Executive Programme Health MBA
The Executive Programme Health MBA is designed for busy professionals who are seeking to gain a world-class specialist business education alongside their careers.
World #9
QS World University Rankings 2026World #3 for public health
ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024Start date
September 2025
Duration
24 months (part-time) or Flexible
Cost
£45,000
Location
Online (plus one annual in-person residential week per year)
Application deadline
29 August 2025
Our 24-month online Executive Programme Health MBA positions you at the forefront of health leadership. The programme is designed for busy professionals who are seeking to gain a world-class specialist business education in the health sector while continuing their careers.
UCL’s online Executive Programme Health MBA includes two in-person study trips: an immersive week in London during the first year and a fieldwork week to a carefully selected overseas location in the second year. The location changes annually.
Our Executive Programme Health MBA offers greater flexibility than the MBA Health programme which may suit individuals at different stages of their careers.
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Director - Executive Programme Health MBA
Global healthcare is at a pivotal inflection point. Innovations in healthtech - including AI, life sciences, and robotics - are advancing rapidly to address major challenges like ageing populations and workforce shortages. Evolving business models require agile, visionary leadership. UCL’s GBSH is at the forefront, preparing healthcare leaders to not only navigate change but define the sector’s future and improve the wellbeing of society.
Programme
The Executive Programme Health MBA is suitable for applicants who are already working in the healthcare sector or wanting to pivot into the business of health the same excellent quality MBA education that our face-to-face programme offers. Additionally, the Executive Programme's flexible online delivery mode supports busy professionals to learn while working full-time anywhere in the world. Key components of the programme include:
Your Executive Programme Health MBA journey begins with a comprehensive online induction designed to set you up for success. This essential phase focuses on personal, professional, and career development, along with team building and organisational behaviour.
You'll be encouraged to complete self-paced primer courses on key topics including:
- Accounting, finance, and economics fundamentals
- Global health
- Study skills
- Time management
You'll also take part in personality assessments and work with a professional development consultant to shape your experience and leadership trajectory.
The programme’s core content is structured into four integrated learning blocks. Each block explores three key business disciplines in depth, followed by a two-week wrap-up period that synthesises learning through real-world case studies and expert-led discussions. All blocks are co-taught by academic and industry leaders to ensure a dynamic and applied learning experience.
Year 1:
- Block 1: Strategy, People and Marketing
- Block 2: Finance, Economics and Data
Year 2:
- Block 3: Executive Leadership
- Block 4: Contemporary Topics in Health and Healthcare
As part of the Executive Programme Health MBA, you’ll participate in two high-impact, in-person study trips - one in each year of the programme. These experiential, non-credit components are designed to deepen your understanding of global health systems through site visits, expert discussions, and field-based learning.
- Year 1: UK Health System Study Week (UCL East, London)
Spend one week exploring the UK's health landscape, including the NHS, private healthcare, and charitable sectors. Engage with leading practitioners, academics, and policy experts through site visits, lectures, and panel discussions to better understand the socio-economic and political dynamics shaping healthcare in the UK. - Year 2: Global Health System Study Week
Travel to a carefully selected overseas location (previous trips have included USA, Japan and Singapore) to examine a health system operating outside the NHS model. Gain first-hand insights into how another country addresses healthcare delivery, inclusion, and the social determinants of health. Through seminars, guest speakers, and field visits, you’ll develop a comparative perspective on global health systems and challenges. This unique international component is just one of the ways the programme allows students to gain first-hand experience of international health leadership and policy in action, and equips future leaders with the tools to lead effectively in complex, evolving health ecosystems. The locations of these international trips change annually to reflect evolving global health priorities and contexts.
These immersive weeks offer unparalleled opportunities to connect theory with practice and broaden your leadership perspective on health systems around the world. Please see further information on costs.
In the final term of the first year, you’ll undertake a consultancy project with a real client in the health sector – an opportunity to apply your learning to a challenge or opportunity that aligns with your career goals.
Project Highlights:
- Work independently or in a small team to deliver solutions for a healthcare client
- Identify, design, and execute a consultancy brief shaped with your client
- Apply research, strategy, and consultancy skills developed throughout the programme
- Deliver tangible outcomes while enhancing your professional capabilities
The project begins at the end of Term 2 with workshops and one-to-one career coaching to help match you with the right client and project. You'll be supported by an academic supervisor and meet regularly with both them and your client throughout Term 3.
