Business Psychology
BSc (Hons)
Undergraduate degree - single honours
- UCAS codes: Institution B20, Course BP11 or BP12
- BSc (Hons) Business Psychology - Programme Document
Discover the science of human behaviour and its applications in the working world, while gaining the skills to investigate and generate new knowledge.
- Learn the research skills to understand and shape behaviour in the working world.
- Grounded in creative enterprise and employment-based skills.
- Opportunities for placements and optional modules to create a tailored course.
With this Business Psychology degree you’ll discover how the world of work is shaped by thought, unpick group dynamics and learn how to apply your knowledge to the workplace. You’ll explore current research and complete your own investigations, allowing you to add your voice to the field.
Alongside students in other psychology degree programmes at BSU, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about behaviour from a range of perspectives (e.g. biological, cognitive, social, and developmental) and develop skills in psychological methodologies, culminating in a final year dissertation project.
We’ll help you identify your professional aspirations and develop them through independent learning and research, whilst providing opportunities for reflection. This is enhanced through the chance to gain valuable business experience with opportunities to take part in a range of flexible work placements.
By collaborating with the cutting-edge and internationally recognized Bath Business School, this core programme is supported by modules specific to business psychology, and allows you to tailor your learning to your particular interests by selecting from a range of options.
Accreditation
This course has been accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). This provides Graduate Basis for Registration with the BPS to gain Chartered Psychologist status, provided you achieve a 2.2 overall and pass the final year dissertation.
What does this mean?
- This accreditation ensures graduates meet specific learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical skills, and transferable abilities.
- Gaining Graduate Basis for Registration is the first step towards entry into accredited postgraduate and doctoral programmes and is essential to becoming a Chartered Psychologist.
"My experience studying Psychology at BSU was very positive. I was supported throughout my studies and there was a real sense of community at the University, owing to it being on the smaller side."
Charlotte Baker, BSc (Hons) Psychology graduate
Social media
Follow @BSUPsychology on Instagram to read our latest news and see what our Psychology students and staff are up to.
What you'll learn
On completing this degree, you’ll come away with the understanding, theory, and expertise needed to enter the changing business environment and to innovate and solve problems simultaneously across disciplines and borders.
You’ll be equipped with a scientific understanding of the mind, brain, behaviour and experience, and how they interact with the complex environments in which they exist. You’ll also gain skills and tools for exploring experiences and behaviour, culminating in an ability to conduct psychological and business research independently.
By engaging in a distinctive programme of psychology and business education, you’ll be able to unleash your creativity and demonstrate enterprising behaviour through skills-based professional and personal development, which ultimately prepares you to be adaptable and opportunity ready.
We’ll help you to develop the knowledge and skills that enable progression to a range of employment or postgraduate study in related applied psychological and business contexts.
Year one
In your first year, you’ll be grounded in the fundamentals of psychological science and business psychology whilst beginning your journey with enterprise thinking. You’ll gain a grounding in psychology and business psychology, including organisational behaviour and management as well as discovering research methods to back up your learning. We’ll also explore psychology in the workplace through the lens of diversity and individual differences.
Year two
Within your second year, you’ll improve your understanding of the core content areas in psychology whilst advancing your understanding of business psychology in the real world through contemporary applications of business psychology. You’ll have the opportunity to pick optional modules exploring themes such as human resources, international business, entrepreneurship, operations and project management. You can also opt into a placement module as part of your course.
Year three
Your last year culminates with an independent research project within business psychology. You’ll also have the opportunity to take part in group work, using your skills in a real-world context to generate solutions based in psychological science. You’ll explore how workplaces can foster health and wellbeing for their employees, and you’ll be able to choose optional modules to explore new areas or continue the specialties from your second year.
Assessment methods vary depending on your exact module choices and can include:
- Essays
- Examinations
- Group presentations
- Research-based reports
- Academic posters.
The variety of assessment methods is designed to build transferable, work-ready skills, integrating employability throughout the degree, and students will be supported in their development towards summative assessment by appropriate formative exercises.
We’ll provide you with regular feedback on how you're doing and give you regular guidance on how to improve your skills, knowledge and understanding.
Teaching is through a mix of lectures, seminars, individual tutorials and practical workshops.
Seminars are usually more informal than lectures – they're opportunities for you to discuss, ask questions and get involved in activities and debates.
Bookable tutorials enable you to have one-to-one discussions with staff.
- You’ll be taught by experienced and respected University staff. Throughout the course they’ll introduce you to their specialisms and research interests. We also have dedicated Psychology Technicians who are available to support you and enhance your academic experience.
- You’ll benefit from visiting speakers – these include those from external industries, specialist researchers and international visitors.
- Through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), you'll have access to a variety of resources, including lecture and seminar materials, datasets, and academic papers. The VLE also features forums for questions and discussions with fellow students and staff.
