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Health Care Policy and Management

MSc

Start date
September
Duration
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Continuing professional development, Taught
Fees

For 2024-2025
UK (full-time) £13,770
UK (part-time) £6,885
International (full-time only) £26,280 

The Health Care Policy and Management course at HSMC bridges the traditional divide between academic study and the worlds of health care policy and practice.

The MSc Health Care Policy and Management provides both theoretical frameworks and practical tools that can be applied to health systems in the UK and overseas, designed for senior managers, clinicians and policy makers working in or with health care organisations, or with an interest in developing their careers in this direction. 

There are two programme pathways:

  • MSc Health Care Policy and Management (Programme Code: 2355)
  • MSc in Health Care Policy and Management specialising in managing quality and service improvement (Programme Code: 7084)

Masters (180 credits) incorporates taught modules with an additional piece of independent research in the form of a dissertation.

You can study full-time (one year) or part-time (over two years). 

If you require further information, please email hsmc-teaching@contacts.bham.ac.uk.   

Modules

Unless indicated otherwise the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2024.

Health Care Policy and Management

Core modules

  • Health Service Management
  • Health and Health Care Policy
  • People, Patients and Communities
  • Dissertation 

Optional modules

  • Strategic Planning 
  • Quality and Safety
  • Innovation and improvement 
  • Leadership and Change

Management (Managing Quality and Service Improvement)

Core modules

  • Health Service Management
  • Participation, Involvement and Engagement 
  • Quality and Safety
  • Innovation and Improvement
  • Dissertation 

Optional modules

  • Health and Health Care Policy
  • Leadership and Change
  • Strategic Planning

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Fees 2024 - 2025

Health Care Policy and Management Masters (MSc):

  • Code: 2355 - UK (f/t) £13,770
  • Code: 2356- UK (p/t) £6,885
  • Code: 2355- International (f/t only) £26,280

Health Care Policy and Management (Managing Quality and Service Improvement)
Masters (MSc):

  • Code: 7084- UK (f/t) £13,770
  • Code: 7085- UK (p/t) £6,885
  • Code: 7084- International (f/t only) £26,280

These are the first year fees, second year fees are liable to rise slightly with inflation/ increases in university fees generally. Please check with the Centre for the most up-to-date fees information.

Learn more about fees.

Loans and Scholarships

A postgraduate loans system for Masters degrees in the UK will provide up to £12,167 (for 2023 entry) for UK and EU students (with settled or pre-settled status) for courses which start after August 2023 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas including part-time and distance learning. 

Students can often gain funding through scholarships. For International students, that includes overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government. 

Find out more about Scholarships.

How To Apply

7 May 2024 is the application deadline for international students applying through the student route who wish to study in the United Kingdom. We are not able to consider applications for 2024 made after this date. The deadline for Home students is 30 August 2024.

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

The normal entrance requirement is a good Honours degree (2:1 or above), or an equivalent professional qualification and professional experience. Appropriate career experience may be taken into account.

Learn more about entry requirements.  

International Requirements



International Students

English language requirements

You can satisfy our English language requirements in two ways:

  • by holding an English language qualification to the right level
  • by taking and successfully completing one of our English courses for international students

Our programmes provide a challenging and inspiring study experience for both existing and aspiring practitioners in health and social care organisations. They will equip participants with the knowledge, skills and confidence to develop both their careers and organisations. HSMC staff bring their wide knowledge of UK and international health systems (gained through research and consultancy activities, as well as their own professional experience) to their teaching and tutorial support for students.

This emphasis on combining theory and practice is maintained throughout all of our programmes, from the choice of titles for assignments, through the involvement of practitioners and policy makers in teaching activities, to the topics selected for dissertations.

While some students choose to concentrate on theoretical topics, many students carry out empirical studies for their dissertation, often related to their own place of work or area of professional expertise.

The Health Services Management Centre (HSMC)

The Health Services Management Centre (HSMC) is one of the UK’s leading centres for research, teaching, professional development and consultancy to health and social care agencies. For more than forty years, the Centre’s mission has been to strengthen leadership and management in health care, and to promote improved health and wellbeing.

Facilities

Postgraduate programmes are taught at Park House which is a short walk from the centre of the University campus and provides a comfortable and well-appointed study environment. Facilities include:

Just a few steps away is the University’s Conference Park, which provides an excellent hotel environment for those wishing to be residential for taught modules.

HSMC students have access to the University’s main library and substantial online journals, databases and other materials via Canvas. A Programme Handbook provides comprehensive advice and information, and a separate handbook is provided for each module.

Participants are assigned an academic tutor to guide them through their studies and bespoke dissertation workshops are held twice a year. Students are encouraged to engage as much as possible with HSMC staff and to participate in other events such as conferences, seminars and workshops.

Assessment Methods

Each module is worth 20 credits and is normally assessed through one 'in-module' assessment and one reflective essay.

The MSc dissertation is 10,000 words and worth 60 credits. It is a personally chosen and managed research project, undertaken over the duration of the programme with formal research training incorporated.

 

 

This programme is designed for senior managers, clinicians and policy makers who are already working in or with health care organisations, or who have an interest in developing their careers in this direction.