Intermediate: Applied Principles and Practice of Behaviour Change
Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the principles of behaviour change, and how these can be applied to practical problems.
The next course will take place online from 6 - 10 July 2026. Book now on the UCL Store.
Book nowThis course is strictly capped at 36 participants. Participants are required to have completed our introductory course - the final opportunity to do this before the intermediate course is in May 2026. This course is highly participatory and requires a strong level of English language comprehension.
Overview
Participants will be introduced to the principles of behaviour change, and how these can be applied to practical problems. The course is aimed at anyone who is interested in behaviour change; from researchers, practitioners, intervention designers, managers and policy makers.
By completing the applied principles & practice online course you can expect to have:
- a greater understanding of the possibilities for applying behaviour change interventions to your own situation
- a practical framework for developing and implementing these interventions in your area of interest
Participants will be invited to select a project that they will focus and work on throughout the week. Experienced facilitators will lead small group tutorials, helping participants apply daily learning to their own contexts while reviewing their objectives throughout the week. The aim at the end of the course is for all participants to leave with a tailored plan for applying what they have learnt during course to their own situation or area of interest.
By the end of the course, participants should be able to:
- Identify behaviours to change within a system of behaviours
- Identify capabilities, opportunities and motivations to target for change using the COM-B model
- Apply the Behaviour Change Wheel to develop a broad strategy for behaviour change
- Identify specific behaviour change techniques to include in interventions
Format
This is an intensive course, combining a mix of live teaching sessions, “homework” activities, and small-group tutoring over five full days for an immersive learning experience.
Our live teaching sessions enable attendees to get the most out of the course through our interactive elements and Q&A opportunities. Each day, you will be asked to complete a short piece of ‘homework’ that applies the day’s learning to your own personal project. You’ll then discuss this with your mentor the following morning, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and receive tailored support.
You will be expected to attend live sessions online each day from 09:30 UK time, finishing at 15:00 on most days (14:30 on Monday and 15:30 on Friday).
Course leaders
The course is led by Dr Lucy Porter. Course leaders also include Professor Susan Michie, Professor Fabi Lorencatto, Dr Danielle D’Lima, Dr Elise Crayton and Professor Angel Chater.
Certification
Participants will be issued a Certificate of Completion at the end of the course.
I appreciated the interactive format, which blended theory, group discussions, and practical application to address challenges specific to my field of work."
Hear more from our learners who have completed the course.
2026 Course Fees
| Price Points | Early bird rate (until 31 March) | Standard rate (from 1 April) |
| (1) Low, middle-income countries* | £970 | £1400 |
| (2) Universities, Third Sector, Small Enterprises & Start-Ups (1-49 employees) | £1700 | £2100 |
| (3) Public Sector & Medium Companies (50-249 employees) | £2400 | £2800 |
| (4) Large Companies (250+ employees) | £2900 | £3400 |
*The LMIC rate is only available to participants who are based or work in an OECD-identified Low and Middle Income Country - if you are unsure about this, please consult this list on the Wellcome website.
If your organisation is already registered as a UCL customer, we can invoice your organisation upon receiving a Purchase Order. Please include the participant’s name, email address, correct registration fee rate, and invoice contact information in your purchase order, and email it to behaviourchange@ucl.ac.uk.
Cancellation Policy
- Delegates are entitled to a full refund, providing they request a cancellation within 7 days of booking.
- After 7 days of the booking, and up to 15 days before the event, delegates can request to cancel the booking and will be entitled to a refund of 80% of the total booking price.
- If there are 14 days or less to the event delegates can cancel their bookings but are not entitled to a refund.
- Please note that delegates booking within 14 days or less of the event can still cancel, but unlike point 1 where they would be entitled to a full refund, delegates will not be entitled to a refund.
Please send any questions relating to bookings and cancellations to behaviourchange@ucl.ac.uk.