Programmes

MSc Organisational and Social Psychology

  • Graduate taught
  • Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science
  • Application code L7U2
  • Starting 2024
  • Home full-time: Limited availability
  • Home part-time: Limited availability
  • Overseas full-time: Limited availability
  • Location: Houghton Street, London

Our MSc Organisational and Social Psychology (OSP) is a world leading master's degree programme taught at our campus in London. It addresses, at its core, the interface between social psychological processes and organisational systems, and how these shape the performance and well-being of individuals and institutions.

Through drawing on classic and contemporary social and organisational psychology research, we teach students new and critical insights for diagnosing and addressing organisational problems, explaining job performance, understanding workplace relations, and improving organisational capabilities. By pursuing this degree, you will acquire state of the art knowledge about key organisational psychology processes such as learning and creativity, organisational culture and identity, leadership, decision making, well-being, teamwork, innovation, and organisational change. You will also learn, and be able to apply, key methodologies used by psychology researchers and practitioners to investigate and improve organizations.

Taught and directed by experienced organisational psychologists, the programme is informed by cutting edge research insights as well as a rigorous approach to organisational, social and psychological theory and methodology. The programme is contextualised to reflect the public debates and societal trends that pertain to life in organisations.

The programme is of benefit to both recent graduates who wish to specialise in an applied area of psychology, and those with experience of working in organisations and organisational consultancy.

Our very active OSP MSc alumni network has more than a thousand graduate members expanding 20 successful years and 5 continents. Our alumni lead careers in fields such as management consultancy, human resource management, organisational development and change, behavioural insights research, training and skills development, risk management, government, charities, academia and entrepreneurship.

Our department was recently ranked number one in the UK for Psychology in the Good University Guide from The Times and Sunday Times.


Programme details

Key facts

MSc Organisational and Social Psychology
Start date 30 September 2024
Application deadline None – rolling admissions. However, please note the funding deadlines
Duration 12 months full-time, 24 months part-time
Applications 2022 437
Intake 2022 61
Financial support Graduate support scheme (see 'Fees and funding')
Minimum entry requirement 2:1 degree or equivalent, with a considered interest in the area covered by the MSc
GRE/GMAT requirement None
English language requirements Higher (see 'Assessing your application')
Location  Houghton Street, London

For more information about tuition fees and entry requirements, see the fees and funding and assessing your application sections.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements for MSc Organisational and Social Psychology

Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent, with a considered interest in the area covered by the MSc.

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet the minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission.

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK then have a look at our Information for International Students to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Assessing your application

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students and want to recruit students with the very best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of their background.

We carefully consider each application on an individual basis, taking into account all the information presented on your application form, including your:

- academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
- statement of academic purpose
- two academic references
- CV

See further information on supporting documents

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although you do not need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE. See our English language requirements.

When to apply

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis, meaning the programme will close once it becomes full. There is no fixed deadline by which you need to apply, however, to be considered for any LSE funding opportunity, you must have submitted your application and all supporting documents by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section for more details. 

Fees and funding

Every graduate student is charged a fee for their programme.

The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees 2024/25 for MSc Organisational and Social Psychology

Home students: £27,480
Overseas students: £27,480

The Table of Fees shows the latest tuition amounts for all programmes offered by the School.

Fee status

The amount of tuition fees you will need to pay, and any financial support you are eligible for, will depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student, otherwise known as your fee status. LSE assesses your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education.

Further information about fee status classification.

Fee reduction

Students who completed undergraduate study at LSE and are beginning taught graduate study at the School are eligible for a fee reduction of around 10 per cent of the fee.

Scholarships and other funding

The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for needs-based awards from LSE, including the Graduate Support SchemeMaster's Awards, and Anniversary Scholarships

Selection for any funding opportunity is based on receipt of an offer for a place and submitting a Graduate Financial Support application, before the funding deadline. Funding deadline for needs-based awards from LSE: 25 April 2024.

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas. Find out more about financial support.

Government tuition fee loans and external funding

A postgraduate loan is available from the UK government for eligible students studying for a first master’s programme, to help with fees and living costs. Some other governments and organisations also offer tuition fee loan schemes.

Find out more about tuition fee loans

Further information

Fees and funding opportunities

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.  

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students

1) Take a note of the UK qualifications we require for your programme of interest (found in the ‘Entry requirements’ section of this page). 

2) Go to the International Students section of our website. 

3) Select your country. 

4) Select ‘Graduate entry requirements’ and scroll until you arrive at the information about your local/national qualification. Compare the stated UK entry requirements listed on this page with the local/national entry requirement listed on your country specific page.

Part-time study
Part time study is only available for students who do not require a student visa.

