Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Health Informatics at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).
The Health Informatics programme is designed for healthcare professionals and those who want to increase their knowledge and skills in health informatics. Accredited by the UK Council for Health Informatics Professions (UKCHIP), the programme uses state-of-the-art technologies and has a strong focus on practical experience is strongly linked with National Health Service (NHS) organisations, other research institutes and industry within the Life Science sector in Wales, UK.
- A one year full-time taught masters programme in Health Informatics that has been running successfully since 2001 and has an international reputation.
- The Health Informatics course is also available for three years part-time study with minimum attendance requirements.
- Accredited by the UK Council for Health Informatics Professions Education Quality Assurance Scheme.
- Uses state-of-the-art technologies and has a strong focus on practical experience.
- Strongly linked with National Health Services organisations and industry within the Life Science sector in Wales, UK.
- The Health Informatics course is based within the award winning Centres for Excellence for Administrative Data and eHealth Research of Swansea University, awarded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Medical Research Council (MRC), enhancing the quality of the course.
The Health Informatics course is suitable for current informaticians, those working in the health and healthcare sector, and graduates preparing for a career in health informatics. Applicants from non-graduates with domain experience are welcome.
Health Informatics students must complete 6 modules (5 core and 1 further module from a choice of two) to earn a minimum of 120 credits in total in Part One and produce a dissertation of not more than 20,000 words on a relevant health informatics topic in Part Two to graduate. Each module for this course requires five days of intensive study in Swansea. This will be augmented by preparatory and reflective material supplied via the course website before and after your visit.
Health Informatics students are required to attend the University for 1 week (5 consecutive days) for each module in Part One. Attendance during Part Two is negotiated with the supervisor.
Modules on the Health Informatics programme typically include:
• Health Informatics in Context
• Communications and Coding
• Using Secondary Health Data
• Systems and Technologies
• Knowledge Management
• Understanding Health Informatics Research
The Health Informatics course introduces two pathways for health informaticians who wish to specialise in one of the following areas:
1. Health Informatics Research
2. Leadership in Project Management
In partnership with the National Health Service (NHS) Wales Informatics Service and Health Boards in Wales, the Health Informatics course is able to offer NHS research opportunities within local NHS facilities and the NHS Wales Informatics Research Laboratories based at Swansea University.
In collaboration with the e-Health Industries Innovation Centre UK, this course offers you a unique opportunity to work with the industries to develop your work-based project that will give you the competitive edge and enhance your future employability.
Health Informatics remains one of the fastest growing areas within healthcare in the UK and US.
In the UK working as a professional health informatician, you could be introducing electronic health records for every person in the country or exploring patient data to identify trends in disease and treatment. If you love working with computers or have an analytical and inquisitive mind, then there is a job for you in health informatics as the NHS Careers in Health Informatics has demonstrated.
The MSc Health Informatics is designed to provide a specialist qualification in health informatics, addressing a wide range of operational care and management perspectives.
It illustrates principles across the health and social care sector, taking theory into practice. It is ideal for demonstrating competence in informatics to support the care domain and contributing towards meeting continuing professional development goals.
The learning outcomes for this postgraduate course are related to Health Informatics National Occupational Standards and the Key Skills Framework. The MSc in Health Informatics consists of core modules in health informatics, research methods, study skills, with optional modules and a dissertation. The distance learning course is delivered using eLearning.
The course is available via eLearn.
Assessment is through coursework. A variety of formative and summative exercises is undertaken including short papers, work-based assignments, oral presentations, electronic presentations and a dissertation.
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The MSc in Health Informatics programme consists of core modules in health informatics, research methods, postgraduate study skills, together with optional modules and a dissertation.
To obtain the award of MSc in Health Informatics, a student must successfully complete six taught modules (four core and two optional) plus a triple dissertation module.
This course is recognised as contributing to UK Council for Health Informatics Professions (UKCHIP) continuing professional development. The course learning outcomes map to Health Informatics National Occupational Standards and Key Skills Framework.
