Why Study/Key Benefits

• The Master of Organisational Psychology (MOrgPsyc) focuses on applying psychology to workplace wellbeing, employee performance and organisational effectiveness.
• It is designed for people who want to develop expertise in organisational psychology for careers involving people, workplaces and organisational development.
• UC specifically highlights areas such as employee wellbeing, motivation, performance, recruitment and selection, leadership and organisational change.
• The programme uses a scientist-practitioner approach, connecting psychological theory and research with practical workplace problems.
• The online format allows students to study without relocating to Christchurch.
• The programme is particularly suitable for professionals already working in human resources, management, organisational development or related areas.
• Students can complete an applied research project addressing a relevant organisational issue or topic.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The programme has nine 15-point taught courses followed by the 45-point Research Project.

The current UC Online sequence is:

1. OPSY610 – Key Topics in Organisational Psychology – 15 points

This introductory course covers:

• Recruitment and selection
• Performance and motivation
• Leadership
• Organisational change
• Employee wellbeing
• Organisational psychology theory
• Application of theory to organisational contexts
• Contemporary M?ori and indigenous organisational structures.

2. OPSY621 – Recruitment and Selection – 15 points

Topics include:

• Job analysis
• Job descriptions and specifications
• Recruitment
• Selection systems
• Selection validity
• Personnel psychology
• Bias, fairness and equity in decision-making.

Prerequisite: OPSY610.

3. OPSY619 – Psychology of Stress, Health and Wellbeing at Work – 15 points

Topics include:

• Workplace stress
• Employee health
• Wellbeing
• M?ori models of wellbeing
• Diagnosis of workplace wellbeing problems
• Evidence-based workplace interventions.

Prerequisite: OPSY610.

4. OPSY613 – Training and Development – 15 points

Topics include:

• Identifying training needs
• Training design
• Training implementation
• Training transfer
• Evaluation of training
• Individual and organisational development
• Equity and inclusion.

5. OPSY612 – Performance Management and Appraisal – 15 points

This course focuses on applying organisational psychology to employee performance and performance-management systems.

6. OPSY614 – Leadership in Organisations – 15 points

Topics include:

• Leadership theories
• Leadership emergence
• Leadership effectiveness
• Values-based leadership
• Indigenous leadership models
• Leadership development.

7. OPSY618 – Organisational Change: Directions for Organisational Psychology Practice – 15 points

Topics include:

• Organisational change
• Change resistance and readiness
• Change leadership
• Training during organisational change
• Individual, group and organisational influences
• Change-management proposals.

8. OPSY620 – Contemporary Issues in Organisational Psychology – 15 points

This advanced course considers contemporary organisational psychology issues and requires prior study across the specified organisational psychology courses.

9. OPSY622 – Research Methods for Organisational Psychology – 15 points

Topics include:

• Quantitative research
• Qualitative research
• Research design
• Statistical and qualitative analysis
• Human research ethics
• Research proposals
• Interpretation and communication of organisational research findings.

A minimum B grade in OPSY622 is required to progress to the Research Project.

10. OPSY630 – Research Project – 45 points

The final project involves:

• Independent research
• Planning and preparation
• Data collection/research
• Analysis
• Reporting
• Addressing a relevant organisational issue or topic

Disciplines/Specialisations

The MOrgPsyc does not have formal majors or named specialisations.

Instead, students develop their professional focus through the selection of organisational psychology courses and their 45-point research project.

Potential areas of focus include:

• Human resources
• Recruitment and selection
• Employee wellbeing
• Workplace health
• Performance management
• Leadership
• Training and development
• Organisational change
• Organisational effectiveness
• Workplace research
• People and culture
• Organisational development

Programme Highlights

Key highlights of the current programme include:

• 180-point master's degree
• NZQF Level 9 qualification
• Fully online delivery
• Two annual starts
• Approximately two years full-time
• Approximately three years part-time
• Maximum five-year completion period
• Nine taught postgraduate courses
• 45-point research project
• Flexible study structure with four nine-week terms each year
• Designed for working professionals
• Psychology and workplace-focused curriculum
• Strong emphasis on employee wellbeing
• Leadership and organisational-change content
• Recruitment and selection expertise
• Training and development
• Research methodology
• Applied organisational research.

Career Outcomes

UC identifies a range of organisational psychology-related employment outcomes.

Graduates may pursue roles such as:

• Organisational development consultant
• Human resources professional
• HR adviser/manager
• Research analyst
• People and culture professional
• Organisational effectiveness specialist
• Training and development professional
• Recruitment and selection specialist
• Leadership-development professional
• Workplace wellbeing professional
• Management/organisational consultant

UC reports that graduates in Industrial and Organisational Psychology have worked in organisations and industries including:

• Banking and finance
• Manufacturing
• IT
• Healthcare
• New Zealand Defence Force
• Government agencies.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

The latest UC Online information, updated in August 2026, confirms that applications are open for 2027 and that the programme remains fully online.

Important current requirements and restrictions include:

• Applicants must satisfy one of the academic/experience routes.
• International qualifications require UC assessment.
• English-language requirements apply where English is an additional language.
• OPSY610 must be completed first.
• Students can subsequently take up to two 15-point courses per term, subject to availability, prerequisites and pathway recommendations.
• A B grade or better in OPSY622 is required to enter OPSY630.
• The programme must be completed within five years.
• Course availability can affect the actual completion timetable.
• The programme is not accredited for registration as a psychologist.

International Student Visa Requirements

There is an important distinction for this programme.

The MOrgPsyc is fully online. Therefore, an international student who studies it from their home country does not normally need to obtain a New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa simply to participate in the online programme.

If the student intends to travel to New Zealand and undertake study that requires a New Zealand student visa, the relevant visa is generally the Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to Immigration New Zealand's assessment.

Current Fee Paying Student Visa requirements include:

• Offer of place from an approved education provider
• Sufficient funds to pay tuition, or an acceptable scholarship
• Sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance
• Good health
• Good character
• Genuine intention to study
• Evidence of onward travel or funds for onward travel.