MSc Health Economics
Comprehensive training in the theory and practice of health economics
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
Gain experience and skills you need for a career in research and health service decision-making.
Health Economics informs how we make difficult decisions about prioritising resources, and help people to live longer and healthier lives.
As a graduate of this degree, you'll be ready to make a tangible impact in this developing field.
Course content
You'll study core components, supplemented by a choice of option modules, to gain a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of health economics.
Modules
Core modules
You will take core modules which will include:
- Advanced Microeconomics OR Applied Microeconomics
- Econometrics OR Statistics and Econometrics
- Evaluation of Health Care
- Economics of Heath and Health Care
- Evaluation of Health Policy OR Decision Modelling for Health Economic Evaluation
Option modules
You will also study one option module. Examples from previous years have included:
- Evaluation of Health Policy (if not taken as a core module)
- Decision Modelling for Health Economic Evaluation (if not taken as a core module)
- Topics in Development Economics
- Public Economics
- Time Series Econometrics
- Money, Banking and Corporate Finance
- Macro Finance
- Design and Analysis of Mechanisms and Institutions
- Advanced Macroeconomics
The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. For further information please get in touch.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Dissertation
Over the three months of summer, you'll complete a piece of independent research, guided by a supervisor. The 10,000 word dissertation offers you the chance to examine a topic in depth and to develop your academic research skills.
Most students on the MSc in Health Economics choose to do a summer placement under the supervision of an experienced health economist. These differ from the standard dissertation as the placement supervisor suggests the research topic. A list of topics is circulated in the middle of the Spring term and you are allocated to your preferred placement before the Easter vacation.
The summer placements involve many different institutions including academic research units, the NHS and pharmaceutical companies. Most students are based in UK but in recent years placements have taken students to Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Finland, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Vietnam and the USA.
While you shouldn't try to organise your own placement, suggestions for topics and host institutions are always welcome. These should be given to your course director.
Learning outcomes
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
Learning outcomes for this course
- Critically apply core and advanced concepts in the areas of health economics and evaluation of health care
- Understand and make use of specialised knowledge on theory and methods used by professional health economists and active researchers, including: the role of observation, abstraction and model construction; the nature and sources of socioeconomic data; the major current research methods; and, the key analytical arguments used in health economics
- Formulate and solve analytical and decision problems by identifying the appropriate methodology and adapting it for context; in so doing, displaying general analytical skills in relation to identifying key objectives and assumptions, and avoiding logical inconsistencies
- Demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach to interpreting empirical evidence by drawing on range of methodologies across health and economics
- Model phenomena relevant to health economics by accessing and handling complex economic data sets, analysing these data using best-practice econometrics, and utilising econometric software for parameter estimation and hypothesis testing
- Advise key stakeholders by evaluating and interpreting phenomena and events, evaluating policy developments across different countries, and appraising them through core concepts and related empirical evidence
- Work independently to research and develop ideas within a formal framework and to communicate findings effectively.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2025/26
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £11,200 | £25,900 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Additional costs
If you choose to do a summer placement as part of your dissertation you will be expected to meet any costs, for example travel and accommodation. These costs vary depending on the length and location of your placement.
Funding information
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
Funding opportunities
Chevening Scholarships
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
Departmental funding
Teaching and assessment
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
Teaching format
This Masters combines a variety of different teaching methods, including:
- Formal lectures
- Seminars
- Problem-solving classes
- Practical computer-based sessions.
A member of the teaching staff will act as your supervisor throughout the degree, to help guide your studies and monitor progress. The department also has a vibrant research community. You’ll be able to attend the seminars and research workshops in which staff and invited speakers discuss their research.
Teaching location
You'll be based in the Department of Economics and Related Studies on Campus West. Most of your teaching will take place in Alcuin College and elsewhere on Campus West.
About our campus
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Assessment and feedback
Formal types of assessment in this course include:
- Dissertation
- Exams
- Group project
- Seminar presentation
- Essays
As you study modules you’ll take part in assessments that do not contribute to your final mark, instead giving useful feedback on your progress and understanding.
National and international employers recognise York as one of the best institutions for Health Economics. Some of the best economics books are written by staff at York and it is fascinating to be taught by these experts in their field.
Careers and skills
This course is ideal for people who want to work in research and health service decision-making. Potential employers will value the experience you'll gain on your summer placement. The MSc is also an ideal basis for progression to a PhD.
Career opportunities
- Health economist
- Consultancy
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Research associate
- Health policy analyst
- International organisations
- Analyst in government and non-governmental bodies
- PhD
Transferable skills
You'll develop a range of transferable skills during the course, including:
- Independent working
- Time management and people skills
- Analytical and technical research skills
- Communicating research.
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in Economics or a relevant discipline. You may also be considered if your degree is in related to Medicine, Pharmacy, or Nursing. |
| Other qualifications and experience | If you have been out of study for a while, or do not have a strong background in economics or mathematics and statistics but have other relevant qualifications or experience, you may be required to take the Summer Session in Economics and Quantitative Methods as a condition of your offer. Alternatively, the Session can also be taken as a stand-alone course. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Additional requirements
If you have been out of study for a while, or do not have a strong background in economics or mathematics and statistics but have other relevant qualifications or experience, you may be required to take the Summer Session in Economics and Quantitative Methods as a condition of your offer. Alternatively, the Session can also be taken as a stand-alone course.
English language
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
If you haven't met our English language requirements
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Next steps
Contact us
Get in touch if you have any questions
Professor Luigi Siciliani
Postgraduate enquiries
Department
Related courses
Discover York
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
Explore campus and city life and hear what our current students have to say about living here.
Lively, full of culture and beautiful, York is regularly voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.
Find out more about York. Chat to staff and students and take the tour, on campus or online.