Psychology and Economics

Psychology and economics address human decision-making from complementary angles, and the intersection between them has become one of the most productive areas of contemporary social science. Standard economics models human behaviour using assumptions of rationality and self-interest that psychology has repeatedly demonstrated are incomplete. Behavioural economics, drawing directly on psychological research into heuristics, biases, social preferences and the structure of choice, has transformed how economists think about markets, policy and institutions.

Studying both disciplines together gives you the tools to engage rigorously with this frontier and to apply insights from each to the questions of the other.

At the University of Edinburgh this four-year programme takes you deep into both disciplines. In psychology you will cover the core areas including cognitive, developmental, social, abnormal and biological psychology, developing both theoretical understanding and the research skills that the discipline requires. In economics you will study microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and applied economic analysis, developing the quantitative and analytical tools that modern economics demands.

The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study in a different academic environment and to encounter different national traditions in both psychology and economics research. Edinburgh's strong standing in both disciplines provides an excellent research context for this combination.

Graduates from psychology and economics programmes are in strong demand across a wide range of sectors. Behavioural insights work in government, public policy, healthcare and financial services all draw explicitly on this combination. Roles in market research, consumer behaviour analysis, human resources, management consulting, economic analysis, academic research and financial services are all accessible.

Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in behavioural economics, economic psychology, public policy or either parent discipline. The combination is demanding, distinctive and increasingly central to how the world's most pressing problems are approached.