Health Economics and Health Policy MSc/PGDip

Start date
September
Duration
One year full-time, two years part-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees

Annual tuition fee for 2024/25:
UK: £10,530 full-time
International: £23,310 full-time
More details

MSc Health Economics - Vishal Sharma

Aimed at health care professionals and managers, as well as new graduates, this programme provides an introduction to the central issues in health economics and health policy in relation to the management of primary health care.

Health care systems are being challenged to meet unlimited patient/population needs with constrained and limited resources and health economics plays an important role in resolving these challenges. The programme provides the skills needed to conduct analyses which can inform health care decision makers about how the limited resources can be used efficiently.  

This programme is suitable for people currently working in the health care sector (in both the public and private sectors, including the pharmaceutical industry) who wish to improve their understanding of and skills in health economics. It may also be of interest to new graduates who wish to pursue a career in health economics and/or health services research. 

The course does not require a first degree in economics.

MSc intercalation

Please note that this programme can be taken as an intercalated option for those studying MBChB Medicine and Surgery, at another institution. To apply for the Intercalated MSc Health Economics and Health Policy please fill in this registration form and we will be in touch with details about how to apply. For more information, please contact us on mdsintercalationenquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

Video

Dr Jesse Kigozi, Deputy Programme Lead, talks about the MSc Health Economics and Health Policy programme.

 

Video

MSc Health Economics and Health Policy student, Adrain Bamford, talks about his time on the programme.

Why study this course?

The MSc Health Economics and Health Policy course:

  • brings together professionals from a vast array of work environments, locations and backgrounds offering the benefit of knowledge and experience sharing
  • does not ask for an economics first degree
  • has a wide variety of module options creating a flexible degree to suit your needs
  • offers modules on a block basis (three or five days) making it easier for you and your employers to manage your study leave.

You will:

  • acquire a strong theoretical and practical foundation in health economics
  • receive advanced technical training which will enable you to develop your analytical skills for use in health economics
  • learn how to examine health issues from an economic perspective
  • gain the skills needed to critically review published economic evaluation studies
  • and obtain an understanding of the role of health economics in healthcare decision making.

Modules

The programme consists of taught modules (120 credits), plus a dissertation (10,000 words) on an agreed topic in an area of health economics or health policy (60 credits). You must select either Core 1 or Core 2, as follows:

Core 1

There are six core modules, totalling 100 credits:

Core 2

There are five core modules totalling 110 credits:

If you are taking Core 2, you will also attend Statistics for Health Economics II as a non-assessed pre-requisite for Modelling for Health Economics.

You will then have the freedom to select modules for the remaining 10 or 20 credits from the range offered within the department or, with departmental agreement, by other departments within the University.

Optional modules - please select 20 credits (Core 1) or 10 credits (Core 2)

Each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.

Fees

2024/25

MSc:

  • UK: £10,530 full-time
  • International: £23,310 full-time

Intercalation option:

  • UK: £10,530

Learn more about fees and funding.


Are you an international applicant?

All international applicants to this course will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of £2,000 on receipt of an offer, to secure their place.

Find out more about the deposit >>.

 

Postgraduate Loans for Masters students

As a UK resident you can apply for a government loan for postgraduate Masters study. This is a contribution towards the costs of study and whether the loan is used towards fees, maintenance or other costs will be at the discretion of the student.

Find out more about the Postgraduate Loan

How To Apply

How to apply for our taught postgraduate programmes

Application deadlines

The deadline for international students (including EU) to apply is 7 May 2024. The deadline for UK students is 30 August 2024.

Making your application

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

2:1 Honours degree or an equivalent professional qualification and profession experience, e.g. in health services management.

Learn more about entry requirements.

International Requirements



International Students

Academic requirements

We accept a range of qualifications, our country pages show you what qualifications we accept from your country.

English language requirements

You can satisfy our English language requirements in two ways:

English to IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component).

If you need help with your English language skills then support is available.

The English for Academic Purposes Presessional course is for international students who have a conditional offer to study at the University, but who do not currently meet the English language requirements. The course is tailored to your level of English and allows you to meet the English language requirements for your programme without retaking IELTS. The EAP programme runs throughout the year and offers different programme lengths ranging from 42 weeks to 6 weeks. The length of course you need depends on your future course, your existing IELTS score and the English level you need for your university degree.

Find out more about the English for Academic Purposes Presessional course.

As a Birmingham student, you will be joining the academic elite and will have the privilege of learning from world-leading experts, as well as your peers. From the outset you will be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner. We want you to be challenged and will encourage you to think for yourself.

This programme is delivered via block sessions of 3 or 5 days. You will participate in a range of teaching styles such as lectures, small group tutorials, presentations, peer group learning, self-study etc.

You will have access to a comprehensive support system that will assist and encourage you, including personal tutors and welfare tutors who can help with both academic and welfare issues.

Assessment Methods

Each module is assessed independently. The compulsory modules on the MSc Health Economics and Health Policy are all assessed by either assignment, examination or a combination of both.

 

You may be wondering what you can go on to do with an MSc in Health Economics and Health Policy. The following articles will give you some idea of the variety of fields you can go into with this qualification.

These alumni profiles will give you an idea of what our students have gone on to after studying on the MSc Health Economics and Health Policy programme. 

Bill Malcolm - Alumnus
Shola Bolaji - Alumnus
Ross Maconachie - Alumnus

Video
Dr Tosin Ahmed Lambe talks about the MSc Health Economics and Health Policy programme and his journey to becoming a Research Associate.

Careers Support for Postgraduates

Careers Network – We can help you get ahead in the job market and develop your career

We recognise that as a postgraduate student you are likely to have specific requirements when it comes to planning for your next career step. Employers expect postgraduates to have a range of skills that exceed their subject knowledge. Careers Network offers a range of events and support services that are designed for all students, including postgraduates looking to find their niche in the job market. The Careers Network also have subject specific careers consultants and advisers for each College so you can be assured the information you receive will be relevant to your subject area. For more information visit the Careers Network website