MSc Behavioural Economics and Data Science

Course Overview

In the coming years, we’ll see major changes in the world of work. One of these changes will be a huge increase in demand for data scientists. This Behavioural Economics MSc will prepare you for a career as a data scientist so that you can help meet this change in demand.

The focus of the MSc is on the methodology for testing predictions of behavioural economics using big data sources. For example: you’ll learn how to create data sets using data scraping techniques, and you’ll be made aware of the relevant ethical issues; you’ll learn how to process and manipulate data; you’ll learn how to make economic forecasts using web search data; you’ll learn how to work with multiple data sources ; you’ll learn how to test economic theories using online data sources.

The School of Economics will be proactive in providing support to you in shaping and supporting your career aspirations. Alumni and employers regularly visit the School of Economics and provide employability talks, training sessions as well as individual meetings with students, providing you with the chance to enhance your skills and to further improve your employment prospects.

We offer specialised structural support to help you negotiate your Master’s course. This includes compulsory, intensive pre-sessional training before the start of teaching on your course modules. This training incorporates the techniques of calculus and statistical methods in the economic context, and also introduces you to the specialist econometric software STATA that you'll use throughout your MSc Programme. Over the course of the year, we’ll also give you training in the use of various online data sources that are likely to be useful in your dissertation research.

In addition to receiving first-class academic training at a school with a world-class reputation, you’ll be able to enjoy the wealth of opportunities that UEA offers to cultivate non-academic and sporting interests. You’ll also enjoy the beautiful and historic city of Norwich, where the campus is located.

With this MSc, your employability prospects will be strong. Policy-makers in government are increasingly turning to behavioural economics for insights into decision-making behaviour, insights that inform our understanding of how individuals, groups and markets operate. Private Sector organisations specialising in Behavioural Economics research are also a growing phenomenon. You could also take your skills into banking and finance, healthcare, regulation, human resources or executive management. You could also progress to PhD study.

This course is open to

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

Typical International Entry Requirements

Degree classification

UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent

Degree Subject

Any subject acceptable.

English Foreign Language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading): 

• IELTS:  6.0 overall with minimum 6.0 in Writing & Speaking and 5.5 in Listening & Reading

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

 If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.

INTO UEA

If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partner INTO UEA. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here: 

International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences 

Admissions Policy

Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.

Employability

Upon completing this Behavioural Economics MSc, you’ll be ready to pursue a career in a government or private-sector organisation that specialises in Behavioural Economics. You’ll also be well-qualified to pursue a career as a data scientist.

You could alternatively take your skills into banking and finance, healthcare, regulation, human resources or executive management. And of course, you could progress to PhD study.

Example of careers that you could enter include:

• Government agencies
• Private Sector Consultancies
• Healthcare consultancies

Discover more on our Careers webpages.