This course will help you become part of the newest and fastest growing specialty in healthcare by understanding how to apply informatics solutions to develop high-quality and sustainable healthcare.
It has been designed for health professionals who wish to enhance their careers with an informatics qualification. It will also appeal to computer scientists, engineers and others with relevant technical or professional qualifications who wish to move into a successful career involving the application of informatics in the health service.
The Health Informatics MSc at City, University of London aims to develop future leaders in the field who will transform healthcare with sustainable, informatics-led approaches, and is the only MSc in the UK to be accredited by the British Computer Science Society.
High-quality teaching combines both theory and practice, with a strong focus on real-world applications including electronic health records, clinical data management and analytics, mobile technology and telehealth. Teaching is supported by guest lectures from medicine and industry. Furthermore, you will be part of a multi-professional and strongly international cohort bringing together many points of view on national and international computerised healthcare initiatives.
Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.
As a postgraduate student on a Computing and Information Systems course, you will have the opportunity to complete up to six months of professional experience as part of your degree.
Our longstanding internship scheme gives you the chance to apply the knowledge and skills gained from your taught modules within a real business environment. An internship also provides you with professional development opportunities that enhance your technical skills and business knowledge.
Internships delivered by City, University of London offer an exceptional opportunity to help you stand out in the competitive IT industry job market. The structure of the course extends the period for dissertation submission to January, allowing you to work full-time for up to six months. You will be supported by our outstanding Professional Liaison Unit (PLU) should you wish to consider undertaking this route.
High-quality teaching is delivered by research-active academics from City, University of London. Specialist industry professionals also participate in teaching and learning, ensuring that students learn the knowledge and skills most valued by industry.
Teaching combines both theory and practice, with a strong focus on real-world applications including electronic health records, clinical data management and analytics, mobile technology and telehealth. You will also undertake an independent research project.
All taught modules are delivered through a combination of lectures, interactive workshops, tutorials and activities supported by the University's online learning environment.
Taught modules are generally assessed through a combination of coursework and examination, although some modules are 100% coursework based (e.g. Data Analysis with Healthcare Application, Information Architecture and Project Management). Examinations focus on applying health informatics theories to realistic clinical scenarios. Coursework assignments centre on analysing real world problems, developing computational models and systems to solve these problems and producing written reports and documentation.
The taught component of the MSc is worth 66.67% and the independent research project is worth 33.33%. The independent research project allows students to conduct original research on a health informatics topic of their choice
Upon successful completion of eight modules and the independent research project, you will be awarded a master’s level qualification. Alternatively, if you do not complete the dissertation but have successfully completed the taught component you will be awarded a postgraduate diploma. Successful completion of four modules will lead to the award of a postgraduate certificate.
The MSc comprises of 180 credits.
You will study six core modules and two elective modules. You will also undertake an independent research project.
A full-time student is expected to commit 35 hours a week, which includes attendance at lectures, tutorials and workshops, and independent study on coursework, the individual research project and preparation for examinations.
Taught Core Modules
Core modules are mandatory and provide a detailed insight into key areas of health informatics. The modules are designed to complement each other and incrementally build specialist knowledge in the area. For example, the Electronic Health Records module focuses on important standards and techniques for securely capturing, storing and exchanging clinical data. Data Analysis with Healthcare demonstrates how to undertake statistical analyses of clinical data and report the results. In the Modelling Healthcare Decisions and Knowledge Management in Healthcare modules students learn about machine learning techniques that can be applied to clinical data and used to develop intelligent systems to support clinical decision making, including the cost effectiveness of those decisions in a variety of healthcare settings. The Telehealth and Mobile Applicationsmodules examines the emerging role of telehealth with a focus on new technologies and devices such as mobile apps, sensors and cloud computing that can be used to capture clinical data and deliver health services in environments such as patients’ homes. The Research, Methods and Professional Issues module develops students' research skills and helps with planning and carrying out original research in their independent research project.
