Health Economics - MSc

Comprehensive training in the theory and practice of health economics.

Overview

York pioneered study in 'health economics' and received the Queen's Anniversary Prize in recognition of its outstanding work at world-class level in this field in 2007. Studying for a Health Economics masters at York therefore means you'll be joining a programme with an international reputation for excellence.

The course will equip you with the experience and leading-edge skills you need for a career in research and health service decision-making. During your time at York, you'll have access to The Health Economics Resource Centre which provides a suite of rooms combining teaching materials, computing facilities and information resources.

Course Content

You'll study five compulsory core components, supplemented by a wide choice of optional units, to gain a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of health economics.

Taught by world-leading experts, you will complete modules to the value of 180 credits. This includes 100 credits of taught modules - some core and some optional - and an 80 credit dissertation.

Modules
For the Masters you will need to take 100 credits of taught modules. There are five core modules which amount to 90 of your 100 required credits:
-Evaluation of Health Care (20 credits)
-Health Economics (20 credits)
-Clinical Decision Analysis (10 credits)

One set from these choices:
-Econometrics 1 (10 credits) and Applied Microeconometrics (10 credits)
-Econometrics 1 & 2 (20 credits)
-Statistics and Econometrics (20 credits)
-Econometric Methods for Research (20 credits)

One set from these choices:
-Advanced Microeconomics (20 credits)
-Applied Microeconomics 1 (10 credits) and Applied Microeconomics 2 (10 credits)

In addition you can choose one 10 credit option from:
-Advanced Macroeconomics (10 credits)
-Applied Microeconometrics (10 credits)
-Design and Alalysis of Mechanisms and Institutions (10 credits)
-Evaluation of Health Policy (10 credits)
-Experimental Economics (10 credits)
-Health and Development (10 credits)
-Industrial Economics (10 credits)
-International Macroeconomics (10 credits)
-Labour Economics (10 credits)
-Management Decision Analysis (10 credits)
-Public Finance (10 credits)
-Public Sector Economics: Microeconomic Applications (10 credit)

Over the three months of summer, you'll complete a piece of independent research, guided by a supervisor. The 10,000 word dissertation is worth 80 credits and offers you the chance to examine a topic in depth and to develop your academic research skills.

Most students on the MSc in Health Economics choose to do a summer placement under the supervision of an experienced health economist. These differ from the standard dissertation as the placement supervisor suggests the research topic. A list of topics is circulated in the middle of the Spring term and you are allocated to your preferred placement before the Easter vacation.

The summer placements involve many different institutions including academic research units, the NHS and pharmaceutical companies. Most students are based in UK but in recent years placements have taken students to Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Finland, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Vietnam and the USA.

While you shouldn't try to organise your own placement, suggestions for topics and host institutions are always welcome. These should be given to your course director.

Careers

This course is ideal for people who want to work in research and health service decision-making. Potential employers will value the experience you'll gain on your summer placement. The MSc is also an ideal basis for progression to a PhD.

Visit the Health Economics - MSc page on the University of York website for more details!