One of three specialist Masters in Economics programmes at Durham, the MSc in Behavioural Economics decodes how people actually make choices - and why those choices often depart from purely rational models. As one of the fastest-growing fields, Behavioural Economics offers powerful tools to shape business strategies and public policy. The programme features a unique combination of modules at the crossroads of Economics and Psychology for providing an interdisciplinary perspective on human behaviour. Classroom experiments and training in experimental methods further build your ability to investigate how people make economic decisions in practice.
The programme is delivered by the Department of Economics, renowned internationally for its research and teaching excellence and is one of four departments at Durham University Business School. The Business School is one of the an elite group of institutions accredited by all three major business education accrediting bodies: the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA), and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).
Your programme consists of a set of core modules and optional modules. The dissertation forms the concluding part of your programme and involves an in-depth investigation in the area of your own research.
Course structure
Year 1 modules
Core modules:
Advanced Microeconomics
enhances your knowledge and analytical skills in areas such as consumer theory, producer theory, decision-making under risk and uncertainty, incentives and strategic behaviour, general equilibrium and information economics.
Econometric Analysis
provides the foundational econometrics skills necessary to pursue empirical research in the areas of economics and finance.
Advanced Topics in Behavioural Science
blends a detailed introduction to the origins and current state of behavioural science with critical examination of key special topics such as social cognition, behaviour in groups and teams, wellbeing, prosociality, and financial decision making.
Behavioural Economics
builds the necessary skills to critically review a wide range of behavioural patterns that influence economic decisions, and the consequences of those behaviours for business and policymaking.
Experimental Economics
enables you to test behavioural theories using experimental methods. This module is designed to combine the behavioural approach in economics with active classroom experiments.
Dissertation
The MSc Behavioural Economics dissertation involves an in‑depth investigation in an area of your own research interest. Supervised by a faculty member, you will transform your ideas into a coherent piece of rigorous scholarly analysis. We actively encourage and support the use of experimental methods where appropriate to strengthen your empirical contribution. You may also have the opportunity to undertake your dissertation abroad at a partner university (see below for 'Dissertation Abroad').
Optional modules:
In recent years optional modules have included:
- Data Analytics
- Development Economics
- Game Theory
- Industrial Organisation
- Machine Learning
- Microeconometrics
- Language module offered by the Centre for Foreign Language Studies
Additionally, students on the MSc Behavioural Economics have access to a distinctive set of options, offering a rich interdisciplinary perspective on decision-making:
- Behavioural and Neurofinance
- Behavioural Insights for Public Policy
- Power and Influence
Note: the list of modules is indicative and may change in the academic year 2026/2027.