Graduates from the Health Informatics MSc pursue successful careers in health services (both state and private sectors in the UK and overseas), and in related healthcare industries such as Electronic Health Record providers. There are a wide variety of roles and opportunities in health informatics as outlined the NHS Careers in Health Informatics including:
Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Health Informatics at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).
The developing discipline of health informatics is becoming an increasingly important component of health provision in the 21st Century. This programme builds on the successful MSc in Health Informatics which has been running at Swansea University since 2001.
- The focus is on primary research, undertaken over 2 years.
- Research skills are developed through three short modules as the student develops their own health informatics research project in the first 9 months of the course.
- The research project may be undertaken within the student’s own place of work.
- The research is supported within an organisation with a strong research reputation. Each student will have one to one supervision at all stages of the research process.
- The Health Informatics programme is based within the award winning Centres for Excellence for Administrative Data and eHealth Research at Swansea University, as awarded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC).
- Through partnerships with National Health Service (NHS) bodies in Wales, we are able to offer a range of research opportunities.
The Health Informatics course is designed for those with experience in health informatics who want to make a contribution to the field by helping develop the knowledge base. Applications for non-graduates with domain expertise are welcome.
Health Informatics students must undertake 3 modules of a total of 60 credits at level in their first academic year. The second year will comprise supervised completion of a research based thesis. The requirements for supervision and review, as set out for standard research degrees, will be integrated into the course.
Only 3 individual weeks of attendance required in the first 9 months, one week for each of the modules.
Modules on the MRes Health Informatics typically include:
Critical Appraisal and Evaluation
Undertaking health informatics research
Any one existing health informatics module relating to the chosen topic
Today's society faces the challenge of providing high-quality, patient-centred, sustainable and affordable healthcare, in an environment of increased demand and scarce resources. The Health Informatics MSc at UCL aims to form future leaders who will address this challenge, transforming healthcare delivery through the use of information and communication technologies.
Our graduates are professionals able to effectively engage with clinicians, managers, patients and policymakers, with the necessary skills and tools to harness healthcare information for improving clinical practice and service delivery. They possess the knowledge about healthcare problems, the concepts used to analyse them and the principles that govern the successful engineering, application and evaluation of solutions.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of one core module (15 credits), seven optional modules (105 credits) and a research project (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, flexible study 2-5 years) is offered.
A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, flexible study over a period of two years) is offered.
Core modules
Optional modules
*Full-time MSc students have option to share Data Science for Research in Health & Biomedicine modules
Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project, normally based at their place of work, which culminates in a piece of work written in the style of a journal article.
Teaching and learning
The programme is taught by 'blended learning', and therefore includes interactive online teaching and face-to-face lectures, seminars and workshops including substantial use of examples of real clinical systems. Assessment is through examination, critical evaluations, technical tasks, coursework and project reports, compulsory programming and database assignments, and the dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Health Informatics MSc
Health informatics is a subject of growing importance, with exciting career development prospects for clinicians, managers, administrators and technologists. The main areas where our graduates find employment are business intelligence, information management, project and programme management, informatics analysts and directors, quality and service improvement management.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The MSc in Health Informatics at UCL is taught by a team of specialists within the UCL Institute of Health Informatics, and understanding how information technologies can be harnessed for improving the delivery of care is central to their academic mission. UCL is at the centre of a vast network of clinical collaborators and houses probably the largest concentration of health informatics expertise in the UK.
The institute conducts world-leading research and our teaching, which is research based, focuses on areas such as electronic healthcare records, decision support systems, consumer health informatics, and clinical and applied bioinformatics.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
If you want to study health economics but you can't travel to University of Aberdeen the discipline is available now for online study from anywhere in the world. The programme is ideal of you are a health professional or want to work in the discipline and you can't relocate to study, you have a full time job or other commitments which don't allow you to study on campus. Health Economics is a very interesting programme due to the direct influence it can have on services, behaviours and population behaviour change. Services can be managed more effectively and health interventions screened more effectively in terms of benefits,
If you have a 2:1 degree from any discipline this programme is available for application. There are wide ranging healthcare and associated industries reliant on health economics and research to drive regulation and policy, purchasing provision and research in the public and private sectors internationally. HERU has strong links with policy makers in the UK including the Evidence Directorate of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government and NHS Education Scotland with NHS Health Scotland.
