Psychology and Business

Psychology and business is a combination that sits at the productive intersection of two disciplines that share a common interest in understanding human behaviour, one from a scientific and clinical perspective, the other from an organisational and commercial one. Psychology investigates perception, cognition, emotion, motivation, and social influence through empirical research, developing evidence-based understanding of why people think and act as they do. Business draws on economics, strategy, organisational theory, and management practice to understand how commercial and non-commercial organisations function, how they make decisions, and how they create value.

Together they equip you with analytical tools for understanding both individuals and the systems within which they operate.

The University of Edinburgh's four-year full-time Psychology and Business programme develops genuine depth in both subjects. You will study the core of psychological science, covering biological, cognitive, developmental, social, and individual differences approaches, and developing the research skills in experimental design, statistics, and data analysis that are central to psychology as an empirical discipline. Your business studies will cover strategy, marketing, finance, organisational behaviour, and the management of people and operations, giving you the commercial literacy and strategic thinking that business education develops.

The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study at an international partner institution, which broadens both your academic perspective and your professional horizons.

A typical entry tariff of 184 points reflects the academic demands of this combination at Edinburgh.

Graduates pursue careers in human resources and organisational development, marketing and consumer insight, management consultancy, healthcare management, occupational psychology (with further training), entrepreneurship, and general management roles. The combination of psychological understanding and business knowledge is particularly valued in roles concerned with people, behaviour, and organisational effectiveness. Postgraduate study in occupational psychology, business, or applied psychology is a natural further step.