Overview
Introduction
In the MSc International Health Policy programme, you analyse current and emerging health care problems and the range of health policies being developed to address them through the application of health policy and economic principles. You also learn to analyse health systems from an international and comparative perspective.
The programme offers an international perspective on health policy and covers a variety of primarily high income and emerging countries. Among your professors are specialists in health policy, health economics, public health, social care, European health care reform, and behavioural public policy.
Students come from across the globe and from a variety of backgrounds, including politics, law, economics, medicine and science, creating a truly diverse and international cohort. The programme prepares you for a career in a range of fields, including in health care administration, health care management, government departments or agencies, health insurance organisations, management consultancy, international organisations, a variety of NGOs, the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, the wider commercial health sector and for a career in research or for further study.
Through your individual courses you will master health care financing models, how to measure health systems performance, health policy and politics, health economics, and pharmaceutical economics and policy, among others. When writing your dissertation, you can explore a topic of particular interest to you. Your dissertation can be written as part of an internship with a major international or governmental organisation, private company, NGO or academic institution.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our faculty have been highly engaged in advising governments and international organisations on coronavirus policy responses, research on the short-, medium-, and long-term impacts of the crisis, and in developing innovative ideas and solutions to tackle the pandemic and its negative effects. Learn morea about the Department’s coronavirus-related research and impact.
The MSc International Health Policy (Health Economics) is a specialism of this programme developed for economists looking to specialise in health.
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
Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in any discipline.
Please select your country from the dropdown list below to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.
Overseas
English language requirements
The English language requirement for this programme is Standard. Read more about our English language requirements.
Competition for places at LSE is strong. So, even if you meet the minimum entry requirements, this does not guarantee you an offer of a place.
However, please don’t feel deterred from applying – we want to hear from all suitably qualified students. Think carefully about how you can put together the strongest possible application to help you stand out from other students.
Programme content
Year 1
You'll take three compulsory half unit courses, and will complete a compulsory 6,000-word dissertation which may be written in conjunction with a summer placement within a government department, international agency, private organisation, or academic research institution. The purpose of the dissertation is to allow students to explore a particular topic or a relevant policy issue in some depth. The dissertation may take the form of an empirical research conducted on a topic or issue of relevance to health/social policy; or may be a literature-based providing an analysis of a specific research question of relevance to health/social policy. In addition, you will choose courses from a range of options across the Health Policy Department and other relevant Departments such as Economics and Methodology.
Watch all course overview videos on Microsoft Stream or YouTube.
Courses to the value of one and a half units from a range of options
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.
Why LSE
University of the Year 2025 and 1st in the UK
Times and The Sunday Times - Good University Guide 20251st in London for the 13th year running
The Complete University Guide - University League Tables 20256th In the world
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024Carbon Neutral In 2021, LSE became the first Carbon Neutral verified university in the UK
Your application
Overview
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
- CV.
See further information on supporting documents.
You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.
Please note: The Department of Health Policy on intercalating onto their master’s programmes is as follows:
- Students on a US medical degree are always qualified to apply
- Students who will have completed no more than two years of a UK medical degree on beginning a prospective MSc at LSE are not typically qualified to apply
- Students who will have completed at least three years of a UK medical degree on beginning a prospective MSc at LSE are qualified to apply
- Students on non-UK/US medical degrees should contact Graduate Admissions in the first instance
Contact us
If you have any questions about the programme, please contact: healthpolicy@lse.ac.uk.
Please note: The applications, intake and ratio values below include the MSc International Health Policy (Health Economics).
When to apply
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. However, if you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section below for more details.
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.
Home
Home student fee (2025/26)
For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.
Overseas
Overseas student fee (2025/26)
For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.
Learning and assessment
How you learn
How you're assessed
All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It's designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. Summative assessment may be conducted during the course or by final examination at the end of the course. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.
Graduate destinations
Overview
Professional destinations after completing the degree include consultancies, pharmaceutical companies, health services, international organisations, government departments and agencies and NGOs, as well as employment in research or further study for a PhD.
Further information on graduate destinations for this programme
Mentorship Programme
As a student in the LSE Department of Health Policy, you will 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:
Top 5 sectors our students work in:
Career support
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.