Behavioural Economics and Data Science MSc (PG)

University of East Anglia

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 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.

About This Course

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, as well as specialised modules in programming and behavioural economics. Some of the programming modules are taught in the School of Computing. You’ll 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’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 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 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 matrix algebra, and an introduction to the specialist econometric software that you'll use in your MSc programme.

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