MA Psychology and Business
UCAS code: CN81
Duration: 4 years
Delivery: Full-time
School: Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Introducing MA Psychology and Business
Psychology
Psychologists study:
- how we perceive, think and learn about the world around us
- the way biological and social factors influence how we behave
- how interests and abilities differ from person to person
- how we communicate verbally and non-verbally
- how and why our mental abilities change across our lives
Psychology is an experimental and observational science. It uses evidence from research studies to develop and evaluate theories.
Our programme focuses on developing skills in research methods and statistical analysis using R programming. This supports our research-led teaching.
Business
Studying business will prepare you for the different challenges affecting:
- contemporary businesses
- governments
- not-for-profit organisations
World-leading industry professionals and researchers will help you develop personal and professional skills such as:
- authentic leadership
- ethical, responsible and sustainable business behaviour
- entrepreneurial practice
- effective communication
Our personal and professional competency framework
This will help you to work across various roles in contemporary business including:
- accountancy and finance
- strategy
- marketing
- human resource management
- data analytics
- entrepreneurship and innovation
Our Business School Student Development team provide opportunities for you to progress further.
For example, you can take part in the Edinburgh Awards, supported by an alumni professional mentor and trained coaches:
- Personal and Professional Development (Year 2)
- Effective and Responsible Leadership (Year 3 or 4)
You can also participate in a range of business societies, events and peer-support schemes.
Accreditation
It may be possible to obtain accreditation by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
This programme is accredited when you:
cover the core BPS areas:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Biological Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Individual Differences
complete a dissertation in Year 4
achieve a 2.2 or above in your overall degree classification
Most students graduate with BPS accreditation. However, if you fail to meet the accreditation criteria, you will graduate with an alternative degree in Psychology.
Business
Business School programmes are accredited by a range of world-leading business education organisations and professional bodies. We have strong links to the world of practice through research, consultancy and teaching.
Details of our accreditation and rankings
This programme holds accreditation from an international ranking body, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Year 1
Psychology
We focus on research methods and statistical analysis in this programme. You will:
- be trained in basic concepts in research methods and statistics
- learn how to programme in the R language
- have a practical introduction to laboratory-based psychology research
Through lectures and tutorials, you will complete a general introduction to psychology, covering:
- cognitive psychology
- developmental psychology
- the psychology of memory and perception
- individual differences
- language and thinking
- social psychology
We recommend you take the Data Analysis for Psychology in R1 course. This course provides the foundations for working with:
- data
- probability
- hypothesis testing
- the R statistical programming environment
Business
You will take two business courses:
- Global Challenges for Business
- The Business of Edinburgh
These courses will introduce key concepts of management and business, including:
- strategy
- finance
- marketing
- the management of people
You will learn how to apply concepts of social science to business.
We also recommend that you take an accounting course and/or a range of optional courses in business.
Year 2
Psychology
To prepare you for Year 3, you will complete a year-long, intensive grounding in:
- research methods
- statistics
- R programming
You will continue to study core areas of psychology, developing an understanding of topics such as:
- individual differences
- abnormal, developmental and social psychology
- perception
- cognitive psychology
- language
- memory/learning
You will practise and develop your professional and study skills, such as:
- reviewing scientific literature
- report writing
- ethical awareness
Business
You will choose three optional courses from a range of disciplines, such as:
- finance
- marketing
- innovation and entrepreneurship
- organisation studies
- international business
- business analytics
- understanding and delivering public services
- human resource management
- business economics
- business simulation
Year 3
Psychology
You will choose advanced courses in psychology. These will expand on and combine the core areas required for British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation.
To support your research work, you will use R in courses on research methods.
Business
In business, you will take courses in:
- Strategic Management
- Research in Management
You will also choose two specialist honours courses in business. These will build on the knowledge and skills you gained in Year 2, for example:
- global business
- finance
- marketing
- innovation and entrepreneurship
- business economics
- human resource management
- business analytics
Year 4
You will complete an honours dissertation in either psychology or business.
Course options
You will continue to choose advanced option courses based on your interests. These courses are research-led. They will teach you about cutting-edge topics from psychology sub-disciplines.
Course options change each year depending on new topics, staff availability and student demand.
Psycholgy course options
Examples of courses offered include:
- Social Psychology of Groups
- Introduction to Neural Network Modelling
- Methods and Controversies on Parapsychology
- Psycholinguistics of Language Production
- Clinical Psychological Problems in Context
Business course options
In business, you will choose at least two more specialist honours courses in key areas of business, for example:
- Marketing and Society
- Management of Technology
- Decision Analytics
- Corporate Finance
- Brand Culture
- Applications of Human Resource Management
Programme structure
Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.
To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.
