Our Applied Behaviour Analysis Master’s aims to develop your critical understanding of concepts and principles of applied behaviour analysis. You’ll gain a detailed knowledge of intellectual and developmental disabilities and experience of practice or conducting research in this field.
At the Tizard Centre, we offer a suite of courses in Applied Behaviour Analysis and Positive Behaviour Support. There are two routes through the courses depending on the pathway to professional certification you intend to pursue – via ABAI (to pursue certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst®, or via the UK-SBA (to pursue certification as a UKBA(cert). All variations of our courses can be taken on campus or via distance learning. It is strongly recommended that you review all available course options to ensure you select the version that suits you best.
If you have any queries, please contact the admissions team.
As a recent graduate or experienced practitioner, this postgraduate qualification opens up a range of career opportunities. It also provides the necessary coursework for you to pursue professional certification in this field.
Our course is designed to support the development of practitioners who can work effectively, including using an applied behaviour analytic approach, both with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (including autistic people) and with organisations that provide or arrange support for individuals.
This version of the course is has been designed to meet the UK-SBA’s coursework requirements for eligibility to pursue certification as a UKBA(cert). More information can be found on the UK-SBA website.
This version of the course is not an ABAI verified coursework sequence. Please note that the BACB will not be administering exams in the UK after 2025. Applicants who wish to pursue BCBA® certification should refer to our ABAI version of the course – please see all course options here.
A first or second class honours degree in a social science discipline; voluntary, professional or family experience of intellectual/developmental disability. We encourage international applicants with the relevant academic/professional background and competence in spoken and written English.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
This course requires a Very Good level of English language, equivalent to a high B2 on CEFR.
Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage.
Examples:
IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
PTE Academic 67 with a minimum of 59 in each sub-test
A degree from the UK
A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
PCert students take modules TZRD9020, TZRD9030, TZRD9050, TZRD9070, and TZRD9120.
PDip students complete all taught modules but do not take the research dissertation or work-based learning module.
MSc students complete all taught modules plus either TZRD8010 (available to part-time students only) or TZRD8990.
Compulsory modules currently include:
Optional modules for part-time MSc students
Duration: Two years part-time (One year full-time from Sept 24)
Please note that the UK-SBA route will not be offered on a full-time basis until Sept 2024. Applicants who wish to study full-time in Sept 2023 will need to take the ABAI route or defer entry to Sept 2024 – please see all course options here.
The course is taught in workshop weeks across the year, and each workshop week is either 4 or 5 days long. Outside workshops, students are expected to work on assignments, and independent and directed readings. Workshop weeks are held roughly twice per month for full time students, and once per month for first year part-time students.
There are fewer workshop weeks for second year part-time students, with the 60-credit dissertation or work-based learning project completed in year 2.
Teaching includes lectures, guided study using Moodle, with seminars and group exercises and discussions to enhance understanding of the content.
A range of assessments are employed including examination, essay, and practice-focused assignments.
This programme aims to:
You will gain knowledge and understanding of:
You develop intellectual skills in:
You gain subject-specific skills in:
You will gain the following transferable skills:
All teaching takes place at the Tizard Centre. Postgraduate research students have a shared office space with a computer and telephone.
The Tizard Centre runs an annual seminar series where staff or guest lecturers present the results of research or highlight recent developments in the field of social care. The Jim Mansell Memorial Lecture invites public figures or distinguished academics to discuss topics that could interest a wider audience. The Centre also publishes the Tizard Learning Disability Review (in conjunction with Emerald Publishing) to provide a source of up-to-date information for professionals and carers.
The Tizard Centre provides consultancy to organisations in the statutory and independent sectors, both nationally and internationally, in diversified areas such as service assessment, person-centred approaches, active support and adult protection. The Centre also teaches a range of short courses, often in conjunction with other organisations.
The Tizard Centre also hosts two journal clubs, relating to behaviour analysis and to autism. Journal club events are held regularly where speakers are invited to discuss key research papers or topics in the field.
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Journal of Mental Health; Journal of Applied Research and Intellectual Disabilities; American Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; and Journal of Intellectual Disability Research.
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
Current research areas include: social inequalities and community care; intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.
Our postgraduate courses improve employability prospects for both those with established careers and new entrants to the field. Many of our students already work with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in professional, management or supporting capacities. Our programmes support their continuing professional development and enhance their opportunities for career advancement. Other students, who are at the beginning of their careers, move on to a range of professional roles in health and social care including working as psychologists in learning disability or behavioural specialists in community learning disability teams; service management of development roles; clinical psychology training or a PhD.
Our Applied Behaviour Analysis programme includes a course sequence approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Its completion, therefore, meets two of the requirements for certification as a Behaviour Analyst. Successful students will need to obtain appropriate supervised experience and pass the BACB exam. Many of our ABA students hope to take this career path, applying their skills either in work with children or adults with autism (ie early intervention programmes or in schools using an ABA approach) or with children/adults with learning disabilities whose behaviour is described as challenging. Every week we are asked to notify our students of opportunities in these fields. Our ABA programme is also suitable for parents of children/adults with autism or learning disability, who are looking to increase their own understanding of ABA.
The 2024/25 full-time annual tuition fees for this course are:
PCert
PDip
MSc
For more information, please contact the admissions team.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Find out more about general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.
You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.
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