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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 year
Part time: 2 years
Tuition Fees (2024/25)
  • UK Full-time: £15,100
  • UK Part-time: £7,550
  • Overseas (including EU) Full-time:£34,400
  • Overseas (including EU) Part-time: £17,200
Application deadlines (2024/25)
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 05 Apr 2024
 
Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024
The 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.