- At the start of your studies, you'll be allocated an Academic Advisor who will support you throughout your time at BSU. This provides you an opportunity for regular meetings to discuss your personal goals and development, helping you to make the most of your studies.
To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.
Course modules
This course offers or includes the following modules. The modules you take will depend on your pathway or course combination (if applicable) as well as any optional or open modules chosen. Please check the programme document for more information.
- Introduction to Psychology (BPS)
- Individual Differences: Personality and Intelligence (BPS)
- Research Methods in Psychology 1 (BPS)
- Introduction to Business Psychology
- Organizational Behaviour and Management
- Design Thinking for Enterprise
- Research Methods in Psychology 2 (BPS)
- Cognitive and Developmental Psychology (BPS)
- Biological and Social Psychology (BPS)
- Contemporary Applications of Business Psychology
- Human Resource Management
- Creativity for Business
- Entrepreneurship
- Innovation Management
- Work Placement
- Operations and Project Management
- International Business
- Professional Placement Year
- Dissertation: Design and Preregistration (BPS)
- Dissertation: Research Report (BPS)
- Contemporary Application of Psychological Science (BPS)
- Work interventions: Health and Wellbeing
- Managing Sustainability
- Cross Cultural Management in International Business
- Strategic Human Resource Management
- Leadership and Management
- Organizational Strategy
- New Trends in Management
"I enjoyed the variety of subjects, specifically in the second and third year of the Psychology degree. The lecturers were fantastic and very friendly. They always had time for any questions or concerns."
Christelle Van Antwerpen, Psychology graduate
Opportunities
We encourage you to undertake placement opportunities where possible, especially in your second year.
Our students may also make use of part-funded Santander internship and placement opportunities.
Previous Psychology students have undertaken work experience and voluntary work with organisations such as:
- Academics Ltd
- Choice Care Group
- Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
- Educational Psychology Services
- Fairfield Farm College
- Gordon’s School
- HM Prison Parc
- Hwyel Dda University Health Board
- Kalahari New Hope School Namibia
- Lifeways
- L’Oréal Ltd
- New York University
- Priory Hospital Roehampton
- SHOUT Crisis Line
- Solent NHS Trust
- The British Neuroscience Association
- Think Pacific Mental Health
- Trauma Breakthrough.
BSc (Hons) Business Psychology graduates are well placed to move straight into employment within a variety of organisations, but will also have the numeracy, scientific, and people skills gained on our degree to undertake postgraduate education at the Master's and PhD levels.
Our graduates are highly sought after by employers in both the private and public sectors, with 90% working or in further study within 15 months of completing their studies, according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021-2022.
You will have access to BSU’s Careers and Employability team, who offer one-to-one careers advice, including CV support, to help you achieve your career goals. The team also provides a range of support services for recent BSU graduates, guiding you through the next steps in your career post-degree.
At the end of the academic year, we award prizes to recognise achievements in academic success and reward effort and excellence.
Prizes specific to Psychology are:
- Oxford University Press Prize for Best Dissertation.
The Research Certificate Scheme aims to connect students with an interest in participating in the research process beyond their research methods/dissertation studies with researchers in the School of Sciences to offer students ‘research experience’ and give them a ‘flavour’ of the different activities that researchers perform.
The scheme runs each semester and generally involves between one and four hours of work per week, collaborating with academic staff on projects across a range of topic areas.
Past projects have included:
- Using EEG (electroencephalography) to investigate motor imagery
- Developing campaigns to reduce sexual violence
- Reconstructing climate in Interior Alaska: 15,000 years to present
- Blue prescribing: exploring the effects of water sports on mental health and well-being
- Learning communities: Educational solidarity during international fieldwork
There are multiple benefits to taking part in the scheme. It provides students with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of research – from design and gaining ethical approval, to qualitative interviewing and conducting field/lab research.
Students work with expert scientists at the University to gain valuable employability and ‘real-life’ experience, facilitating the transition to work and further study. Students who complete the scheme also receive a letter and certificate of completion.
“I found the scheme enjoyable as the topic I chose had data about heart rate and skin conductance. It was interesting learning how to sort through research data and the effort that's needed. I also had fun helping the researcher try out the new EEG equipment for another study.
Learning how research is actually done (rather than just reading journals about studies) was definitely a benefit of research experience, as it shows another path of psychology that students can go down in the future.
Plus gaining skills with new software along with analysing data is a brilliant new skill to acquire and potentially helpful for thinking about dissertations.”
– Evan Robshaw, BSc (Hons) Educational Psychology student
Run by students, the Psychological Society offers a variety of academic and social activities throughout the year to enhance your journey in Psychology at BSU.
Previous opportunities have included talks and workshops from lecturing staff, drop-in study support sessions, and quiz and film nights.
