Organisational Culture
Semester 1 (mandatory)

Considers how the culture in which a business operates can influence all aspects of its commercial practice, from the means by which it organises itself in order to address key markets and challenges to the manner by which it defines organisational roles; the approach to leadership taken by senior managers; and the strategic decisions that these managers make.

Social and Organisational Change
Semester 1 (mandatory)

Considers why organisational change is currently so prevalent, and promotes an understanding of psychological processes at the individual, team and organisational levels that can inform strategies to most effectively bring about organisational change.

Psychology of Coaching
Semester 1 (mandatory)

Describes those psychological principles informing different approaches to coaching and the associated professional issues, the role of coaching in business, and addresses practical issues relating to the introduction and management of a coaching programme into an organisation.

Introduction to Human Factors
Semester 1 (mandatory)

Introduces key principles in ergonomics, reviews some contemporary workplace ergonomic challenges and considers how design can be used to make work more rewarding, efficient, productive and therefore more profitable.

Psychology for Marketing
Semester 2 (mandatory)

Describes the application of psychological concepts and theory to particular commercial issues related to sales and marketing.  This includes the psychological processes that occur entirely within the individual, along with the interpersonal, and broader cultural groups within which (s)he operates.

Leadership
Semester 2 (mandatory)

Addresses what constitutes effective leadership and how leadership skills can be improved through an understanding of relevant psychological concepts and theories.

Diversity
Semester 2 (mandatory)

Considers the commercial implications of growing diversity in the workplace, and the optimal management techniques that can be used to harness this in order to enhance organisational effectiveness and profitability.

Research Methods
Semester 2 (mandatory)

Describes the most appropriate methods involved in carrying out scientific research in the often 'messy' real world context of business and some of the challenges that might be encountered along the way.  The course also provides explicit preparation for the MSc project.

The MSc Dissertation is undertaken between May - August.

Meet the Business Psychology team
Heriot-Watt University’s Psychology Department consists of highly regarded researchers and practitioners with expertise in key areas of Business Psychology which directs the course content into topics such as leadership, coaching, age diversity at work, language discrimination, family business coaching, leadership development, workspace design and socio-technical change.

Dr Dasha Grajfoner
Dr Dasha Grajfoner is the Programme Director of the MSc in Business Psychology, on which she lectures in Coaching Psychology and Leadership. She is also the Director of the Centre for Business and Coaching Psychology at Heriot Watt University.

Dasha is a Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Scientist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and an Accredited Coaching Psychologist (ISfCP) with a PhD in differential psychology, received from the University of Edinburgh.

Dasha’s main research interests are in leadership and executive coaching, positive psychology coaching, mindfulness, compassion and animal assisted interventions. She has worked as a Practitioner Coaching Psychologist, and is very keen to further the development of research evidence by building strong connections between research and practice. In her practice she predominantly uses elements of personal construct coaching, cognitive behavioural and positive psychology approaches.

She was previously the Chair of the Special Group in Coaching Psychology (2014-2016) and Conference Chair of the International Congress of Coaching Psychology.

Dr Mioara Cristea
Dr Mioara Cristea is an Assistant Professor within the Department of Psychology at the Heriot Watt University and the Course Leader for the Research Projects and a lecturer for Psychology for Marketing on Business Psychology.

Mioara’s main area of interest and experience is focused on applied social psychology (e.g., social influence and intergroup relations, social representations and communications, group dynamics) within traffic and transportation, health and marketing domains.    

She is a full member of the European Association of Social Psychology (EASP) and the French Association of Social Psychology (ADRIPS), and has a PhD in Social Psychology received from the University Alexandru Ioan Cuza of Iasi, Romania.

Dr Maria Garraffa
Dr Maria Garraffa is Lecturer in Psychology of Language at Heriot-Watt University and course leader for Introduction to Psychology, Diversity and Psychology of Language.

Her main area of interest is Language Acquisition in diverse circumstances, in both children and adults, with an emphasis on the relations between sociolinguistics and cognitive factors favouring the acquisition of languages. She is also interested in how to remove stereotypes and prejudice on speakers with non-native accents, developing both experimental techniques and intervention programs.

Before joining Heriot-Watt, Maria researched at Newcastle University, Edinburgh University, Universita' di Trento, Milano Bicocca and Universita’ di Siena.

Dr Terry Lansdown
Terry Lansdown is Associate Professor of Human Factors at Heriot-Watt in the School of Social Sciences and Course Leader for Introduction to Human Factors on Business Psychology.

Throughout his career, Terry has produced over 50 academic publications and secured more than £4.5m in funding from UK, EU and international sponsors. Terry’s research has focussed on two main areas, Driver Behaviour and Occupational Health & Safety. He is an active contributor on professional, academic and standardisation matters and has frequently undertaken public engagement activities via the TV, Radio and newspapers.

Guest lectures and educational trips
At Heriot-Watt University we ensure that you understand how the knowledge and skills you learn in class can be applied to the real world. On Business Psychology you will learn from psychology, leadership and coaching researchers and practitioners who share their research findings and practical experiences with you directly.

Dr Brian O'Neill, an occupational psychologist and leadership development consultant shares his expertise with guest lectures and seminars on Leadership Development

Dr. Louise Lambert, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Ethics at the Canadian University of Dubai presented on Positive Psychology, happiness and culture which was particularly linked to our Coaching course

Professor Ray Miller, Honorary Treasurer to the British Psychological Society, Professional Advisor for Psychology to NHS, and an experienced leader, speakers to students on how you should develop yourself as a leader.

Sharan Virdee, Equality and Diversity Partner at Heriot-Watt University, shares first-hand experience of promoting Diversity and Equality throughout the University. Sharon outlines her work at both the strategic and service delivery levels of the institution, explaining how she interprets national agendas to the legal context and organisational values of Heriot-Watt University to develop and implement policy.

You may also take part in a number of trips outside of the classroom to discover how the theoretical concepts you learn about can be recognised across society.