Master of Science in Management & Psychology
Awarding Body
Heriot Watt University, UK
Heriot-Watt University is the eighth oldest higher education institution in the UK, with its origins dating back to 1821. Located in Edinburgh, HWU has been consistently ranked as one of the top Universities in the UK. Well known for its pioneering work in business studies, engineering, and science as well as educating the industrialists, leaders, professionals and thinkers of the future. HWU is also one of the top UK universities for graduate employment, with 94% of graduates entering directly into work, further study or training.
Heriot-Watt has been ranked the Top 16 UK University in Business and Management Studies and the Top 5 UK University in Psychology in the Guardian University Guide 2012.
About the Qualification
Psychology shows us how to carry out business effectively, on the basis of scientifically-derived evidence. The Master of Science in Business Psychology is aimed at people who aspire to, or already have, a career in the business world. It provides detailed understanding of the many and varied applications of psychology to the business world, so that graduates are well-equipped for future employment. The course materials emphasise lessons for actual business practice. The Business Psychology programme addresses optimal means of designing products, how to get the most out of employees, how to lead employees, how to attract customers, and how to successfully change commercial organisations. Each module provides students with a 'Guide for Line Managers', which they can use with their (prospective) employers to highlight the key lessons learned for their own business practice.
Aims of the Qualification
The MSc/PGDip/PGCert Psychology for Business aims to allow students to study a wide range of topics at the interface of business and psychology through Heriot-Watt University. The content of the programmes reflects the aim of representing a range of perspectives: within the full MSc, four courses concern different aspects of management (leadership, diversity, organisational culture, organisational change), with the remaining courses covering consumer and economic psychology, consumer ergonomics, coaching, and research methods. As such, the courses cover managing people and organisations, designing products and services, selling products and services, and carrying out original research to determine the effectiveness of any of these interventions.
The programme aims to provide subject-specific knowledge, skills in critical analysis, and other transferable skills. In addition to this, the programme prepares students for entry to careers in business and occupations that do not require a legally-defined psychology qualification. The programme aims to enable learners to develop knowledge, understanding and subject skills in areas of Psychology for Business for employment in a variety of careers in commerce, industry, education and public administration; and to develop personal abilities (and attitudes for employment in a variety of careers and prepare for lifelong learning and personal development.
Course Duration
Part-time: 18 months
Full-Time: 18 months
Course Delivery
The course will be delivered on a part-time basis in 68 lessons of 3 hours each and also on a full-time basis, Mondays - Fridays, 3 hours daily.
The course is wholly delivered in Singapore. Students will have access to local tutors and resources provided by Uptrend College. Resources and materials provided for students will include lecture notes and references for reading in books, professional journals, articles and websites.
Average Teacher to Student Ratio
1:20
Course Modules
1.
Consumer and Economic PsychologyThis module describes the major features of consumer and economic psychology. Each of the eight Units addresses a discrete topic, with particular emphasis on the application of the principles in question to particular commercial issues. The module begins with psychological processes that occur entirely within the individual concerned and then progresses towards a consideration of first the interpersonal, and then the broader cultural groups that the individual operates within.
2. Leadership
This module addresses what constitutes effective leadership and how leadership skills can be improved. Each of the eight Units introduces a key reading in the area of concern, and the introductory text and key reading complement one another in forming the core teaching materials.
3. Psychology of Coaching
This module describes the role of coaching in business practice. We address practical issues in the introduction of a coaching programme into an organisation, and the ongoing management of such. We also consider the associated psychological principles and theories, the particular approaches to coaching that arise when one or another of these principles and theories is given prominence by the coach, and the associated professional issues that follow from this emphasis. The module is organised from a practical standpoint. Units 1-3 describe what coaching is in general terms, what a typical coaching session looks like, and what the primary functions of coaching are. Units 4-7 provide more detail on the key psychological elements of coaching, describing the role of goals, motivations and differing theoretical perspectives in actual coaching practice. Finally, Unit 8 assumes that the decision to implement a coaching programme has been adopted by the organisation, and addresses some practical next steps that should be taken.
4. Consumer Ergonomics
This module aims to introduce students to key principles in Ergonomics. and to present major issues in consumer ergonomics. Specifically, students will have an understanding of the different stages and types of design in which ergonomics come into play, and of the different theoretical approaches to this.
