Behavioural and Data Science (Taught)

Understand the underlying factors driving human behaviour on Behavioural and Data Science MSc. Warwick's Psychology department offers you training in basic psychology, behavioural economics and state of the art methods in data science and analytics.

Course overview
This course offers training in the foundations of psychology, decision-making, behavioural economics and behaviour change. It will also develop your understanding of state-of-the-art methods in data science and data analytics, focusing on statistical methods, machine learning, and data visualisation.

You will gain an understanding of large-scale patterns in data, with an eye to comprehending the underlying factors driving human behaviour. This can be used to understand consumer behaviour, economics, politics, history, wellbeing, and many other large-scale patterns at national and international levels. Previous experience in behavioural science is not necessary, but you should have programming skills in at least one programming language (e.g., R, Python, Matlab, or others).

Skills from this degree
Graduates will be able to:

• Use data to understand how and why people make the choices they do, and understanding the consequences of their choices in relation to public policy (e.g. encouraging people to save for pensions or change to low-carbon behaviours), industry (e.g. understanding how to place a new product in the market), and individual behaviour (e.g. understanding why people drink and eat too much)

• Access and analyse large-scale datasets

• Utilise state-of-the-art techniques in data analysis and visualisation

• Design and conduct studies using data analysis to understand behaviour

This information is applicable for 2026 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply.

Core modules

• Integrated Behavioural and Data Science
• Issues in Psychological Science
• Methods and Analysis in Behavioural Science
• Foundations of Computing
• Data Mining

Optional modules
You will also choose two psychology-/behavioural science-focused optional modules, and two computer/data science-focused optional modules.

Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

Psychology-/behavioural science-focused optional modules:

• Behavioural Change: Nudging and Persuasion
• Neuroeconomics
• Bayesian Approaches in Behavioural Science
• Principles of Cognition
• Behavioural Ethics

Computer/data science-focused optional modules:

• Foundations of Data Analytics
• Social Informatics
• Natural Language Processing
• Urban Data – Theory and Methodology
• Interdisciplinary Approaches to Machine Learning
• Data science across disciplines
• Visualisation Foundations

The availability of option modules depends on several factors and cannot be guaranteed in advance. Therefore, the list above provides a sample of previously available options for illustrative purposes only.

We typically assess modules through a mix of assessment types, which include worksheets, essays, research reports, modelling and data analysis, class tests, exams, and presentations.