Programme structure and courses

You will take three compulsory courses and will chose options to the value of one unit from an approved list. You will also complete a dissertation of up to 10,000 words on an approved topic of choice. A professional seminar series that runs throughout the year provides you with the opportunity to debate with professionals, managers and consultants working on a variety of organisational contexts.

Organisational Social Psychology 
Focuses on both the social psychology of organisations and social psychological processes within organisations.

Methods for Social Psychology Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
Provides an overview of methodological issues for social psychological research.

Dissertation
Consists of an individual research project on a topic of your choice, of up to 10,000 words.

Examples of previous PBS dissertations can be found on our Postgraduate Prizes page

You will be able to choose from two half unit options. The following electives are aligned towards the core themes of this Masters:

Organisations, Groups and Identity

Theory and Practice of Organisational Development

Organisational Culture

For the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page.

You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the updated graduate course and programme information page.

Teaching and assessment

Contact hours and independent study

Within your programme you will take a number of courses, often including half unit courses and full unit courses. In half unit courses, on average, you can expect 20-30 contact hours in total and for full unit courses, on average, you can expect 40-60 contact hours in total. This includes sessions such as lectures, classes, seminars or workshops. Hours vary according to courses and you can view indicative details in the Calendar within the Teaching section of each course guide.

You are also expected to complete independent study outside of class time. This varies depending on the programme, but requires you to manage the majority of your study time yourself, by engaging in activities such as reading, note-taking, thinking and research.

Teaching methods

LSE is internationally recognised for its teaching and research and therefore employs a rich variety of teaching staff with a range of experience and status. Each topic will be presented by an expert working practically in the field. Courses may be taught by individual members of faculty, such as lecturers, senior lecturers, readers, associate professors and professors. Many departments now also employ guest teachers and visiting members of staff, LSE teaching fellows and graduate teaching assistants who are usually doctoral research students and in the majority of cases, teach on undergraduate courses only. You can view indicative details for the teacher responsible for each course in the relevant course guide.

Assessment

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It is designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. Your assessments include examinations, essays and a final dissertation. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.

Academic support

A dissertation supervisor will be allocated to you to advise and guide you in selecting a topic and to design and carry out an empirical piece of social psychological research. This gives you the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the research process.

Assistance and guidance for your dissertation will be provided through group supervision, workshops and related research activities, as well as formative feedback from your supervisor. Specifically, your supervisor will comment on your Dissertation Plan and Dissertation Progress Report.

You will also be assigned an academic mentor who will be available for guidance and advice on academic or personal concerns.

There are many opportunities to extend your learning outside the classroom and complement your academic studies at LSE. LSE LIFE is the School’s centre for academic, personal and professional development. Some of the services on offer include: guidance and hands-on practice of the key skills you will need to do well at LSE: effective reading, academic writing and critical thinking; workshops related to how to adapt to new or difficult situations, including development of skills for leadership, study/work/life balance and preparing for the world of work; and advice and practice on working in study groups and on cross-cultural communication and teamwork.

LSE is committed to enabling all students to achieve their full potential and the School’s Disability and Wellbeing Service provides a free, confidential service to all LSE students and is a first point of contact for all disabled students.

Teaching staff

Programme directors

Dr Lucia Garcia-Lorenzo 

Dr Tom Reader 

Student support and resources

We’re here to help and support you throughout your time at LSE, whether you need help with your academic studies, support with your welfare and wellbeing or simply to develop on a personal and professional level.

Whatever your query, big or small, there are a range of people you can speak to who will be happy to help.  

Department librarians – they will be able to help you navigate the library and maximise its resources during your studies. 

Accommodation service – they can offer advice on living in halls and offer guidance on private accommodation related queries.

Class teachers and seminar leaders – they will be able to assist with queries relating to specific courses. 

Disability and Wellbeing Service – they are experts in long-term health conditions, sensory impairments, mental health and specific learning difficulties. They offer confidential and free services such as student counselling, a peer support scheme and arranging exam adjustments. They run groups and workshops. 

IT help – support is available 24 hours a day to assist with all your technology queries.  

LSE Faith Centre – this is home to LSE's diverse religious activities and transformational interfaith leadership programmes, as well as a space for worship, prayer and quiet reflection. It includes Islamic prayer rooms and a main space for worship. It is also a space for wellbeing classes on campus and is open to all students and staff from all faiths and none.  

Language Centre – the Centre specialises in offering language courses targeted to the needs of students and practitioners in the social sciences. We offer pre-course English for Academic Purposes programmes; English language support during your studies; modern language courses in nine languages; proofreading, translation and document authentication; and language learning community activities.