Health economics applies economic thinking to the analysis of health and health care. It is a relatively young sub-discipline but has grown rapidly. This MSc programme is aimed at students who wish to pursue a career as a professional health economist or who wish to undertake a PhD. Health economics is typically applied in multidisciplinary settings. This is reflected within the course providing you with health economics skills alongside generic economic and health service research skills.
Introduction to Economics and Health Economics
Optional Courses
Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/degree-programmes/111/health-economics/
Find out about fees on your programme page
*Please be advised that some programmes have different tuition fees from those listed above and that some programmes also have additional costs.
View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page
This Masters programme provides state-of-the-art training in the latest advances in Digital Health Systems development and management. It's aimed at those who aim to become leaders in the field of Health IT, either for Health systems service delivery or for the Health & Wellness IT industry.
Graduates will gain essential skills and expertise in designing applications that are accessible and usable, and that comply with complex data governance within healthcare. You'll gain experience in managing, analysing and making use of data collected from personal devices (such as apps and wearables) and large scale health systems (such as electronic records). You'll also gain key software development and management skills that are critical for deploying health systems.
This course looking at the whole systems implementation of digital health systems is one of its kind in the UK.
This new and unique course is the first of its kind to offer technical graduates the opportunity to develop the core skills required to develop advanced health and wellness systems and technologies for improving the way we personally manage our lifestyles and how our care systems deliver better health to citizens.
The course includes 120 credits of taught material - taken over the first two semesters - and a 60-credit digital health project that runs, typically, from May to September.
In addition to learning about the design, development and evaluation process for personal health and wellness devices and systems and larger scale hospital and community based IT systems, students will also be trained to understand and use techniques for using the data that these systems produce to support decision making and planning and delivery of better care.
Student projects will be conducted in close collaboration with the Digital Health Research group partners.
Furthermore, the Digital Health Research group has close links with Scotland’s innovation centres (Digital Health & Care Institute, Data Lab), the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, The City Observatory, and the Centre for Health Policy. These links provide a range of opportunities for practical partnerships with the leading organisations and industries in the field.
Working closely with the Digital Health research group means students will be alongside a group that has conducted major collaborative research and development projects and evaluations within the UK and internationally. The group were lead investigators in the evaluation of a £37 million Innovate UK programme to deploy assistive digital health and wellness technologies at scale across the UK.
The group is also involved in organising key national and international conferences such as the British Computer Society (BCS) Health Informatics conference and the ACM conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.
Example projects include: Design of mobile apps for Managing Diabetes; Cost Benefit Analysis of Technology Enabled Care; Evaluating the Barriers to Implementing Electronic Personal Health Records at Scale.
Each year one student will be awarded the 'Innovative Digital Health and Care' award for the best overall student project (judged by representatives from academia, health and social care and industry).
The taught modules will include guest-lectures from experts and practitioners in the field of Health IT, both from industry, this sector and the National Health Service.
Teaching combines face-to-face lectures, labs and tutorials as well as personal/group study time.
Taught modules are assessed using a combination of individual projects, group projects and final exams. The project is assessed on the quality of the project report (ie Master thesis). An overall minimum of 50% across all assessed classes and report is required in order to be awarded the Master in Digital Health Systems.
Graduates from the programme will enjoy a broad range of career opportunities. The NHS remains one of the largest employers in the world and IT professionals is one of the fastest growing profession within the organisation.
