A curriculum that combines economics, psychology, and real-world application
The Behavioural Economics specialisation within the MSc Economics and Business gives you both a solid training in mainstream economics and the tools to apply psychological insights to improve predictions and design more effective products, strategies, and policies.
You will follow courses in empirical methods, mainstream economics, and behavioural economics. The curriculum is designed to help you understand and influence decision-making in a wide range of contexts.
Core Behavioural Economics courses
You will take three core courses (4 ECTS each) and one seminar (10 ECTS), where you will explore the latest insights in behavioural economics and apply them in interactive settings:
- Advanced Behavioural Economics
- Experimental Economics
- Seminar Applied Behavioural Economics
The seminar explores behavioural analysis—why people behave the way they do and which psychological and contextual factors influence their decisions. You will learn how to apply behavioural insights to encourage desirable behaviour in real-world settings.
Empirical methods and data skills
Two courses focus on working with different types of data and introduce you to widely used statistical software such as STATA and R.
Choose your track
You can tailor your programme by selecting one of three economics track, each aligned with another specialisation within the MSc Economics and Business:
- Financial Economics track
- Strategy Economics track
- Marketing track
Each track includes courses and seminars from the corresponding specialisation.
You may also choose a behavioural elective, such as Advanced Behavioural Finance or Economics of Negotiations, depending on your selected track.
Curriculum Overview
- 50% Behavioural Economics (22 ECTS)
- 32% Track-specific courses (14 ECTS)
- 18% Empirical methods
The core coursework consists of approximately 40% theory (mainly in lectures) and 60% application (mainly in the seminar).
In class
Examples of practical applications discussed in class:
- Eneco: Encouraging customers to use more electricity during daytime hours and reduce consumption during peak times (before and after work).
- IKEA: Increasing customer engagement through the app to enhance usage and interaction.
- ING: Promoting safer digital behaviour among customers, such as avoiding phishing emails.
- Ministry of Economic Affairs – Behavioural Insights Team:
- Motivating SMEs to start sustainability reporting.
- Encouraging neighbourhood residents to collaborate on sustainability initiatives.
Study schedule
| period | course code | course name | EC |
|---|---|---|---|
| block1 | FEM61000 | Take-Off Master | 0 ec |
| block1 | FEM11087 | Applied Microeconometrics | 4 ec |
| block1 | FEM11106 | Advanced Behavioural Economics | 4 ec |
| block1+2+4 | Track* | 18 ec | |
| block2 | FEM11089 | Experimental Economics | 4 ec |
| block2 | FEM11164 | Advanced Empirical Methods | 4 ec |
| block3 | FEM11165 | Seminar Applied Behavioural Economics | 10 ec |
| block3+4+5 | Master's Thesis Behavioural Economics | 16 ec | |
| total | 60 ec | ||
*Strategy Economics Track
| period | Course code | course name | EC |
|---|---|---|---|
block1 | FEM11037 FEM11059 | one of the following courses: Capitalism, Corporations and Property Rights Economics of Strategy | 4 ec |
| block2 | FEM11166 | Economics of Negotiations | 4 ec |
| block4 | FEM11193 | Seminar Global Firm Strategy | 10 ec |
*Financial Economics Track
| period | Course code | course name | EC |
|---|---|---|---|
| block1 | FEM11006 FEM11074 | one of the following courses: Advanced Corporate Finance and Strategy Advanced Investments any other Financial Economics Elective | 4 ec |
| block2 | FEM11076 FEM11166 | one of the following courses: Advanced Behavioural Finance Economics of Negotiations | 4 ec |
| block4 | FEM11169 FEM11173 FEM11174 | Students will be asked to submit their preferences for a finance seminar. Based on these preferences, an optimal distribution allocation will be made. Please note, it is possible you are not assigned to your top preference: Seminar Risk Management Seminar Advanced Corporate Finance: Corporate Governance Seminar Behavioural Finance or any other Financial Economics Seminar | 10 ec |
*Marketing Track
| period | course code | course name | EC |
|---|---|---|---|
| block1 | FEM11031 FEM11219 FEM11220 | one of the following courses: Branding & Product Management Managing Omnichannel Experiences Customer Intelligence | 4 ec |
| block2 | FEM11166 | Economics of Negotiations | 4 ec |
| block4 | FEM11177 FEM11178 | one of the following seminars: Seminar Designing New Products and Experiences Seminar Leveraging Insights to Create Customer Value | 10 ec |
Disclaimer
This overview provides a general impression of the 2027-2028 curriculum. It is not the current study schedule. Enrolled students can find the most up-to-date version on MyEUR. Please note that minor changes may occur in future academic years.