MSc Behaviour Change
MSc Behaviour Change
Key Information
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.
Start date: The MSc starts each year in September.
Location: London, Bloomsbury
Modes and duration
Full time: 1 yearPart time: 2 yearsTuition Fees (2025/26)
- UK Full-time: ££16,000
- UK Part-time: £8,000
- Overseas (including EU) Full-time:£36,500
- Overseas (including EU) Part-time: £18,250
Application deadlines (2024/25)
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 04 Apr 2025 Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Current Students website.Degree Benefits
The programme draws on the world-renowned expertise of the UCL Centre for Behaviour Change (CBC), led by Professor Susan Michie and Dr Fabi Lorencatto. The centre fosters multidisciplinary knowledge exchange and translates behaviour change expertise to those wishing to apply this knowledge and skills to their work and/or studies.
The programme is led by highly experienced educators and delivered through lectures, interactive seminars, small- group and project work and independent study (e.g., reading and defined practical tasks to support learning) with regular opportunities for formative feedback on learning. All tutors that contribute to teaching and supervision 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.
A dedicated course team includes Professor Leslie Gutman, the Programme Director and EDI Vice Dean of the Faculty of Brain Sciences, Dr Danielle D’Lima, the Teaching Lead, and Ms Sophia Bowes, the Teaching Administrator.
Students will have the opportunity to meet and network with alumni of the MSc Behaviour Change (e.g. at social seminars and events) 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.
Content
The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars, small group work, project work and independent study. Assessment is through coursework, unseen examinations and research projects.
This MSc programme:
- Equips students with the knowledge and ability to critically appraise theories, methods and evidence for understanding behaviour and behaviour change from a range of disciplinary perspectives
- Trains students in the design, implementation and evaluation of behaviour change interventions using systematic methods and integrative frameworks
- Enables students to plan and support the translation of evidence into practice in multidisciplinary and multi-sectorial settings
The MSc programme consists of:
- Compulsory modules in theories and models of behaviour change, interdisciplinary approaches to behaviour change, research methods and behaviour change intervention development and evaluation.
- Elective modules covering a wide range of topics such as health and wellbeing, transport behaviour change, wellbeing in buildings, human factors for digital health, judgement and decision making, and making policy work.
- Research-based dissertation is an 8000-word research project which allows students to showcase their learning through the application of behaviour change frameworks in the examination of a real-world problem. Topics, for example, have included the delivery of mental health interventions for young people, user engagement in a diabetes app to improve diet, the use of evidence-based teaching practices in the university setting and the application of policies to improve wellbeing in organisations. Projects are supervised by Professor Leslie Gutman, Dr Danielle D’Lima and/or the wider CBC team. There is also the opportunity to apply for one of the relevant projects from the Behavioural Insights Exchange, which is an initiative allowing students to undertake a dedicated research project with an external organisation.
Core modules
- Behaviour Change: An Interdisciplinary Approach
- Changing Behaviour: Intervention Development and Evaluation
- Theories and Models of Behaviour Change
- Research Methods and Evidence for Global Health
Variations
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.
This programme is also available as a Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate, which does not require students to complete the research project module.
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.
International students
To check for degree equivalence and other useful information please visit the international students page. Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
The English language level for this programme is: Level 2 (Good). Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
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.
Apply for the Behaviour Change MSc
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.
Who can apply?
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).
What are we looking for?
In your personal statement, 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. You can type your personal statement in the online application form (3,000-character limit, including spaces) or upload it as a separate document. If you upload your personal statement, you can go over 3,000 characters but it cannot be longer than two sides of A4 paper (size 12 font and single spaced).
Visit our Prospectus page to begin your online application.
FAQs
Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) consists of 60 credits, which include three core modules (Changing Behaviour: Intervention Development and Evaluation for 30 credits and Theories and Models of Behaviour Change and Behaviour Change: An Interdisciplinary Approach for 15 credits each).
Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) consists of 120 credits, which include all four core modules (Changing Behaviour: Intervention Development and Evaluation for 30 credits and Theories and Models of Behaviour Change, Behaviour Change: An Interdisciplinary Approach and Research Methods and Evidence for Global Health for 15 credits each) and three elective modules (15 credits each).
Masters (MSc) consists of 180 credits, which include all four core modules (Changing Behaviour: Intervention Development and Evaluation for 30 credits and Theories and Models of Behaviour Change, Behaviour Change: An Interdisciplinary Approach and Research Methods and Evidence for Global Health for 15 credits each) and three elective modules (15 credits each). along with a research project (60 credits).
We offer two modes of study: full-time and part-time. The number of credits for each mode of study will vary depending on the programme (see above).
For full-time study, the required number of credits are undertaken over the course of one year. For part-time study, the required number of credits are undertaken over the course of two years.
Each 15-credit taught module 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.
No. All students must attend module lectures and seminar on UCL campus in London during term time.
At the moment all of our modules are taught on a weekly basis during UCL term time.
We do not yet have the exact timetable for teaching. However, all teaching will be within normal office hours (9am - 5pm) within the UCL term times. We are not able to offer evening classes at present.
At the moment there are no dedicated funding or scholarships available to assist students with the fees for this programme. For more information about fees and funding, please see the UCL website.
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.
On completion of this degree, you will have acquired significant knowledge about behaviour change theories and techniques, skills in intervention development, 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 the research-based dissertation.
Graduate careers benefiting from this degree include policy officers, behavioural science researchers and consultants, IT developers and user experience designers, urban and transport planners, health consultants and human resource managers. Multiple students graduating from this programme have gone on to complete PhDs in behavioural science. The range of modules available creates a unique opportunity for students to tailor their degree to their specific interests and career aspirations.
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 UCL wide 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 CBC. Students also have the opportunity to conduct their research-based dissertation focused on a CBC project.
A number of regular social seminars and events designed specifically for MSc Behaviour Change students are scheduled throughout the year with speakers from academia and industry including MSc Behaviour Change alumni.
Assessment is through coursework (e.g., an intervention development portfolio), group presentation, class participation and research projects.
Contact us
Contact the course teaching administrator: behchange-msc-palsadmin@ucl.ac.uk
Watch our virtual Graduate Open Day webinar
