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Home>Study at York>Postgraduate taught>Courses 2025/26>Health Economics for Health Professionals and Policymakers (MSc)

MSc Health Economics for Health Professionals and Policymakers

Advance your knowledge of health economics through high quality training in relevant economic theory, concepts, methods and practice.

Year of entry: 2025 (September)

Length

3 years part-time

Start date

September 2025

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The University of York continues to make key contributions to development and applied research in the field of health economics. 

The course content reflects recent methods and developments in the field. Experts in specialist areas within health economics were selected to develop and produce the learning materials. Through the course you'll have the opportunity to advance your knowledge in health economics, building on the knowledge gained in the PG Diploma programmes in Health Economics for Health Professionals and Policymakers

You'll have the opportunity to further enhance your understanding about recent innovations at the forefront of methods developments in health economics across the globe. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to develop skills in undertaking economic analysis and evaluations and you will be able to interpret, critically appraise and summarise economic studies and decision analytic modelling to inform decision makers on cost-effectiveness. These skills will enhance your competence and confidence in health economics, to potentially take the lead in presenting economic arguments, dealing with complex issues and make informed judgments to identify challenges and present ways forward, including planning and implementing new research in health economics.

Combined expertise

This course is a collaboration between the Department of Economics and Related Studies and the York Health Economics Consortium.

Innovative Research

The Department of Economics and Related Studies ranks jointly in the top 10 for impact and is joint 14th for research in the UK - according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021).

Course content

In this course, you will complete three modules per year to the value of 20 credits each.

Modules

Core Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

The York approach

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Identify and apply core and advanced health economics concepts to decision problems encountered in the workplace, in particular as they relate to resource allocation.
  • Demonstrate advancing knowledge of health economics to fill a disciplinary knowledge gap thus developing greater credibility to lead and advise on related project planning, management and report writing.
  • Use core and advanced mathematical and computer-based techniques, to contribute to work-based projects involving economic analysis in health and health care.   
  • Access, structure and synthesise information, further developing research skills to assess the evidence base of health policies.
  • Demonstrate competence and confidence in identifying health economics literature, critically appraising and summarising it for use to inform decision makers.
  • Persuasively communicate in inter-disciplinary settings the results of economic analysis in health and health care.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2025/26

Study modeUK (home) / International and EU
Part-time, distance learning (2 years) £10,090
Part-time, distance learning (2 years)

For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.

  • UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%).
  • International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

Additional costs

The course will include a two-day (voluntary) residential combined module workshop held at the University of York in April or May 2025. Attendees will need to arrange and meet their own transport, accommodation and any other related costs for either of these events. These events are optional but highly recommended.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching format

For each module you will have access to a workbook containing the basic text for the course, references to additional reading and exercises. Some modules will also be supplemented with a textbook containing core material. Your teaching will be supported using the University's virtual learning environment. You will have access to:

  • discussion boards monitored by a module leader
  • an assessed work submission facility

Teaching location

As this is a distance learning course, you will be able to complete much of the work you need to do for each module in your own home or workplace. 

The programme will include a residential workshop held at the University of York and attendees will need to meet their transport, accommodation and other related costs.

Assessment and feedback

Each of the twelve modules will contain one, or two, pieces of formative assessed work for you to submit online within a given deadline during your study period. This work will be marked by your module tutor together with feedback.  Each module is completed by submission of a summative, online examination at the end of the twelve week study period.  Your formative assessment does not contribute to your summative module mark.

Careers and skills

This is a Continuing Professional Development course, designed for those who are already employed, to complement existing qualifications and experience. 

The learning outcomes aim to equip you with the necessary skills in health economics and health technology assessment to progress your career within your current organisation and to change career direction, targeting jobs which combine health economics with the disciplines in which you are already qualified.

Career opportunities

  • Pricing and reimbursement analyst
  • Health economist
  • NHS Rightcare delivery partner
  • Senior health economics & outcomes research manager
  • Trainee accountant
  • Health technology assessment consultant

Transferable skills

  • Integration of new knowledge with existing professional background.
  • Application of appropriate mathematical, graphical and data analysis techniques to apply to a wide range of work-based problems.  

Entry requirements

Typical offer
Postgraduate degree Pass in the University of York’s PG Dip Health Economics for Health Professionals and Policymakers.
Other qualifications and experience We are not currently able to admit students who have not completed the University of York’s PG Dip Health Economics for Health Professionals and Policymakers.
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic and Indicator) 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo 120, minimum 105 in all other components
LanguageCert SELT B2 with 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
Kaplan Test of English Language 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components
Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic 61, minimum 55 in each component
TOEFL 87, minimum 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III Merit in all requirements

For more information see our English language requirements.

Applying

You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.

Apply for this course

Next steps

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions

Health economics by distance learning enquiries

Learn more

Department of Economics and Related Studies