Executive MSc Healthcare Decision-Making, in collaboration with NICE

The Executive MSc in Healthcare Decision-Making is a unique programme developed in collaboration with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), known internationally for its contribution to the quality and efficiency of healthcare and its scientific rigour. This approach combined with the academic excellence of LSE’s faculty has led to a truly exceptional programme, with a tailored offering of skill-oriented and policy-based courses that will enable a strategic view of healthcare systems required to transition into a senior leadership role.

Considering extensive reforms taking place in the way health systems operate, understanding the complexities of healthcare markets, how to navigate these, and how to make informed decisions about resource allocation are increasingly important for active participation in strategic decision-making across the health sector. Combining the interdisciplinary expertise and research excellence of LSE faculty with the flexibility of executive study, this programme delivers a well-rounded intellectual and practical grounding in essential skills to appraise health care interventions, products, and policies, and contribute to evidence-based decision-making.

Addressing a need for qualified experts across the international healthcare market, the programme is tailored to participants coming from the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries, medical professionals, health insurance, healthcare management, governmental and non-governmental organisations, and individuals looking to transition into leadership roles.

You'll obtain a critical appreciation of:

• the complexities of healthcare regulations and governance
• how policy decisions impact health systems
• the nuances of value assessment models and why value assessment results in differences in coverage across settings.
• the impacts of healthcare interventions on core health policy objectives, by applying analytical methods in economic evaluation.
• how pharmaceutical markets operate, and how intellectual property links up with regulatory practices and pricing and coverage decisions.

The programme follows interdisciplinary and comparative approaches. Employing country- and region-specific datasets and case studies will allow you to gain comprehensive appreciation of effective healthcare interventions across a range of income settings, compare health systems’ performance on critical aspects such as regulation and value assessment, and examine policy formulation across geographical, economic, cultural, and political settings. As a health leader, you'll utilise these skills to make informed evidence-based decisions that make a difference.

The department seeks to advance and challenge our collective understanding of health systems and the social, economic and political contexts in which they operate. Through our research, teaching and scholarship, we aim to influence and inform how health policy is designed, implemented and evaluated globally.

We apply rigorous social science research to emerging health and social care challenges, advising national and international agencies as well as government bodies. This world-leading research is conducted through two affiliated research centres: LSE Health and the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC).

Our academics have made significant contributions to developing policies on global health, health equality, older adults, care and welfare.

The department’s research feeds into our multidisciplinary teaching, with an emphasis on health and social care policy, health economics and management. We offer a range of postgraduate master’s programmes and our MPhil/PhD programme. Students learn about healthcare systems around the world and develop skills that can be applied in many different contexts.

Our goal is to prepare the healthcare leaders of tomorrow for challenging and rewarding careers.

Department of Health Policy

Who's who

Dr Panos Kanavos

Associate Professor and Programme Director

Department of Health Policy

Dr Rocco Friebel

Associate Professor and Programme Director

Department of Health Policy

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:

• academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
• statement of academic purpose
• two academic references (two professional references will be considered if you're unable to provide an academic reference)
• CV.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

Data sharing

Double degrees and certain other degrees and scholarships require that LSE shares personal data with another university or partner. In our agreements we will use the School’s standard data sharing template for universities and partners in the EU and EEA and in an adequate country. Standard contract clauses will be used for any other country. If you have any questions about this or how your personal data will be treated by LSE, please contact the Data Protection Officer via glpd.info.rights@lse.ac.uk or check our Student Privacy Notice.

Contact us

If you have any questions about the programme, please contact healthpolicy.exec@lse.ac.uk.

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis. This means that applications will close once the programme is full.

There is no fixed deadline by which you need to apply.

Year 1 (2025/26):

Home students: £16,500

Year 2 (2026/27):

Home students: £16,500

Year 1 (2025/26):

Overseas students: £16,500

Year 2 (2026/27):

Overseas students: £16,500

This Executive MSc aims to empower health care professionals to advance their careers by acquiring skills in health services research, health economics, outcomes research and health policy. The programme will prepare you to explore new advisory, management, and leadership roles within the health care field. Beyond your current work setting, you will be able to expand your employment opportunities in related sectors, including the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries, consultancies, government, and non-governmental organisations.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.