MSc Behavioural Economics and Data Science
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 1 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2023
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Course Overview
In the coming years, we will see major changes in the world of work. One of these changes will be a huge increase in demand for data scientists. This MSc will prepare you for a career as a data scientist so that you can help meet this change in demand.
In this MSc, there is a focus on particular types of application: data science techniques are combined with the area of Behavioural Economics, in which the School of Economics at UEA has a world-class reputation.
Having completed 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.
Our MSc Behavioural Economics and Data Science is part of our Applied Training Programme – designed to provide key skills in economics. It is ideal if your undergraduate training was in a subject other than economics, and you now wish to develop analytical skills as an economist. This degree may be particularly useful for those with a maths or science background who wish to make their skills more marketable in the rapidly changing jobs market.
The degree course consists of core Economics and Econometrics modules taught within the School of Economics, and well as specialised modules in programming and behavioural economics. Some of the programming modules are taught in the School of Computing. You will also write a dissertation towards the end of the academic year.
In many ways, Behavioural Economics is an ideal framework in which to carry out big data research. 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 will be made aware of the relevant ethical issues; you’ll learn how to process and manipulate data; you will learn how to make economic forecasts using web search data; you will learn how to work with multiple data sources (e.g. how to merge dietary and health data on individuals); you will learn how to test economic theories using online data sources (e.g. testing auction theory using data from online auctions).
The dissertation module gives you the freedom to choose your own topic from within the area of behavioural economics and data science. Throughout your dissertation, you’ll be supported and supervised by a member of the School of Economics.
We offer specialised structural support to help you negotiate your masters 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 matrix algebra and an introduction to the specialist econometric software that you'll use in your MSc programme.
Study and Modules
Structure
The MSc Behavioural Economics and Data Science is a one-year course. In each semester, you'll take three taught modules, followed by writing your dissertation in the period between June and August.
In the autumn semester, you’ll take Economic Concepts, Econometric Methods, and Programming and Analytics for Behavioural Economists. In spring, you'll take Data Mining (CMP module), Behavioural Consumer Analytics, and an option. The possible options here are Financial Mathematics, Risk Management and Trading, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, and Visualisation.
Although you'll write your dissertation between June and August, you’ll begin your dissertation module with a sequence of dissertation training lectures and workshops in spring. Here you'll discover how to choose a topic, how to access data and search literature, how to reference, and how to analyse quantitative data.
You will be able to take advantage of further dissertation training workshops in late June and early July.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
UEA’s School of Economics is lively, friendly, research-orientated and committed to excellence in teaching. We have an international reputation in many key areas, including theoretical and applied economics. Our research interests include behavioural and experimental economics, competition economics, environmental policy, conflict, contests and corporate behaviour, finance and financial markets, and Applied Econometrics.
The teaching of your modules will be spread over two semesters. In a typical module, you'll have lectures and seminars (or lab sessions) per week. Your seminars are more interactive than lectures and provide you with an opportunity to raise questions arising from lectures.
In your programming and econometrics modules, where you'll learn how to program and conduct econometric analysis using specialist econometric software.
You will also become practiced in independent study, spending time working on coursework assignments, preparing for seminars, and doing your own wider reading.
Assessment
Your coursework will be in a variety of forms – including take-home assignments, seminar presentations, written tests, computer tests and your dissertation (which you'll submit at the end of August).
Throughout your course, you'll be given guidance on your work and constructive feedback to help you improve. You’ll receive written feedback for all pieces of coursework and further guidance will be available from your module’s organisers.
If you have additional needs due to disabilities such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia, please talk to our Student Support Service about how we can help.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Any subject area
- English Foreign Language
We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:
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IELTS: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in only two components with 6.0 in the others)
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PTE (Pearson): 64 (minimum 59 in two components only with 64 in the other two)
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests
INTO University of East Anglia
If you do not meet the English requirements for this course, our partner INTO UEA run pre-sessional English courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk
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- Intakes
- This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
INTO University of East Anglia
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study one of the International Graduate Diploma programmes offered by our partner INTO UEA. These programmes guarantee progression to selected master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details please click here:
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2023/24 are:
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UK Students: £10,500 (full time)
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International Students: £19,800 (full time)
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of additional course-related costs.
How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
Upon completing this MSc, you’ll be ready to pursue a career in a government or private-sector organisation that specialises in Behavioural Economics. You will 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.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Examples of careers you could enter include:
- Government agencies
- Private Sector Consultancies
- Healthcare consultancies
- PhD study