Behavioural Design, Master's Degree
Application begins: Jan. 7, 2026 at 08:00 AM UTC+2
Application ends: Jan. 21, 2026 at 03:00 PM UTC+2
Studies
Design change that matters. Master the art of Behavioural Design in one year — in Finland.
Behavioural Design is a forward-thinking, international master’s degree that gives you the tools to understand how people behave — and how to design for better decisions, actions, and systems. In this one-year (60 ECTS) programme, you will explore how psychology, behavioural science, systems thinking and data analytics can be applied to design challenges that matter.
Whether you’re improving everyday experiences, nudging sustainable behaviour, or solving complex societal problems, this degree will elevate your skills as a designer and innovation consultant.
What You Will Learn
You’ll gain a powerful and future-relevant skillset that combines creative design thinking with analytical insight:
- Behavioural science and psychology in the context of design
- Quantitative methods and data literacy for evidence-based decisions
- Systems thinking to tackle complexity and interconnected challenges
- Societal change and ethics to design responsibly and with impact
Through coursework and collaborative projects, you will explore these key areas in depth. Your studies culminate in a project-based Master’s thesis, where you’ll put your skills into practice by tackling a real-world behavioural challenge of your choice.
The autumn semester consists of courses in Orientation, Behavioural Science and Design, Behavioural Design Methods and Tools, Quantitative Research in Design, Measurement and Analytics, Systems Thinking and Design, and Societal Change. The spring semester includes the Master’s Thesis and Elective Studies.
Practical and Project-Based
Although the programme is theoretical at its core, the approach is hands-on. Your thesis centers around a practical design project, supported by critical reflection. By engaging with a real-world challenge, you’ll create a meaningful portfolio piece to support your professional growth.
Why Study in Finland?
Finland consistently ranks among the world’s leading countries for education, safety, happiness and innovation. Studying at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, based in Helsinki, places you in a multicultural learning environment in the heart of a design-driven Nordic capital.
- English-taught programme
- Supportive, inclusive and student-centered study culture
- Strong connections to local and international networks
- Opportunities to explore work and life in the EU after graduation
Career Opportunities
As a graduate, you’ll be well-prepared to take on roles where design meets human behaviour and complex systems. Possible career paths include:
- Behavioural Designer
- UX / Service Designer
- Design Strategist
- Innovation Consultant
- Public Sector or NGO Design Professional
Your ability to combine behavioural insight, strategic thinking, and ethical design makes you a valuable asset in fields like healthcare, sustainability, education, government, and digital services — both in Finland and globally.
Who Is This For?
This programme is tailored for experienced professionals looking to broaden their impact as designers, innovators, or strategic thinkers. It’s especially suitable for those working at the intersection of design, product development, strategy, or user experience.
To apply, you’ll need:
- A bachelor's degree in design, media, business or engineering
- A basic understanding of design processes and methods
- At least two years of relevant work experience in design, product development, or another related field
Whether your background is in UX, service design, product management, marketing, product development or engineering — this programme will help you strengthen your behavioural insight, strategic thinking, and data-driven design practice.
Shape behaviour. Create change. Design with purpose.
Bring Your Own Laptop
The Behavioural Design master’s degree follows a Bring Your Own Laptop (BYOL) principle. Students are expected to use their own laptops throughout the studies, enabling flexible, hands-on learning and seamless collaboration across different learning environments.
Scholarships and tuition fees
Annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA applicants 12 500 €.
This fee applies only to non-EU/EEA degree students.
Ask Head of Programme more about studies
Juhana
Kokkonen
Senior Lecturer
Juhana.Kokkonen [at] metropolia.fi
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Applying
- Application period-Start of studiesautumn 2026
- Culture
Instructions for applying
In the spring 2026 Joint Application 1 to higher education, you can apply to degree programmes that start in the autumn of 2026. The application period starts on the 7 January 2026 at 8 am and ends on the 21 January 2026 at 3 pm (local time in Finland).
All the information needed to apply can be found on the national Studyinfo.fi portal. At Studyinfo.fi you can find descriptions of degree programmes, application criteria, application instructions, application forms and much more.
Application fee
Applicants who are not citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland are required to pay an application fee in order to apply to higher education studies. The application fee of 100 euros is collected for applicants from countries outside EU/EEA seeking education leading to a degree in higher education. The Finnish National Agency of Education will collect the application fee in connection with filling in the Studyinfo application form. There is no application fee for Finnish or EU citizens.
