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Behaviour Change MSc

London, Bloomsbury

This postgraduate degree in behaviour change centres 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 (2025/26)
£16,000
£8,000
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£36,500
£18,250
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 04 Apr 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

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 development, implementation and evaluation of behaviour change interventions.

Enables students to support the translation of behaviour change 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), that fosters multidisciplinary knowledge exchange and translates behaviour change expertise to those wishing to apply this knowledge and skills to their work and/or studies. 

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.

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

The foundation of your career

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.

Employability

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.

Networking

Students on the MSc Behaviour Change will have many chances to network with not only the various teaching staff on the programme and the wider CBC team but also the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences and the Faculty of Brain Sciences communities more broadly.

Teaching and learning

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.

Assessment is through coursework (e.g., an intervention development portfolio), group presentation, class participation and research projects.

In terms one and two full-time students can typically expect between 10 and 12 contact hours per teaching week through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, crits and tutorials. In term three and the summer period students will be completing their dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors

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 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. 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.

 

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. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £16,000 £8,000
Tuition fees (2025/26) £36,500 £18,250

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

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

There is no fee deposit required for PG Dip and PG Cert applicants.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no additional costs for this programme.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

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. 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: 2025-2026

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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