Program Overview

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This course is closed for January 2023 entry. Applications are open for October 2023 entry. Investigate the complex nuances in economic decision making and actions. Our MSc Behavioural and Experimental Economics gives you all the tools to understand what has become one of the fastest growing areas in economics in recent years. Though available as both a January and October start, part-time study is only available as part of the October start variant. How do we make decisions about markets, businesses and customers? What’s the science behind these decisions? How does an understanding of human behaviour make better policies? What’s the impact of sales practices on customers? How do behavioural biases in customers impact how much they’ll pay for a product or service? Behavioural economics is one of the fastest growing areas in economics in recent years. Insights inform business and public policy alike – we investigate the human and social factors influencing decisions made by consumers, borrowers and investors. You’re trained in experimental design by lab experts and lecturers and will design lab experiments for your assignments. You will also have the opportunity to participate in and gain hands-on experience with experiments in ESSEXLab , our state-of-the-art social science laboratory. You don’t need a background in economics to study this course. Our modules are flexible so you can choose to focus on specific topics that interest you. We’ll teach you a diverse set of tools and methods, preparing you well for PhD study or a career in a number of fields such as business environments or public policy and implementation. You explore topics including:

• How economic considerations, cognitive limitations and psychology jointly shape human decision making
• Theoretical frameworks and empirical predictions for environments where traditional theory fails to provide guidance
• Markets and strategic interactions

We are 4th in UK for research power in economics and econometrics (Times Higher Education research power measure, Research Excellence Framework 2021). We’re also ranked 18th in the UK for Economics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2023). Much of our research is related to policy, and we have particular strengths in the areas of:

• Economic theory, game theory and strategic interactions
• Behavioural economics
• Applied economics and labour economics

There's always something fascinating going on in our department, from regular lively debates with prestigious speakers in seminars, workshops and conferences to cutting-edge papers being published in leading journals, including American Economic Review, Econometrica, and Review of Economic Studies. With this course you also have the opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner institutions and achieve a dual award, which means you’ll receive two Masters degrees in two years. Find out more on our dual award webpage. Why we're great.

• Work with researchers to learn how to conduct experiments from start to finish, as a lab assistant in ESSEXLab.
• Learn powerful theories and skills that are welcomed in business environments and public sectors, as well as doctoral-level study.
• Learn alongside research stars who are breaking new ground in all fields of economics.

Our expert staff

Study and work alongside some of the most prominent economists of our time. Our researchers are at the forefront of their field and have even received MBEs, with students coming from across the globe to study, research or work with us. Many of our researchers also provide consultancy services to businesses in London and other major financial centres, helping us to develop research for today's society as well as informing our teaching for the future. See research interests of our staff .

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Specialist facilities

Take advantage of our wide range of learning resources to assist you in your studies:

• Work with researchers to learn how to conduct experiments from start to finish, as a lab assistant in ESSEXLab , our state-of-the-art social science experimental lab
• Extensive software for quantitative analysis is available in all computer labs across the University
• Access a variety of economics databases and multiple copies of textbooks and e-books in the Albert Sloman Library

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Your future

After completing your masters, you may wish to extend your knowledge with a research degree – many Essex graduates decide to stay here for further study. Alternatively, our course also prepares you for employment. Recent surveys have shown that higher degree graduates are more likely to obtain jobs at professional or managerial level. With its distinctive focus on questions in behavioural economics, combining theoretical foundations and real-world applications, this course will equip you with transferable employability skills valued in industry (for example in the retail and financial sectors), government and academia. Our graduates find employment in roles such as business and financial analysts, management consultants, government officials, and economists for banks and other financial organisations. Recent graduates include an Analyst at E2V Technology Company, Delivery Executive at Adam Smith International, a University Lecturer and roles in large organisations such as Deutsche Bank. We also work with the University’s Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

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Be a lab assistant

We want you to succeed in your career after Essex. To help you do this, we offer two of our students on this course the chance to undertake work experience as a lab assistant in ESSEXLab , our state-of-the-art social science lab at our Colchester Campus. ESSEXLab works with researchers from across the social sciences, from Essex, elsewhere in the UK, and abroad. As a lab assistant, you help researchers access lab resources to plan and execute their experiments, giving you a full view of the experimental research process at ESSEXLab from start to finish. Lab assistants will have the opportunity to participate in supporting a variety of studies, including studies in the lab, online studies, and studies conducted in the field via ESSEXLab Mobile , our iPad-based mobile social science laboratory.

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One Masters not enough for you?

We offer a number of postgraduate taught dual awards with our international partners. You work for two Masters degrees, one at Essex and another at a prestigious university across the globe, gaining them both in a shorter time than studying them separately. This unique opportunity gives you a competitive edge when applying for jobs or prepares you for PhD study. “The department was very supportive throughout my stay at Essex. I got a better understanding of behavioural economics as well as experimental economics. I also enjoyed working as an assistant in ESSEXLab. I worked with researchers, finding out how they come up with ideas, formulate them into an experimental design, run the experiments, and make sense of the data. After my Masters, I decided to stay at Essex and study PhD Economics.” Zia UI Hassan Khan, MSc Behavioural Economics