LSE Careers ­– with the help of LSE Careers, you can make the most of the opportunities that London has to offer. Whatever your career plans, LSE Careers will work with you, connecting you to opportunities and experiences from internships and volunteering to networking events and employer and alumni insights. 

LSE Library  founded in 1896, the British Library of Political and Economic Science is the major international library of the social sciences. It stays open late, has lots of excellent resources and is a great place to study. As an LSE student, you’ll have access to a number of other academic libraries in Greater London and nationwide. 

LSE LIFE – this is where you should go to develop skills you’ll use as a student and beyond. The centre runs talks and workshops on skills you’ll find useful in the classroom; offers one-to-one sessions with study advisers who can help you with reading, making notes, writing, research and exam revision; and provides drop-in sessions for academic and personal support. (See ‘Teaching and assessment’). 

LSE Students’ Union (LSESU) – they offer academic, personal and financial advice and funding. 

PhD Academy – this is available for PhD students, wherever they are, to take part in interdisciplinary events and other professional development activities and access all the services related to their registration. 

Sardinia House Dental Practice – this offers discounted private dental services to LSE students. 

St Philips Medical Centre – based in Pethwick-Lawrence House, the Centre provides NHS Primary Care services to registered patients.

Student Services Centre – our staff here can answer general queries and can point you in the direction of other LSE services.  

Student advisers – we have a Deputy Head of Student Services (Advice and Policy) and an Adviser to Women Students who can help with academic and pastoral matters.

Student life

As a student at LSE you’ll be based at our central London campus. Find out what our campus and London have to offer you on academic, social and career perspective. 

Student societies and activities

Your time at LSE is not just about studying, there are plenty of ways to get involved in extracurricular activities. From joining one of over 200 societies, or starting your own society, to volunteering for a local charity, or attending a public lecture by a world-leading figure, there is a lot to choose from. 

The campus 

LSE is based on one campus in the centre of London. Despite the busy feel of the surrounding area, many of the streets around campus are pedestrianised, meaning the campus feels like a real community. 

Life in London 

London is an exciting, vibrant and colourful city. It's also an academic city, with more than 400,000 university students. Whatever your interests or appetite you will find something to suit your palate and pocket in this truly international capital. Make the most of career opportunities and social activities, theatre, museums, music and more. 

Want to find out more? Read why we think London is a fantastic student city, find out about key sights, places and experiences for new Londoners. Don't fear, London doesn't have to be super expensive: hear about London on a budget

Student stories

Lorena Carrasco

Lorena_200x200

The LSE teaching method is unique because it challenges you to critically think for yourself and take ownership of your career. My professors were top academics and practitioners that facilitated vigorous discussions, but I was responsible to read, reflect and develop an opinion of my own. Studying at the LSE gave me access to the largest Social Science Library in the world and a network of experts that was also decisive to conduct high-quality research. In my dissertation, I explored the identity transition of working mothers and provided practical recommendations for women and organisations to thrive. This not only granted me a distinction grade but, above all, became the foundation of my own business. I never imagined myself as an entrepreneur but being in such a diverse and intellectually stimulating environment like the LSE, sharpened my curiosity to understand the roots of inequality in the workplace and equipped me with the tools to help women accelerate their career growth. This experience broadened my understanding of what I can achieve and convinced me that I can contribute to social change on a global scale.   

My experience in 3 words: Stimulating, Transformative, Inspiring.

 

Sarah_200x200

Sarah Kate L'Heureux 

Why did you choose the course/LSE? 

I chose the Organisational and Social Psychology MSc because I wanted to gain a more comprehensive understanding of human behavior in the workplace. This program educates students on both academic literature and theory, as well as how to apply these concepts in realistic situations that occur in organizations. 

What has been the highlight of your LSE experience?

I think the highlight of my experience at LSE has been the seminar discussions and extensive conversations held outside of the classroom about course content. It has been incredibly impactful to hear the perceptions, thoughts, and reflections my colleagues have towards material taught in lectures.

How are you planning to use your degree for your future career? 

I plan to use this master's degree as I pursue a career in human development consulting and later in my pursuits for a PhD. program in organizational psychology. 

Sum up your experience in 3 words: Rigorous, inspiring, and rewarding 

 

Sai_200x200

Sai Kalvapalle

Coming out of an undergraduate programme in Psychology where I independently enjoyed social psychology and industrial/organizational psychology, the OSP programme seemed like the ideal specialization, housed in a rigorous social scientific institution of LSE and the exhilarating & diverse city of London! It’s hard to name a single highlight of my LSE experience, but one memorable one is our Departmental trip to Cumberland Lodge, where we participated in discussions, debates, socials, and relaxing walks in Windsor Great Park. Based on my training at LSE, I am now in a PhD programme, investigating the relational dynamics in organizational life. In sum, my LSE experience was open, stimulating, and challenging.

