Program Overview

Introduction to the Health, Technology and Public Policy MPA

The Health, Technology and Public Policy MPA is a program designed to broaden students' understanding of the impact of health technologies and health innovations. This program is taught by established health, technology, and policy experts and practitioners, and it aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to influence public policy and make healthcare better for all.

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for this program, students must have a minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university in a relevant discipline or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Students are also encouraged to have work experience prior to enrolling on this program.

English Language Requirements

The English language level for this course is Level 4. UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are available for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. These courses will develop students' academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Equivalent Qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting different parts of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website. International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from a list of countries.

About the Degree

Health technologies and public policy tools can protect, strengthen, and prepare countries to address emerging and persistent health challenges. However, successful implementation relies on understanding the ethical, scientific, policy, social, and economic implications of their development and use. This MPA program focuses on the public policy and administration implications of health technologies, enabling students to navigate the dynamic interface between health technologies, health innovations, health systems, and public policy.

Who This Course is For

This program is for professionals at any stage of their career who have an interest in working on issues that can impact health, health technologies, and public policy. The MPA has relevance in the private sector, the public sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and development agencies.

What This Course Will Give You

The program offers several benefits, including:

• Engagement with real-world policy challenges that matter to students personally through practice-oriented classroom teaching methods with scenario-based learning.
• Development of the skills that science-policy practitioners need to cope with the complexities of governance today, understanding the challenges faced by policymakers in establishing, sustaining, and reconfiguring healthcare services.
• Gain of experience working with real-world clients on real policy issues on the week-long policymaking scenario and nine-month project, offering invaluable hands-on experience and preparing students to be influential policy actors.
• Building of career-enhancing relationships with a broad range of international partners.
• Development of skills alongside renowned academics across UCL's Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP).

Employability

As a graduate of the Health, Technology and Public Policy MPA, students will bring a unique breadth of in-demand and transferable skills to future employers, such as rigorous analytical, evaluation, and communication skills. These skills will empower students to lead co-design processes, ensuring the development and implementation of optimal solutions for all stakeholders.

Networking

Students will have access to various networking opportunities, including:

• Participation in STEaPP's Health Research cluster.
• Participation in relevant departmental and faculty seminars.
• Leveraging the location to facilitate exposure visits to health facilities, policy organizations, and industry.
• Opportunities for co-publishing with faculty and other cohort members.

Teaching and Learning

The program is delivered through a mix of lectures, small-group seminars, and group projects working with real-life clients or individual projects. Candidates will be assessed primarily through a series of problem-oriented projects, complemented by short written assignments, scenarios, and simulations. The final project will include a longer written report, often for or with a professional partner organization.

Modules

The program consists of eight modules: three core modules common across the MPA suite of programs, two route-specific modules, and three electives available from STEaPP or other departments. Students may choose either an MPA Group Project or an Individual Project as their final module.

Compulsory Modules

• Analytic Methods for Policy
• Evidence for Decision Making
• Policy Making
• Health Innovation and Public Policy
• Foundations in Health, Technology and Public Policy

Optional Modules

• Risk and Safety in Medical Practice and other Complex Systems
• Science and Engineering Advice
• Research Ethics and Regulation
• Applied Data Science and Visualization for Complex Systems
• Intelligence, Algorithms and Data in 21st Century Government
• Digital Rights
• Clean Energy and Development
• Development, Technology and Innovation Policy
• Urban Innovation and Policy
• Emerging Dilemmas in Digital Technology Policy
• MPA Group Project
• MPA Individual Project
• Science Diplomacy
• Climate, Innovation and Sustainability Policy
• Science Funding and Governance

Accessibility

The department will endeavor to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences, and mental health conditions. Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble.

Location

The Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) is located in Bloomsbury, in the heart of London, with some teaching also taking place at the new UCL East campus, on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.

Fees and Funding

Fees for this course are as follows:

• UK students: Ł28,900 (full-time), Ł14,450 (part-time)
• International students: Ł39,200 (full-time), Ł19,600 (part-time)

There are no additional costs associated with the program, as the costs associated with any exposure visits to health facilities or policy and industry organizations are covered by the department.