Students should study this course in order to:

• Examine how management and leadership concepts can be applied to health care organisations
• Understand how the NHS works
• Examine the ways in which leadership can help improve health service delivery
• Undertake a research project examining management and leadership

On completion of the programme, you should have knowledge and understanding of:

• The theory and practice of management and leadership in contemporary health care organisations
• The organisational factors which shape the delivery and performance of health services
• The ways in which management and leadership in health care organisations can be improved
• The research methods which can be used to investigate heath management and leadership
• An understanding of the practical realities of conducting research in this field

Our teaching methods with emphasis on feedback and easy access to support strongly promote development of the following skills and attributes:

• The ability to critically read and appraise research evidence
• The ability to produce scientifically valid research
• The ability to manage a research project from conception to completion with enhanced project management skills which will be transferable to other aspects of your career
• The ability to effectively communicate ideas or scientific findings through a range of commonly used presentation mechanisms including oral presentation, poster presentation, production of a journal article and essay writing
• Enhanced independent learning skills
• Greater awareness of team working and skills to support this in clinical and academic settings
• Improved ability to think logically and broadly about a range of problems, drawing on a variety of disciplines to support arguments 

All students will be provided with an academic tutor from the University of Birmingham’s Health Services Management Centre (HSMC), one of the UK’s leading centres for research and education in this field.  For over 40 years, HSMC has been at the forefront of UK and international research into:

• Clinical and strategic commissioning
• Partnerships, collaboration and Integration
• Leadership and organisational development
• Quality and innovation in service provision
• Pat experience and public involvement

HSMC delivers the following educational programmes on behalf of the NHS Management Training Scheme (the NHS graduate training programme) which was recently voted the UK’s most popular graduate training scheme in 2014–15 by over 27,000 students in The Guardian’s UK 300 annual survey – the largest student-voted award in the world. Also, HSMC is part of an international consortium which delivers the NHS Leadership Academy’s Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Nye Bevan leadership programmes, the largest investment in leadership development in the history of the NHS. HSMC also runs its own post-graduate programme in health management and leadership: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/health-services-management-centre/index.aspx

This is a full-time course running for one year. The programme requires the completion of 120 credits as follows:

Semester 1:

• Quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Health services management (specialist module)
• Leadership and change management (specialist module)
• Improving quality and patient safety (specialist module)

Semester 2:

• Health management and leadership research project
• You will receive specialist training and training in research methods (both theoretical and applied) in semester one. The project will be devised in semester one and data collection, analysis and write-up completed in semester two. All students will have a nominated academic supervisor to support their research activity and will have access to research and statistics support through our research clinics system.
• Each student will have an academic supervisor (from HSMC) to oversee their research activity, and may also have a clinical research supervisor. The Programme Lead, Professor Mark Exworthy, will offer support and guidance for all aspects of the course. You will also have access to research and statistics clinics which operate on a booking system, and give you the opportunity to discuss specific issues with a relevant academic.

As a Birmingham student you are part of an academic elite and will learn from world-leading experts. 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. 

Your learning will take place in a range of different settings, from scheduled teaching in lectures and small group tutorials, to self-study and peer group learning (for example preparing and delivering presentations with your classmates). This inter-calated programme will include a seminar programme with leading speakers on medical leadership, who are regularly contributors to the work of HMSC. 

Standard Fees Apply

All students are entitled to reclaim up to £500 project expenses for conduction of their research. Claims must be accompanied by original receipts. Further to this students who incur travel costs are eligible to apply for an Arthur Thompson Travel Award (up to £500). Applications for these awards will be considered at the end of the programme of study and are not guaranteed. These sources of funding are available to all students irrespective of their primary University of study.

Internal bursaries:

All students who are registered on the MBChB or Dental Programmes at the University of Birmingham are eligible to apply for a bursary to support them during their period of study. The intention to apply should be indicated on the application form and students expressing an intention will receive further information. Bursaries are currently set at £3,000 and are limited. Students with an overall mean mark of <65% in year 2 of their programme of study are unlikely to be awarded a bursary.

Our funding sources mean that we are unable to offer bursaries to students from outside of Birmingham.

External bursaries:

The College usually receives an invitation each year from the Royal College of Physicians to submit a limited number of applications for their Wolfson intercalated programme. The deadline for this is usually the end of March which means the programme needs to shortlist by mid-March. Bursaries are up to £5000 and are nationally competitive. Our students have a very good record in securing such awards. Any student interested in applying needs to contact the Admissions Tutor (Dr Derek Kyte, poshgeneraladmin@contacts.bham.ac.uk) by the 31st of January in the year in which they plan to apply.

Eligible students should:

Demonstrate a consistent and outstanding academic track record (an overall mean mark >70% in year 2 and consistently high marks in other years). N.B. Because of the need to show consistent academic achievement it is expected that students will be in year 3 or 4 at the time of application. A second year applicant who can demonstrate excellence may be considered but should contact the admissions tutor at the earliest opportunity to discuss this).

Be applying for an intercalation in one of our science programmes (International Health, Psychological Medicine or Public Health and Population Sciences). As this bursary relates to science projects students on humanities programmes (Health care ethics and law and History of Medicine) should not apply (but should make contact with the relevant programme lead to enquire whether there are any discipline specific bursaries currently available nationally).

Have a research focus or area of interest (Support will be given during February to develop this into an application).

Be prepared to work on their application (including designing a research project) during February and early March.

All eligible students who express an interest will have the opportunity to meet with the Admissions Tutor to discuss the application and receive guidance in drafting an application. Further to this there will be the opportunity to submit one draft application by the 28th February for comment. All students will then be required to submit their application by the specified deadline (varies annually but likely to be mid-March). Students will be informed if their application has been selected for submission to the Royal College within 2 weeks. Any student submitted will receive an early and unconditional place on the programme. Unsuccessful applicants will be able to use their work in their application for an internal bursary.

Applications for this programme will be accepted from students wishing to intercalate after year 3 or 4 of their medical studies, or year 2 for Dental students. Students must have obtained >60% in the second year of MBChB or BDS to be eligible. Applicants will be ranked on their year 2 mark and on their answers to the questions on the application form. 

Please note: students who have failed to achieve 60% may still apply, but are required to demonstrate a significant upward academic trajectory or excellence in specific areas related to the proposed intercalation. 

Applications From Students Not Currently Registered at Birmingham

We are happy to consider applications for any of the programmes within the Population Sciences and Humanities subjects from students from other institutions. We have a strong track record over recent years in supporting these students and facilitating integration into their new institution.

Applications from students from other universities should be made on our standard application form and must be accompanied by a transcript of marks from your current institution. Should an offer of a place be made to you further admission forms will be sent from the University via our Course Administrator.

We are always happy to discuss our programmes with students from other universities. If you have any queries or wish to discuss the opportunities available to you in Birmingham please contact us.

International students:

Depending on your chosen course of study, you may also be interested in one of our foundation pathways, which offer specially structured programmes for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on Birmingham International Academy web pages.

To apply, please download and complete the application form

You’ll be assessed in a variety of ways, and these may be different with each module that you take. You will be assessed through coursework which may take the form of essays, group and individual presentations, laboratory-based work (depending on your chosen degree) and formal exams.

At the beginning of each module, you’ll be given information on how and when you’ll be assessed for that particular programme of study. You’ll receive feedback on each assessment within four weeks, so that you can learn from and build on what you have done. You’ll be given feedback on any exams that you take; if you should fail an exam we will ensure that particularly detailed feedback is made available to enable you to learn for the future.