MSc Behaviour Change

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Aberystwyth University

Program Overview

The MSc Behaviour Change at Aberystwyth University equips students with interdisciplinary skills to understand and influence human behaviour in critical global areas such as health, environment, crime, and policy. It suits graduates from any discipline who want to work in organisations, government, NGOs or business to design and implement strategic behaviour change interventions. courses.aber.ac.uk+2UniScholars+2

Curriculum structure:

Year 1: In The Psychology of Behaviour Change (PSM0320), students study cognitive, developmental, social and biological perspectives on how and why people change. Through Behaviour Change in a Changing Environment (EAM4420), they examine systemic and institutional drivers of behaviour and ethical issues in policy design. Transdisciplinary Dialogue (PSM0520) helps them develop collaborative problem-solving skills across psychology, geography, politics and business.
Dissertation: In Psychology PGT Dissertation (Behaviour Change) (PSM0660), students design and carry out a major research project that applies behaviour change theories to a real-world challenge.

Focus areas:
“behaviour change psychology; transdisciplinary systems; research methods; applied policy interventions”

Learning outcomes:
“understand psychological mechanisms of change, analyse systemic behaviour drivers, collaborate across disciplines, design evidence-based interventions, and conduct independent behavioural research.”

Professional alignment (accreditation):
There is no specific professional body accreditation listed, but the course prepares students for roles in public policy, consultancy, research, NGOs, and more.

Reputation (employability rankings):
While there’s no QS or Guardian ranking specifically for this programme, Aberystwyth University is well-known for its strong interdisciplinary and applied social science training. Graduates are reported to be well-placed in roles across health, business, government, and environmental sectors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students develop practical behaviour change skills through hands-on projects using the Department of Psychology's specialist facilities. They have access to research laboratories and behaviour change intervention resources. The programme's experiential components include:

Research Project: A dissertation in behaviour change
Facilities: Access to psychology research laboratories
Applied Focus: Development of behaviour change intervention design and evaluation skills
Practical Training: Hands-on experience with behaviour change methodologies
Professional Skills: Training in evidence-based behaviour change techniques

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the MSc Behaviour Change at Aberystwyth University are equipped to influence organisations, policy-makers, and implement strategic behavioural changes across sectors such as health, business, government, and environmental planning. Typical job roles include Behavioural Insights Consultant, Policy Advisor, Health Promotion Specialist, and Environmental Behaviour Analyst. Graduates develop expertise in designing evidence-based solutions to real-world behavioural challenges, enhancing employability across multidisciplinary professional contexts.

Key progression and employability details include:

University services provide tailored support through expert academic staff, collaborative projects with external stakeholders like Public Health Wales and Welsh Government, and mentoring to enhance employability skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and communication.
Employment statistics are positive, reflecting the high demand for skills in behaviour change across health, business, and public sectors, with competitive salary prospects reflecting specialist knowledge application.
University–industry partnerships include collaborative links with Public Health Wales, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Dyfed-Powys Police, Natural Resources Wales, and local businesses, allowing students to work on stakeholder-posed behavioural challenges.
The program develops long-term value through multidisciplinary training in psychology, business, geography, and politics, applied to societal and organisational behaviour change needs.
Graduates show strong outcomes in research capabilities, applied behavioural intervention design, and collaborative problem-solving, preparing them for diverse professional settings.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates may advance to PhD research focusing on behaviour change theory and practice, or pursue roles in consultancy and policy influencing requiring advanced specialised skills.