How can we use the tools of psychology to improve the working lives of employees?
Join our online organisational psychology course and study the role of psychology in dealing with the challenges organisations face today.
You’ll find out how psychological principles and theories are applied in the workplace, and how they can help you:
- manage organisational change
- create a talent pipeline
- create and motivate high-performing teams.
Join our practising organisational psychologists for a flexible online course that fits around full-time work.
Who is this organisational psychology course for?
This distance-learning course is for anyone interested in organisational psychology and how to use the tools of psychology to improve organisational life. It may be of particular interest if you work in:
- industry, change management, or training and development.

Build credits towards a Masters degree
This online course is part of:
- PgCert Psychology in the Workplace
- MSc Psychological Studies (on-campus study)
You can use the credits you earn on this short course towards either of these postgraduate qualifications.
What you’ll study
You’ll cover the core theories and latest research in occupational psychology.
You’ll learn how to use this theory and research to deliver tailored and effective workplace interventions. Exploring case studies, you’ll see how the theories and research of occupational psychology are used in practice today.
You’ll gain the knowledge and critical-thinking skills to source, understand and apply research to make a difference in any organisation.
On this workplace psychology course, you’ll study topics including:
- Psychometric assessment
- Learning, training and development
- Leadership, engagement and motivation
- Wellbeing and work
- Work design, organisational change and development.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to…
-
Explain occupational psychology, the role of the practitioner and the impact that psychology-based interventions can have on workplace performance.
-
Evaluate different types of psychological assessment in the workplace and the relationship between test scores and job performance.
-
Relate concepts and principles from the psychology of training and development to real occupational issues.
-
Describe the rationale for designing useful training interventions and evaluation.
-
Discuss and reflect on leadership theories and their relevance to organisations.
-
Explain theories of motivation and their application in the workplace.
-
Discuss how the concept of work-life balance is linked to other organisation concerns, wellbeing, job satisfaction and engagement.
-
Describe the role of applied psychology to the study of organisations undergoing organisational change and development programmes.

Fits around full-time work
This course is designed to fit around work. With part-time hours and 24/7 study access.

You’re in expert hands
We’ve been delivering online and distance learning for decades.

NHS and alumni discounts
NHS staff get 10% off this online course. University of Aberdeen alumni get 20% off.
How you’ll study
Our distance-learning Organisational Psychology course is delivered flexibly, 100% online. You can study with us anywhere in the world and manage your study hours to suit you.
This course is taught at Masters level by our School of Psychology.
Online learning
Your teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources at your fingertips, including:
- videos
- reading materials
- the online resources of our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library
- discussion boards with colleagues and tutors.
Your tutors
You’ll learn from practising psychologists with extensive experience in organisational psychology.
Your teaching team

Dr Jason Bohan
Jason is the Director of Teaching and Learning in the School of Psychology and is overseeing this course. He has a wealth of experience in teaching and pedagogical matters and is Chair of The British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Scottish Branch.

Linda O’Donnell
Linda is a practising business psychologist and Honorary Lecturer in Psychology with us. She has a wealth of experience across a variety of sectors, including Oil and Gas, the public sector and the charity sector.
Where this will take you
Towards a Masters
You’ll earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) with this course. You can use these credits towards our:

PgCert Psychology in the Workplace
Explore occupational psychology online with UK university psychologists. Choose from a range of online workplace psychology courses and build a graduate qualification tailored to you.
View PgCert Psychology in the Workplace
MSc Psychological Studies
A full-time, on-campus MSc programme designed to introduce graduates from other disciplines to the study of psychology, as a first step to pursuing a career in this area.
View MSc Psychological StudiesBuild your learning
This course is part of our series of online workplace psychology courses.
Use these short courses to build your skills and earn more credits towards postgraduate qualifications:
- Human Factors in Industrial Practice
- Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace
- Organisational Culture and Conflict
- Safety Critical Skills in Industry
- The Psychology of Social Bias
All these online courses are part-time and fit around full-time work.
Careers
Whatever your industry, you’ll gain career-enhancing skills and expertise on this course.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Your employer or professional institute may recognise this course for CPD hours. Talk to your employer or institute to find out more.

Free careers advice
We’ll help you explore your career potential and connect with job opportunities around the world.
You can access our free careers service while you study.
From interview training to CV clinics, we’re here with tailored, impartial and professional advice.
This course has no formal entry requirements. You decide if it’s suitable for you.
The course is delivered at Masters level. At this level, you’d usually have at least:
- a 2:2 (second-class) undergraduate degree
- or relevant experience that supports this level of study.
Apply for this course