What motivated you to choose Psychology BSc at UCL?
Like many people in my course, I initially chose this degree thinking I might pursue clinical psychology, but I wasn’t certain. A-levels only give a limited view, so I wanted a course that allowed flexibility before specialising. UCL stood out because of its breadth and strong experimental focus and compared to other courses, it offered a solid foundation across multiple areas. For me, that combination of range and methodological rigour made it the best choice and something I’m really grateful for now because it allowed me to explore my interest and made me a more well-rounded researcher.
What are you doing now? What are you working on and what excites you about your role?
I’m a Behavioural Scientist at Nesta’s A Fairer Start. Our mission is to improve early childhood outcomes in the UK so that every child has a fair start in life regardless of their background. I apply behavioural science to public services, particularly how families engage with support.
What excites me most about my job is translating psychological behavioural evidence into practical, real-world solutions to society challenges.. For example, I lead the mixed-method evaluation of a Pregnancy Grant pilot in collaboration with Camden Council and the NHS, to understand how financial support and outreach affect engagement. Recently, I’ve developed the Parent Engagement Playbook to help local authorities diagnose blockers to parents’ engagement and apply evidence-based behavioural solutions to address them.
How did the course prepare you for your current role/career path?
The course gave me a strong foundation in research, statistics, and experimental design, which I use daily. From our first year, we designed experiments, analysed data, and wrote lab reports, which built my ability to think empirically and communicate findings clearly to non-expert audiences. Learning ‘R’ early on was especially valuable as it made it much easier to pick up tools like Python and Stata later, and it’s something that really stands out in professional settings.
I was first introduced to behavioural science during an Evidence and Inquiry module, where alumni spoke about applied work, including the Behavioural Insights Team. I remember writing in my notes “this is what I want to do”. That was a pivotal moment for me and ultimately shaped my career path. Later, in my final year, I had the opportunity to choose elective modules in behaviour change, where I learned directly from academics who developed some of the field’s core frameworks like the Behaviour Change Wheel. My colleagues and I still draw on those frameworks in my work today.
What was your favourite aspect of the programme?
My favourite aspect was applying psychology to real-world problems. I still remember an early assignment asking “what can governments do to change behaviour?”, which completely shifted how I saw psychology. It made me realise how many issues like public health or climate change are ultimately behavioural. Later, I loved being able to choose modules like Behaviour Change and Psychology of Climate Change, which helped me think about how evidence can actually be applied to resolve these issues.
My dissertation was a knowledge exchange with the United Nations in reducing implicit gender bias in their recruitment system. I was incredibly grateful to be able to take on a consultancy-style project with the UN as an undergraduate. My supervisor played a key role in providing this opportunity and supporting me to pursue this project, which made a huge difference to my confidence and development. I also had opportunities to present my work at conferences, and this helped me be able to translate evidence to a more general audience, something I have to do every day for work.
How did the programme support your professional development and networking opportunities?
A lot of my development came from opportunities both within and beyond the classroom. Academically, modules like Behaviour Change were hugely influential because I had the chance to learn about frameworks like COM-B from people behind that work, and I still use that thinking every day. That helped me understand not just how to explain behaviour, but how to design interventions and translate evidence into something practical.
Outside the classroom, the UCL Behavioural Innovation Society gave me the opportunity to work on applied behavioural science projects with real stakeholders. I worked on projects like promoting healthier eating on campus and reducing business air travel, where I led focus groups, and collaborated with UCL’s catering services and travel booking partners. We designed and tested interventions using choice architecture, such as making healthier or more sustainable options more accessible or default.
That experience was incredibly valuable because it meant I could already speak in interviews about applying behavioural science in real-world settings, working with stakeholders, and translating research into practical recommendations, even before having formal work experience.
What advice would you give to someone considering applying for this BSc?
I would say go in with an open mind. The thing you think you want to do at 18 may not be what you end up doing, and that is completely fine. Psychology is so broad, and one of the best things about the degree is that it opens up a huge range of paths, from research and clinical work to policy, consulting, tech, and government. I would also really encourage them to make the most of opportunities beyond lectures. Get involved in societies, research, and applied projects where possible, as that’s often where you gain the most useful experience. Also, be prepared for the scientific side. There is a strong focus on statistics and empirical research methods, but that’s what makes the degree so transferable later on.
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