Program Overview

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Health Economics for Health Professionals

Overview

Advance your career in health by developing sought-after research skills and building your knowledge of health economics tools and principles. This online degree is designed for health professionals looking to improve their understanding of health economics and research methods.

Qualifications

• MSc
• PgDip
• PgCert

Key Info - MSc

Learning Mode

• Online

Study Level

• Postgraduate SCQF Level 11

Credits

• 180

Typical Duration

• 27 months

Start Month

• September

Indicative Cost

• £16,580

Key Info - PgDip

Learning Mode

• Online

Study Level

• Postgraduate SCQF Level 11

Credits

• 120

Typical Duration

• 18 months

Start Month

• September

Indicative Cost

• £11,000

Key Info - PgCert

Learning Mode

• Online

Study Level

• Postgraduate SCQF Level 11

Credits

• 60

Typical Duration

• 9 months

Start Month

• September

Indicative Cost

• £5,420

What You'll Study

• Core issues in health economics and their relevance to working health professionals
• Tools to analyze and address the limited resources faced by the health sector
• Health research skills

Who Can Join

• Health professionals looking to improve their understanding of health economics and research methods

Study with the Award-Winning Health Economics Research Unit (HERU)

• Founded in 1977, HERU is the first unit in the UK and Europe to focus its research on health economics
• Impactful research has informed the introduction of routine breast cancer screening, smokefree legislation, and minimum unit pricing in Scotland
• Active links with health policymakers across the UK, including:
  • the Evidence Directorate of Healthcare Improvement Scotland
  • the Analytical Services Division (ASD) of the Scottish Government
  • NHS Education Scotland
  • NHS Health Scotland

What You'll Study

• Masters (180 credits)
• Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
• Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
• Short courses (15 credits)

Master of Science - 180 credits

• 8 x 15-credit courses
• 1 x 60-credit project
• At least 60 credits must come from Health Economics courses

Compulsory Courses

• Introduction to Economics and Health Economics (15 credits)
• Fundamentals of Research Design (15 credits)
• Applied Statistics (15 credits)

Health Economics Courses

• Choose at least three:
  • Economic Evaluation - Principles and Frameworks (15 credits)
  • Economic Evaluation - Application and Policy (15 credits)
  • Economics of Health Behaviour (15 credits)
  • Health Care Systems and Policy (15 credits)

Applied Health Science Courses

• Choose a maximum of two:
  • Designing Real-World Trials (15 credits)
  • Evidence-Based Health (15 credits)
  • Health Informatics (15 credits)
  • Qualitative Health Research (15 credits)

Project

• Health Economics for Health Professionals Project (60 credits)

Postgraduate Diploma - 120 credits

• 8 x 15-credit courses
• At least 60 credits must come from Health Economics courses

Compulsory Course

• Introduction to Economics and Health Economics (15 credits)

Health Economics Courses

• Choose at least three:
  • Economic Evaluation - Principles and Frameworks (15 credits)
  • Economic Evaluation - Application and Policy (15 credits)
  • Economics of Health Behaviour (15 credits)
  • Health Care Systems and Policy (15 credits)

Applied Health Science Courses

• Choose a maximum of four:
  • Designing Real-World Trials (15 credits)
  • Evidence-Based Health (15 credits)
  • Health Informatics (15 credits)
  • Qualitative Health Research (15 credits)
  • Fundamentals of Research Design (15 credits)
  • Applied Statistics (15 credits)

Short Courses

• Start with a short course that's part of the degree
• Credits from each short course count towards the MSc
• Some courses are compulsory, and some are optional

How You'll Study

• Online learning
• Flexible, 100% online
• No student visa required
• Set your study hours to suit you

Your Teaching

• Delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
• Access to materials, tools, and support
• Online access to our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library

Your Tutors

• Practising health economists from our Health Economics Research Unit (HERU)
• Actively involved in policy-shaping research
• HERU is one of the leading centres for health economics research in Europe

Assessments

• Entirely online
• Multiple-choice quizzes, short-answer tests, essays, and presentations

Study Hours

• 15 credits: around 150 hours of study and assessment time
• 30 credits: around 300 hours of study and assessment time
• 60-credit project: around 600 hours of study time

Study Experience

• First-class support structure
• Contact with tutors via MyAberdeen and email
• Social media and discussion boards to chat with fellow students
• Wide range of services to support you in your studies and beyond

Support

• Careers and Employability Service
• Disability support
• IT support
• Library support
• Student Support Service
• Student Learning Service
• Aberdeen University Students' Association (AUSA)
• Toolkit - clever apps and free training

Use Your Local University Libraries

• Access to study spaces, books, and resources at university libraries across the UK and Ireland
• SCONUL Access scheme

Your Support Team

• Dr Shelley Farrar - degree coordinator
• Clare McHattie - postgraduate teaching support team
• Online education team - answer any questions you have about this qualification or studying online

Where This Will Take You

• Careers in economic analysis, policymaking, and healthcare management
• Industry links with health policymakers across the UK
• Lifelong career support

Fees and Funding

• Master of Science: £16,580
• Postgraduate Diploma: £11,000
• Postgraduate Certificate: £5,420
• Pay-as-you-go qualification
• Additional costs: learning resources, printing, and software

Entry Requirements

• MSc, PgDip, PgCert: 2:2 UK honours degree (or equivalent)
• Alternative/ lower qualifications and relevant experience may be considered
• Short course route to online MSc Health Economics for Health Professionals

How to Apply

• Apply through our online Applicant Portal
• No application fee
• Required documents: degree transcript, personal statement, degree certificate, CV/resume, reference

When to Apply

• Apply as early as possible
• September 2025 intake: application deadline is 8 September 2025
• Teaching starts on 22 September 2025

International Students

• Entry requirements: same as above
• Visa requirements: no student visa required
• English language requirements: IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English, LanguageCert, Oxford ELLT, PTE Academic, or Duolingo

IT Requirements

• Computer with up-to-date operating system
• Reliable internet access
• Speakers or headphones
• Software: Office365 applications, specialist software for specific courses

Why Study Health Economics Online with the University of Aberdeen?

• Expert teaching team
• Award-winning research
• NHS and alumni discounts

You Might Also Be Interested In...

• Other healthcare and medicine courses offered by the University of Aberdeen