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Graduate (Taught)
Application code:Apply through the LSHTM
Department of Health Policy

MSc Health Policy, Planning and Financing

Offered by LSE and LSHTM, this MSc equips you to critically analyse and design health policies for impactful contributions to health systems.

Overview

Introduction

The MSc Health Policy, Planning and Financing teaches you to critically analyse issues in health policy, planning and financing. The programme enables students to devise appropriate health policy responses, and make valuable contributions to local, national, or international health services and system.

This is a joint programme co-designed and co-delivered with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), where students will benefit from the expertise, resources, and networks available at both institutions.

What you'll learn:

  • Critically understand a diverse range of international and national health policies, including current and emerging trends
  • Gain knowledge of selected topics related to the study of health policy, planning and financing, such as epidemiology, health economics, and social sciences
  • Develop skills in applying conceptual and theoretical knowledge using a multidisciplinary approach to formulate, design, implement, evaluate and appraise health policies and plans
  • Know how to assess and communicate empirical evidence, including critically appraising debates relevant to issues of health policy
  • Grow your research and presentation skills, including the ability to plan and carry out a literature search to evaluate research findings.

For more details on programme structure, please visit the LSHTM website.

The LSE Department of Health Policy offers a wide range of programmes in health policy and health economics. Find out which programme is best for you

Entry requirements

You must satisfy the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine general entrance requirements and the additional programme-specific entrance requirements, to be considered for admission.

See LSHTM entrance requirements

Please select your country from the dropdown list below to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Overseas

Programme content

You'll take the LSE course Financing Health Care, and one compulsory choice between two options at LSHTM. In addition, you'll choose courses from a range of possible combinations at both LSE and LSHTM. Finally, you'll complete a 10,000-word dissertation on any topic in the field.

View all course overview videos on YouTube

Year 1

Why study with us

Discover more about our students and department.

Meet the department

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.

Your application

Overview

Fees and funding

The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.

You're charged a fee for your programme. At LSE, your tuition fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It doesn't cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Learning and assessment

How you learn

Graduate destinations

Overview

Career destinations after graduation are wide and varied, reflecting the diverse international mix and multi-disciplinary nature of the Health Policy, Planning and Financing class. Graduates from the programme are typically employed by national governments, international organisations, research/management consultancy, industry and the voluntary sector.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Mentorship Programme

As a student in the LSE Department of Health Policy, you'll be able to apply to take part in our Mentorship Programme. The programme connects current students with one of our alumni, active in a wide range of fields, to provide career mentoring as students graduate from the MSc courses. The programme gives students greater insight into career prospects after graduation and will help students build connections with current health policy leaders and experts to build their network.

Learn more about the programme and our mentors

Median salary of our postgraduate students 15 months after graduating:

£41,000

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

Health and Social Care
Education, Teaching and Research
FMCG, Manufacturing and Retail
Consultancy
Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities
This data is drawn from the 2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey, run by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and in full-time employment.

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