Design with Behaviour Science MSc

  • Postgraduate taught
  • MSc

Design with Behaviour Science

Learn how to apply behavioural insights to the design of human-centred products and strategies.

Apply behavioural insights to the design of human-centred products and strategies.

Expand your STEM background with practical design skills aligned with industry needs.

Carry out an individual research project in an area of your interest.

Course key facts

  • Qualification

    • MSc

  • Duration

    1 year

  • Start date

    September 2025

  • Study mode

    Full-time

  • Fees

    • £18,500 Home

    • £42,900 Overseas

  • Delivered by

  • Location

    • South Kensington

Minimum entry standard

  • First-Class Honours in a Science, Technology and Engineering discipline

View full entry requirements

Course overview

A transdisciplinary degree designed to equip STEM innovators with the skills and knowledge to design human-centred products and strategies. 

You will develop a range of innovation and problem-solving skills by learning mixed methods that blend design approaches with behaviour science. 

You will learn alongside people from a mix of science and engineering backgrounds to apply your knowledge to designing holistic solutions for humans in complex socio-technical systems.

An independent research project forms a substantial part of the degree, providing you an opportunity to develop practical skills in a subject area of your interest.

You will develop the ability to apply behavioural insights and design skills in a range of industries such as innovation roles in human-centred sectors (including healthcare, infrastructure, consumer products, and service design) and research roles (including digital, finance, government, and policy).

Structure

This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.

Find out more about potential course changes.

Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.

You will study seven core modules to introduce you to the key skills and methods of a designer, explore research methods and learn how to synthesise behavioural insights, scientific knowledge and design skills into impactful solutions.

Core Modules

You will be given the opportunity to select one elective in the Autumn term, and two electives in the Spring term. from a range of modules developed to help you specialise and explore cutting edge skills in design and behaviour science.

Optional Modules

Throughout the summer period, you will work on a substantial solo project, representing the culmination of your journey over the year. You will use your newly acquired behaviour science knowledge and design skills to bring to fruition a deep-dive project in an area of your interest.

You will choose you project in the autumn term and work alongside a nominated expert supervisor from amongst the diverse staff at the Dyson School of Design Engineering.

You will have a high degree of choice of project topic based on outline briefs defined by an academic, an industry partner or a brief written by yourself. This allows for specialism building on your evolving interests, and as such, project types might cover a very wide range from research studies to projects with significant iterative physical prototyping.

Testimonials

Teaching and assessment

Balance of teaching and learning

Key

  • Taught modules
  • Independent Study
  • Specialist Events

Balance of assessment

  • 31% Indipendent Study
  • 52% Individual Project
  • 17% Lectures and Practicals

Teaching and learning methods

  • Person at lectern giving speech
    Lectures
  • Four students sitting in a tutorial
    Tutorials
  • Presentations
  • Design project blueprints
    Project based learning
  • Blackboard virtual learning environment
    Technology enhanced learning
  • Workshops and lab work
  • A group of people interacting
    Team working
  • Industry collaboration
  • A person studying independently
    Independent study

Balance of assessment

Key

  • Practical
  • Coursework
  • Exams

  • 19% Practical
  • 69% Course Work
  • 13% Exams

Assessment methods

  • Demonstrations and exhibitions
  • Peer assessment
  • a laptop screen with a clock on top
    Online progress tests
  • Viva Voce
  • Design project blueprints
    Project reports
  • Person making a presentation
    Prototypes and Artefacts
  • Presentations
  • A person completing a written exam
    Written Examinations

Entry requirements

We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.

How to apply

Apply online

You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.

Application deadlines – Round 1 closes on Thursday 16 January 2025

Tuition fees

Home fee

2025 entry

£18,500

Overseas fee

2025 entry

£42,900

Scholarships

The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Industrial Design Studentships

Value per award

  • Full tuition fees plus stipend.

Who it's for

  • UK resident, recently graduated first degree, and intending to make a career in British Industry.
Find out more

Presidential scholarships for students of Black heritage

Value per award

  • Home tuition fees up to £18,500, an annual maintenance grant of £21,000, and an allowance of £1,500 for equipment.

Who it's for

  • Applicants of Black heritage
Find out more

Master's Scholarship supporting disabled students

Value per award

  • Tuition fees up to £18,500, maintenance grant of £21,000, and allowance of £1,500 for equipment.

Who it's for

  • Disabled applicants
Find out more

Sanctuary Scholarship – Postgraduate

Value per award

  • Full tuition fees, £21,000 living costs, and £1,500 equipment grant

Who it's for

  • Refugee applicants
Find out more

How will studying at Imperial help my career?

Complement your technical and scientific skills with design and behaviour science to build a career in innovation, research, and development.

Become highly competitive across a range of sectors in established as well as emerging roles.

Develop the ability to understand, inform and monitor behavioural design interventions. 

Learn to work with mixed methods and in multi-disciplinary teams to develop solutions to complex problems. 

Work in sectors such as Healthcare, Consulting, Finance, Digital, Consumer Technology, Infrastructure, Service Design, and Government.

Terms and conditions

There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.

Read our terms and conditions

You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.

Programme specifications