A MASTER OF SCIENCE AWARDED BY MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

Master the science of getting the best from people - starting with yourself.

The world's first and only university-validated MSc in Applied Emotional Intelligence. Leadership, influence and human insight at Master's level - 100% online, part-time, no exams, with every assignment applied to your own organisation.

Download Prospectus Apply now

Final two intakes - September applications close 15 September

At a glance

2 years part-time · 8–12 hrs/week · 100% online
2-day live launch - UK 22–23 Sept · USA 24–25 Sept
No exams - applied assignments only
From ~£521/month, interest-free
Plus an ILM-accredited leadership certificate
Cohorts capped at 15 people

1st

the world's only university-validated applied EI MSc

~350

graduates over nearly two decades

maximum students per cohort

100%

coursework - not a single exam

What you'll be able to do - in the work you already do

These skills transfer to any role where people decide the outcome - boardroom to sales floor, coaching room to family business.

Read the room - accurately

Non-verbal communication and what isn't said: see what your team, board or client actually feels, not what they present.

Handle the conversations others avoid

Coaching, feedback and conflict delivered with skill - not scripts, not avoidance.

Stay composed when it counts

Regulation, presence and physiology - perform in the interview, the pitch, the crisis.

Inspire and influence through language

The words, framing and delivery that move people - grounded in linguistics, not charisma myths.

Shape cultures people perform in

The psychology of group behaviour - build trust, psychological safety and genuine engagement.

Turn expertise into authority

An MSc plus an ILM-accredited certificate behind your judgement - and a dissertation that becomes your own IP.

Hear the journey from the person who leads it

Aaron Garner leads the MSc in Applied Emotional Intelligence - and has taught emotional intelligence and behaviour analysis to professionals worldwide. In these short videos he walks you through exactly what happens from your first live workshop to the day you submit a dissertation you're proud of.

No admissions gloss. Just what the two years actually look like, from the inside.

Your two-year journey

A progressive build - from the science, to the skills, to a piece of research that carries your name.

YEAR ONE - THE PRACTITIONER YEAR

2-day live virtual launch workshopMeet your cohort and tutors - UK 22–23 Sept · USA 24–25 Sept
Core modules, one at a timeEI models, reading the room, dialogue, presence, physiology, language - video-based, at your pace
An applied assignment per moduleEach one built around your own organisation, team or practice
The Emotional Intelligence MasterclassThe year-one capstone: an immersive live virtual workshop bringing it all together

YEAR TWO - THE MASTERY YEAR

1-day live induction to year twoThe advanced modules, and preparing your dissertation direction
Advanced unitsApplied research, individual differences & personality, the psychology of group behaviour
Advanced Research Project - DissertationSupervised 1:1 - research a real organisational challenge that serves your career
Graduate - MSc awarded by MMUAnd step into the founding generation of HBPI

The twelve modules

Every module ends in an applied assignment, not an exam - two years of work on your own leadership, team and organisation.

MODULE 1

Emotional Intelligence: Models & Strategic Application

The science of EI - models, measurement and how to deploy it strategically.

MODULE 2

Reading the Room: Non-Verbal Communication for Leaders

Face, body and voice - what people broadcast before they speak.

MODULE 3

Leading with Acuity: Understanding What Isn't Said

The unspoken layer of every meeting, negotiation and one-to-one.

MODULE 4

Emotionally Intelligent Dialogue: Coaching, Feedback & Conflict

The conversations that define leaders - handled with structure and skill.

MODULE 5

Mindful Leadership & Executive Presence

Attention, regulation and the presence that commands a room.

MODULE 6

The Physiology of Workplace Performance & Wellbeing

How stress, emotion and energy work in the body - yours and your team's.

MODULE 7

The Language of Leadership: Inspiring & Influencing Through Words

Linguistics applied to leadership - framing, persuasion, meaning.

MODULE 8

The Emotional Intelligence Masterclass

Immersive live virtual capstone - year one's skills, applied together.

MODULE 9

Applied Research for Organisational Impact

From question to defensible study - research that changes organisations.

MODULE 10

Individual Differences & Personality

Why people differ - and how to lead each of them well.

MODULE 11

Decoding the Culture: The Psychology of Group Behaviour

How groups really work - norms, dynamics, and how to shift them.

MODULE 12 · CAPSTONE

Advanced Research Project - Dissertation

A supervised study of a real organisational challenge - the flagship piece your post-MSc career stands on.

Research that goes where you work.

Every module assignment builds toward your final research project — real investigations into questions our students actually care about, from how managers' emotional intelligence affects staff retention to attachment in the classroom. Browse our Journal of Abstracts to see where alumni have taken theirs.

