Social and Organisational Psychology (MSc)
In the specialisation Social and Organisational Psychology, part of the Master in Psychology, you study behaviour in formal and informal groups, such as sports or work teams.
Part of
Laura Euwema
What was the biggest eye-opener for me during this master's specialisation?

'The biggest eye-opener for me was that social psychology is visible all around us. Whether you...
... are with friends, family or in a new group, behaviour is everywhere.'
Evaly Schaeffer
What does my average study week look like?

'It’s a mix of lectures, workgroups and reading, with assignments that help you...
... apply what you’ve learned like negotiations, analyses and policy recommendations. It’s quite structured, but there’s still time to grab a coffee with classmates or do something outside your studies.'
What does this master's programme entail?
Do you want to understand how people function in groups and organisations? You discover how people’s thoughts, feelings and decisions are influenced by other people.
Reasons to choose Social and Organisational Psychology at Leiden University
- The Social and Organisational department has a lot of very interesting research projects. You can possibly write your thesis or do an internship at one of these projects.
- You have a lot of freedom within Social and Organisational Psychology to choose the subjects you like most, for your internship, thesis and elective courses.
- Theory and practise are closely related in this specialisation.
- Examples from your daily life will be used in the coursework, which will make the discussions actual and relevant.
- Because your knowledge as a Social and Organisational Psychologist is relevant in nearly every workfield, you can work for a lot of different organisations, in a wide variety of functions.
Social and Organisational Psychology: the right programme for you?
The Leiden programme has a core curriculum that integrates social and organisational theory and practice. Building on this common body of knowledge, you can focus on different issues. You choose specific topics for your course assignments, thesis and internship, or you select specific elective courses, depending on your interests and ambitions. The staff of the Social and Organisational Psychology specialisation offer a wide range of topics, with the option to participate in flourishing research programmes on cultural diversity, leadership, economic decision-making and environmental behaviour.