Psychology and Economics MA (Hons)

Level: Undergraduate

Subject: Psychology

Year of entry: 2026

Key facts

UCAS Code

CZ81

Award

MA (Hons)

Duration of study

4 years

Delivery

Full-time

Study location

Central Area

Start date

September 2026

School

School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Study abroad

Available

Accreditation

Available

Placement

No

Open days and events

About the degree programme

Through this joint programme you can explore the scientific study of the mind, brain, and behaviour while also gaining knowledge of economics. 

Psychology

Psychologists study:

  • how we perceive, think and learn about the world around us
  • the way biological and social factors influence how we behave
  • how interests and abilities differ from person to person
  • how we communicate verbally and non-verbally
  • how and why our mental abilities change across our lives

Psychology is an experimental and observational science. It uses evidence from research studies to develop and evaluate theories.

Find out more about what we study in Psychology in this video:

Economics

Economics is the study of the incentives that affect decisions made by:

  • individuals
  • businesses
  • governments
  • societies

Economists analyse the macroeconomic results of those decisions, for example:

  • economic fluctuations
  • growth
  • unemployment
  • crises

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme is studied over 4 years.

A key benefit to studying a 4-year degree programme is that you have the flexibility to study a range of subjects, outside your chosen degree programme, in Year 1 and Year 2.

This allows you the opportunity to study other courses that interest you or enhance your degree. By the end of Year 2, you can decide which of these subject areas you want to focus on in the honours years of your programme.

How long it takes to complete our degree programmes

How a joint degree programme works

A joint programme allows you to gain a well-rounded learning experience. You will have more exposure to different disciplines, allowing you to expand your knowledge and expertise.

Teaching on joint programmes is split across the two subject areas, and teaching will take place in locations associated with both subjects.

You will gain a different perspective through studying more than one subject and have a wider skill set that is highly attractive to future employers.

Programme rankings

  • In the world's top 30 universities for psychology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 and Complete University Guide 2022).

Programme benefits

  • Our single honours Psychology degree and most of our joint degrees at Edinburgh are accredited by the British Psychological Society, allowing you to go on to further professional training.
  • You will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including laboratories for:
    • cognitive neuroscience and developmental science
    • human movement
    • individual differences
    • general experimental psychology
  • Our programme focuses on developing skills in research methods and statistical analysis, including programming in R, to support our research-led teaching.

I chose to study Psychology not only because of the large variation of areas it covers but also because of the opportunities it offers post-degree. Psychology of Edinburgh complimented this choice. Not only that, but the data-analysis course provides a valuable opportunity to learn basic-level coding and transferrable skills.

India Sachdev MA Philosophy and Psychology, graduated 2025.

Find your entry requirements

Use the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.

  1. Select the country where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.
  2. Select the qualification you are studying or studied.
United Kingdom,

Tuition fees for MA (Hons) Psychology and Economics- 4 Years

View the tuition fees for one academic year of MA (Hons) Psychology and Economics- 4 Years.

Tuition fees for this programme

Additional costs

The Economics textbooks needed for Years 1 and 2 cost about £100.

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.

This estimate covers the costs of:

  • accommodation
  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel within Edinburgh
  • health and wellbeing costs

See a breakdown of living costs

Scholarships and funding

Funding information

You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section.

Funding

What you will study

Psychology

We focus on research methods and statistical analysis in this programme. You will:

  • be trained in basic concepts in research methods and statistics
  • learn how to programme in the R language
  • have a practical introduction to laboratory-based psychology research

Through lectures and tutorials, you will complete a general introduction to psychology, covering: 

  • cognitive psychology
  • developmental psychology
  • differential psychology
  • biological psychology
  • social psychology
Economics

You will take Economics 1, which will develop your:

  • understanding of core economics models and analysis
  • ability to apply the analysis in different contexts
Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Psychology

To prepare you for Year 3, you will complete a year-long, intensive grounding in:

  • research methods
  • statistics
  • R programming

You will continue to study core areas of psychology, developing an understanding of topics such as:

  • cognitive psychology
  • developmental psychology
  • differential psychology
  • biological psychology
  • social psychology

You will practise and develop your professional and study skills, such as:

  • reviewing scientific literature
  • report writing
  • ethical awareness
Economics

You will take Economics 2 to boost your understanding of microeconomic and macroeconomic models and analysis. You will also develop your skills in applying these analyses.

Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Psychology

You will choose advanced courses in psychology. These will expand on and combine the core areas required for British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation. 

To support your research work, you will use R in courses on research methods.

