Economic Psychology

Course description

The MSc in Economic Psychology programme examines the psychological mechanisms that underlie consumption and other economic behaviors. It is an area where psychology and economics intersect. It deals with economic preferences, choices, decisions, and factors influencing these, as well as the consequences of economic decisions.

MSc students learn about economic and psychological reasoning and theories and how to apply them in order to understand decisions and motivation behind consumption and other economic behavior in daily life.

• You develop an understanding of the basic principles of the psychology of economic behavior and, as such, our graduates become experts on consumer behavior, financial behavior, negotiation and bargaining. The focus of the programme is on basic theories of economic behavior, basic theories of consumer behavior, and more specific courses on marketing and money.
• Our core curriculum focuses on the integration of psychological and economic theories and practice, consisting of four unique courses is a minimum to ensure this and to prepare you for a career in which you will collaborate with economists, marketers and business researchers.
• In your second semester you will learn to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills acquired during your coursework (thesis and internship).

The MSc provides you with comprehensive in-depth knowledge and excellent skills in economic psychology, enabling you to work independently at a professional level in a relevant field.

Specialist University in Economic Psychology since 1972

Did you know that Tilburg University has a long-standing tradition of expertise in Economic Psychology? It was among the founding institutions in the field of Economic Psychology as early as in1972.

Economic Psychology has been a niche at Tilburg University since 1972 when Van Veldhoven was appointed as first Professor in Economic Psychology in the Netherlands (his successors in Tilburg were Theo Poiesz, Fred van Raaij, and currently Marcel Zeelenberg). Tilburg was also the place where in 1976 the IAREP (International Association for Research in Economic Psychology) was founded.

Economic psychology is similar to behavioral economics, which has gained increasing attention since Kahneman's Nobel-Prize in 2002. Economic psychology is a separate field that combines social and cognitive psychology with traditional economics and business research. 

Double Degree programmes in Moscow and Osnabruck:

Tilburg offers two unique opportunities to expand your Master's programme:

• Double Degree in Cross-Cultural Economic Psychology in cooperation with the University of Osnabrück, Germany 
• Double Degree in Applied Social Psychology in cooperation with the Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia

Similar courses

• Applied Cognitive Neuroscience

  University of Groningen Netherlands, Groningen

• Applied Social Psychology

  University of Groningen Netherlands, Groningen

• Clinical Forensic Psychology and Victimology

  University of Groningen Netherlands, Groningen

• Clinical Psychology

  University of Groningen Netherlands, Groningen

• Environmental Psychology

  University of Groningen Netherlands, Groningen

• Psychology

  University of Groningen Netherlands, Groningen

• Talent Development and Creativity

  University of Groningen Netherlands, Groningen

• Theory and History of Psychology

  University of Groningen Netherlands, Groningen

• Work, Organisation and Personnel Psychology

  University of Groningen Netherlands, Groningen

• Advanced Research In Criminology (IMARC)

  Erasmus University Rotterdam Netherlands, Rotterdam

• Applied Cognitive psychology

  Leiden University Netherlands, Leiden

• Applied Cognitive Psychology

  University of Utrecht Netherlands, Utrecht

• Applied Social Psychology (double degree with Higher School of Economics)

  Tilburg University Netherlands, Tilburg

• Child and Adolescent Psychology

  Leiden University Netherlands, Leiden

• Clinical and Health Psychology (Research)

  Leiden University Netherlands, Leiden