For more information, visit the Psychological Society’s webpage or check out their Instagram page (@BSU_Psych_Soc) to see what they've been up to.
If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.
You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.
Facilities and resources
This Psychology course is taught at our Newton Park campus.
You'll have access to a wide range of excellent facilities including:
- Commons building
- Newton Park library
- Virtual Learning Environment
- Academic Skills (ASk)
- Specialist resources and subject librarian
- English Language Unit (if English isn’t your first language)
Teaching resources includes access to psychology specific journal articles through PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES, as well as EBSCO (online access to over 400 Psychology-related journals).
Various specialist software, such as SPSS (statistical computer software for analysing quantitative data) and NVivo for qualitative data analysis can be freely accessed by students, whilst Qualitrics and PsychoPy are available for use during dissertation research.
We also have a large battery of psychometric and neuropsychological tests for use.
You will have access to our newly refurbished Psychology laboratory spaces, equipped with specialist equipment for dissertations, staff research, and relevant modules.
These facilities include an eye-tracking lab with a Tobii eye-tracker, a Neuropsychology lab with EEG and tDCS equipment, an interview and observational room with a one-way mirror, and an experimental lab with individual testing cubicles for simultaneous computer-based experiments.
Our dedicated Psychology Technicians are available to support you in using the equipment and lab spaces, and students can also hire various equipment using SISO, Bath Spa University’s free equipment loan service.
All modules can be found on our Virtual Learning Environment, Ultra, providing unlimited online access to learning materials such as handbooks, lecture slides, assessment information, discussion boards and other resources.
You can also take advantage of the learning support provided across the wider University, such as:
- The Academic Skills service to develop your writing skills or learn how to use new techniques and technologies.
- Our Library gives you access to books, academic journals and DVDs and an extensive range of electronic services. It also provides a place for individual study and collaborative work.
- The Careers team run networking events and advisory workshops that explore your future options and the essentials of the job application process. They help you get experience by assisting with your search for work placements and paid part-time jobs while you're studying. When you're ready to progress into your chosen career, they can help you secure graduate-level employment, freelance opportunities, and funding for your own business ideas. Career support continues for years after you graduate with the dedicated Grad Support Unit.
- Our Student Wellbeing Services are also available to support you through your learning.
Develop a wealth of indispensable digital skills that you can take into your future career. One of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, we provide all Bath Spa students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, giving you the tools to communicate creatively, whatever your course or chosen professional field.
Professional placement year
The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.
By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.
Before your PPY, you'll work to identify roles of interest and secure a placement. The Placements Team will support through timetabled sessions and 1:1 appointments.
As well as completing a minimum of 900 placement hours, you will complete two assessments demonstrating your skill development, growth in professional behaviours and how the PPY has impacted your future career aspirations.
Fees
Student | Annual tuition fee |
---|---|
UK full time | £9,535 |
UK part time | £4,768 |
International full time | £16,460 |
Professional Placement Year
During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee. This applies to UK and EU/International students.
- UK: £1,905
- International: £3,292
Additional course costs
You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits. Please check the course Programme Document (linked under the main image on this page) for details of any additional costs. You can also read our Additional Course Costs Policy for further information.
Funding opportunities
Please visit our Funding pages for an overview of the funding options that may be available, including scholarships and bursaries.
Interested in applying?
We’re looking for individuals who are enterprising, creative, and interested in using science to explore topics within the working world. You’ll need to have drive, motivation and the get-up-and-go to achieve in a challenging environment.
We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below:
- A Level - grades BBB-BCC preferred. If studying Psychology, then a Grade B or higher is required. If Psychology is not an option at your school or college, then another A Level subject will be accepted, but a keen interest in psychology will need to be described in your personal statement.
- BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) in a related subject.
- T Levels – grade Merit preferred in a relevant subject.
- International Baccalaureate - a minimum of 32 points are required. Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement.
- Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher) in a Science or related subject.
If you don’t meet the entry requirements above, we may be able to accept your prior learning or experience from outside of formal education. See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) page to learn more.
English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants
IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.
Course enquiries
For further information about the programme or entry requirements, please email us at admissions@bathspa.ac.uk.
Ready to apply? Click the 'apply now' button in the centre of this page.
Need more guidance? Head to our how to apply pages.
Course leader: Paulina Wegrzynek
Email: p.wegrzynek2@bathspa.ac.uk
- Award
- BSc Business Psychology
- School/s
- Bath Business School, School of Sciences
- Campus or location
- Newton Park
- Course length
- Three years full time, or four years full time with professional placement year. Part time available.
- UCAS codes
- Institution Code: B20
- Course Code: BP11 or BP12
- Campus Code: A,BSU
Entry requirements
We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed under 'Typical offers' in the main column below. For combined courses, please check both subjects. If your qualification is not listed, please email admissions@bathspa.ac.uk with your specific details.