MSc Occupational Psychology

Applied Masters-level Occupational Psychology focuses on skills, knowledge and attributes employers and organizations seek. This British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited programme has input from leading researchers and practicing occupational psychologists.

Occupational Psychology applies psychological understanding to workplace, business and organizational issues, and is one of the key applied fields of psychology. Many businesses and organizations employ occupational psychologists to help identify and address many of the key issues organizations face today, like how to select the best talent, train leaders, manage teams, engage employees and develop a culture of innovation all using evidence-based solutions.

The MSc Occupational Psychology at UWE Bristol is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), covering Stage-1 training for Occupational Psychology. The course has been designed to reflect the most up-to-date BPS guidelines and has been developed in conjunction with the British Psychological Society's Division of Occupational Psychology.

Whether you're a recent bachelor graduate or a professional looking to develop and enhance skills, the course offers an excellent grounding in the key skills of an Occupational Psychologist. Furthermore, UWE Bristol stands out for its focus on applying skills and competencies to real-world scenarios. The department has excellent links with local organizations who provide connections and invaluable insights.

If you hold Graduate Basis for Charter ship (GBC) with the BPS, the MSc provides Stage-1 training towards achieving Practitioner Occupational Psychologist status. As well as covering the BPS core curriculum, you'll enjoy a particular emphasis on highly transferable practical, professional and employment-related skills and the opportunity to gain course credit through your own practical work in business and organizational settings.

Careers

The MSc Occupational Psychology is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as Stage-1 training in Occupational Psychology, the first step in training to become a Practitioner Occupational Psychologist. The BPS criteria takes into account the applicability of knowledge and skills, and graduate employability, which are key strengths for UWE Bristol.

After completing the MSc you will need to complete Stage-2 training to become a Practitioner Occupational Psychologist. Visit the Division of Occupational Psychology to find out more about this.

To be eligible for Stage-1 training in Occupational Psychology you must have Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) status. Please contact the BPS or HCPC for further guidance.

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Entry Requirements

You should have either:

• a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree awarded by a UK institute of higher education in Psychology or a relevant subject
• a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in Psychology and be eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) for membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
• qualifications deemed equivalent by the Course Leader

In order to be eligible to progress from the MSc to Stage 2 training in Occupational Psychology and become a Chartered Occupational Psychologist you must have GBC status. Applicants that do not have GBC status would not be eligible, under current BPS and HCPC arrangements, to go on to Chartered Psychologist status. This may change in future. Please contact the BPS or the HCPC for further advice.

If you have gained your degree from abroad you may be eligible for GBC and you should contact the BPS to clarify this. In many cases this can be a time consuming process so it is advisable to complete these enquiries prior to applying for the MSc, and well in advance of the application deadline to ensure your application can be considered for September entry.

We also offer the modules that make up this MSc as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) stand-alone courses. If you are interested in this option please contact the Course Leader for more details.