Equally, private and public health and care services world-wide are also expanding their digital health capacities and workforce and hardware and software companies (sensors, wearables, mobile computing) are all seeking expertise in the health and wellness sector. Future career options will include:
If you want to influence public health policy, become a researcher, or work in public health, an MPH in Public Health will give you the range of skills and discipline areas you need to cover to work within the discipline. Public Health awareness is never very far from the news when epidemics are reported and contained, diseases become more widespread or there is a link between populations and long term health impacts from specific behaviours displayed individually and in terms of clusters in the economies they represent. It is a fascinating subject area where patterns and trends can be analysed in health outcomes to make a real positive impact on our lives as well as defining longevity and issues impacting health around the world.
You will ideally have a science and health related background degree but other Honours degrees in science, social science and humanities can be considered for the programme which is an Master of Public Health (MPH)
This MPH covers the core topics required for professional accreditation in public health that is relevant to both UK and international students. The programme offers an excellent range of specialist elective options to allow you to tailor your learning to your needs and includes a flexible project component enabling you to gain experience oriented either towards the development of a professional career in public health practice or towards the pursuit of a more academic career.
Semester 1
Optional
Semester 2
Optional
Semester 3
Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
*Please be advised that some programmes have different tuition fees from those listed above and that some programmes also have additional costs.
View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page
Find out more about:
Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs
Healthcare demand is exceeding supply worldwide and there is a need for radical solutions. Innovative IT approaches are transforming healthcare. Health providers and leading multinationals are investing massively in technology and demand for qualified health informatics professionals is high.
This programme offers a detailed overview of health informatics, including telehealth, mHealth, data analytics, knowledge management and decision support. It takes a strong information systems perspective, building transferable skills in areas like soft systems, process modelling, strategy and system development, and focusing these on health.
The Yorkshire Centre for Health Informatics has a strong national and international reputation and is actively engaged in delivering education, skills, research and development to the NHS and a network of national and international software suppliers. As a student on the Masters programme, you’ll be actively involved with us in listening to, and informing, the informatics agenda for health.
The professional development events run by the Yorkshire Centre for Health Informatics (YCHI) mean we have an established network of employers keen to recruit masters students and support their masters projects.
You’ll benefit from our location too. The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is the largest UK hospital trust and Leeds is the headquarters for many Department of Health organisations, such as NHS Digital and NHS England. We also have close relationships with leading health software suppliers based in Leeds, in particular The Phoenix Partnership, providers of SystmOne and ResearchOne. YCHI is part of the Leeds Institute of Data Analytics, bringing opportunities to be involved in exciting developments in “big data”.
You can also study this subject at Postgraduate Diploma and Certificate levels.
Our six-month Informatics for Healthcare Systems CPD course explores the role of informatics in managing healthcare systems, with an emphasis on current issues and future innovations and trends.
The course is led by health problems rather than technologies or organisations, setting the direction of translational thinking that healthcare managers need to take when dealing with information and communications technologies.
Through our own research-driven examples and case studies, you will be provided with the skills and concepts needed to address the core issues in delivering and managing healthcare systems through informatics.
These include topics surrounding data, technologies, information and people in the context of the journey from the maintenance of wellbeing to specialist healthcare for individuals, and the creation of a population-wide picture of health to enable well-informed management of a whole system.
Each course unit will examine a core issue in detail at every stage of the patient pathway in context with other core issues and skills, and will consider its impact on the information usage.
This course is open to anyone who looking to develop their health informatics knowledge and work in the healthcare, pharmaceutical or academic sectors.
We aim to:
This course uses an engaging blend of lectures, exercises, discussions and case studies designed to put theory into practice.
Our enquiry-based learning approach will encourage discussion and debate, enabling you to actively share knowledge with other students. Face-to-face time will provide you with immediate access to experts and a forum for the informatics workforce to network and to exchange experiences and knowledge.
This will allow you to develop wider awareness of the overall health informatics and patient pathway context, and provide a basis for greater collaboration.
Online material relating to each unit will allow you to review material in your own time and reflect upon your learning and how it can be applied in your own organisation. Material will also be provided as pre-unit preparation and for learning reflection.
Both reflective and preparatory material will enable you to consolidate and advance your learning in ways that suit you on an individual basis.
