Marketing Psychology: How We Decide

  • Free to audit
  • Paid certificate
  • Beginner
  • 4 weeks
Provider
Oxford
Offered by
University of Oxford
Course code
OXFDIG01
Cost
Free to audit
Certificate
Paid, $189
Level
Beginner
Duration
4 weeks
Effort
2–4 hrs/week
Format
Self-paced
Language
English
Subjects
Marketing, Psychology
Source
University of Oxford
Last verified
20 Oct 2026

Free access to the material ends after the course length; graded work and the certificate are paid.

Marketing Psychology: How We Decide is a four-week OxfordX course taught by Andrew Stephen, Associate Dean of Research and L'Oréal Professor of Marketing at Oxford. It explores consumer behaviour and the psychology behind buying choices, including the cognitive biases and psychological drivers that shape decisions on both sides of a transaction. The syllabus covers the key players and decision-makers in marketing, the human considerations in B2B and B2C business models, the traits and behaviours of hyperconnected modern consumers, how consumer expectations form and influence behaviour, and the role of bias in marketing decision-making.

edX lists the course as introductory and self-paced at two to four hours a week, with no prerequisites. Auditing is free for the course's estimated length in weeks from the day you enrol and does not include graded assignments or a certificate; the verified certificate costs $189. Instruction is in English with British English transcripts.

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What you’ll learn

  • Identify the key players and decision-makers in marketing
  • Weigh the human factors in B2B and B2C business models
  • Describe the traits and behaviours of today's hyperconnected consumers
  • Explain how consumer expectations form and steer behaviour
  • Spot cognitive bias in marketing decisions

Who it’s for

Marketers and small-business owners who want the psychology behind consumer decisions without a statistics or economics prerequisite.

Instructor

  • Andrew Stephen Associate Dean of Research and L’Oréal Professor of Marketing

Course details

Skills covered
  • Marketing
  • Business To Business
  • Persuasive Communication
  • Purchasing
  • Marketing Strategies
  • Consumer Behaviour
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Decision Making
  • Influencing Skills
  • Psychology
  • Business-To-Consumer
  • Digital Marketing

On edx.org

Rated 4.1 out of 5 by 17 learners; 6,044 enrolled, as shown on the course page on 20 Oct 2026. These are edx.org’s own figures, not ours.

Source: University of Oxford (opens in a new tab) · Verified · Report a change

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