Explore 50+ Alumni Research Projects

Assignment example - annotated interview analysis

Built around working professionals

24/7 WhatsApp support - real people, not a portal
Tutor sessions within 48 hours whenever you need to go deeper
Monthly live drop-ins with your cohort - current module, questions, latest research
All live sessions recorded - never penalised for a work commitment
Digital library included - all core textbooks and a research database, at no extra cost
Cohorts capped at 15 - everyone is known by name

Why this is the final chance

For almost two decades we've built the academic side of emotional intelligence with our university partners - nearly 350 graduates, and peer-reviewed methodologies including e-Factor® and SCAnS®, now used in nine languages.

A degree was never the end goal. A profession was. In 2027 we launch the Human Behaviour and Performance Institute (HBPI) - a not-for-profit professional body for people who work with human behaviour and performance, the way engineers, accountants and lawyers have theirs.

That means the September 2026 and April 2027 cohorts are the last intakes onto this MSc. Join one, and you're not only in the final generation to hold the world's only validated applied EI master's - you're in the founding generation of the institute that follows it.

Already thinking "one day"? One day now has two dates.

Founders, graduation and cohort on a live workshop

Is your degree affected by the programme closing? No.

Your MSc is awarded by Manchester Metropolitan University and is yours for life. If you join a final cohort, nothing changes: same teaching, same supervision, same support, graduating in or before July 2029 - holding a credential that can never be earned again.

Learn from the people who wrote the methods

Not career academics reading someone else's slides - the researchers and practitioners behind e-Factor® and SCAnS®, with decades in business, government and policing worldwide.

Dr Cliff Lansley

Programme Tutor · Developer of SCAnS®

Thirty+ years applying behaviour analysis across government, military and commercial organisations globally. Analyst on Discovery's Faking It.

Aaron Garner

Programme Leader & Tutor

MSc in Emotion, Credibility and Deception. Specialist in attention and memory in behaviour observation; trains professionals worldwide.

Prof Dawn Archer

Programme Tutor · Linguistics

Authority in pragmatics and corpus linguistics - how language carries emotion, influence and deception across cultures.

Prof Boris Altemeyer

Programme Tutor · Data & Psychometrics

Machine learning, complex analytics and emotional-expression analysis for C-level decision-making.

Deidre Scott

Programme Tutor · Alumna

Distinction graduate of this very MSc; neuroscience and psychology background with AI and epigenetics training.

Harry Lansley

Student Support · FACS Certified

Specialist in facial expression and emotional cues; integrates emotional intelligence into technology with industry leaders.

Jordan Lansley

Programme Manager · MSc

Expert in behavioural psychology and Master of Science in Applied Psychology.

swipe to meet the faculty →

Academic standards are safeguarded by Manchester Metropolitan University - with Prof Samuel Larner as MMU Link Tutor and Prof David Keatley as External Examiner.

What our students say

They came in with the same question you have - was it worth it around a full-time career?

"It was exactly what I was looking for… I cannot rave about it enough. I truly, truly loved this school."Lauren · MSc student

"The curriculum and tutors are amazing… it helps you develop more understanding of how people communicate."Damir · MSc student

"I've been able to directly apply the skills with each and every one of my client sessions — a really dramatic uplift in the outcomes we're getting."Danny · MSc student

★★★★★

This degree marks the fulfillment of a dream I’ve had since I was 14 years old. Holding it in my hands now, I feel a deep sense of peace and closure – and immense gratitude for the journey that brought me here

Martina Möller-Öncü · MSc in CBCA Graduate

★★★★★

EIA, beyond my wildest dreams, have made learning the incredible science of understanding human behaviour possible. Using the EIA methodology, especially the tools of investigative in has greatly improved my selection accuracy.

Artemis Elias · Executive Recruiter

★★★★★

My overall experience was amazing. The programme was full of information and gave the students the opportunity to study acutely all the areas of emotional intelligence. I highly recommend this for everybody.

Maribel Madrigal · Tech Administrator

★★★★★

This MSc is amazing. 20+ adults committed to studying while having their own businesses. You have created an amazing space for people to grow, and you have not only encouraged us to do it, but also committed to helping us

Lukasz Majewski · Financial Auditor

★★★★★

This programme changed the way I understand this world. It provided me with the insight to evaluate verbal and non-verbal “Point of Interest” and I can now communicate better with my friends, family, and colleagues.

Jason Koh · Project Management

swipe for more student stories →

MSc degree certificate - Manchester Metropolitan University

Two credentials. One programme. For life.

A Level 7 Master of Science conferred by Manchester Metropolitan University - a globally recognised UK institution founded in 1824 - earned through two years of assessed, supervised, Master's-level work.

Master of Science (MSc) - 180 credits, Level 7 (UK framework)
Awarded by Manchester Metropolitan University, recognised worldwide
Dual enrolment: full MMU student status, card and library access during study
Yours permanently - programme closure affects future intakes only

Plus: Certificate in Emotional Intelligence for Leaders, accredited by the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) - earned by achieving 120+ on the industry-leading e-Factor® assessment.

And after April 2027, no one else will ever earn them here.

Your journey, de-risked

Step off at any stage with a recognised qualification — or upgrade later, building on what you've done. Full pricing — with the Final Cohorts discount already applied — is in the reserve section below.