For those attending more than one unit, online material will connect the subject matter covered during each unit. It will also allow you to directly apply your knowledge and skills in the workplace, enabling you to enhance your practical experience.
Access to the online material will remain available to assist in ongoing consolidation of knowledge and skills.
The course is delivered across seven face-to-face contact days, divided into one block of three days and two blocks of two days. Each block is then interspersed with e-learning content for reflection and preparation. Each unit will have one face-to-face day, except Unit 6, which will comprise two face-to-face days.
This course has been developed in conjunction with the School of Computer Science at The University of Manchester, the North West Informatics Skills Development Network, and discussions with clinicians and other members in the NHS and industry. In addition, key competencies have been highlighted using the Health Careers Framework.
"During the course I have had the opportunity to look at current practices from a more objective standpoint (rather than being caught up with doing it) and hear perspectives from colleagues in other settings. I have a better and broader understanding of issues across the healthcare system and hopefully will be able to apply some of the academic ways of looking at things going forward."
Robert Konstant-Hambling, Head of Information, North West Specialised Commissioning
"The course has been beneficial to me in a number of areas, in particular it has forced me to investigate above and beyond NHS and DoH literature and see things from a different perspective. I always have good intentions of investigating and reading to improve knowledge and understanding for my work area but find time restricting and seldom have chance to read beyond the high priority documents. I have found the course and networking with NHS staff of a similar level and responsibilities, in this environment, extremely useful in challenging existing knowledge and forcing me to stretch myself."
Erica Fairweather, System Support Manager, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
"The course has enabled me to interact with the rest of the health economy on a more informed basis thereby benefitting both the health economy as a whole and influencing better patient care through the delivery of cohesive systems."
Paul Lucock, Associate Director ICT Delivery, Northwest Ambulance NHS Trust
Computers will be available during the face-to-face sessions held on campus at the University. We offer extensive library and online services to help you get the most out of your studies.
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: [email protected]
This course is ideal for graduates who love to work in a role that connects computing and biology, medicine, or healthcare, and have an analytical and inquisitive mind.
Our school of School of Computing and Engineering has developed partnerships, such as Amazon allowing our students to gain vital industry skills in:
• integration with big data
• cloud computing
• cyber-security.
This course has been structured with the modern healthcare sector in mind, providing you with the opportunity to gain comprehensive ICT skills required by the sector.
We aim to develop future leaders through increasing your knowledge and skills in:
• how to manage and analyse large scale, individual and personalised health data
• ethics and governance issues around health data
• big Data (statistical and machine-learning) methods
• the healthcare context, processes and environment
• clinical and biological problems
• healthcare system integration (HL7 messages)
• informatics project management/change management
• exposing you to a range of health information systems and technologies
Option modules
This course will thoroughly prepare you for a wide range of careers as a health informatics or Bioinformatics practitioner in the public and private sectors, including:
• clinical informatics
• personalised Medicine
• clinical bioinformatics
• education and training
• health records and patient administrators
• information and communication technology
• information management
• libraries and knowledge management
• project and programme management.
On successful completion of this course you can pursue further study at MPhil and PhD level.
Click the following link for information on how to apply to this course.
Information about scholarships and bursaries can be found here.
This CILIP-accredited course is aimed at health care professionals who want to improve services in their sector by getting more out of information and communication technologies. It’s taught online so you can fit it around your work.
Alongside the more specialised knowledge, you’ll acquire valuable transferable skills such as presentation and report writing. We can also help you develop leadership and management capabilities.
First year students take part in an online induction before the course starts. The rest of the course uses specialised software to deliver lectures, seminars and tutorials online, in real time. In the final year, you’ll complete a research dissertation, supervised by an academic.
Effective use of information improves the world and makes a positive difference to our lives. It is also central to economic development. The rapid pace of technological change and the globalisation of markets means that organisations in all sectors must realise the value of information systems.
The world needs graduates who are information literate.
