COURSE CURRICULUM

The master’s specialisation in Economic and Consumer Psychology at Leiden University examines the psychological mechanisms underlying consumer choices, economic decision-making, and related behaviours. Students explore how cognitive, emotional, and social factors influence the way individuals make decisions in everyday life, from purchasing and saving to investment and risk-taking. The program combines theoretical foundations in psychology with rigorous research methods, preparing students to analyse and understand complex patterns of human behaviour in economic contexts.The curriculum is designed to cover all essential aspects of Economic and Consumer Psychology. Students take four mandatory courses that provide in-depth knowledge of topics such as decision-making under uncertainty, heuristics and biases, consumer motivation, and behavioural change strategies. Electives allow students to broaden their understanding or focus on specific areas of interest within psychology, giving them flexibility to tailor their studies to their career goals.A practical internship of 10 ECTS is a core component of the program. During the internship, students gain hands-on experience in research or applied settings related to economic and consumer behaviour. This may involve working with research teams, industry partners, or governmental organisations to design studies, collect and analyse data, and apply psychological insights in real-world contexts. The internship is supplemented by elective courses to provide a balanced academic experience.The master’s thesis serves as the culmination of the program, allowing students to conduct independent research on a topic of their choice. Students may collect new data or work with existing datasets under the supervision of academic staff, gaining experience in all phases of empirical research. This combination of coursework, practical experience, and research training prepares graduates for careers as researchers, consultants, or practitioner-psychologists, as well as for further study at the PhD level.