Course summary
Our MSc in Behavioural and Economic Science (Science Track) combines multidisciplinary expertise from the departments of Psychology and Economics, as well as Warwick Business School. This course offers you training in basic psychology and behavioural economics, whilst allowing you to focus on the cognitive science of judgement and decision-making. Course overview This innovative course in the growing area of decision science and behavioural economics combines multidisciplinary expertise from the Department of Psychology, Department of Economics and Warwick Business School (WBS). The course emphasises both theoretical foundations and real-world application of core and advanced areas of behavioural economics, and the cognitive science of judgement and decision making. The Science Track variation of the course is designed for students with a first degree in a science-based subject, such as Psychology, Maths, Biology, etc. or a subject with a strong quantitative element, such as Business, Finance, etc. A variation of the course is offered by the Department of Economics and is available if you have a first degree in Economics. Skills from this degree By the end of the course, you should be able to:
- Gain a deeper understanding of how and why people make the choices they do
- Understand how influencing such choices is important across a variety of domains, from public policy (e.g. encouraging people to save for pensions), through to industry (e.g. how to place a new product in the market), and individual behaviour (e.g. why people drink and eat too much).
- Develop a theoretical understanding of key models and results in behavioural economics and judgment and decision making
- Design, conduct and analyse behavioural experiments
- Implement models of choice
- Access and analyse large-scale datasets
- Initiate economic enquiry and test economic models
- Assess and deploy potential behavioural interventions
Modules
Core modules You will usually study three core modules across Psychology, Economics, and WBS, as well as complete a Behavioural and Economic Science project during the summer. The three modules usually include:
- Behavioural Microeconomics
- Issues in Psychological Science
- Methods and Analysis in Behavioural Science
- Experimental Economics
- Behavioural Economics
- Principles of Cognition
- Psychological Models of Choice
- Behavioural Change: Nudging and Persuasion
- Bayesian Approaches in Behavioural Science
- Neuroeconomics
- Behavioural Ethics
Assessment method
We typically assess modules through a mix of assessment types, which include worksheets, essays, research reports, modelling and data analysis, class tests, exams, and presentations.
Entry requirements
Minimum requirements 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject. The MSc Behavioural and Economic Science is a quantitative degree and you should feel comfortable taking a mathematical approach to your thinking. On the MSc we cover the use of statistics to make sense of behavioural data (e.g. regression and ANOVAs). We introduce the R programming language for statistics and mathematical modelling (though we do not assume you have previous experience). We use maths in economic and psychological models. You should be familiar with some of: elementary calculus, basic geometry, a really basic knowledge of sets, functions like logarithms, exponentials, powers, probability and probability distributions. You do not need to know all of these things, but you should not be frightened about learning about them! Such a quantitative approach is a really great way to understand data from field studies and experiments, and big data sets and surveys. It is also a great way to formalise and think about ideas about how people behave and the aggregate consequences of this behaviour. English language requirements You can find out more about our English language requirements on our website. This course requires the following: - Band B - IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above. International qualifications We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Sponsorship information
We offer a variety of postgraduate funding options for study at the University of Warwick, from postgraduate loans, university scholarships, fee awards, to academic department bursaries. It's important that you apply for your postgraduate course first before you apply for a University of Warwick scholarship. Please visit the University's scholarship webpages.
Provider information
University of Warwick
Coventry
CV4 7AL