Our graduates work for all kinds of organisations, in the public and private sectors. Employers include:
Adidas; BBC; British Red Cross; Cambridge University; The Department of Health; Ernst and Young; GCHQ; Goldman Sachs; Hewlett-Packard CDS; House of Commons Library; Imperial College London; IBM; Kings College London; NHS; Pepsico; Pricewaterhouse Coopers; Stanford University
If you’re already an experienced professional, you can develop new skills and advance your career with one of our Professional Enhancement Programmes.
Our courses are research-led, which means you’ll learn about the latest concepts from academics who work with organisations to drive developments in this field. Alongside the theory and technical skills, you’ll develop some valuable attributes including effective communication, application of research methods and creative problem solving.
All our courses (except our distance learning courses) include lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical laboratory classes, group work, online discussion, case studies and lectures by visiting speakers. Our MA Librarianship course also includes visits to library and information service organisations. You’ll be assessed using a wide variety of methods including essays, reports, small projects, in-class tests, presentations, posters, group work and a research-based dissertation.
Our dedicated departmental teaching suite contains two networked laboratories with 60 computers and a 30-seat lecture room. Our state of the art iLab includes a Usability Lab and Digital Media Lab designed to collect research data into human–computer interaction.
The iSpace is an open plan, social learning area for students. It has display facilities, open-access PCs and bookable partitioned group work areas. There is Wi-Fi coverage throughout the department, and you can connect your own laptop to our network. Mobile devices and tables are available for you to borrow for project work.
We’re right in the middle of the campus and close to the Information Commons and the new Diamond building so you’ll be able to access the University’s many resources.
The UCL programme in Data Science for Research in Health and Biomedicine covers computational and statistical methods as applied to problems in data-intensive medical research. Students learn techniques that are transforming medical research and creating exciting new commercial opportunities. Our recent graduates, many of whom begin paid internships while completing the MSc, have moved on to roles in industry and academia.
Students learn how to link and analyse large complex datasets. They design and carry out complex and innovative clinical research studies that take advantage of the increasing amount of available data about the health, behaviour and genetic make-up of small and large populations. The content is drawn from epidemiology, computer science, statistics and other fields, including genetics.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of five core modules (75 credits), three optional modules (45 credits) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) is offered.
A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) is offered.
Core modules
Optional modules
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation. Project Proposal 20% (2,000 words); Journal Article 80% (6,000 words).
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered by clinicians, statisticians and computer scientists from UCL, including leading figures in data science. We use a combination of lectures, practical classes and seminars. A mixture of assessment methods is used including examinations and coursework.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Data Science for Research in Health and Biomedicine MSc
Students on this programme will be passionate about research and know that, in the 21st century, some of the most exciting, stimulating and productive research is carried out using large collections of data acquired in big collaborative endeavours or major public or private initiatives. We hope that graduates will build on that passion and, together with the experience gained on the programme, will go one to develop careers as entrepreneurs, scientists and managers, working in industry, academia and healthcare.
Employability
The programme is designed to meet a need, identified by the funders of health research and by a number of industrial organisations and healthcare agencies, for training in the creation, management and analysis of large datasets. This programme is practical, cross-disciplinary and closely linked to cutting-edge research and practice at UCL and UCL’s partner organisations. Data science is arguably the most rapidly growing field of employment at the moment and employers recruiting in health data science include government agencies, technology companies, consulting and research firms as well as scientific organisations. A number of employers are supporting the programme in different ways, including providing paid internships to selected students.
Data science is an exciting area with a dynamic job market, including in healthcare. Our graduates have gone on to work for a range of companies, including large research organisations and small start-ups, while others are working in health care or pursuing their interests in universities.
The lecturers on this programme are international experts in health data science and students will learn about cutting-edge research projects. The collaboration is part of the Farr Institute, a network of centres of excellence created to enhance the UK’s strength in data-intensive research. This MSc will draw on that collaboration, giving students access to the most advanced research in the field.
We work closely with a range of employing organisations to ensure that our graduates have the best possible preparation for a career in data science. This includes offering industry-sponsored dissertations for selected students.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
