Behavioural Science MSc

Description

This MSc course is aimed at UK and international students who are seeking access to cutting-edge behavioural science research, advanced training in quantitative methods, and instruction in the application of behavioural science principles to everyday problems faced within the public, private, and third sectors.

The MSc has been designed to provide you with an understanding of factors that impact behaviour, including the role of ‘nudging’ in behaviour change, and the research and analytical skills to enable an analysis of business problems from a behavioural perspective. It will provide you with a wide range of knowledge (both of a theoretical and a practical nature) and transferable skills including various professional ways of disseminating knowledge.

This course will prove valulable for those intending to enter the public, private, or third sector, including business, charities and government, local authorities and international organisations, by providing you with the tools to apply behavioural principles to problem-solving and decision-making in these domains. It will provide the behavioural insights to help individuals build confidence, influence others, think and cooperate inter-culturally, set and achieve goals, negotiate mindfully, and teamwork effectively.

Course Learning and Teaching

The MSc Behavioural Science is delivered through a mixture of lectures, seminars, practical sessions, workshops and lab placements.

Lectures and seminars provide key theoretical information on general topics such as social cognition, behavioural bias and social influence, and in-depth knowledge of a range of methods and techniques used in behavioural science research (focusing on their strengths and weaknesses). This core knowledge is then enriched by workshops, practical sessions and lab placements.

While seminars and workshops allow student-led discussions with the aim of developing your critical thinking, your oral communications and your writing skills, practical sessions provide you with in-depth and hands-on knowledge of selected research methods and techniques. Importantly, practical classes also include the application of a range of widely-used statistical tests and a critical understanding of research design, project management and data presentation. All skills that are highly applicable to a career as a behavioural scientist in a range of domains.

Finally, the dissertation module will give you the opportunity to apply the knowledge of theoretical principles, research skills and statistical techniques during the complete lifecycle of a research project. You will undertake a detailed study resulting in a significant piece of independent research that is focused on addressing problems or issues that require a behaviour change perspective in the private, public or third sector.

Outside timetabled contact hours, you are also expected to undertake your own independent study to prepare for your classes and broaden your subject knowledge.

Altogether, the course is focused on supplying you with broad theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical experience of cutting-edge research in behavioural science before embarking on a career in the private, public or third sector.