Explore this leading postgraduate program in behavioural economics, a field that brings together psychology and economics.
Why study the Master of Behavioural Economics
Study Behavioural Economics with UTS Business School
This groundbreaking newly developed postgraduate program trains students in behavioural economics, a field that brings together psychology and economics to better describe and predict what people will do.
Behavioural economics takes the methodology of economic theory beyond the standard economic assumptions of rationality and self-interest to consider the trade-offs people make when forming what may well be imperfect decisions in complex environments.
Its insights can be used in a wide range of settings, including financial decision making, health decisions, education decisions and in addressing environmental issues like climate change. It’s useful across many domains, including fields such as consulting, financial services, human resource management, marketing and product design.
People with training in this field are in demand across a broad range of business and policymaking settings.
Jason: There are more possible games of chess than there are atoms in the observable universe. We cannot possibly consider all the options.
The economic decisions we make every day, whether buying a coffee or buying a house, are even more complex. And like when we play chess, we are often able to make a functional decision.
We do this using heuristics, mental shortcuts that enable us to survive and thrive in a complex would. But we are often unaware of the real reasons why we’ve made a given decision and what may have influenced us in the process of making up our mind.
Elif: Behavioural economics is the discipline, merging the insights from psychology and the principles of economics to understand how people make decisions. It tells us why people sometimes make mistakes. Why sometimes people do not know what they want or why they fail to carry out their personal plans.
Jingjing: With the knowledge gained from behavioural economics. We can help people make better decisions for themselves. We can understand how people interact in groups and networks and how these social environments shape their values and behaviour.
Jason: We have launched a new Masters in Behavioural Economics at UTS. This program teaches the foundations of behavioural economics and how to apply them in the real world. UTS has an outstanding group of researchers in this area with extensive experience in industry and policy application.
Jingjing: A key aim of the program is to give you the practical skills to use behavioural economics in your professional life. You will learn to design and run trials to study how people behave in different situations.
Elif: You will learn behavioural principles and techniques in the context of practical, economic, and financial decisions, whether it is understanding how consumers choose complex banking products or how companies organize teamwork. This will give you a new grasp of the world around you and new skills to change it for the better.
Jason: Behavioural economics provides a set of skills in demand everywhere, from private companies to government bodies. Join us for a new journey.
Economics is about how we organise society. Behavioural economics helps us understand why people make the decisions they do, and how we can help them make better decisions for themselves.
— Dr Jason Collins, Program Director, UTS Business School
Who is it for?
Designed to be flexible for working professionals this course is for those looking to apply behavioural economics concepts in industry and government decision-making environments or take leading positions in behavioural units or other relevant professions (e.g. consultancy, management, marketing).
What you’ll learn
Delivered in a blend of face-to-face and online learning, the UTS Behavioural Economics postgraduate program provides students from diverse professional backgrounds with a thorough understanding of the principles of behavioural economics and its application in the real world.
The course starts by ensuring you have a solid foundation in standard economic theory, before moving on to behavioural economics.
Learn how this combination of economic theory and psychological insight can be used to analyse a wide range of situations and behaviours in different decision-making environments.
- Master best practice in behavioural economics methods
- Learn how to design and run experimental trials to test new designs or new policies
- Understand the ethical challenges associated with behavioural interventions as a way to guide the design of trials
- Gain skills in statistical techniques to analyse experimental data to make rigorous conclusions from a trial
How you'll learn
The Behavioural Economics program is designed to allow you to balance a busy career with your studies. Subjects are taught in a combination of self-guided learning, evening online seminars and up to five intensive face-to-face weekends during the year. You will be able to apply what you learn on the weekend to your professional practice during the week. Here's a range of the subjects available in the program.
Next steps
Request a Behavioural Economics course info pack
Your options
We offer a range of flexible program options to suit your professional goals:
- Master of Behavioural Economics
- Graduate Certificate of Behavioural Economics
- Microcredential in Behavioural Game Theory
- Microcredential in Behavioural Decision Making
- The Mind Behind the Money – an Introduction to Behavioural Economics - free online course
Talk to us
Have more questions?
Join us at one of our many activities, from seminars to webinars and experiential sessions. Or book in with one of our postgraduate specialists for an informal chat in an online 1-1 consultation session via Microsoft Teams video chat. Alternatively, you can also ask us a question by filling out our information request form or give us a call on 1300 275 887 to talk through your options with us.
Apply online
Domestic students can lodge applications online for free. The application process takes around 20 minutes. Before you start your application, check out all the documents required.
If you are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian permanent resident, you need to apply through applying to study at UTS.