 

Melissa_200x200

Melissa Nassimiha

Why did you choose the course/LSE?

During my Bachelor’s degree in Criminology & Psychology, I fell in love with the Organisational Psychology module and I decided to do a Master's to specialize in that field. I applied to LSE because I knew that it was one of the leading universities in the world: its unique teaching approach based on research and independent thinking it’s what convinced me. 

What has been the highlight of your LSE experience?

The movie night where we watched “Fight Club” with snacks and drinks and did a post-modernist analysis of it afterwards. This is just an example, but all the professors organised some unique activity that strengthened our professional and personal relationship with them. 

How are you planning to use your degree for your future career?

3 months prior to the completion of my Master’s I've started working as a data analyst in an amazing Organisational Intelligence start-up called Temporall that combines AI and human minds to give leaders the clarity they need. This degree gave me the tools that allow me to be part of something innovative and exciting.

Sum up your experience in 3 words: Academia is cool 

 

Alvara Figueredo, Guatemala, MSc Organisational and Social Psychology

alvaroFigueredo.170x230jpg 

The mix of social and organisational psychology in my MSc is simply fascinating. It allows you to develop professionally either in the social space or working with organisations. I also love having the freedom to adapt the programme to my personal needs by taking the options that I find most interesting, even from other departments; the speakers that come to talk about interesting topics; the quality of the research, and finally, the approach to social problems is so important, the social construction of change instead of an individualistic approach.

LSE has helped me to develop in a number of ways: Firstly, learning about top class research; Secondly, I am now part of the team of researchers of the Incas Project, in which LSE is a participant. It allowed me to gain access to key contacts, and professional opportunities that otherwise could not have happened. LSE made that possible. 

Maitreyee Patki, MSc Organisational and Social Psychology

Maitreyee Patki

Being in London and at LSE, was definitely was one of the best experiences of my life. Studying at LSE was a dream come true, more for my parents than me! I had met an alumnus from LSE during my undergraduate days and I remember being very impressed with her, her field of work and her academic background. It inspired me to take the same route.

Being an international student in London was a very enriching experience. Other than the fact that it has made me a lot more confident and independent, it also made me aware of cultural differences and taught me to not evaluate all with the same lens. The LSE brand name in itself is an impressive one. It is a great conversation starter when speaking with employers and it establishes you as a superior candidate instantly, giving you a clear edge over others.

Careers

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science

Median salary of our PG students 15 months after graduating: £33,000

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

  • Financial and Professional Services              
  • Education, Teaching and Research            
  • Consultancy      
  • Real Estate, Environment and Energy 
  • Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities

The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2020-21 were the fourth group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes. Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and who were working in full-time employment.

Recent graduates have gained employment worldwide in consultancy, international enterprises and firms, banks, government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), or have gone on to obtain PhDs and pursue an academic career.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Support for your career

Many leading organisations give careers presentations at the School during the year, and LSE Careers has a wide range of resources available to assist students in their job search. Find out more about the support available to students through LSE Careers.

Preliminary reading

A Furnham The Psychology of Behaviour at Work: the individual in the organization (Psychology Press, 2005)

S A Haslam, Psychology in Organizations: the social identity approach (Sage, 2004)

E H Schein Organizational culture and leadership (John Wiley & Sons, 2010)

K E Weick Sensemaking in organizations (Sage, 1995)

Free-to-access publications by OSP faculty that you may wish to read:

L Garcia-Lorenzo Framing uncertainty: narratives, change and digital technologies (Social Science Information, 2010)

S McKenna, L Garcia-Lorenzo and T Bridgman Managing, managerial control and managerial identity in the post-bureaucratic world (Journal of Management Development, (29(2), 128-136, 2010)

L Moskovitz & L Garcia-Lorenzo Changing the NHS a Day at a Time: the role of enactment in the mobilisation and prefiguration of change (Journal of Social and Political Psychology, (4(1), 196-219, 2016)

I H Gleibs, A Mummendey and P Noack Predictors of change in postmerger identification during a merger process: a longitudinal study (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 1095-1112, 2008)

Noort, M., Reader, T., Shorrock, S., & Kirwan, B. (2016). The relationship between national culture and safety culture: implications for international safety culture assessments. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 89, 515-538

Reader, T., Mearns, K., Lopes, C. (2017). Organisational support for the workforce and employee safety citizenship behaviours: a reciprocal relationship. Human Relations, 70, 362-385

Contact us

louise_millar_200x200

Please contact Louise Millar via email: pbs.msc@lse.ac.uk

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