Economics

You will take:

  • Essentials of Econometrics
  • Topics in Microeconomics

These courses will provide an introduction to econometric theory, and develop important ideas in microeconomic analysis at an advanced level. 

You will also take either Applications of Econometrics or Topics in Macroeconomics.

Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Dissertation

You will complete an honours dissertation in either psychology or economics.

Option courses

You will continue to choose advanced option courses based on your interests. These courses are research-led. They will teach you about cutting-edge topics from psychology sub-disciplines. 

Course options change each year depending on new topics, staff availability and student demand.

Psychology course options

Examples of courses offered include:

  • Social Psychology of Groups
  • Emotions: social and neuroscience perspectives
  • Big Data and Psychological Science
  • The Psychology of Conversation
  • Developmental Psychopathology
Economics course options

In economics, options could include subjects such as: 

  • Development Economics
  • International Economics
  • The Economics of Cities and Regions
Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Study abroad

You will have the opportunity to study abroad in Year 3 of this degree at one of our partner universities.

If international travel restrictions allow, you may be able to choose where you study from our selection of international partners.

A study abroad experience will allow you to immerse yourself in a different culture, enrich your learning and enhance your future job opportunities.

Your study abroad options

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Courses are taught through a combination of:
•    lectures
•    tutorials
•    practical classes
•    project work
•    peer-supported group work
•    computer-based exercises

Assessment

You will be assessed through coursework and exams.

In Year 3, you will complete a group research project.

In Year 4, you will complete an independent research project in the form of a dissertation. 

Support for your studies

The peer-assisted learning scheme offered by the School of Economics (EconPALS) aims to help Year 1 students transition into higher education.

The scheme will help you develop your learning and study strategies as well as providing opportunities to socialise.

EconPALS

Where you will study

Study location

Teaching will take place at the Psychology building at George Square, and at other locations within the University's Central Area.

Teaching for economics courses will take place within the University's Central Area.

Academic facilities

You will have access to:

  • specialised laboratories
  • the School's own dedicated library
  • the University's main library and computer facilities

You will also have access to laboratories for:

  • cognitive neuroscience and developmental science
  • human movement
  • individual differences
  • general experimental psychology

Virtual tour

You can take a closer look at the University’s Central Area and explore our facilities on the Virtual Visit site. 

Take a virtual tour of the Central Area

Accreditation

It may be possible to obtain accreditation by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

This programme is accredited when you:

  • cover the core BPS areas:
    • Cognitive Psychology
    • Biological Psychology
    • Social Psychology
    • Developmental Psychology
    • Differential Psychology
  • complete a dissertation in Year 4
  • achieve a 2.2 or above in your overall degree classification

Most students graduate with British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation. However, if you fail to meet the accreditation criteria, you can still graduate with an alternative degree in Psychology.

Career paths

You will develop skills in:

  • research
  • statistics
  • information technology
  • report writing

These skills are valued by employers in various sectors.

Psychology

Many psychology graduates have gone on to work in: 

  • healthcare and social services
  • charitable organisations
  • human resources
  • management
  • business and finance
  • consulting
  • media and advertising

Some students continue their studies to enter into a research or teaching career. Others go on to train as a professional psychologist in a field such as:

  • clinical psychology
  • educational psychology
  • forensic psychology
  • health psychology
  • organisational psychology

Economics

The skills you develop studying economics will also prepare you for careers in:

  • accountancy
  • business
  • management

Economics graduates can also work in:

  • aid agencies
  • not-for-profit organisations
  • government departments

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies.

With the Careers Service, you can:

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions

Visit the Careers Service website

Further study

After you complete your programme, you may want to go onto further study at Edinburgh or a different university. You could progress to:

  • a masters degree
  • a postgraduate diploma or certificate
  • a PhD
  • a second undergraduate degree

Find out about options for further study

How to apply

You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.

Guidance on applying through UCAS

What you need to apply

As part of your application, you will need:

  • your academic qualifications
  • a personal statement
  • evidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)
  • a reference

How we select

If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.

As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.

How we select applicants

When to apply

  • 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)

This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.

To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.

Search degrees that are open on the UCAS website

Key application dates and deadlines

After you apply

After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:

Applying as an international student

As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS.  

Find out more about applying through UCAS  

Visas and immigration 

If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme.  

Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. 

Applying for a visa  

Agents  

An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. 

We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact.  

Find contact details for an education agent

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sports clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life.

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include:

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustment

Health and wellbeing support services

Contact us

Contact us through our enquiry team if you have any questions about this programme.

Open days, events and visits

Find out when our next open days will be taking place

Open days, events and visits

Chat to our students on Unibuddy

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