Course summary

Whether you’re interested in a leadership role, career paths in human resources, marketing, employee relations, or any role that would benefit from understanding other people in the work place, this course is for you. You will develop your critical understanding of the main theories of effective leadership and organisational behaviour and how they can be applied in real-life business scenarios. You’ll also develop your own skills in relation to human behaviour and leadership in the workplace, preparing you for a wide range of business and management roles across a variety of sectors. At Aston University, you’ll learn from one of the best known and most successful academic groups in work and psychology in Europe. The department is recognised internationally for its research activities. We research the challenges concerning the future of work and organisations. Staff are active in research studies including aspects of leadership and innovation, strategic and international human resource management, diversity, inclusion and meaningful work, CSR, ethics and sustainability. You will find their practical knowledge of organisational behaviour and workplace psychology incredibly valuable. This course is particularly relevant to psychology, social science and business graduates at undergraduate level. How will my skills develop? The course will develop your skills in relation to human behaviour in the workplace. You’ll examine people and relationships within a professional context and explore areas of study that influence professional practice, such as how to assess individuals, design selection procedures, employee well-being, talent management, employee reward and change management. We’ll provide you with a critical understanding of the main theories of effective leadership. You will examine how leadership concepts are applied in practice through case studies, and you will have opportunities to develop your leadership skills through group activities and workshops. This means you will be able to understand, predict and successfully manage people in working environments in the future. You’ll also develop a range of specific practical skills and learn how to apply these to different organisational settings, such as the public or private sectors. We will teach you about effective training and development tools, methods of employee appraisal as well as negotiating techniques, which are key to dealing with difficult workplace situations. You’ll study The Aston Global Advantage module which focuses on professional development and employability, helping you to apply the key skills that you will gain throughout the year. You’ll also have the opportunity to study abroad with one of our international partners, undertake an internship placement in the UK or overseas or get involved in a global business challenge simulation.