The application fee does not guarantee that you will be offered admission to studies. The application fee is not refunded if you cancel your application or are not offered admission.
More about application fee in Studyinfo.fi.
Questions about application fees? Contact applicationfee [at] oph.fi (applicationfee[at]oph[dot]fi)Personal Observation & Reflection
Assignment:
Choose a real-life everyday situation where people behave in ways that seem irrational, surprising, or inefficient (e.g., commuting, shopping, studying, social media use).Do the following:
- Document your observations with notes or sketches. Take photos of the observed situation (max. three photos may be included in the final submission).
- Write a short essay (400–600 words) describing:
- What did you observe?
- Why do you think people behaved this way?
- What design opportunity or challenge does this behavior suggest?
Final submission: Essay with photos
Format requirements:
- Length: 400-600 words and max. three photos
- Font: Times New Roman size 12 pt
- Line spacing: 1.5
- Give your essay a title (choose the title yourself)
- Name your file: lastname_firstname_BDMa2026
Assessment criteria
Observation
Detailed, and insightful observations that clearly show first-hand engagement with the chosen situation.
Analysis of behavior
Demonstrates a strong understanding of behavioral drivers; connects observations to logical explanations.
Design opportunity / challenge
Clearly identifies an original and relevant design opportunity; shows creativity and critical thinking.
Structure & clarity
Well-structured essay with a clear flow; language is fluent and precise; includes a strong self-chosen title.
Presentation & format
Meets all format requirements; visuals enhance the essay.
In order to be considered for the student selection, you must fill in the joint application form at Studyinfo.fi during the application period 7 January - 21 January 2026. The pre-assignment must be submitted as an attachment to the electronic joint application form during the application period, by 21 January 2026 3:00 p.m. the latest (local time in Finland).
Pre-assignments for spring 2026 Joint Application 1 will be published by the beginning of the application period.In order to be considered for student selection, you must pass the degree programme's own entrance examination as described in Studyinfo.fi. Entrance exam invitations are sent approximately one week before the entrance exam by email to the email address provided by the applicant on the application form.
Useful links
More information on the application process
Tel. +358 9 7424 5902, Mon-Wed 10 am – 12 pm
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Starting studies
Welcome to study for a degree at Metropolia!
Congratulations! You have been admitted to Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and we are delighted to have you as a new member of our vibrant community of more than 16 000 students!
You have made an excellent choice - Metropolia offers you unique multidisciplinary opportunities throughout your studies with its strong connections to working life and active role in innovations built around socially significant phenomena.
We are happy to have you with us and help you with any questions you might have. Welcome to Metropolia!
The below information applies to students who have been accepted to study for a full degree at Metropolia. Make sure to complete all the steps in order to secure your study place.
Confirming a place of study requires certain formalities to be completed by the deadline. More detailed instructions below:
Non-EU/EEA students need a student residence permit. You can begin the student residence permit application online at Enterfinland.fi. Remember that you must personally visit a Finnish embassy or consulate as part of this process. Start your residence permit process as soon as possible, carefully following the immigration authorities' instructions and regulations, so that you can receive your permit in good time before your studies begin! You can find detailed information and advice on the residence permit requirements and procedures on the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) website.
Note that participating online programmes does not entitle you receiving residence permit. See more about the topic in Finnish Immigration Service websites.
All Metropolia's students who do not have a Finnish personal identity code, have to apply for it before their arrival or register at the local registry office after their arrival to Finland to apply for one.
Students who have to apply for residence permit (i.e. non-EU/non-EEA citizens) before their arrival to Finland should ask to be registered in the Finnish Population Information System when they apply for their first residence permit. This way they will receive a Finnish personal identity code at the same time as they are issued with the permit. More information on this for residence permit applicants in Migri site
Other students have to apply for the personal identity code from the local registry office of the city where you are living in.
More information on Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV).
More information on registration to the Finnish Population Information System in DVV site
After you have received the personal identification code, remember to inform it to the Student Services with the official document. Acceptable documents are for example DVV:s document (Notification of registration), Finnish passport, Finnish identity card with a photo, issued by police, Finnish driver's license, residence permit or KELA card with a photo.
User account activation is possible from the start date of your study right. Activate your user account before the orientation days by following the instructions available on the IT Services website. To activate your account, you will need personal online banking credentials or a mobile certificate. Also check the instructions provided by your degree programme.
If you do not have Finnish online banking credentials or a mobile certificate, authenticate using the Candour ID application. After authentication, you will receive instructions on how to activate your user account. Read the instructions for authentication and receiving user accounts on the Information Management Services website.
