Program Overview

Heriot-Watt University's Masters degree in Business Psychology is the most established of its kind in Europe. In this programme, the MSc's core modules are blended with the expertise of our respected academics from the field of Human Resource Management.

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.