Ranking
1st
choice for graduate employers
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, specifically tailored to the dynamic world of primary health care management.
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 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.
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.
The University of Birmingham is also ranked as the first choice for leading graduate employers in the UK.
This course doesn’t require a first degree in economics.
- 68th
in the world for Life Sciences and Medicine (2024 QS World Rankings)
This course offers flexible modules to fit your needs.
In addition to providing specialist skills and knowledge highly sought after in the healthcare sector, our course is taught by industry-leading experts who bring real-world experience and cutting-edge research to the classroom.
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.
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 for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Any optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
The following must be taken:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Economic Evaluation in Health Care | 20 | Semester 1 |
| Introduction to Health Economics | 20 | Semester 1 |
| Dissertation | 60 | |
| Modelling for Health Economics | 20 | Semester 2 |
| Policy + Economics of Healthcare Delivery | 20 | Semester 1 |
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.
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Research Methods for Health Economics | 10 | Semester 1 |
| Statistics for Health Economics I | 10 | Semester 1 |
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.
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Econometrics | 20 | Semester 1 |
| Research Methods for Health Economics | 10 | Semester 1 |
Entry requirements
To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
- 2:1 Honours degree
You should have a 2:1 Honours degree, or an equivalent professional qualification and profession experience in health services management. This course doesn't require a first degree in economics.
Fees and scholarships
- £10,900
Full-time
Postgraduate Masters Loan
To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.
Scholarships
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.
Birmingham Masters Scholarships
We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.
Application process
To apply for a postgraduate programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.
Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.
- 31 August 2025
Application deadline for UK and non-tier 4 applicants. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full. Early applications are encouraged.
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 (https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/medical-school/intercalation-register-your-interest) and we'll be in touch with details about how to apply. For more information, please contact us on mdsintercalationenquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk
How to apply to our taught courses
Find out how to apply to our postgraduate taught programmes. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question about our admissions process, including how to apply, your offer and how to track your application, please visit our admissions portal.
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.