BI Learning & Careers
By developing and practicing your Behavioural Insights knowledge and skills, you can create solutions that draw on the behavioural and decision sciences and use the scientific method to test those solutions. Further, you can learn how to nudge for good — how to use BI ethically and guard against misuse.
*Resources are continually being added to this page. Submit suggestions to dibs@sauder.ubc.ca.*
Resources for BI Learning & Careers
Sample BI Career Pathway:
This infographic outlines a sample career pathway, but keep in mind that there are nearly as many different BI career paths as there are BI professionals. This does not capture all BI roles or paths. Additionally, at each level, there is a wide range of roles, job titles, and training/experience. Use this resource as a starting point for your explorations, rather than as a map to follow.
BI Knowledge & Skills Matrix:
This infographic provides a high-level overview of the different categories of knowledge and skills typically needed for different types of BI roles. The matrix describes the combination of knowledge and skills typically needed at different career levels. The levels and combinations of expertise shown are illustrative and will vary between organizations.
How Business & Policy Tools Relate to BI:
This infographic shows some of the points of intersection between BI and common business and policy tools. This includes where experiences with other approaches will benefit your BI practice, and where BI experience will benefit other approaches. Additionally, it suggests where you can turn to further develop related skills.
Downloadable versions
OUR OTHER Resources
- The Calling DIBS podcast has episodes profiling BI careers in different sectors, providing advice for BI careers, and discussing graduate school in the behavioural sciences.
- This BIG Difference BC blogpost showcases how BI practitioners use Behavioural Insights in their work.
Third-Party Resources
- The Disentanglement Project: This blogpost by Rhiannon Mosher describes her journey from anthropology PhD to qualitative research specialist in BI units.
- Gosnell, E. (2022, July 11). How to become a behavioral scientist. Irrational Labs. https://irrationallabs.com/blog/how-to-become-a-behavioral-scientist/
- Holzwarth, A. (2019, April 29). Where to look for jobs in applied behavioral science. Medium. https://alineholzwarth.medium.com/where-to-look-for-jobs-in-applied-behavioral-science-25ff43b6ea54
- Howes, E. (2022, April 3). Finding a job in behavioural science using behavioural science. Medium. https://medium.com/behavior-design-hub/finding-a-job-in-behavioural-science-using-behavioural-sci-e7319b5eb1b0
- Kotamarthi, P. (2021, August 5). A guide to career paths in behavioral science. Social Science Space. https://www.socialsciencespace.com/2021/08/a-guide-to-career-paths-in-behavioral-science/
- Rozarina, J. (2023, December 6). Full-stack behavioural scientist: A complete guide. Beyond Nudge. https://www.beyondnudge.org/post/full-stack-guide
- Transition Q&A: This series of blogposts by “From PhD to Life” discusses career transitions, with a focus on moving from academic careers to applied careers.
UBC’s Behavioural Insights Programs
UBC’s Decision Insights for Business & Society (UBC-DIBS) and UBC Sauder Continuing Business Studies have partnered with a nationwide steering committee to develop and offer Behavioural Insights programs geared toward working professionals:
- Fundamentals of Behavioural Insights: Learn how BI creates positive behaviour change and add a BI lens to how you approach problems. This part-time online course introduces Behavioural Insights, experimentation, and ethics over the course of three weeks. Offered multiple times per year.
- Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights: Become a BI Practitioner and design and evaluate BI solutions in your workplace. This rigorous, live online program combines coursework and a capstone project to help you develop your BI knowledge and skills over the course of nine months. The program runs September-May each year; application deadlines are May 31 (early) and June 30 (late).
- Scholarship Opportunities: There are a number of funding opportunities for the full certificate program, including the BIG Difference BC scholarship, BC Pacific Leaders Scholarship (for BC Public Servants), and more.
Learn more about these programs by reading our brochure or signing up for the next webinar.
Master’s Programs in the Behavioural & Decision Sciences
Most Master’s programs are not specifically focused on the practice of Behavioural Insights, instead they provide a grounding in the Behavioural and Decision Sciences (the fields upon which the practice of Behavioural Insights draws). Below we provide a non-exhaustive list of Master’s programs with a focus on Behavioural Science and Behavioural Economics programs.
- Programs are listed alphabetically within region. Most programs seem to be in Europe and the US. As far as we know, there is not currently a Master’s program in Canada.
- The list does not include programs in Public Policy, Public Health, or other related fields.
- The list includes a mix of part-time and full-time, in-person and online, research and executive programs.
- List items are not vetted in terms of program attributes or quality.
