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The MSc Health Economics and Decision Science spans economics, statistics and epidemiology. You will receive training in the theoretical foundations of these disciplines, which is enhanced through applied problems. You will benefit from the programme's strong links to industry and gain a range of skills that are in demand with prospective employers.
Key information
Programme starts
September 2019
Modes and duration
Application dates
Tuition fees (2019/20)
Note on fees:
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website. Fees for flexible, modular study are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session.
Entry requirements
A minimum of an upper second‐class UK Bachelor's degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant, quantitative subject.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Good
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
International students
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.
Select your country:
About this degree
You can choose to focus on decision science or economics through a specific stream of the programme. By the end of the programme, you will understand how the political, economic and physical context of health systems frames the application of economics and decision science. You will also be able to conduct rigorous cost-effectiveness analyses of health interventions and technologies to inform policy at regional, national and international levels.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits, compromising eight taught modules worth 15 credits each and a substantive piece of student-led research that will carry 60 credits. You must undertake five compulsory modules. The combination/number of modules studied will depend on whether your background is in statistics or economics.
Compulsory modules
Five core modules (75 credits) must be selected from the following list.
- Health Systems in a Global Context
- Economic Evaluation of Health Care
- Medical Statistics I
- Econometrics for Health
- One key theory module (out of 3 options) depending on your academic background:
- Introductory Microeconomics for Health
- Microeconomics for Health, or
- Key Principles of Health Economics
A supplementary, non-credit bearing Mathematics and Statistics pre-programme revision course is required of all students (subject to approval).
Optional modules
Three optional modules (45 credits) must be undertaken from the following list.
- Modelling for Decision Science
- Bayesian Methods in Economic Evaluation
- Health and Policy Reform
- Health Economics
- Social Determinants of Health
- Concepts and Controversies in Global Health
- Climate Change and Health
- Philosophy, Politics and Economics of Health
- Medical Statistics II
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Public Health Policy
- Research Methods and Evidence for Global Health
- Urban Health
- Evaluating Interventions
- Health Management: Planning and Programme Design
In addition to the modules listed, you may select one optional module from any department in UCL.
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project, which culminates in a dissertation of up to 7000 words (60 credits). Some students may conduct their research project together with industry partners.
Teaching and learning
Teaching will be delivered using a wide range of methods including classroom teaching, peer-led seminars, online lectures and practical exercises, moderated debates, group exercises and reading and writing tasks. Assessment varies from written examinations, to essays, portfolios and oral presentations.
Placement
A number of students will have the opportunity to undertake an industry placement. This will not be assessed as part of the programme and access to placements is voluntary and based on open competition.
Funding
Home/EU applicants can apply for a postgraduate bursary offered by the Institute for Global Health.
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Scholarships relevant to this department are displayed below.
African Graduate Scholarship
- Note:
- Deadline is 29 April 2019
- Value:
- Variable (1 year)
- Eligibility:
- Overseas
IGH Postgraduate Bursaries
- Note:
- Deadline is 1 July 2019
- Value:
- UK/EU Fee rate (1 year)
- Eligibility:
- UK, EU
- Criteria:
- Based on academic merit
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSSS)
- Note:
- Now closed for 2019/20
- Value:
- Full fees, flights, stipend, and other allowances (1 year)
- Eligibility:
- Overseas
- Criteria:
- Based on both academic merit and financial need
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Careers
Graduates of this programme have the relevant skills and knowledge for a career within the pharmaceutical industry, local or national government departments, international organisations, think tanks, consultancies or in academia among other opportunities.
Employability
As the global population grows and ages, so too does the challenge of providing equitable access to cost-effective healthcare. This MSc has been developed to fill a gap in training and skills in higher education, to embrace the multidisciplinary nature of health economics and decision science and provide you with a solid theoretical foundation - while allowing you to choose specific pathways within which you can focus on either more advanced modelling or advanced applied economics.
Why study this degree at UCL?
UCL offers a highly multidisciplinary environment in which to study health economics and decision science. The teaching team for this programme comprises economists, statisticians, epidemiologists, mathematicians and public health doctors among others. As a world-leading university, we research, publish and consult on the topics we teach. Our strong links to industry, policy and academia enhance the relevance of our teaching and the employment opportunities of our graduates.
Department: Institute for Global Health
Application and next steps
Applications
Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.
There is an application processing fee for this programme of £75 for online applications and £100 for paper applications. Further information can be found at: www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.
Who can apply?
This programme is intended for applicants with a suitable qualification (see entry requirements) in statistics, economics, epidemiology, demography, applied mathematics or a related field. Candidates with a background in medicine or allied health sciences may be considered if they can demonstrate quantitative proficiency.
Application deadlines
- All applicants
- 1 March 2019
For more information see our Applications page.
Apply nowContact information
- Programme Administrator
- igh.heds.information@ucl.ac.uk
- +44 020 7905 2646
Page last modified on 22 March 2019 by UCL Student Recruitment Marketing