Once you have activated your user account, enable multi-factor authentication for Microsoft 365 services. First enable SMS authentication, and then Microsoft Authenticator. If possible, also enable alternative authentication methods on your other mobile devices. This will help you avoid login issues if your primary phone is replaced or lost. Follow the instructions available on the IT Services website.
If you have any questions about user account activation or multi-factor authentication, please contact the Helpdesk. You will find the contact information on the IT Services website.
All foreign students (who are not EU citizens or citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland) who come to Finland for the purposes of studying are required to have a health insurance, if the studies endure longer than three months.
More information on insurances in Student's Guide
Student financial aid is for Finnish citizens. Foreign citizens are entitled to student financial aid if they live in Finland on a permanent basis for the purpose other than studying and they have registered as permanent residents in the Finnish population register system.
More information on student financial aid in Student's Guide
- Find out where your campus is located
- If you have a smart phone you can download the free HSL mobile app to get access to the public transportation Journey Planner and tickets (e.g. for travelling from the Helsinki-Vantaa airport to your apartment or from your apartment to the campus).
- If you have a smart phone you can download the Tuudo mobile app for free to get your digital student ID and student discounts (ID and discounts are available from the first day of the studies onwards)
- Information on student life and well-being, costs and finance, study environment etc. in Student's Guide
New students need a laptop for their studies.
Minimum laptop requirements for new students:
- Windows 11 or Mac computer
- Intel i5/i7 processor (at least 8 gen), AMD Ryzen 5/7 or equivalent processor
- RAM 8 GB memory
- SSD hard disk min. 256 GB
The life cycle of the laptop should be at least 4 years. The estimated cost of a laptop meeting the recommended specifications is between €600 and €800 and upwards. If the student's studies are geared towards gaming or graphic design, for example, the laptop should have a more powerful graphics card and more SSD hard disk space.
The recommended operating system will depend on the degree programme and the area of specialisation. As a general rule, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X are safe choices for a laptop operating system. Students of XR Design, 3D Animation and Visualisation and Visual Communication Design will be informed in the first weeks of their studies about the purchase of their own computer and the features they need.
Tuudo is a mobile app with which you can use various Metropolia web services easily on your smart phone. With Tuudo you can get VR, HSL, Matkahuolto and Kela student discounts immediately. The benefits are free for all Metropolia students.
In Tuudo you can check Metropolia, Admission Services, and student union METKA announcements, your schedule, study attainments, and cafeteria menus.
Get Tuudo on your phone from the app store for free and start using it!
During your studies, your support of well-being and health is Finnish Student Health Services (FSHS). The specialist in student health care offers you general, mental and oral health services and supports the well-being of study communities.
Our services can be used by students completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree at a university or a university of applied sciences who have registered as attending for the semester.
Master the facts! Familiarize yourself with our services and user instructions in Kela's site fshs.fi, and Kela's Health information resource on the address.
Start using Self! Self is the student’s own online service for health care issues at FSHS. In Self, you can manage appointment bookings, communicate via SelfChat and start a remote consultation. Log in to Self as a user immediately from the beginning of the semester and keep your contact details up to date for as long as you are a student. Read more about Self in Kela's site.
The health care fee for students in higher education will be paid to Kela on your initiative. Read more about health care fee in Kela's site.
If you have social security coverage in another EU/EEA country or in Switzerland or the United Kingdom, you do not have to pay the healthcare fee. However, you can to use the FSHS’s services.
Metropolia does not have housing services to offer. Thus, it is the student's responsibility to find an accommodation for the period of their studies. There is a lot of competition in affordable housing, so it is important to start searching for a room many months prior to arrival.
Already excited about starting your studies in Metropolia and meeting new people?
On Student Union Metka's site you will find welcome letters for each degree program.
Welcome letters are information packages prepared by your future tutors. They include, for example, important dates as well as information about studying, student benefits, or student life.
Create your own profile and sign up to JobTeaser portal now and stay up to date on job vacancies, training and upcoming recruitment events promoted especially to Metropolia students. There are hundreds of job opportunities available and a lot of information to support your career planning.
JobTeaser is a career portal where you can find lot of career information in one platform.
- Open jobs and traineeships
- Working life events
- Advice & guidance
- Employer profiles
Sign up and start exploring
Sign up to JobTeaser using your @metropolia.fi email address.
You can also download a Jobteaser application.
Starting Behavioural Design studies
Programme-specific guidelines will be published later.