- For more information, visit the program websites. (The DIBS faculty are also always happy to chat with any of our former students interested in pursuing a Master’s in the Behavioural and Decision Sciences.)
United Kingdom
- City University of London: Master of Science in Behavioural Economics
- Kingston University London: Master of Science in Behavioural Decision Science
- London School of Economics:
- Middlesex University London: Master of Science in Behavioural Economics in Action
- Queen Mary University of London: Master of Science in Behavioural Finance
- University of Bath: Master of Science in Applied Psychology and Economic Behaviour
- University College Dublin: Master of Science in Behavioural Economics
- University College London:
- University of East Anglia: Master of Science in Behavioural and Experimental Economics
- University of Edinburgh: Master of Arts in Psychology and Economics
- University of Essex: Master of Science in Behavioural and Experimental Economics
- University of Leeds: Master of Science in Business Analytics and Decision Sciences
- University of Nottingham: Master of Science in Behavioural Economics
- University of Reading: Master in Behavioural Finance
- University of Stirling: Master of Science in Behavioural Science
- University of Warwick: Master of Science in Behavioural and Economic Science
The Netherlands
- Erasmus University Rotterdam: Master of Science in Behavioural Economics
- Leiden University: Master of Science in Economic and Consumer Psychology
- Maastricht University: Master in Human Decision Science
- Radboud University: Master of Research in Behavioural Science
- Tilburg University:
- University of Amsterdam: Master of Science in Behavioural Economics and Game Theory
- University of Groningen: Master of Research in Behavioural and Social Sciences
Elsewhere in Europe
- France: University Paris Descartes: Master in Economics & Psychology
- Germany: University of Kassel: Master in Economic Behaviour and Governance
- Germany: University of Cologne: Master of Arts in Behavioural Ethics, Economics, and Psychology
- Italy: University of Italy: Master in Behavioural Economics & Neuromarketing
United States
- Chapman University: Master of Science in Behavioural and Computational Economics
- Chicago School of Professional Psychology: Master in Behavioural Economics
- University of Arkansas: Master of Arts in Applied Behavioural Science
- University of Pennsylvania: Master of Behavioural and Decision Science
Are we missing a program? Send us a note at dibs@sauder.ubc.ca.
PhD Programs in the Behavioural & Decision Sciences
As with Master’s programs, the majority of PhD programs are not specifically focused on the practice of Behavioural Insights, instead they provide a grounding in the Behavioural and Decision Sciences (the fields upon which the practice of Behavioural Insights draws).
- Most major universities have programs in relevant fields, such as Psychology, Marketing, Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources (sometimes called Management), Economics, Public Policy or Political Science, and Public Health.
- Any given program may be more or less relevant to a Behavioural Insights career, depending on the faculty, their research areas, and the set of available courses. For more information, visit program websites. (The DIBS faculty are also always happy to chat with any of our former students interested in pursuing a PhD in the Behavioural and Decision Sciences.)
- Here’s a sampling from UBC:
Job Boards & Leads
Many Behavioural Insights newsletters and organizations advertise jobs; check out our list of recommended newsletters.
Third-Party Job Boards
- BE-Recruit: http://www.be-recruit.com/jobs
- Behavioral Economics: https://www.behavioraleconomics.com/jobs
- Behavioral Science & Policy Association: https://behavioralpolicy.org/jobs-and-calls/
- Indeed: https://www.indeed.com/q-Behavioural-Insights-jobs.html
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=behavioural%20insights
Recent Wiki Posts About Learning & Careers
- Last Call: Fundamentals of BI Course (Nov 18-Dec 8)Last call to register for Fundamentals of Behavioural Insights in 2024! Seminars are on Wednesdays 2-4pm PT or 5-7pm Pacific […]
- Ontario BIU hiring Behavioural Scientist (due Oct 15)The absolutely fantastic folks at the Ontario Behavioural Insights Unit are hiring a Behavioural Scientist for a one-year role […]
- New Section Added: Fundamentals of Behavioural Insights (Nov 18-Dec 8)Due to popular demand, UBC’s introductory BI course will be offered at two times this fall (Nov 18-Dec 8): Wednesdays 5-7pm ET *and* 5-7pm PT […]
- PARKS+ Collective Hiring Fellows & StudentsThe PARKS+ Collective is creating an inclusive and connected network of professionals in the parks community and they’re keen to add behavioural and business perspectives […]
- Ontario BIU hiring Co-op (due Aug 15)The amazing folks at the Ontario Behavioural Insights Unit are hiring to fill a 4-month co-op placement in Toronto […]