Our facilities
Teaching will take place at the Psychology building at George Square, and at other locations in the University's Central Area. You will have access to:
- specialised laboratories
- the School's own dedicated library
- the University's Main Library and computer facilities
The Business School facilities
The Business School has its own dedicated building, located in George Square.
You will have access to:
- specialist business resources in the central Main Library (books, journals, databases)
- dedicated student experience and student development support
- dedicated teaching labs (and associated software and databases) for specialist business analytics, business research and finance related courses
- the Business School Cafe
Take a virtual tour
You can take a closer look at the University’s Central Area and explore our facilities on the University's Virtual Visit site.
Take a virtual tour of the Central Area
Study abroad
There are opportunities to study in Europe through international exchange programmes.
What are my options for going abroad?
Studying abroad is a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into the global business dimension, and the cultures and languages of the individual markets we deal with.
To be inspired, read stories by Edinburgh students about their experiences abroad:
Partner universities
A wide range of international experiences are available, including studying abroad at one of our partner universities.
Business School partner universities (subject to change)
Your choice of partner university will depend on your degree programme/availability of courses in the subject area.
How will I learn?
Courses are taught through a combination of:
- lectures
- tutorials
- practical classes
- project work
- peer-supported group work
- computer-based exercises
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed through coursework and exams.
In Year 3, you will complete a group research project.
In Year 4, you will complete an independent research project (dissertation).
Business courses are assessed through a range of methods. They are of two types:
- formative assessment, providing you with ongoing feedback
- summative assessment, your final course grade is based on
Some of the assessment methods are:
- blogs (written and/or video)
- business plan and/or feasibility analysis
- case study analysis
- computer-based timed assignments
- consultancy reports
- reflective diaries/journals
- essays
- presentations (face-to-face/video, group and individual)
- projects (group and individual)
There are also different types of exam, such as:
- closed book
- open book
- multiple choice
- oral (group or individual)
- short questions
- seen case study
- unseen exam question
- timed submission
You will develop skills in:
- research
- statistics
- information technology
- report-writing
These skills are valued by employers in various sectors. Many psychology and business graduates have gone on to work in:
- healthcare and social services
- charitable organisations
- human resources
- management
- business and finance
- consulting
- media and advertising
Some students continue their studies to enter a research or teaching career. Others go on to train as a professional psychologist in a field such as:
- clinical psychology
- educational psychology
- forensic psychology
- health psychology
- organisational psychology
Standard entry requirement
The standard entry requirement is:
- SQA Highers: AAAA (achievement by end of S5 preferred). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. (Revised 18/04/2024 to lower entry requirements from AAAAA.)
- A Levels: A*AA.
- IB: 39 points with 666 at HL.
Minimum entry requirement
The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:
- SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
- A Levels: ABB.
- IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.
More information for widening access applicants
Required subjects
The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:
- SQA: Highers: one from Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or equivalent, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology at B. Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of Higher Mathematics. National 5s: English at C. Mathematics at A or Mathematics and Physics both at B or Higher Mathematics at C.
- A Levels: one from Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science or equivalent, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology at B. GCSEs: English at C or 4 and Mathematics at A or 7, or Mathematics and Physics both at B or 6, or Mathematics, Science plus Additional Science (or science double award) at BB or 66.
- IB: HL: one of Biology or Human Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science or equivalent, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology at 5. SL: English at 5 and Mathematics at 6 (if not at HL).
Find out more about entry requirements
International applicants
We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
International Foundation Programme
If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.
International Foundation Programme
Mature applicants
We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
SQA, GCSE and IB
For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:
- SQA National 5 at C
- GCSE at C or 4
- Level 2 Certificate at C
- IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 54 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 5 in each component.*
We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.
Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT, or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.
(*Revised 24 May 2024 to change PTE Academic requirement from total 62 with at least 54 in each component, and to clarify that we do not accept PTE Academic online. Revised 29 August 2024 to add Oxford ELLT requirements.)
This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.
It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.
Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees for MA Psychology and Business
Additional costs
If studying abroad in Year 3 is an option, your costs will vary depending on the country/partner university. Additional costs may include:
- insurance
- visa requirements
- accommodation
- internet access
- travel
In Year 4, you will complete a dissertation as a compulsory assessment component. Depending on the field of study you choose, there may be costs for:
- taking surveys
- travel
- carrying out interviews
Details of student living costs
Funding
For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.
- Have a query about undergraduate study?
- Send an enquiry
4 degrees in Psychology
- Psychology (BSc) C802
- Psychology and Business (MA) CN81
- Psychology and Economics (MA) CZ81
- Psychology and Linguistics (MA) CQ81
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4 degrees in Psychology
- Psychology (BSc) C802
- Psychology and Business (MA) CN81
- Psychology and Economics (MA) CZ81
- Psychology and Linguistics (MA) CQ81