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Occupational Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London - UCAS

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2024 - 2025
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Course summary

Shape the future of work by training as an Occupational Psychologist in the Institute of Management Studies (IMS). Gain the scientific knowledge, practical skills, and professional network to challenge the status quo and offer innovative workplace solutions. Occupational Psychologists specialise in human behaviour at work, understanding how people act and interact as individuals, in teams, and in organisations. The field brings together academics and professionals who use science and research to help improve the world of work, and answer questions like:

  • Who would be best for a given job?
  • How can companies use Artificial Intelligence to help select the best job candidates, or manage their employees?
  • How should companies manage, promote, and pay their people?
  • What is a healthy workplace?
  • Where do people perform at their best?
  • What is good leadership?
  • How can we spot problematic leaders?
  • How do we coach people to improve their work-life and performance?
You will benefit from our more than 25 years of experience in shaping the next generation of occupational psychologists, our vast alumni network, and our industry connections. This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society(BPS) and their Division of Occupational Psychology (DOP). You will study in the Institute of Management Studies (IMS), a vibrant environment for the study of people, behaviour, and change. The institute brings together academics in occupational psychology, economics, marketing, consumer psychology, and entrepreneurship. Professional certifications You will also have the opportunity to obtain a number of BPS certificates. These are provided for free so you can hit the ground running as a practising occupational psychologist when you graduate. Training is delivered in the summer by a leading occupational psychology consultancy. You will obtain BPS certificates in “Test User: Occupational, Ability” and “Test User: Occupational, Personality”. These qualifications recognize you as an expert in the administration, scoring, and interpretation of ability tests and personality questionnaires. The training is useful for those who wish to learn about or work with psychometric tests. Our Specialisms Our program is taught by a group of academic practitioners with specialisms in computational psychometrics and organisational wellbeing. Computational psychometrics combines psychological theory with machine learning and artificial intelligence methodologies to measure individual differences in personal attributes like personality and cognitive ability. Applied computational psychometrics is often used in Human Resources technology, for example, video-based assessments or AI-based video interviewing. Organisational wellbeing uses psychology to improving the performance and health of people in a broad range of work environments. For example, Contextual Behavioural Science theories, and interventions such as acceptance and commitment therapy are used to predict and enhance wellbeing and performance. Health and wellbeing can also be studied in social entities like organisations by looking at interpersonal and structural antecedents of wellbeing, and how they affect specific groups. Shape the future of work This program is designed to introduce you to the core elements of occupational psychology. It will equip you to work in research and applied settings to help shape the future of work. Whether you are looking to be self-employed, in-house, or a consultant in HR, tech, coaching, development, academia, or other sectors, you will gain the skills and knowledge to study and influence human behaviour.

Modules

The MSc programme runs for one year, starting in September. Most lectures and seminars are in the first two terms of the academic year, however the programme is structured in such a way that you are expected to pursue your studies beyond formal term times. Apart from the individual module-units listed in the syllabus, you will be required to attend other seminars and workshop series. As far as is practicable, the majority of lectures and seminars will be timetabled for Mondays and Tuesdays. Compulsory modules Organisational Behaviour and Health 15 credits Training, Coaching and Counselling 15 credits Leadership and Talent Management 15 credits Assessment and Selection 15 credits Research Design and Applied Statistics 15 credits Professional and Applied Research Skills 30 credits Research Project 60 credits Option Modules You will also choose one 15 credit option module from a list made available by the Institute of Management Studies, including in the areas of innovation, marketing, consumer psychology, entrepreneurship, and economics. We will provide you with a list of modules to chose from prior to the beginning of term. Occupational Test User Training (Formerly known as Level A and B training) During your MSc you will be provided with the opportunity to partake in training that will allow you to qualify for the BPS certificates in “Test User: Occupational, Ability” and “Test User: Occupational, Personality.” This qualification recognizes you as an expert in the administration, scoring and interpretation of ability tests and personality questionnaires. Your training will be delivered by Criterion Partnership, a world-recognised authority on objective assessment. *Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Assessment method

Performance will be assessed by formal examinations, essays, presentations, business reports and a research dissertation of not more than 10,000 words.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • British Psychological Society

Entry requirements

You should have an undergraduate degree in Psychology, or in a relevant subject (not necessarily Psychology), of at least upper second class standard. Relevant work experience will be an advantage. Important information about career routes in occupational psychology For those applicants who have a BSc or a BA in Psychology from a university that is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) (This is also known as having Graduate Basis for Chartership; GBC), the Goldsmiths’ MSc in Occupational Psychology (if successfully completed) will allow you to progress to BPS Stage two training, and eventually attain professional chartership in occupational psychology (if Stage two BPS requirements are met). For those applicants who have a BSc or a BA in Psychology from a university that is not accredited by the BPS, you will not be eligible for the BPS Stage two training at present, but will nevertheless be welcome to join the Goldsmiths’ MSc in Occupational Psychology. Importantly, it may be possible for you to gain BPS recognition for your non-accredited BA or BSc in Psychology. For those applicants who are unable to gain BPS recognition for their BSc or BA in Psychology, and those applicants who have a BSc or a BA in a discipline outside of psychology, you will not be eligible for the BPS Stage two training at present, but will nevertheless be welcome to join the Goldsmiths’ MSc in Occupational Psychology. Applicants in this situation may consider completing a BPS accredited psychology postgraduate conversion course prior to undertaking the MSc in Occupational Psychology. This will permit eventual progression to the BPS Stage two training, if the MSc in Occupational Psychology is successfully attained. If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Occupational Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London - UCAS