Honours in Organisational Psychology

BUS4006W – Coursework

BUS4030H – Research Project

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in this programme.   During your Honours year, you will experience, for the first time, a move towards specialisation.   The main theme of this programme is organisational change and each programme module will address a different facet of change.   At the end of this intensive year, you will emerge as change masters: people who can build change models, transform change visions into measurable behaviours, improve an organisation’s capacity for change through learning, and support people and organisations through change processes.These skills and knowledge are sought after in the business world, especially in the current economic climate.

What are the admission requirements?

A Bachelors degree with Industrial/Organisational Psychology or Human Resource Management as a major subject.  Please note that students who have not majored in these subject areas cannot be accepted onto the course.

Please note that admission is by selection only.  Selection criteria are academic performance (in other words, a good bachelors degree in the required subject areas) and the University’s Employment Equity Policy.

Is it presented on a part-time basis?

No, the programme is only presented as a one-year fulltime programme. 

How long is the programme?

The programme starts at the beginning of February and runs until the end of October.

What does the programme consist of?

The programme starts with a compulsory orientation week in the first week of February.   During this week students find out more about the programme, visit organisations to learn about change and are grouped into research teams.

The programme consists of two parts:  coursework and a research project.

Students have to complete six coursework modules (click here to read more about the modules).   The following three modules are compulsory:

-Organisational Change
-Research Methods
-Change Consulting

Students choose three modules from the following list of electives:

-Labour Relations in a Changing Environment
-Human Resource Information Systems
-Organisational Culture
-Psychological Assessment
-Organisational Learning

The research project is completed by a diverse team of students and is based on a topic chosen by researchers in the Section.    The research paper is aligned with the Research Methods module and designed in such a way that students can complete their research within one year.  In October, the research teams present their projects during a colloquium.

How do I apply?

Students applying for the Honours programme should complete the Section’s Application Form  and submit it by 25 November in the year preceding that for which the application is made.  No late or incomplete applications will be entertained.

Students are also required to submit the official University application form (please click here) to the Admissions Office.

You will be informed whether you have been selected into the programme by the first week in December of the year preceding your study year.   Attending the full orientation programme in February of your study year is a precondition for your registration as a student.

Cost and financial assistance

Please go to the University website and check the cost of the programme under the relevant course codes (BUS4006W and BUS4030H).   For planning purposes, in 2009 the total cost of the programme was approximately R24,000 (please note, this will change in 2010 and is just an approximate cost for planning).

Limited financial support is available in the form of scholarships, bursaries and student loans. Please contact the Postgraduate Funding Office for more information (pgfunding@uct.ac.za).  Please note that some scholarships require application by June of the year preceding your study year.   You are advised to apply in June even if you do not know by then whether you have been selected into the programme. International students should note that funding is limited and are advised to apply for sponsorship in their own countries.

Student housing

Should you want to know about student housing at Cape Town University, please contact res@uct.ac.za.  

Who should I contact if I wish to ask or discuss anything else?

Please contact Dr Suki Goodman at Suki.Goodman@uct.ac.za or 021-650-2472.