Program Overview

Introduction to the Program

The Medical Faculty Heidelberg offers a Master's degree program in Health Services Research and Implementation Science in Health Systems. This program aims to provide students with a solid foundation in health services research and implementation science principles, enabling them to plan and implement effective trials in an efficient, sustainable, and responsible manner.

Facts and Formalities

• Degree: Master of Science
• Type of program: Consecutive
• Start of program: Winter semester only
• Standard period of study: 4 semesters
• Language(s) of instruction: German
• Fees and contributions: 161.10 € / Semester
• Application procedure: Consecutive master’s programs with admission restriction
• Application deadlines: Information about deadlines can be obtained after you have put together a degree program.
• Part-time option: Yes

Course Content

The degree program focuses on:

• Healthcare in Germany and Europe: The main focus of the course is on healthcare in hospitals and outpatient practices in Germany and Europe.
• Research orientation: Throughout the program, research results, qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as theoretical and conceptual approaches, are addressed.
• Patient and stakeholder perspectives: The perspectives of various stakeholders (e.g., patients, physicians, nursing staff) of the healthcare system are of central importance for healthcare research and implementation science.
• Location Heidelberg: The Medical Faculty Heidelberg offers various opportunities to gain insight into practice and research in healthcare.

Course Structure

The standard period of studies for the Master's degree program is four semesters (120 CP). The program focuses on theoretical and methodical foundations of healthcare research and implementation science in the first semesters, complemented by related subject areas and compulsory elective internships or work placements in the second and third semesters. The program concludes in the fourth semester with the completion of a Master's thesis.

Main Study Areas

• M1 Fundamentals and subjects of health services research (12 CP)
• M2 Organisation of the healthcare system (10 CP)
• M3 Implementation and quality in healthcare practice (10 CP)
• M4 Quantitative research methods (10 CP)
• M5 Qualitative research methods (10 CP)
• M6 Methods of evaluation research (10 CP)
• M7 Internship (12 CP)
• M8 Professional and interdisciplinary specialization (16 CP)
• M9 Master's thesis (30 CP)