University of Birmingham - College of Medicine and Health
MSc in Health Economics and Health PolicyBirmingham, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 up to 2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 26,180 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international students: may 12 | UK students: august 29
** for international students I £10,900 UK students
Key Summary
Introduction
Course overview
Across the world, healthcare systems face the challenge of meeting vast patient needs with limited resources. Enter health economics—a vital and rapidly growing field that drives intelligent decision-making and shapes impactful policies.
This course is your gateway to mastering the most crucial aspects of health economics and health policy.
Whether you're an experienced healthcare professional, a manager looking to make a bigger impact, or a recent graduate eager to jumpstart your career, this course will immerse you in the vital issues shaping the future of healthcare.
Course highlights
What makes this course different?
Dive into Health Economics and Policy, a cutting-edge programme for healthcare leaders.
You'll learn how to examine health issues from an economic perspective and develop the skills to conduct impactful analyses that help healthcare decision-makers maximise the efficiency of limited resources. Additionally, you'll gain a deep understanding of the economic and policy frameworks that shape primary healthcare management.
- Learn how resource allocation is currently managed and how it might be improved.
- Dive into theoretical and practical solutions for overcoming rationing and shortages of important resources.
- Discover how economic analysis can revolutionise health policy and drive impactful change.
Admissions
Curriculum
Course Structure
This course will run over 12 months, full-time. It can also be undertaken on a part-time basis. While the exact content may change, here’s what you can expect to study each term. This is based on a full time Masters course.
Term 1
In the first term, you’ll study Introduction to Health Economics, Economic Evaluation in Health Care, Statistics for Health Economics 1, and Research Methods in Health Economics.
Term 2
In the second term, you’ll study Policy in Economics of Healthcare delivery and Modelling for Health Economics.
Term 3
Term three will be dedicated to your dissertation. This will be on an agreed topic in an area of health economics or health policy.
Module information
The programme comprises 120 credits of taught material and a 60 credit dissertation. You’ll have the flexibility to choose between two sets of core modules and can also select an additional module that aligns with your interests.
The modules listed below are an indication only and may be subject to change. Occasionally, it may be necessary to make changes to modules, for example, to ensure they remain current and relevant.
The following must be taken:
- Economic Evaluation in Health Care
- Introduction to Health Economics
- Dissertation
- Modelling for Health Economics
- Policy + Economics of Healthcare Delivery
Students must choose either Option Set 1 or Option Set 2
Students must choose the following and a total of 20 credits from M-level modules available in the Institute of Applied Health Research. Other optional modules may be available elsewhere in the College of Medicine and Health or in the wider University, but only with prior departmental agreement.
- Research Methods for Health Economics
- Statistics for Health Economics I
Students must take the following and a total of 10 credits from M-level modules available in the Institute of Applied Health Research. Other optional modules may be available elsewhere in the College of Medicine and Health or in the wider University, but only with prior departmental agreement.
- Econometrics
- Research Methods for Health Economics
Scholarships and Funding
To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.
125th Anniversary Scholarships for International Students
We have a proud heritage of removing barriers to education. In 2025, we celebrate our 125th anniversary as a University. To mark this milestone, we’re offering £5,000 scholarships to students from a select number of countries.
Scholarships for international students
At Birmingham, we believe in removing all barriers to education, so all of our talented students can achieve their full potential. As an international student you can take advantage of our wide range of University run scholarships as well as the many scholarships and bursaries from external funding organizations.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Our MSc Health Economics and Health Policy prepares you for a range of careers in areas such as economic consultancies, the pharmaceutical industry and governmental and non-governmental bodies in the UK and Internationally. You can also progress to explore teaching and research positions at academic institutions.
Careers Network
Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.
Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.
Program Tuition Fee
Program delivery
Course delivery
This programme is available both full-time and part-time, and includes a combination of lectures, small group tutorials, peer group learning and self-study. You’ll learn from world-leading academics and researchers at a top 100 UK university. From the outset we’ll challenge and encourage you to become an independent and self-motivated learner.
This course consists of seven taught modules and a dissertation.
- Taught modules – provide you with foundational knowledge and skills in the role of health economics in healthcare decision making.
- Dissertation – this will be on either a health economics or health policy topic. Working on your own, you’ll also have access to a personal tutor to support you.
- Assessment – these include written assignments, presentations and exams.