What You’ll Gain:
- Practical experience managing a consultancy project in the health sector
- Expertise in client engagement, project structuring, and evidence-based problem solving
- Enhanced research, communication, and stakeholder management skills
This capstone experience prepares you to transition confidently into leadership roles in healthcare and consulting.
In the final term of your second year, you will take part in the Global Health Research Project - an opportunity to work collaboratively with peers and a faculty supervisor on a live healthcare research challenge. This team-based project culminates in a research paper and presentation, reflecting your collective findings and recommendations.
You’ll co-produce an original piece of research that draws on your academic learning, professional experience, and independent inquiry. Whether focused on healthcare innovation, policy, or practice, this project is designed to sharpen your research capabilities and contribute meaningfully to health improvement.
Key features:
- Conduct original, team-based research under faculty supervision
- Develop essential skills in research design, data analysis, and presentation
- Apply MBA knowledge to explore innovations and solutions in global health
This capstone experience strengthens your analytical and collaborative skills, preparing you to lead and influence through evidence-based thinking.
Careers
The Executive Programme Health MBA, offered by the UCL Global Business School for Health, prepares you to lead at the highest levels of healthcare management. This programme is designed not only to boost your earning potential but also to provide the strategic insight and leadership skills needed to drive impactful change across the global health sector. From day one, we prioritise your personal and professional growth.
The programme will further develop your skills and provide you with the tools and support to elevate your career to the next level.
You’ll receive personalised career guidance through:
- Psychometric leadership profiling to shape your leadership style
- One-to-one coaching and a dedicated personal tutor
- Career workshops, job boards, and networking events focused on roles in health, consultancy, and executive leadership
You’ll also have full access to UCL Careers Service and UCL Innovation & Enterprise, giving you the tools, resources, and connections to meet your career ambitions.
We’re committed to helping you build the confidence, skills, and network to thrive in a rapidly evolving global health landscape.
Faculty
The UCL Global Business School for Health faculty are world leading industry experts and healthcare management innovators.
Frequently asked questions
Please read all the information available on the UCL prospectus before making an application.
Admissions
We expect applicants to demonstrate a UK minimum of an upper second-class degree (2:1) or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Graduates without the relevant degree classification but with extensive relevant work experience are welcome to apply and will be considered on an individual basis.
There are several items to include with your application upon submission:
- A personal statement
- Two references
- Your updated resume/CV
- Full academic transcripts
- Application fee (£90)
- IELTS (or suitable equivalent) English proficiency score
The personal statement has a limit of 3000 characters, including spaces. Alternatively, you can upload your personal statement as an additional document. In this case, it is advised for the personal statement to be no more than two pages.
Yes, applicants must have a IELTS score at level 7.0 or above, with no area less than 6.5 in the sub-tests. You can apply to this course without your IELTS, but you will only be able to receive a conditional offer until we receive proof of your IELTS score.
Find out more about the English language tests scores UCL accepts.
Yes, you can. Whilst there are English language test requirements for the programme, you can submit your application without the test results. However, without IELTS (or equivalent) results, only a conditional offer will be made until you submit your IELTS results.
Yes, at the final stage of the selection process, candidates who meet all other entry requirements and are considered the most competitive will be interviewed to ensure they understand the demands of the programme and are a good fit for this programme.
Applications open in the Autumn for those wishing to start a programme of study in the following September.
There is currently an application processing fee for this programme of £90.
We advise you to include the following in your personal statement:
- Why you want to study the Executive Programme Health MBA and what your objectives are upon completion of the programme
- What particularly attracts you to this programme of study (it’s content and the opportunities it offers)
- How your personal, academic and professional background has prepared and qualified you for the demands of this challenging course
- Where you would like to go professionally through and after this programme of study
No, we do not require a GMAT score, GRE Score or GMAC Executive Assessment Test.
It is not possible to submit an application once the application deadline has passed. Applications can be submitted up to 5pm (BST) on the deadline date advertised. If you have missed the deadline you would only be able to submit an application for the next admissions cycle opening the following Autumn.
Applications are considered on a rolling basis and therefore may close earlier than the advertised deadline. As we expect to receive a large number of high quality applications, we advise that you apply as early as possible after the date applications open.