus for yourself by attending an open day. You can view dates and book your place at www.edgehill.ac.uk/opendays.

Alternatively, if you are unable to attend an open day, you can find out more about all of our events for prospective students, including monthly campus tours, at www.edgehill.ac.uk/visitus.

Request a Prospectus

If you would like to explore our full range of taught Masters degrees, MBA awards and our Masters by Research (MRes) degree before you apply, you can order a postgraduate prospectus at www.edgehill.ac.uk/postgradprospectus.

Get in Touch

If you have any questions about this programme or what it’s like to study at Edge Hill University, please contact:

If you would like to talk to the programme leader about the course in more detail, please contact:

International students should visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/international or email international@edgehill.ac.uk with any queries about overseas study.

Course Changes

Expand All This page outlines any material changes to course content, programme structure, assessment methods, entry criteria, and modes of study or delivery, implemented in the past two years.

This page outlines any material changes to course content, programme structure, assessment methods, entry criteria, and modes of study or delivery, implemented in the past two years. No material changes have been made to the information for this programme in that time. Any future amends will be tracked here.