Master in Behavioural and Applied Economics at University of Trento
Two-year English-taught LM-56 economics master's at the University of Trento that joins behavioural economics with applied econometrics, experiments and data analysis for policy and business decisions.
Master
2 years
Trento
English
University of Trento
Behavioural and Applied Economics (BEA) is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-56) taught in English by the Department of Economics and Management of the University of Trento. Non-EU fees are capped at €4,500 and fall with a high admission score, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
- A bachelor's degree of at least three years, or a recognised equivalent, with at least 48 ECTS in economics, business and quantitative subjects.
- Within those credits: at least 16 ECTS in economics, 6 in business and administration, and 8 in statistics, maths or quantitative methods.
- English at B2 level, for example IELTS 6.0, TOEFL or a Cambridge certificate, or a passed B2 English exam at another university.
- No entrance test: the committee scores your file out of 100 and may interview you. GMAT or GRE scores are optional and can add points.
About the programme
Behavioural and Applied Economics (BEA) is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-56, economics) worth 120 ECTS and taught in English by the Department of Economics and Management of the University of Trento, in via Vigilio Inama 5, Trento.
It combines two fields in a single path. Applied economics gives you econometrics and large data sets to study industrial organisation, labour markets, public policy and data analytics. Behavioural economics brings in insights from psychology, organising predictable biases into theories that explain real decisions better. It suits economics, business and quantitative graduates who want to test theory with data.
What you will study
The first year is almost entirely required courses in theory and methods; the second year moves to policy, questionnaire design, electives, a short internship and the thesis. Units in the current plan include:
- Behavioural Economics (12 ECTS) and Microeconomics: Game Theory and Imperfect Markets
- Applied Econometrics, and Statistical Methods for Experiments and Data Learning
- Computer Simulation for Economics and an introduction to programming and Stata
- Business Strategy and Performance Evaluation (12 ECTS) and International Contracts Law
- Public Policies (12 ECTS), Empirical Industrial Dynamics and Questionnaire Design
- Options such as Data Analysis and Field Experiments, Empirical Labour Economics, Psychology of Decision Making and a Workshop in Behavioral Finance
- An internship and a master's thesis (14 ECTS)
How the programme is taught
Theory and empirical work are taught together: you learn to frame research questions, find the right data, run lab and field experiments and explain results to specialists and non-specialists. Crash courses in economics, international business and quantitative methods help students from different backgrounds get started.
Career paths
The department points graduates to research roles in national and international research centres, think tanks and non-profits (such as central banks, the EU, OECD, World Bank or UN agencies), consultancy in banks and financial institutions, financial advice, and work as data or market analysts in private companies, multinationals, government bodies and NGOs.
Fees and scholarships
BEA is in UniTrento's lower fee group for non-EU students living abroad: under the 2026/27 call the maximum is €4,500 a year. First-year fees fall with the admission score: none at 90 or more, €1,000 from 70 to 89.9, €2,000 from 60 to 69.9 and €4,500 below that. Applicants scoring 70 or more may get a UniTrento scholarship with a fee waiver, and Opera Universitaria di Trento offers income-based grants. BEA can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
BEA offered 15 places to non-EU citizens living abroad for 2026/27. Scores out of 100 combined your academic record (40 points), certificates such as English or GMAT/GRE (10) and your statement of purpose, reference letters and the committee's overall view (50, with at least 25 needed).
The 2026/27 window closed on 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, with a €30 fee and rankings by 30 April 2026. Admitted students confirm their place, pre-enrol on Universitaly within two weeks and apply for a type D study visa. The 2027/28 call has not been published.
How ApplyAZ helps
If this programme fits your goals, ApplyAZ can include it in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities. We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose, submit your applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your DSU scholarship application and prepare your visa file, with a named person on each stage. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa. See how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
Questions and answers
Is Behavioural and Applied Economics taught in English?
Yes. All teaching is in English, and you need B2 English, for example IELTS 6.0, TOEFL or a Cambridge certificate, or a passed B2 English exam at university.
What background do I need?
A bachelor's of at least three years with 48 ECTS in relevant subjects, including at least 16 in economics, 6 in business and 8 in statistics, maths or quantitative methods.
Is there an entrance test?
No written test. The committee scores your record, certificates, statement of purpose and reference letters out of 100 and may interview you. GMAT or GRE is optional.
How much does BEA cost for non-EU students?
For 2026/27 the maximum was €4,500 a year. First-year fees fell to €2,000, €1,000 or nothing as the admission score rose, and scholarships go to applicants scoring 70 or more.
When can I apply for 2027/28?
The 2027/28 call is not out yet. For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad applied by 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET, with a €30 fee and rankings by 30 April 2026.
What careers does BEA lead to?
Research roles in think tanks and international organisations, consultancy in banks and financial institutions, and data or market analyst jobs in companies, public bodies and NGOs.
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