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Behaviour Change MSc

London, Bloomsbury

A postgraduate degree in behaviour change centred around the systematic application of behaviour change theory and methods to design, implement and evaluate interventions, primarily using the Behaviour Change Wheel. This approach equips students to work in this emerging and exciting field to address social, health and environmental challenges.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£15,100
£7,550
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£34,400
£17,200
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 05 Apr 2024

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

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Entry requirements

For the MSc, a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in a behavioural or social science (for example, psychology, sociology, anthropology, social geography) or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard and relevant quantitative or qualitative research experience. Practical experience with a behaviour change focus (through paid or voluntary work) is also beneficial. For the PG Diploma or Certificate, a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in any academic discipline and relevant research and/or practical experience (e.g. paid or voluntary) with a behaviour change focus are required.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

This MSc programme:

  • equips students with the ability to critically appraise theories, methods and evidence for understanding behaviour and behaviour change in a range of application areas.
  • trains students in the design, implementation and evaluation of behaviour change interventions.
  • enables students to support the translation of evidence into practice across disciplines and sectors.

Who this course is for

We welcome international, as well as UK/EU, applicants from all backgrounds (e.g., researchers, practitioners, policymakers and recent graduates) who are interested in learning to apply behaviour change principles to a variety of issues (e.g., environment, digital technologies, successful ageing) and sectors (e.g,. government, charities, public sector and commercial organisations).

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The programme draws on the world-renowned expertise of the UCL Centre for Behaviour Change (CBC), led by Professor Susan Michie, that fosters multidisciplinary knowledge exchange and translates expertise to those wishing to apply this knowledge and skills to their work and/or studies. The Centre engages leaders from a variety of key academic disciplines in a far-reaching programme of research, training, teaching, consultancy and events.

Students will have the opportunity to meet (e.g. at social seminars) and work with (e.g. for the research project component of the MSc) members of the CBC team who are leaders in research, policy and practice engaged in translating evidence to solve real-world problems.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

On completion of this degree, you will have acquired significant knowledge about behaviour change theories and techniques, skills in intervention design, implementation and evaluation and will have an advanced understanding and appreciation for effective interdisciplinary working.

You will also have knowledge of a broad range of research methodologies and MSc students will have had the opportunity to apply these and their acquired knowledge to an original piece of research.

Employability

Students graduating from this programme will be equipped with a broad set of skills that can be applied to many different careers. Market research has shown there is a large demand for behaviour change expertise across the private, public and voluntary sectors and in roles relating to policy, practice and research.

Graduate careers benefiting from this degree include policy officers, behavioural science researchers and research managers, IT developers and user experience designers, urban and transport planners, health consultants and human resource managers. The range of modules available creates a unique opportunity for students to tailor their degree to their specific interests and career aspirations.

Networking

We encourage our students to join the UCL Behavioural Innovations Society, which offers regular seminars and behavioural challenges for UCL students. We host an annual mini-conference where previous students are invited to present their dissertation projects to incoming students.

Students are also invited to divisional, departmental and other research seminars, where there are opportunities to network with academic colleagues. We have guest lecturers from the wider community and some teaching sessions are taught by colleagues from the UCL Centre for Behaviour Change (CBC). Students also have the opportunity to conduct their research-based dissertation focused on a CBC project.

A number of regular social seminars with speakers from academia and industry are scheduled throughout the year, as well as social wider events organised by the CBC and the wider UCL community.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars, small-group and project work and independent study. All tutors are highly experienced, internationally recognised researchers and/or practitioners in behaviour change with experience in a range of application areas, including: health, sustainability, education, social justice, digital technology and policy.

Assessment is through coursework (e.g., an intervention development portfolio), applied presentations and research projects.

Each 15-credit taught modules has 30 hours of contact time (lectures, seminars and group activity). Students are expected to supplement these contact hours via self-directed study to make a total of 300 hours work per module. A further 15 hours are set aside for contact with supervisors for the dissertation, where the bulk of the work consists of independent research activity.

A Postgraduate Diploma, which consists of four core modules (75 credits) and three electives (45 credits), is also offered. A Postgraduate Certificate, which consists of three core modules (60 credits), is also available.

Modules

The MSc programme consists of:

  • Compulsory modules in intervention design, implementation and evaluation; behaviour change theories and models; research methods and interdisciplinary topics in behaviour change
  • Elective modules covering a wide range of topics such as health and wellbeing, transport behaviour change, wellbeing in buildings, consumer behaviour, persuasive games, and making policy work
  • Research-based dissertation
     

As a part-time student, you should complete all compulsory modules in Year One and have the option to take 1-3 electives. In Year Two, you should complete the remaining electives and the research-based dissertation.

Compulsory modules







Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

MSc students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Behaviour Change. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Behaviour Change. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Behaviour Change.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Behaviour Change MSc

Join the UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences to find out more about studying our Behaviour Change MSc programme. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about studying the Behaviour Change MSc at UCL. You will have the opportunity to hear from our academic staff and current students to ask them questions about what it's like to study on this dynamic programme.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £15,100 £7,550
Tuition fees (2024/25) £34,400 £17,200

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this programme.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • Why you want to study Behaviour Change at graduate level
  • Why you want to study Behaviour Change at UCL
  • What particularly attracts you to this programme
  • How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
  • Where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Division of Psychology and Language Sciences
Division of Psychology and Language Sciences

behchange-msc-palsadmin@ucl.ac.uk

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