5. Organisational Culture
Organisational Culture considers how the culture in which a business operates can influence all aspects of its commercial practice, from those markets and challenges that it identifies as interesting or important, to the means by which it organises itself in order to address these; the manner by which it defines organisational roles; the means by which it motivates employees; the means by which groups of employees interact; the approach to leadership taken by senior managers; and the strategic decisions that these managers make.
6. Social and Organisational Change
Social and Organisational Change considers why organisational change is currently so prevalent, and those strategies that might best be implemented for bringing it about. The objectives of the module are to present major issues in social and organizational change from the perspective of psychology and management theory. Specifically, students will develop an understanding of the major driving forces of organizational change, some of the problems of management in change situations, and the major psychological theories of social and personal change.
7. Diversity
Diversity considers the commercial implications of growing diversity in the workplace, with particular regard to optimal management techniques. The aims of the module are to describe the impact of diversity on organisational practice, and the optimal means of management for addressing and maximising the potential opportunities presented by several sources of diversity.
8. Research Methods
This module describes how to carry out scientific research in everyday contexts. The module provides explicit preparation for the MSc project, but the material (is written so that it) also has direct relevance to students' practice in real life business contexts, where an understanding of scientific research methods is perhaps not as well known as it might be.
9. Psychology for Business Master's Project
The aims of the module are to introduce students to carrying out psychological research in business settings, and by implication to considering the optimal means of addressing different research questions. Although assessed at the end of the course, work on the Project is expected to commence much earlier, when students will be encouraged to begin considering what research they will carry out. All projects will address the application of some aspect of the course material to the student's own employer. The bulk of the module will be completed later in the course when students will formulate a research question before then following either a 'collect and analyse data' model or a 'professional practice' model in which the emphasis is on using the psychological literature to develop new policies and practices.
Entry Criteria
- A recognised bachelor's degree (or equivalent).
Candidates with significant work experience are also eligible for entry.
For those with a minimum of 5 years relevant working experience (for the Postgraduate Cert/ Diploma) and a minimum of 10 years relevant working experience (for the Masters of Science), candidates are required to have at least 5 GCE 'O' Level passes including English and/or Polytechnic Diploma, Professional/Technical Certificate or Diploma from a recognised academic or vocational institution.
Applicants would be required to submit all their academic and professional qualifications and testimonials from their employers. All of these would be taken account when we are assessing the suitability of each candidate to embark on any of the above-mentioned Postgraduate courses.
Students who do not speak English as a first language are also required to have an IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent).
Assessment Mode
Examination, Coursework & Project
Examination Period
June / December
Examination Registration Period
- 1 Feb to 22 Feb for June Exams
- 1 Aug to 22 Aug for Dec Exams
- Minimum 75% attendance is required for each subject to qualify for a Certificate of Attendance if requested and be eligible to sit for exam
- MSc / PGDip / PGCert Business Psychology - Students who complete each pre-MSc stage of the course (i.e., PG Certificate, PG Diploma) may opt not to graduate but to instead carry the credit earned on to a higher level qualification. More simply, students who take a particular course on a CPD basis would not be required to complete the same course to earn a PG Certificate; students who had completed four courses could opt not to take a PG Certificate and would not be required to take those same four courses in order to qualify for award of the PG Diploma; and students who had completed eight courses could opt not to take a PG Diploma and would not be required to take those courses again in order to qualify for the MSc.
- Students who wish to attain the MSc are required to pass each course with a minimum of Grade D, and an average mark across all courses equivalent to Grade C, and may be allowed to re-take the course assessment (as detailed in the course handbook) in order to attempt to achieve this.
Part-Time
| Application Fee | : | S$200 |
| Course Fee* | : | S$12,048 (Full payment S$10,848) |
| Material Fee | : | S$400 |
| Examination Fee | : | S$300 per paper |
| Fee Protection Scheme (FPS) | : | S$180 |
*Students who complete 4 modules can choose to be awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Business Psychology and Students who complete 8 modules can choose to be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Psychology.
Course Fee for 4 Modules: S$6,328
Course Fee for 8 modules: S$11,338
Dissertation: S$1,588
Full-Time
| Application Fee | : |
S$200 |
| Course Fee | : | S$21,238 |
| Material Fee | : | S$1,000 |
| Examination Fee | : | S$300 per paper |
| Student Pass Application Fee | : | S$350 |
| Medical Insurance | : | S$120 |
| Fee Protection Scheme (FPS) | : | S$300 |
All above fees are subject to 7% GST charges.
Fees may change periodically without prior notice.
Last Updated: 02 May 2012
