Business and Organisational Psychology MSc

Postgraduate

male student sitting in front of a shelf of books

Unlock the science behind workplace dynamics and human behaviour. Apply psychological principles and adopt emerging approaches to solve real-world business problems.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
With Professional Placement

Duration

1 year full-time
Up to 2 years full-time with professional placement

Course code

CAST028

Start date

September 2025
November 2025
January 2026
March 2026
May 2026
June 2026

How to apply

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Course overview

Develop the skills and knowledge needed to shape the next generation of confident leaders and business innovators. Gain practical insights into the science of human behaviour in the workplace and how it can be used to drive success.

Apply contemporary psychological principles to solve real-world business problems, challenging established theory and practice through a critical approach.
Explore topics including leadership, motivation, team dynamics, talent development and consumer psychology.
Further your existing skills and advance your knowledge in preparation for career advancement and professional development in the business and organisational sector.
Gain practical experience and boost your CV with an additional professional placement. See the modules for more details.²

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

How do leaders manage and motivate virtual teams effectively in today's technology-driven world? How is power used and decisions made? How can you approach candidate selection and recruitment for the best organisational fit? Why do consumers behave as they do?

Learn to understand and negotiate the numerous challenges in business and organisational environments, regardless of your professional background.

You can expect:

applied learning: practical hands-on learning and an interdisciplinary approach that combines academic theory with business practices used in today’s global and dynamic workplace
skills development: career-ready skills development and integration of associated technology (for example, artificial intelligence, data analytics and digital tools)
accreditation: industry-led course content accredited by the Association for Business Psychology (ABP) and Association of Business Psychology certification as a Certified Business Psychologist (CBP)
industry-focused: applied assessments that should enhance your career readiness and demonstrate how to practically apply knowledge.

Accreditation and professional recognition

Association for Business Psychology

The course is accredited by the Association for Business Psychology (ABP) for the 2025-26 intake and aligns to their standards and codes of practice.

What you'll study

Explore the reciprocal influence and relationships between individuals and organisations, their antecedents and outcomes. Topics covered include leadership, power and decision-making, talent development and recruitment, consumer psychology, wellbeing at work, and recruitment assessment and training, equipping you to negotiate today’s global and evolving workplace.

Modules

The Science of Selection and Data Analytics – 30 credits

Leading and Developing People – 30 credits

How do leaders develop people as their organisation’s best asset and maximise their potential? Explore how leaders make strategic choices and how decision-making can be most effective in individuals, teams and organisations. The module offers a comprehensive examination of major leadership theories including trait, behavioural, contingency and contemporary leadership models. We’ll discuss the evolution of leadership theories over time and their implications in modern organisational settings in global contexts.

Compulsory

Consumer Psychology – 30 credits

Examine consumerism from marketer and consumer perspectives, consumer practice and associated approaches, along with buying behaviour, marketing strategies, consumptions and sustainability. Apply practical and relevant qualitative research methods to analyse consumer behaviours relevant to business and consumer practice. Assess the incorporation of AI into professional use and its value.

Compulsory

Wellbeing and the Global Workplace – 30 credits

Explore strategic leadership, individuals and teams within the global workplace and how this dynamic environment impacts wellbeing. Topics include the links between work and personal wellbeing, the impact of technological advances, equality, diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, cultural intelligence (CQ), communication within teams and how to lead in this environment.

Compulsory

Master’s with professional placement

If you successfully secure a placement in industry within your first semester, this master’s with professional placement option allows you to extend your 12-month master’s course up to an additional year to complete the placement before starting your final 60-credit module.

Gain valuable industry insights and skills as you apply your academic knowledge and skills to a professional placement.
The placement must be sourced and secured by you during your first semester. Our careers and employability team are available to support you with the sourcing process.
Start your professional placement after completing the first 120 credits of your course.
The professional placement will be integrated into your course learning and outcomes. This will take the form of a reflective diary demonstrating your learning and engagement with the placement experience.
The professional placement option is subject to additional fees, living costs, visa requirements, availability, competitive application and university approval of the placement.²

For full terms and conditions, please visit the extended master’s landing page.

Optional

Systematic Literature Review and Evidence-based Practice – 60 credits

Consolidate your learning in an independent research project. A systematic literature review and an evidence-based practice report is the synthesis of sourced journal articles, related to a business psychology topic. Conclusions from the report will frame a work intervention, change or practice plan and you should expect to present your report in person.

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

lectures
seminars
tutorials
presentations
group projects
workshops.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Prefer to study 100% online? Click here to view our 100% online course.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending on the module. Assessment methods may include:

presentations
consultancy reports
group projects
intervention design
portfolios
case analysis
group presentations
analytic reports.

The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

An undergraduate degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in any discipline.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical requirements

An undergraduate degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in any discipline.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£9,350 £1,500 professional placement fee (if placement secured)	Not available
EU	£9,350 per year with EU Support Bursary £1,500 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary £1,800 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600 £1,800 professional placement fee (if placement secured)	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³ and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

People walking in front of a building which has a big library sign

Lanchester Library

The library is usually open 24/7, in term-time. It’s where you can access your course’s specialist Academic Liaison Librarian. It’s also home to specialist teams which can support you with your academic writing and maths and statistics questions.

Glass modern building with a spire in the background

The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student life on campus. Facilities include a food court, convenience store, multi-faith centre, medical centre, hairdresser, coffee shops and the Your SU offices. It has fully licensed function spaces and a bar.

Two people working together with a laptop in front of them

Careers and employability

Get one-on-one career and employability guidance lasting up to 36 months from the end of your course. We’ll help you find placements and graduate roles, offer CV and application checks, mentoring, skills workshops, employer events and more.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of this course, you could opt to pursue roles within areas such as:

consultancy (self-employed or in a company)
occupational development
training design/facilitating manager
marketing
management/leadership roles in public, private and third sectors
selection and recruitment
wellbeing advocate/coach
organisational strategy design
workplace motivation
equality, diversity and inclusion
further study (PhD).

Where our graduates work

Our graduates have pursued careers across various sectors, including:

independent business consultants for companies like Kellogg's and Ricoh UK
business consultants in sales and HR
practitioners in learning, training and development, and leadership training
roles in organisational development and marketing.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online. Please read the entry criteria page before applying.

Full-time applications

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

Full-time international students should apply directly to the university. Please read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degrees view our International hub.

You can also download our international mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.