Behavioural science is a rapidly growing area for policy and business with fascinating insights into human behaviour and wide-ranging practical implications. This exciting, new course teaches the core theory and methods of behavioural science and behavioural economics, and how these can be applied to important business and policy-relevant issues. This MSc is aimed at students with a very strong intrinsic motivation to study the link between economics, psychology, business and policy. The MSc is taught by dedicated staff from the Behavioural Science Centre who have extensive experience in integrating insights from economics and psychology to address key societal challenges. The MSc offers students the opportunity to gain advanced training in behavioural theory, to learn a comprehensive suite of behavioural methods, and to understand how this ‘toolkit’ can be applied to understand and inform the decisions made by stakeholders, workers and consumers. Behavioural science and behavioural economics seek to answer key questions about how people behave and what influences the decisions they make, for example: * What determines whether people are impulsive, take risks, or cooperate? * What factors influence behavioural change? * What influence do different cultures and societies have on human behaviour? Behavioural science uses the knowledge derived from the study of such questions to develop solutions to crucial economic, political, commercial and social challenges, for example: * How can we increase the efficient use of energy? * How can pension savings rates be increased? * How can randomised controlled trials be used to test and evaluate public policy? * How do we ensure consumers find value and make purchases they are satisfied with? * How can compliance with laws and regulations be increased? Course objectives The general aims of the course are as follows: * To provide an understanding of core topics in psychology, and how insights from behavioural science are relevant to and can be applied to business and economics. * To enable students to develop a detailed understanding of the key concepts of behavioural economics. * To develop an appreciation of how concepts from behavioural science have been and can be applied in business settings and in policy domains and the challenges which accompany this task in multiple contexts. * To develop the capacity to understand the role of individual difference factors in shaping responses to and behaviours in different economic circumstances and business settings * To enhance understanding of the role of experiments in identifying decision processes and enabling behaviour change * To develop the ability to understand and carry out complex statistical analyses and sophisticated behavioural research methods * To become aware of the data sources available to researchers in behavioural science and how best to utilise these resources to study business and policy-relevant issues * To develop an appreciation of unfolding trends in the behavioural science and behavioural economics literatures and to gain key insights from leading experts in the field.

On completion of this course students will be ready and able to contribute innovative solutions to many businesses, governments and society. The specialist knowledge they acquire in behavioural science will be invaluable in building long-term careers in business (e.g. human resource management, advertising, regulation, consumer marketing, social marketing and survey research) and those who wish to inform the design and implementation of public policy. The course also provides an excellent entry for those thinking of progressing to doctoral research in this area. Industry demand for skills * Policy: The Cabinet Office has a Behavioural Insights team, which draws on insights from the growing body of academic research in the fields of behavioural science and psychology. The concepts and methods employed by the Behavioural Insights team are now being adopted in other countries and amongst those involved in policy implementation more generally. * Marketing and Market Research: Key skills desired in marketing and market research include the ability to apply behavioural theory and methods to understand product pricings, promotion, and consumer perceptions. Part of this involves the understanding of the characteristics of customers, so that they can be grouped and targeted in customised ways. * Human Resources: There is a demand for skills within organisation development, organisation design, resourcing and talent development as well as employee engagement within the HR environment. * Survey Research: Government, state agencies, and businesses have demonstrated a strong demand for high quality survey data. Companies delivering this service seek sophisticated survey operations skills including knowledge of data collection modes, survey design, survey completion behaviour, formatting, quality control, and distribution. * Business: Business and management careers now place increasing value on the capacity to apply behavioural insights to business challenges and to gather evidence using experimental methods. Employability By the end of the course, students will possess the following understanding and skills: * an ability to carry out complex statistics, design behavioural experiments and implement behavioural research methods; * a capacity to integrate the knowledge and understanding amassed throughout the course and apply this to successfully tackle substantive issues in business and policy; * an ability to use a conceptual understanding of complex conceptual, design and statistical issues to understand, critically evaluation and apply insights from emerging research in behavioural economics and related disciplines. Alongside acquiring an in-depth knowledge of the concepts and methods of behavioural science, students future development and employability will benefit from a set of core skills that the course aims to foster. These include the ability to: Written and oral communication skills * present arguments clearly and concisely both in writing and orally; * give a direct and concise answer to a question; * present both brief summaries that identify the key points and fuller treatments of a topic that are well structured; * present a balanced view of different opinions on an issue; * use suitable means of presenting arguments, e.g. visual aids in oral presentations, diagrams in written work; * contribute constructively to a group discussion; * communicate concisely to different audiences, including those with no academic training. Analysis and problem-solving The ability to: * deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively; * abstract and simplify in order to identify the essence of a problem; * analyse, reason and develop logical arguments; * identify what should be taken as given or fixed for the purpose of solving a problem; * set up and analyse a model; * marshal and evaluate evidence; * make sound judgements in the absence of complete data; * assimilate, structure and analyse qualitative and quantitative data; * think critically about the limits of any analysis; * draw policy conclusions and recognise the potential constraints on their implementation; * evaluate alternative strategies; * keep an open mind about different methodological approaches; * relate issues to a wider context; * think imaginatively and creatively. Learning The ability to: * search out relevant material; * frame and ask questions that elicit the information required; * synthesise relevant material; * learn independently; * make use of the services of libraries and other sources of help and information; * continue to advance knowledge and understanding; * develop new skills to a higher level. Self-management The ability to: * work under pressure and meet deadlines; * work methodically and manage time effectively; * plan projects and prioritise tasks; * set personal goals and evaluate personal performance; * demonstrate self-direction and the capacity to work without supervision; * take initiative and develop ideas independently.