Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors)

Make a difference to the world of work

Organisational psychology is the science of people at work. Organisational psychologists aim to improve productivity and wellbeing in the workplace by focussing on organisational development, recruitment and assessment, performance management and appraisal, teamwork, training and development, leadership and talent management, work stress, organisational culture, career development, and human factors and ergonomics.

Our Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) is one of only five organisational psychology degrees currently available in Australia. Our program provides the professional knowledge needed to practise as a registered psychologist, with a focus on work and organisations. 

Inspire change and improve people's experiences in the workplace

Our Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) provides the knowledge and skills needed to practise as a registered psychologist.

Studying Organisational and Human Factors can lead to a fulfilling career delivering professional psychological services to organisations and their people. Organisational psychologists have a range of career opportunities in change management, human resources, human factors, workplace advice and advocacy, consumer behaviour and marketing, and other areas.

Note. Entry to this degree is competitive and strict quotas apply.

Master of Psychology students have the option to complete the Master and a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) concurrently, and receive two parchments at completion of both degrees. The Master of Psychology can be in Clinical, Health or Organisation and Human Factors. See the related degrees section for more information.

Note: 
This degree is only available in blended mode and on-campus attendance is required.  If you are a continuing student in the degree and are unable to attend campus, please contact your program coordinator for program advice.



  • Ranked top-125 globally for Psychology*
  • 23% industry growth predicted by 2025^
  • Over 1000 hours of industry placements

^Imip.gov.au Occupation projection
*Times Higher Education World Rankings by Subject, 2024.        

Entry Requirements

Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions information for this program.
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Before applying make sure you understand the eligibility and entry requirements for your chosen degree.

Look out for any prerequisites or assumed knowledge subjects. Some degrees also have additional entry requirements like interviews and auditions.

Domestic applicants

SATAC Code 3CM088
Deferment No
Intake

January

Additional Entry Requirements

Applicants (including those with a PhD) MUST:

  • have an Honours/4th year grade of 2A or above/equivalent GPA,
  • provide a copy of their Honours/4th year result in the form of an official transcript, or final results able to be officially verified by the University of Adelaide by the relevant date for the round in which they are applying,
  • provide Casper Situational Judgement Test results by the relevant date for the round in which they are applying,
  • attend an interview.

In addition to the SATAC application, all applicants MUST be eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as a provisional psychologist. If you are unable to obtain provisional registration, then you will be unable to continue in the program.

All applicants must also review the inherent requirement statements at health.adelaide.edu.au/study-with-us/inherent-requirements/psychology and consider whether they are able to meet these requirements. For detailed information please refer to the Master of Psychology Admission Guide.

Selection Criteria
Graduate entry

Higher Education Study

Entry is available to graduates with a four-year qualification in Psychology or equivalent (including Honours with a minimum grade of Second Class, Division A). The degree must meet the standards set out by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), including the accredited sequence in Psychology having been completed within the last 10 years. The ONLY exception to this is where applicants have completed their four-year sequence in Psychology more than 10 years ago but have completed a PhD in Psychology within the past 10 years.

The selection process occurs over two rounds, September and December.

Invitations to attend an interview will be extended based on a combination of academic performance and performance on the Casper Situational Judgment Test.

All applicants must submit their Honours/4th year results in the form of an official transcript, or final results able to be officially verified by the University of Adelaide and Casper Situational Judgement Test results by the relevant date for the round in which they are applying. For the September round, that is close of business 25 August 2023, and for the December round that is close of business 8 November 2023.

If you have not uploaded your finalised grades and Casper Situational Judgement Test result by this date, your application will not be considered further and you will not be eligible for an invitation to attend an interview.

Ranking for offers after interviews is based on a combination of scores from these three components:

  • Honours/4th year grade (10%)
  • Casper Situational Judgement Test (40%)
  • Interview performance (50%)

For detailed information please refer to the Master of Psychology Admission Guide.


  • Admissions Transparency Data
    Student Profile
    Applicant background Semester one/Full year intake 2023
    Number of students Percentage of all students
    International students 1 33.3%
    All students 3 100.0%

Ready to Apply?

Find out more about the application process and start your studies at the University of Adelaide.

Be sure to check the critical dates to avoid missing application deadlines.

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Fees and Scholarships

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Domestic applicants

Indicative annual tuition fees
Commonwealth-supported place: $15,730

Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.

Scholarships

Scholarships are not only for high achievers—they are also available to provide students with an equal opportunity to study at university, no matter where they live or what their financial situation might be.

Scholarships are available to both new and continuing students. We encourage students to apply for any scholarships for which they may be eligible.

To browse scholarships offered by the University, visit: University Scholarships

To explore scholarships offered by organisations external to the University, visit: External Scholarships

Careers

Career Readiness

Organisational psychologists have specialised skills and knowledge in the following areas:
> change management
> coaching, mentoring and career development
> consumer behaviour and marketing
> human resources program evaluation
> learning and development
> occupational health and safety
> organisational development
> measuring employee opinions and other workplace research
> performance management
> recruitment and selection
> wellbeing, stress and work-life balance
> workforce planning and role definition
> workplace advice and advocacy
>workplace rehabilitation and work cover.

The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.

Graduate Attributes

The objective of this program is to produce graduates with specific attributes as outlined in University of Adelaide Graduate Attributes.
  1. Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
  2. Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
  3. Teamwork and communication skills
  4. Professionalism and leadership readiness
  5. Intercultural and ethical competency
  6. Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
  7. Digital capabilities
  8. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

Industry Placement

Three unpaid practicum placements are arranged by and included in the program.

Professional Accreditation

The Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) is accredited by the Psychology Board of Australia.

Professional recognition

This degree provides graduates with the tertiary-level education required to be eligible for general registration as a Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia. Graduates may also choose to undertake a supervised registrar program, where upon successful completion they can gain endorsement by the Psychology Board of Australia as an Organisational Psychologist.  

Potential careers

Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:

Organisational Psychologist

Degree Structure

Students enrolled in full-time study will complete seven courses of study and one placement during the first year and two further placements and the research project during the second year. The research thesis is in the form of a literature review and a research article of a specified length. 
For details, visit: Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) study plan

Academic Program Rules

The Calendar is a comprehensive handbook of the University's academic program rules.

Example Study Plan

Core courses
> Contemporary Organisational Psychology
> Evidence-Based Practice
> Human Factors
> Human Resource Management
> Organisational Behaviour and Management
> Professional Practice
> Placements I, II, III
> Psychological Assessment
> Research Project in Organisational Psychology

Indicative study plan
Year 1 Summer School PSYCHOL 7330 Evidence-based Practice PSYCHOL 7331 Professional Practice
S1 PSYCHOL 7332 Psychological Assessment PSYCHOL 7333 Organisational Behaviour and Management PSYCHOL 7334 Human Resource Management
S2 PSYCHOL 7335 Contemporary Organisational Psychology PSYCHOL 7336 Human Factors PSYCHOL 7341 Placement I
Year 2 S1 PSYCHOL 7340 Placement II PSYCHOL 7344 Research Project in Organisational Psychology I (6 units)
S2 PSYCHOL 7343 Placement III (6 units) PSYCHOL 7345 Research Project in Organisational Psychology II (9 units)

Assessment

Coursework is assessed by assignments, placements assessed from reports by placement supervisor, and the research report is examined internally by two markers.

Related Degrees

Testimonial

The hands-on nature of the program has allowed me to build and develop my skills in all areas of organisational psychology.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Last updated: Friday, 24 May 2024