MSc — 2027 entry Business Psychology
Want to use psychology to create better workplaces? Designed for those without a Psychology degree, our MSc Business Psychology bridges psychological science and business practice. You’ll explore topics including wellbeing, talent development, leadership and organisational performance, gaining the skills to help organisations unlock potential and thrive in a changing world.
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Why choose
this course?
- Study a growing and in-demand discipline – combine psychological science, people management and data-driven insights to understand workplace behaviour and address complex organisational challenges.
- Designed for graduates from any discipline – our course offers a unique opportunity to develop expertise in business psychology without needing a previous psychology qualification.
- Benefit from a curriculum shaped by industry expertise – draw on established modules from Surrey’s successful MSc Occupational and Organizational Psychology and MSc Human Resource Management programmes, both shaped through extensive input from practitioners and employers.
- Apply your knowledge to real workplace challenges – complete industry-relevant assessments, including case studies, consultancy-style projects and organisational problem-solving tasks that reflect professional practice.
- Learn from research-active academics and industry professionals – gain insights into the latest developments in business psychology and their application in the workplace.
- Understand human behaviour using our specialist facilities – in our Human Insight Lab, explore what works – and why – and apply these insights to real workplace challenges.
Statistics
14th in the UK
And 100th in the world for business and economics in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026
Top 75 in the world
For management and top 100 for business administration in the ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2026
What you will study
Our new MSc Business Psychology combines the science of human behaviour with practical business and people-management expertise, giving you the skills to understand what drives individuals, teams and organisations to succeed.
Throughout the programme, you'll explore how psychological principles can be applied to real business challenges and develop the research, analytical and professional skills sought by employers. Guided by current research and emerging trend, you’ll study the core principles of business psychology, alongside key areas of people management and the wider business environment.
Topics covered include: workplace behaviour, leadership, motivation, learning and organisational effectiveness; international and cross-cultural perspectives, including global workforce mobility, international human resource management and comparative employment systems; how organisations operate across different cultural, legal and regulatory environments; and pressing themes like AI, hybrid working and sustainability. This mix prepares you to be forward-thinking and be successful for careers in a global workplace.
This programme is great for professionals who love unpacking human behaviour and are looking for a way to apply this in industry. By the time you graduate, you'll be equipped to use psychological insight and data-driven thinking to help organisations attract, engage, develop and retain talent, helping people and organisations thrive.
Practical experience
Throughout the programme, you’ll tackle authentic workplace challenges through assessments designed to reflect the work of business psychology professionals.
You’ll undertake a case study assessment, providing business psychology advice to a manager in response to a workplace scenario, and complete a consultancy-style project where you’ll develop recommendations to help an organisation address a contemporary business challenge.
Your dissertation will also give you the opportunity to explore an area of business psychology that interests you in depth. Recent Surrey Business School students have researched topics including endometriosis support in the workplace, encouraging employers to provide more breaks, and religious identity in organisations.
Beyond industry-style projects, you’ll also benefit from Surrey Business School’s strong industry connections. Alongside teaching from expert academics, many of whom work closely with industry, you’ll hear from guest speakers, attend industry talks and careers-focused events, and learn from Surrey alumni working across a range of sectors.
These opportunities will give you insight into how your masters-topic is applied in practice, help build your professional network, and develop the analytical, problem-solving and professional skills needed for careers in consultancy, people management, organisational development and related fields.
The structure of our programmes follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes:
Teaching and learning
You will progress from developing a foundational understanding of business psychology (e.g. psychological assessment, organisational behaviour, research methods), to applying this knowledge in organisational contexts and ultimately integrating theory and practice through independent research.
We adopt an inclusive, student-centred approach to learning and teaching that recognises the diversity of learners’ backgrounds, experiences, and learning preferences. Lectures introduce key theories and frameworks, while seminars and workshops provide interactive spaces for discussion, case analysis, and collaborative problem-solving.
Teaching and learning activities encourage students to draw on and share relevant knowledge and experience through discussion, case analysis, and problem-based learning.
Learning methods
- Group work
- Independent study
- Lectures
- Online learning
- Project work
- Research work
- Seminars
- Simulation learning
- Tutorials
- Workshops
Assessment
Our assessments are designed to help you develop your knowledge and skills throughout the programme, while demonstrating the critical thinking and analytical abilities expected at master's level.
You'll be assessed through a range of practical, real-world tasks that allow you to apply business psychology theory to organisational challenges. These include:
- Case study analyses
- Organisational problem-solving assignments
- Consultancy-style projects
- Research-based assessments.
These authentic assessments reflect the types of challenges business psychology professionals face in the workplace, helping you build valuable experience while developing the skills employers are seeking.
General course information
Contact hours
Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.
Timetable
New students will receive their personalised timetable during Welcome Week. In later semesters, at least one week before the start of the semester.
Scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday), with part-time classes normally scheduled for one or two days. Wednesday afternoons tend to be for sports and cultural activities.
View our code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment (PDF) for more information.
Location
This course is based at Stag Hill campus. Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.
We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
This course will equip you with the expertise to apply psychology in business settings, helping organisations unlock the potential of their people, improve performance and create positive, lasting workplace change. You will be able to pursue a career in:
- Human resource management
- Recruitment
- Psychometric testing
- Coaching and training
- Counselling in the workplace
- Learning and development
- Organisational development consultancy.
Many of our postgraduates have also gone on to pursue doctoral study and academic careers at higher education institutions.
UK qualifications
A minimum of a 2:2 UK honours degree, or a recognised equivalent international qualification.
We may be able to take relevant work experience into consideration if you don't meet these requirements.
Please provide full details of your role and responsibilities in your personal statement and CV when you submit your application.
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
We recognise that many students enter their course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of ways.
If this applies to you, the recognition of prior learning process may mean you can join a course without the formal entry requirements, or at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience.
There are restrictions on some courses, and fees may be payable for certain claims. Please contact the Admissions team with any queries.
Scholarships and bursaries
Discover what scholarships and bursaries are available to support your studies.
Fees per year
Explore UKCISA’s website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the list of fees for all postgraduate courses.
- Fees for part-time routes are applicable in each year of the course
- These fees apply to the academic year 2027-28 only. Fees are reviewed annually, and tuition fees may increase for courses running over more than one year.
Read our tuition fees guidance to find out more about payment schedules and how to pay.
Additional costs
Find out more about additional costs that may be incurred during your time at Surrey.
Funding
You may be able to borrow money to help pay your tuition fees and support you with your living costs. Find out more about postgraduate student finance.
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Register your interestAdmissions information
Once you apply, you can expect to hear back from us within 14 days. This might be with a decision on your application or with a request for further information.
Our code of practice for postgraduate taught admissions explains how the Admissions team considers applications and admits students. Read our postgraduate applicant guidance for more information on applying.
About the University of Surrey
Need more information?
Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.
Terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you will be agreeing to follow our policies and procedures, student regulations, and terms and conditions.
We provide these terms and conditions at the offer stage. You will be asked to accept these when you accept the offer made to you. You will be provided with these terms and conditions again at registration by way of reminder.
Disclaimer
This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.
Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate; some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.
Subject to validation
This programme is subject to approval. This means that it has received initial agreement from the University and is currently undergoing a detailed final approval exercise, through the University’s quality assurance processes.
These processes are a requirement for all Higher Education Institutions within the UK, to ensure that programmes are of the highest standard. Occasionally, there may be instances where the University may delay or not approve the introduction of the programme.