Apply psychological knowledge and social insight to facilitate meaningful improvements in health and wellbeing at both community and individual levels.

During this interdisciplinary course, you’ll explore the foundations of health and wellbeing from a community psychology perspective.

You’ll look beyond the individual level, to focus on how social, cultural, economic and environmental factors shape outcomes and combine to affect people’s quality of life. You will become familiar with aligning practice to the principles of the United Nations Human Rights Framework and Sustainable Development Goals.

This will allow you to critically reflect on the role of these factors as determinants of health and become equipped to deliver effective, ethical, and sustainable initiatives across diverse global and cultural settings.

Beyond the core aspects of the course, you can tailor your learning with optional units from our Department of Education, Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies, and Department of Social & Policy Sciences to give you a more rounded viewpoint.

Gain key skills

Upon successful completion of this course, you’ll have gained:

• A critical and holistic understanding of key health and wellbeing challenges, including the social, cultural, The ability to critically analyse and evaluate policies, models and interventions designed to improve health and wellbeing across diverse settings
• Advanced, evidence-based knowledge to design and justify ethical, contextually appropriate strategies to address complex health and wellbeing challenges in different communities
• A range of highly transferable professional skills, including data interpreting, research design and policy analysis

Apply your skills to real-world issues

You will have the opportunity to use your knowledge and skills during either a dissertation or consultancy project. You’ll receive support to choose the pathway that best aligns with your interests and career goals.

The consultancy project offers a practice-focused experience, giving you the opportunity to co-develop a project brief with a partner organisation and apply your learning in a real-world setting.

You’ll engage in activities such as:

• critically engaging with literature including evaluating policies or practices
• contributing to improvement or reform initiatives
• working on community engagement initiatives
• analysing data to inform decision-making

The dissertation enables you to undertake an in-depth, independent research project on a topic of your choice, developing advanced research skills while exploring a focused question in detail to contribute to the Community Psychology knowledge base.

Both pathways are supported by expert academic supervision, ensuring you develop the skills, insight and experience needed to progress in your chosen field.

A supportive psychology community

As a student on this course, you’ll join our respected Department of Psychology, which is ranked top 60 in the world (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026). Our teaching is informed by current research and practice, ensuring that what you study is up-to-date and relevant.

Through teaching input or supervision, you’ll also benefit from the specialist knowledge of people in the wider Department of Psychology community. Their research interests span a wide range of applied psychology topics, including:

• behavioural economics
• clinical psychology
• cognitive neuroscience
• digital science
• health psychology
• social psychology
• sustainability

Graduate prospects

This master’s degree is suitable if you’re looking to progress from undergraduate study or are a professional looking to further or change your career.

Worldwide, there is increasing emphasis on preventative, community-based approaches to health and wellbeing that recognise the social, economic, environmental, and cultural factors shaping health outcomes.

Governments, international agencies, and employers are prioritising initiatives that promote health equity, community resilience, and sustainable development. Examples include the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and nationally, the UK, Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England (Department of Health and Social Care, 2025).

This course prepares you for a wide range of established and emerging roles in public health, community development, mental health, health promotion, social care, and wellbeing services. Graduates may work across healthcare, government, NGOs, charities, education, housing, policy, and international development settings.

The programme can also support progression towards psychology-related professions, including clinical, counselling, educational, health, and forensic psychology, subject to additional training or professional requirements. It is equally relevant for those already working in health, social care, community, or voluntary-sector roles.

Get a taste of our courses before you apply

We hold a variety of in-person and virtual open days throughout the year. Come along and speak to our academics, current students and alumni to find out which course is right for you.

Sign up for a Postgraduate event

Scholarships and bursaries

You could be considered for a bursary or scholarship to help you study at Bath.

Find out more and apply