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Understand both the education and experience of our Global Healthcare Management MSc programme, including the curriculum, specialist routes, core modules, project work, careers and networking.
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About this degree
A programme with tangible real world value, the Global Healthcare Management MSc is a degree that has been created by academics and industry experts. Taught from the world’s first business school dedicated to health in a global top 10 university, this programme offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn from the best in the sector while gaining the most valuable and in demand skills at the moment.
Healthcare organisations anchored by strategic leadership and managers with specialist skills will form the future of improved healthcare delivery across the world. Many global healthcare systems were feeling the pressure before the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, now is a critical time to push forward systems thinking and universal best practices.
Equipping students with a critical foundation in the theories, principles and practices of healthcare management, the Global Healthcare Management MSc gives future healthcare managers and leaders key knowledge. Learning about global differences and interconnections, quality improvement, patient safety and workforce management are also fundamentals on this programme. A group business project ensures problem solving and innovation in the healthcare context are qualities instilled in all students. Students also specialise in either analytics, finance or leadership – where there is a current skills deficit in healthcare organisations across the world. As a result, our Global Healthcare Management MSc programme produces graduates who are versatile, enterprising and highly employable healthcare management experts.
Programme curriculum
This programme is delivered through in-person lectures, online teaching, recorded lectures, seminars, weekly group tutorials and workshops.
A one-week induction before the start of the programme will enable you to focus on personal and professional development, as well as team building with your peers. Prior to the commencement of the degree, you will also be invited to complete an unassessed, self-paced course on Global Health to give you a grounding in the global context of global healthcare management.
The content for the Global Healthcare Management MSc programme is delivered during terms one and two in four modules per term. During term one, the focus is on an advanced understanding of business and management for healthcare, along with two modules from your selected specialist route (analytics, finance or leadership). Term two looks at the application of tools within the global health landscape, along with another two modules from your specialist route.
Face to face attended sessions and online directed learning form approximately 15 to 18 hours per week in terms one and two. There is considerable independent reading and recorded lectures study expected through a module delivery period and in the identified revision weeks.
Throughout the 12-months, students will also work on two projects, and term three is dedicated to completing this project work and consolidating learning from terms one and two
Assessment is through written examinations, coursework essays, presentations, assignments and two projects.
Modules
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits for this programme. This is comprised of eight compulsory modules with a value of 15 credits each, and two projects, each with a value of 30 credits.
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.
Core modules (all students):
- Leadership and Management for Global Healthcare - 15 credits
Providing a strong foundation in the theories and practices of leadership and management, this module looks in particular depth at management topics most relevant in the healthcare sector. Module content includes the integration of health systems, quality improvements and patient safety, and gives you knowledge on horizon scanning, designing management systems and honing your leadership style.
Assessed through a two-hour written examination.
- Economic Evaluation and Health Financing - 15 credits
Focusing on economic topics essential for effective healthcare management, this module looks at the discipline of health economics, economic evaluation and operationalising different methods, critically appraising economic evidence and different healthcare financing systems. You’ll also gain an understanding of health insurance and priority setting.
Assessed through a two-hour written examination (70%) and a 10-minute group presentation.
- Organisational Behaviour for an Inclusive and Diverse Workforce - 15 credits
This module looks at the theories and approaches to the study of human behaviour in organisations. Understanding the theoretical grounding is integral to understanding the evolution of the workplace and what responsible leadership involves. Module content also includes the key issues in the management of diversity and inclusion in work settings.
Assessed through a poster (70%) and a 10-minute group presentation (30%).
- Changing Health Systems - 15 credits
This module explores the patterns of health system financing and delivery around the world, in the context of the global goal to achieve universal health coverage. Module content includes methods of financing, purchasing of services, delivery methods in different health services and evaluating this in terms of outcomes.
Assessed through a 2,500 word policy report.
Core modules (Analytics route):
- Essentials of Informatics for Healthcare Systems - 15 credits
Providing a foundation for understanding health informatics in the health landscape, this module looks at how informatics impact the delivery of healthcare. You will learn the concepts and skills required to deliver policy and strategy for high quality patient care, and gain insights into organisational aspects affecting the use of health informatics.
This module – Essentials of Informatics for Healthcare Systems – is offered through the Institute of Health Informatics. The module is blended delivery with block face to face days.
Assessed through a two-hour written examination.
- Principles of Health Data Analytics - 15 credits
Covering the key ideas and concepts of operational research as applied to healthcare, this module focuses on mathematical techniques to improve the efficiency, productivity and quality of healthcare systems. You will also learn techniques to analyse and evaluate the performance of organisations, and use mapping processes and modelling flow.
This module – Principles of Health Data Analytics – is offered through the Institute of Health Informatics. The module is blended delivery with block face to face days.
Assessed through a 2,500 word piece of coursework.
- Machine Learning in Healthcare - 15 credits
Exploring the fundamental principles of applied machine learning in healthcare, this module focuses on applied methods for prevention, diagnosis, therapy and prognosis. Using authentic health data, you’ll explore concepts in greater depth to understand how machine learning algorithms in healthcare can construct clinical rules and predictive models.
This module – Machine Learning in Healthcare – is offered through the Institute of Health Informatics. The module is blended delivery with block face to face days.
Assessed through a 2,500 word piece of coursework.
- Public Health Data Science - 15 credits
Focusing on fundamental public data science principles, this module explores how data science can be applied to health improvements, health protection and health services. You will gain an understanding of health datasets, how they can be analysed, and how they can be applied to policy.
