In this interview, we sit down with Claudia Civai, Programme Director for the MSc in Behavioural Economics.
Academic interests and expertise
Can you tell us about your academic and research background?
I am an experimental psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist by training. I began working in behavioural economics and neuroeconomics during my pre-graduate internship and went on to focus my PhD research on the neural underpinnings of fairness and justice perception. My expertise is in social decision-making, which I investigate by integrating theoretical and methodological approaches from both behavioural economics, particularly experimental game theory, and cognitive neuroscience.
What inspired you to specialise in your current field of study?
My background is in experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience, and I first came across behavioural economics and neuroeconomics nearly twenty years ago. My main interest was understanding how people perceive fairness and justice, and these fields offered the perfect set of tools, both theoretical and methodological, to explore that, since they bridge the gap between the more traditional economic models of social preferences and the complexity of real human behaviour.
I was also really attracted by the practical side of it - the idea that this work could actually inform better policies and help tackle real-world problems by giving us a deeper understanding of how people think and make decisions.
What do you enjoy most about teaching and mentoring students?
Many of our MSc students come to the programme already on established or emerging career paths. While they are here to build a strong foundation in behavioural economics through our teaching and supervision, they also bring a lot to the table themselves, drawing on their own professional experiences. This mix really adds depth to the classroom discussions, which are always evolving and engaging, and this is great for faculty, but also for students who are joining straight from undergraduate degrees or coming from different fields, since it creates a really collaborative learning environment where everyone benefits from each other’s perspectives.
Why this course?
What makes this postgraduate programme unique within its field?
The MSc in Behavioural Economics at City St George’s is ideally located in the heart of London, which means that students have direct access to industry networks and employment opportunities. The programme is taught by research-active experts across psychology, economics, and neuroscience, offering a solid academic grounding that is also very much connected to real-world issues.
We also run a guest speaker seminar series, which brings in both practitioners and academics working in the field, so students get a wide range of perspectives and practical insights. Moreover, strong emphasis is placed on open and transparent science, and students have the opportunity to produce robust, replicable research using real data. Last but not least, the student cohort is incredibly diverse, with people coming from all over the world, which makes for a really rich and collaborative learning environment.
What support is offered to help students transition from undergraduate to postgraduate study?
There is plenty of support in place to help with that transition: each student is assigned a personal tutor who offers both academic and pastoral guidance throughout the year. Moreover, the university provides excellent library support and a range of academic skills workshops that cover skills like critical reading, academic writing, and research methods. There is also one-to-one help available if students want to strengthen particular skills or just need a bit of extra support navigating the demands of postgraduate study.
Are there opportunities for networking with alumni or industry professionals during the course?
Yes, definitely. Students have some great opportunities to connect with both alumni and industry professionals, especially through our guest speaker seminar series. We bring in a really interesting mix of practitioners, academics, and former students who are applying behavioural economics in the real world. It is a great way for our students to get a sense of different career paths and start building connections that can be really valuable down the line.
Career paths
How does the programme help students develop skills for their future careers, whether in academia or industry?
Students build a strong foundation in experimental research, data analysis, and the ins and outs of decision-making. Which are skills that are absolutely essential whether you are heading into academia or working in areas like policy, consulting, or tech.
One of the things students really appreciate is the flexibility to shape their assessments around their own interests and expertise: it means they can dive deeper into topics they’re passionate about and start building a body of work that speaks directly to their career goals, whether that’s going on to do a PhD or applying behavioural insights in the real world.
What career paths have graduates from this programme typically followed?
Graduates of our MSc in Behavioural Economics pursue a wide range of career paths across both public and private sectors. These include roles as:
- economic consultants in marketing
- public policy specialists focused on decision-making architecture
- political campaign and public relations advisors
- digital design consultants with behavioural expertise.
The programme also serves as a strong foundation for those wishing to pursue doctoral research in economics or psychology.
Tips for offer holders
If you could highlight one thing that students should look forward to in this programme, what would it be?
There is so much to look forward to - but if I had to choose, I would say the dynamic learning environment we have created. For our guest speaker series, we bring in professionals and researchers from a range of sectors who are applying behavioural economics in fascinating ways, and this gives students a chance to see how what they are learning translates into real-world impact. Then there are the classroom discussions, which are genuinely engaging across many of the modules. Students come from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, so the conversations are rich and thought-provoking, and this really fosters a sense of intellectual curiosity and community.
What advice would you give offer holders as they prepare to join this course?
My main piece of advice would be to brush up on your quantitative skills before you start. While you don’t need to be an expert, having a solid grasp of basic maths will really help you with experimental methods and econometric techniques. Beyond that, come in with an open mind and a curiosity about how people make decisions!
You can take a look at our recommended reading list to help you prepare.