Exit awards

60 CREDITS
Postgraduate CertificateYear-one core modules — stands on its own
120 CREDITS
Postgraduate DiplomaAdds the advanced units
180 CREDITS
Master of ScienceCompletes the dissertation — awarded by Manchester Metropolitan University

Employer funding: every assignment is applied work on your organisation's real challenges. Download the employer business-case pack →

Final Cohort part-bursaries (three per intake) are available for applicants with clear fit but constrained funds — ask on your call.

30-day satisfaction guarantee once enrolled — full refund if it's not right. You're never more than one year committed.

See pricing & reserve your seat

RESERVE YOUR PLACE · NOTHING TO PAY TODAY

Reserve a seat on the final cohorts

The Final Cohorts discount — up to 25% off — is already applied below. Reserve your place for £0; tuition is only payable if and when your application is successful. No card required.

1 Choose your intake

2 Choose how you'd pay (only on successful application)

Final Cohorts discount applied — up to 25% off for the last intakes; the biggest saving is on payment in full

Your reservation

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Intake

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Standard tuition

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No card required. This reserves your seat.

Tuition payable only if your application succeeds
Cohorts capped at 15 — reservations prioritised in order
30-day satisfaction guarantee once enrolled
No undergraduate degree required — experience counts

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We've emailed your reservation summary with your Final Cohorts discount locked in. Our admissions team will call you within one working day to start your application — it takes about 20 minutes.

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Reserving a place is free and carries no obligation. Tuition shown becomes payable only on acceptance of a successful application, at which point your payment plan is confirmed with our admissions team.

Dates & deadlines

Two cohorts per intake - built around your time zone.

SEPTEMBER 2026 - APPLICATIONS CLOSE 15 SEPTEMBER

UK & Europe cohort

2-day live virtual launch: 22–23 September 2026, 10:00–16:00 (London)

SEPTEMBER 2026 - APPLICATIONS CLOSE 15 SEPTEMBER

USA cohort

2-day live virtual launch: 24–25 September 2026, 10:00–16:00 (Central Time)

APRIL 2027 - THE FINAL INTAKE, EVER

UK & Europe and USA cohorts

Dates announced shortly - register priority interest now; this intake will not be repeated.

CAN'T MAKE EITHER?

There is no third option

After April 2027 the programme closes to new students permanently. If this degree is on your "one day" list, one of these two intakes is the day.

Entry requirements

A 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) is typical - but not the whole story. A 2:2 with relevant experience is considered, and substantial professional or leadership experience (typically 5+ years) can be accepted in place of a degree through Recognition of Prior Learning. Most applicants have at least three years' professional or managerial experience. International applicants: IELTS 6.5 (no component below 6.0) or equivalent. Unsure? That's exactly what the 15-minute call is for.

Frequently asked questions

Is the degree still recognised after the programme closes?

Yes - it's a Level 7 MSc conferred by Manchester Metropolitan University, permanently. Programme closure affects future intakes only.

What happens to teaching and support if I join the last cohort?

Nothing changes: same teaching, same supervision, same 24/7 support, through to graduation (July 2029 at the latest). This is protected as part of the MMU partnership wind-down.

Do I need a bachelor's degree?

Not necessarily. Substantial professional or leadership experience can be accepted through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) - each application is assessed individually. A 2:2 degree with relevant work experience is also considered.

How much time does it take each week?

Around 8–12 hours, designed to flex around a full-time role. Modules are video-based and self-paced between live milestones - and every live session is recorded, so a work commitment never sets you back.

What is the ILM certificate?

Alongside the MSc you can earn the Certificate in Emotional Intelligence for Leaders, accredited by the Institute of Leadership & Management, by achieving 120+ on the e-Factor® emotional intelligence assessment - independent, employer-recognised validation of your emotionally intelligent leadership.

What if I can't make September?

April 2027 is the final intake - you can register priority interest now. There is no intake after it.

What if life gets in the way partway through?

The staged structure protects you: complete year one and you hold a Postgraduate Certificate in its own right; the PgDip follows in year two, then the MSc with your dissertation. You're never more than one year committed.

How do payment plans work?

Fees are £6,260 per year. Interest-free monthly plans spread this to roughly £521/month (after a deposit), annual and bi-annual plans carry 5–7% discounts, and paying upfront saves 10%. There's a 30-day satisfaction guarantee with a full refund.

What is HBPI?

The not-for-profit professional body we're launching in 2027 - credentialing (AHBP, MHBP, FHBP), ethical standards, research and CPD for behaviour and performance professionals. Final-cohort students are its founding generation.

Thirty seats left. Ever.

Fifteen in September. Fifteen in April 2027. Then the world's only validated applied EI master's closes its doors.

Book your 15-minute call Apply now

Not ready for either? Download the prospectus

Final two intakes - Sept 2026 & April 2027September applications close 15 September · 15 seats

Apply now Book a 15-min call