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Business Psychology with Human Resource Management at Heriot-Watt University - UCAS

Heriot-Watt University

Degree level: Postgraduate

Business Psychology with Human Resource Management (Taught)

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Heriot-Watt University's master’s degree in business psychology is the most established of its kind in Europe. This degree blends our world-class teaching in business psychology with our expertise in human resource management to create a specialist programme that will develop a range of skills which are highly desirable to employers. Our psychology graduates often build extremely rewarding careers in human resource management within a range of industries. By viewing the workplace through a psychological perspective and by developing analytical, critical thinking and reflection skills, you’ll learn to recognise and improve seemingly intangible aspects of the workplace which, when appropriately managed, can directly improve performance, in areas such as:

  • Job satisfaction
  • Well-being
  • Leadership
  • Organisational commitment
  • Organisational culture
  • Performance and productivity
Throughout the Business Psychology with Human Resource Management programme, you’ll develop a critical understanding of the boundaries, terminology, concepts and conventions of business psychology and human resource management. Our degree programme provides sufficient coverage of business psychology to enable you to proceed to professional careers in private, public and third-sector organisations. Recent developments in research inform this degree and you’ll gain professional, transferable skills and knowledge to succeed in a career after graduation. The range of courses, including a dissertation, provides you with the flexibility to pursue your interests either as a practitioner or researcher. You’ll develop numeracy and ICT skills using statistics software packages and by conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis. You’ll also be able to develop communication skills through coursework and group discussions/presentations. You’ll learn key skills that can be applied in the workplace through various wider roles such as management, consultancy and HR. Expertise The MSc Business Psychology with Human Resource Management degree is taught by experienced, leading academics who, in many cases, have published the research which shapes their disciplines and written the books which will guide your learning. Many academics balance teaching time with continued professional practice as translators, interpreters, practitioner psychologists, tax and finance specialists and management consultants. They bring real-world experience to the classroom. Your learning environment The MSc Business Psychology with Human Resource Management programme at Heriot-Watt University has excellent research facilities such as eye trackers, driving simulators and consistent environment labs which will support your independent research projects.   This degree is taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars involving multiple modes of learning including case studies, workshops, research papers and electronic formats. You’ll also take part in specifically designed group tasks and presentations which will allow you to develop your interpersonal and communication skills, giving you the platform to implement your expertise and directly improve the performance of diverse groups of individuals and teams at any level within an organisation. You’ll be assessed through a mix of formative and summative assessments. You’ll receive support and feedback throughout the programme. Customise your learning You’ll learn from eight courses on the syllabus and participate in a research project. Every course will allow you to develop analytical, critical thinking and reflection skills which will help you thrive in a rewarding career in psychology or human resource management within a range of industries. You can choose whether to study the programme full-time or part-time. This flexibility allows you to fit your postgraduate studies around your lifestyle.  

Modules

September Intake Year 1 Mandatory September -HR Strategy and Practice -Social and Organisational Change Optional September -The Legal Context of Work -Organisational Behaviour -Coaching Psychology -Digital Human Resource Management -Organisational Culture Mandatory January -Research Methods -Selection and Assessment: Tools and Techniques in Business Psychology -Sustainable HRM -Psychology of Leadership Mandatory May -Independent Project in Psychology January Intake Year 1 Mandatory January -Selection and Assessment: Tools and Techniques in Business Psychology -Sustainable HRM -Research Methods -Psychology of Leadership Mandatory September -HR Strategy and Practice -Social and Organisational Change Optional September -Coaching Psychology -Digital Human Resource Management -The Legal Context of Work -Organisational Culture -Organisational Behaviour Mandatory Second January -Independent Project in Psychology

Assessment method

You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your research project, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.

How to apply

International applicants

If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability. The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5 except for writing which must be at 6.0 minimum.

Entry requirements

A minimum of honours degree at 2:2 or non-UK equivalent in a relevant subject. Whilst we can consider applicants from a wide range of academic backgrounds such as psychology, sociology, politics, business, linguistics, journalism, we hope to see demonstrable evidence of numeracy through statistics or maths. We hope to see evidence of having undertaken an empirical research project or research design and analysis module. Applicants with work or project experience in a related HR role will be taken into consideration, please include your CV as part of your application. We welcome applications from international students and accept qualifications from around the world. Please refer to the entry requirements for your country for more details. English language requirements If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability. The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5 except for writing which must be at 6.0 minimum. If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.

English language requirements

Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not been educated previously in the English language must provide evidence of their English language ability to ensure they can cope with the demands of a Heriot-Watt programme taught and assessed in English. Further information about the English Language tests that we currently accept as proof of English Language ability including our own English Language programmes, can be viewed on our website.

HWU English Language Requirements

https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/entry/english-language-requirements.htm

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £10528 Whole course
Northern Ireland £10528 Whole course
Scotland £10528 Whole course
Wales £10528 Whole course
International £21192 Whole course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

For part-time, the tuition fee is: £5,264 for UK Nationals and £10,596for International Applicants.

Sponsorship information

Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.

Business Psychology with Human Resource Management at Heriot-Watt University - UCAS