This module – Public Health Data Science – is offered through the Institute of Health Informatics. The module is blended delivery with block face to face days.
Assessed through a 1,500 word piece of coursework.
Core modules (Finance route):
- Accounting and Financial Reporting for Healthcare - 15 credits
Designed to give you the skills required to understand and analyse financial statements, this module equips you with an understanding of how different health systems organise the financing of healthcare. You’ll also learn how to use various financial statements for decision making, and gain an understanding of regulatory compliance and corporate governance.
Assessed through a 2,500 word report.
- Risk Management in Healthcare - 15 credits
Effectively managing risk is critical to safeguarding an organisation, and this module provides an in depth understanding of risk management in healthcare settings. You’ll look at risk management strategies and plans, and cover topics including patient safety, medical errors, organisational assets, reimbursement levels and societal standing.
Assessed through a 2,500 word risk management plan with risk register for a healthcare organisation.
- Value Assessment, Decision Making and Sustainable Healthcare - 15 credits
Providing an understanding of key concepts and theories for value assessment in health, this module looks at topics including value-based healthcare and value-based payments. Module content also includes decision science and decision making behaviour, and the need for sustainable health financing and funding mechanisms.
Assessed through a two-hour written examination (70%) and a 10-minute group presentation.
- Capital and Equity Markets for Healthcare - 15 credits
This module looks at how capital and equity markets work, with a focus on how they can be used to advance research and development for healthcare products. Honing in on early stage biotechnology firms, who are driving the innovation for the healthcare sector, you’ll learn about the unique features and challenges of investing in healthcare innovations.
Assessed through a 2,000 word business case analysis (80%) and a 10-minute group presentation (20%).
Core modules (Leadership route):
- Strategic Healthcare Leadership - 15 credits
Incorporating a reflective, action learning approach, this module helps you develop your identity as a healthcare leader. Module topics include how personal development needs influence leadership style, the role leaders play in defining and communicating an organisation’s vision, purpose and values, and the relationships leaders have with boards and organisational governance.
Assessed through a 2,500 word report.
- Healthcare Power and Politics - 15 credits
Introducing you to the politics and power dynamics in healthcare organisations, you'll identify, analyse and critique concepts and theories concerning power and politics especially in regard to resource allocation within organisations. The module also looks at key leadership skills such as change management, conflict resolution, stakeholder engagement and negotiations in the workplace addressing power dynamics.
Assessed through a 2,000 word essay (80%) and a 500 word coursework piece (20%).
- Coaching Skills for Healthcare Leaders - 15 credits
This module is designed to help you learn and apply the key approaches and practices of effective coaching and mentoring. Module content includes types and forms of coaching, principles and theories, application in healthcare settings, ethical considerations, best practices and the development of an organisational coaching culture.
Assessed through a 10-minute recording of a coaching session (50%) and a 1,000 word reflective essay (50%).
- Leading Innovation and Change in Healthcare - 15 credits
Looking at the opportunities and challenges of innovation in healthcare, as well as embedding change within healthcare, this module will help you develop as an agile and adaptive leader. Module content includes innovation pathways and change management approaches, and how both can impact policies, regulations, carers, patients and health professionals.
Assessed through a 2,500 word written examination.
Elective modules:
There are no elective modules for this programme.
Projects:
Students must complete two projects for the MSc Global Healthcare Management with routes.
- Business project - 30 credits
This is a group project to develop an idea for a healthcare improvement from concept to business report and presentation. The project brings together learning and key aspects of business and management that you acquire throughout the programme, including strategy, project management, financing, marketing and leadership. Group work involves conceptualising, undertaking proof-of-concept, developing a business proposal, preparing an outline business case and subsequently a detailed business case on an approved project.
Assessed through an 8,000 word group project report (70%), a group presentation (20%) and 360-degree feedback (10%).
- Research project - 30 credits
This is an individual project to critically examine an aspect or question related to your selected specialism. Giving you the opportunity to shape and engage with a topic you are interested in, the project combines your learning from the programme with desk-based research to create an original piece of research.
Assessed through a 7,500 word research paper.
Careers
Getting an MSc in Global Healthcare Management will develop the leader in you and enable you to make a difference in shaping global health. With a specialism, in finance, analytics or leadership, your chosen career path will put you at the forefront to drive health and healthcare systems through the professionalisation of health management.
These specialisms have been selected after extensive research with employers showed that there is expected to be a skills shortage in these three areas in future. This is an important time to understand the trends and challenges across global healthcare as well as position yourself to stand out within global professional health settings.
Whichever specialism you choose, this programme will prepare you for senior roles across health and healthcare. You will develop core skills in many areas including systems thinking, strategic leadership, effective decision-making, human resource knowledge and financial evaluation. You will further develop cross-cultural knowledge and specific skills in your specialism to enter into C-suite roles. There are excellent opportunities in many areas including strategic leadership, global health consultancy, business development, programme management, financing health and health data analytics depending on your specialism. You will find these opportunities across the globe, including public and private health care providers, private foundations, non-profit organisations, multinational health and pharmaceutical companies and consultancy firms.
You will have the opportunity to network, attend career fairs and take advantage of tailored career guidance and events. You will have immediate access to UCL Career Services and Innovation and Enterprise Services to ensure you have all the support to meet your career ambitions.