undergrad course focus/including Behavioural Economics.

Hi, I'm looking into Economics degrees and really interested in Behavioural Economics.
Does anyone know which Russell Group or top UK universities include it as a module or have a strong focus on it in their undergrad course?
Also curious if it's covered early on or mainly in later years.
thank you

Reply 1

EssexOfficialRep

Official Rep

Original post by luscious-rune

Hi @luscious-rune 👋

It is exciting that you are wanting to study economics and are doing lots of research. Have you considered the University of Essex? 🎓️

The University of Essex is ranked 7th in the UK for Economics (The Guardian University Guide 2025) and 4th in the UK for research power (REF 2021) – with two Nobel Prize winners just in this department – and top 30 in the UK for Psychology (THE World University Rankings 2025). For behaviour economics, there is Economics – BA or BSc – or BSc Psychology with Economics or BSc Management Economics. You could take modules such as Introduction to Behavioural Economics in your second year and Market Structure and Strategic Behaviour in your third. For further studies there is MSc Behavioural and Experimental Economics with our the Alumni Loyalty Discount. Network with students and guest speakers at events and societies (Economics, Essex Trading and Finance, Essex Business Club), read about research and explore Economics at Essex. 💹🧠📰🗣️

The University of Essex has the UK’s first zero carbon business school building containing a state-of-the-art trading floor with Bloomberg Financial Market Labs, and Essex Startups who can support you and your business ideas with mentoring, workshops and funding competitions. Gain hands on experience of the stock market, and to practice, as you learn to trade with the Essex Equity Fund. This student-led learning initiative gives you money, a chance to develop practical asset management, and experience with specialist mentorship and investment coaching from investors. 💼📊

There is the option to extend your course: spending an additional year on a work placement to increase your employability or studying abroad at one of our 150 partner institutions to experience learning in another country. Previous Economics undergraduate students have completed placements in: the Bank of England, Barclays, Goldman Sachs, Google, Samsung, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Office for National Statistics. 🗺️🔍️

The University of Essex is just outside of Colchester, less than one hour away from London (the financial capital) on the train (with three stations near to campus). Our Students' Union is amazing (top 10 in the UK), with over 165 societies to join, a library (open 24/7), gym and sports centre (free if you live on campus), cinema, two bars and a nightclub on campus. Students are supported by the Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service and we are now ranked 29th in the British Universities and Colleges Sport table. 🌟

You can chat to current students on Unibuddy to find out more! 📱

I hope this helps, please let us know if you have any more questions 😊

Essex Official Rep - Amy 🌞

Reply 2

BenRyan99

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by luscious-rune

Nottingham is pretty strong for behavioural economics. It's got a whole research centre focused on behavioural economics (CeDEx). It also has optional behavioural economics modules in the second and third years of the course. If you're interested in a postgraduate degree down the line, Nottingham has also got a whole master's focused on behavioural economics too.

Reply 3

GEUoS

Official Rep

Hi @luscious-rune

In Economics degrees, usually, your first year is unspecialised and you cover behavioural economics in later years.

University of Southampton offers the opportunity for you to specialise into one of three streams following first year - either the generic Economics one, Econometrics or Behavioural Economics. This specialisation will then be listed on your certificate when you graduate. The specialisation means you will have compulsory modules related to Behavioural Economics to take - Game Theory, Behavioural Economics etc. The University, also, has a Behavioural Economics laboratory. There is also the option to specialise your dissertation in final year in Behavioural Economics.

You can find out more about the course here.

Best Wishes,
Gulcin
Student Ambassador

Reply 4

luscious-rune

Original post by EssexOfficialRep

Hi @luscious-rune 👋
It is exciting that you are wanting to study economics and are doing lots of research. Have you considered the University of Essex? 🎓️
The University of Essex is ranked 7th in the UK for Economics (The Guardian University Guide 2025) and 4th in the UK for research power (REF 2021) – with two Nobel Prize winners just in this department – and top 30 in the UK for Psychology (THE World University Rankings 2025). For behaviour economics, there is Economics – BA or BSc – or BSc Psychology with Economics or BSc Management Economics. You could take modules such as Introduction to Behavioural Economics in your second year and Market Structure and Strategic Behaviour in your third. For further studies there is MSc Behavioural and Experimental Economics with our the Alumni Loyalty Discount. Network with students and guest speakers at events and societies (Economics, Essex Trading and Finance, Essex Business Club), read about research and explore Economics at Essex. 💹🧠📰🗣️
The University of Essex has the UK’s first zero carbon business school building containing a state-of-the-art trading floor with Bloomberg Financial Market Labs, and Essex Startups who can support you and your business ideas with mentoring, workshops and funding competitions. Gain hands on experience of the stock market, and to practice, as you learn to trade with the Essex Equity Fund. This student-led learning initiative gives you money, a chance to develop practical asset management, and experience with specialist mentorship and investment coaching from investors. 💼📊
There is the option to extend your course: spending an additional year on a work placement to increase your employability or studying abroad at one of our 150 partner institutions to experience learning in another country. Previous Economics undergraduate students have completed placements in: the Bank of England, Barclays, Goldman Sachs, Google, Samsung, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Office for National Statistics. 🗺️🔍️
The University of Essex is just outside of Colchester, less than one hour away from London (the financial capital) on the train (with three stations near to campus). Our Students' Union is amazing (top 10 in the UK), with over 165 societies to join, a library (open 24/7), gym and sports centre (free if you live on campus), cinema, two bars and a nightclub on campus. Students are supported by the Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service and we are now ranked 29th in the British Universities and Colleges Sport table. 🌟
You can chat to current students on Unibuddy to find out more! 📱
I hope this helps, please let us know if you have any more questions 😊
Essex Official Rep - Amy 🌞

thank you for the infor and replying.

Reply 5

luscious-rune

Original post by BenRyan99

thank you for the infor and replying.

Reply 6

Cabbagedragons

Hiya! Warwick does a course that is EPP (economics, psychology and philosophy). First year is 50% economics, 25% psychology and 25% philosophy. In second year, you choose one of four ‘pathways’ - one of which is ‘behavioural economics’. (This means you no longer study philosophy). The entire 2nd and 3rd year is centered around behavioural economics (tho you will do a little straight economics and a little straight psychology that aren’t directly related to each other). Defo an option to look into!