MSc Societal and Environmental Psychology

This programme, formerly called Psychology of Economic Life, explores the psychological dimensions of societal, environmental and economic behaviour.

You’ll examine traditional theories and cutting-edge research in the psychological, behavioural and social sciences with a focus on and application to sustainability. You'll explore topics such as sustainable consumer behaviour, transformative social change, and powerful techniques for changing behaviour through design, education and regulation. You'll learn how to present and promote your projects to decision-making bodies. We encourage you to think beyond conventional economic theories and understand how to apply psychological knowledge to make business models and organisations more sustainable, and to foster a better societal environment. At every stage, you’ll integrate theory with practice, looking at how your new skills can help solve real-world issues. Assessment is based on real-world cases chosen by students. Read some of their coursework to see what skills they’re learning: we are proud to publish *all* their collective essays.

This degree draws inspiration from a wide range of social science disciplines, offering a much broader scope than many conventional psychology programmes. Our students undertake research in a wide range of areas, and the degree equips them with the skills and expertise to pursue careers in industry, government and consultancy, or to pursue doctoral studies.

Our department was recently ranked first in the UK for psychology (Complete University Guide 2025). So, you’ll be studying at a top-rated university.

• Basso, F., & Herrmann-Pillath, C. (2024). Embodiment, Political Economy and Human Flourishing: An Embodied Cognition Approach to Economic Life. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Basso, F., & Krpan, D. (2023). The WISER framework of behavioural change interventions for mindful human flourishing. The Lancet Planetary Health, 7(2), e106-e108.
• Diamond, J. (2005). Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. Penguin Books.
• Howarth, C., Campbell, C., Cornish, F., Franks, B., Garcia-Lorenzo, L., Gillespie, A., Gleibs, I., Gonvales-Portelinha, I., Jovchelovitch, S., Lahlou, S., Mannell, J., Reader, T, & Tennant, C. (2013). Insights from societal psychology: The contextual politics of change. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 1(1), 364-384.
• Himmelweit, H. T. & Gaskell G. (1990). Societal Psychology. Sage Publications.
• Lahlou, S. (2017) Installation Theory. The Societal Construction and Regulation of Individual Behaviour. Cambridge University Press.
• Lahlou, S. (2024). Why People Do what They Do. And How to Make Them Change. Polity.
• Linnér, B. O., & Wibeck, V. (2019). Sustainability Transformations: Agents and Drivers Across Societies. Cambridge University Press.
• Uexküll, J. von. (2010). A Foray into the Worlds of Animals and Humans. With a Theory of Meaning. University of Minnesota Press.

This programme consists of courses worth four full units. In the first term, you'll take the core course in Societal and Environmental Psychology (one full unit), an overview course in Psychological and Behavioural Science. In the second term, you'll take two electives of your choice (each worth half a unit). In the last term, you'll complete an empirical research dissertation (one full unit). Over all three terms, you'll receive training in Methods for Social Psychological Research (one full unit).

In addition to these courses, you're free to audit lectures at LSE upon the approval of the respective course conveyer.

All courses at LSE consist of lectures, which teach the theory, and seminars, which are conducted in smaller groups and are more applied.

Browse examples of previous PBS dissertations.

The Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science is a growing community of researchers, academics and students who explore the human mind and behaviour in a societal context.

From our early beginnings as a group of researchers studying psychology and society 50 years ago, the department is now home to an interdisciplinary faculty team conducting wide-ranging research.

Today, our research spans:

• social psychology
• behavioural economics
• political psychology
• organisational culture
• consumer behaviour
• public engagement
• community development
• global health, happiness and well-being
• planetary health.

Our research is connected with what is happening in the world today. The outputs impact policy, business and society at large. This focus on real-world issues sets our department, and LSE, apart from other institutions and our students inform and inspire the direction of our work.

We offer various taught programmes and research opportunities, ranging from our BSc in Psychological and Behavioural Science to doctoral training – all with an emphasis on practical, policy-related issues.

By maintaining this focus on real-world issues and societal impact, our department leads the way with innovative research in the field, the lab and everywhere in between.

So, whether you want to study, research or teach, you’ll find a supportive and inspirational community where you can contribute to global debates and change.

Learn more about our programmes and research.

Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science

Who's who

Saadi Lahlou

Programme Director and Chair in Social Psychology

Frédéric Basso

Programme Director and Associate Professor in Economic Psychology

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:

• academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
• statement of academic purpose
• two academic references
• CV.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

Contact us

Contact Postgraduate Programme Manager Will Stubbs at pbs.msc@lse.ac.uk.

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis. This means that applications will close once the programme is full.

There is no fixed deadline. However, if you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section below for more details.

For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.

For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It's designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes and mock exams.

You'll be summatively assessed according to various elements of teaching including a required dissertation. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.

The content of the master's programme is broadly relevant to all situations in which an understanding of sustainability issues and societal and economic phenomena can be of advantage.

Roles for which the contents are of particular interests include (but are not limited to): consultancy roles (eg, management consultant), R&I roles (researcher, project manager), market/society interface roles (eg, product manager, project manager, marketing manager, social marketer), behavioural insights roles (eg, market researcher, policy analyst), business psychology roles (eg, organisational designer), and C-suite advisory roles (eg, strategic planner, policy adviser).

The contents are applicable in both the private sector (eg, consultancy, big corporations, social businesses, start-ups) and public sector (eg, governments, NGOs, charities). This programme provides skills to the fast-growing demand for innovative and more sustainable ways of doing business. You may also choose to continue to obtain a PhD and pursue an academic career.

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.