Program Overview

Health Policy, Planning and Financing MSc

The Health Policy, Planning and Financing MSc programme provides an international and future-oriented training that emphasizes the role of health economics, economic evaluation, and advanced modelling techniques in shaping modern health systems. Through a transdisciplinary social science lens, the programme combines economics, health policy, public policy, finance, and statistics with key insights from sociology, epidemiology, psychology, and ethics.

Program Details

• Title: Health Policy, Planning and Financing MSc
• Degree: Expert in Health Care Policy, Planning and Financing
• Type: Degree program
• Level: Master
• Accreditation number: FF/1180-4/2012
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Institute: Institute of Economics
• Department: Department of Health Policy and Health Economics
• Language: English
• Duration: 4 semesters (2 years)
• ECTS credits: 120
• Minimum number of students: 10
• Maximum number of students: 20

Description

One of the defining challenges of the 21st century is to extend healthy life expectancy – shifting from a purely quantitative to a qualitative paradigm of health. Achieving this requires a holistic approach that integrates physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, while strengthening prevention and rehabilitation alongside treatment. Central to this mission are robust and evidence-based health policies, as well as efficient, accessible, and sustainable healthcare systems.

The curriculum focuses on the complex interplay of stakeholders involved in healthcare planning, financing, and delivery at local, regional, national, and global levels. Students are encouraged to critically examine how health systems can adapt to today’s and tomorrow’s challenges – from demographic shifts and digital transformation to global health crises and inequities in access.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the programme will be equipped for diverse career opportunities across the international landscape:

• Public health administration and regulatory bodies
• Global health organizations
• National and private health insurers
• Healthcare providers
• Pharmaceutical and medical device industries
• Consulting firms
• NGOs
• Research institutes
• Media and policy advisory roles

Admission Requirements

• Entry requirements: Applicants must have a BA/BBA degree in any of the following fields: Social Studies, Sociology, Health Care and Disease Prevention, Nursing and Patient Care, Public Administration Manager, Health Care Management, Business Administration and Management.
• Language requirements: Certification of English knowledge (both written and oral): B2
  • IELTS Score: 5.5
  • TOEFL iBT Band: 46-59
  • Cambridge English Scale Score: 162

Documents to Submit with Application

• Document | Comment
  • Online application form | -
  • Bachelor-level degree | Applicants must have a BA/BBA degree in the fields listed above
  • Transcript of records | -
  • Motivation letter | The general guidelines and expectations for the letter are: the applicants introducing themselves, their motivation, interests and goals with the programme. The length of the motivation letter is between 1500 and 4000 characters
  • Copy of the main pages of the passport | needs to be valid
  • Copy of application fee transfer | -

Application Procedure

The application starts at the online application system. Students need to register in the system, fill in the online application form, upload the required documents and follow the instructions during the application process.

Entrance Examination and Selection Process

• Type of entrance examination: Oral
• Place of entrance examination: Online
• Further details of the entrance exam: During the interview, applicants will have a discussion on the following topics:
  • What are the major challenges for your country’s health care system in the next 10 years?
  • What are the social and policy contexts of those challenges?
  • What could be the role of economic analysis in improving the health care in your country?

Tuition Fees

• EU/EEA students: 1550 EUR per semester
• Non-EU/EEA students: 3500 EUR per semester
• Application fee: EUR 50 (non-refundable) between 01/10//11/2025, EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 20/11//01/2026, EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 20/01//04/2026, EUR 200 (non-refundable) between 05/05//05/2026

Program Leader and Coordinator

• Program leader: Zsófia KOLLÁNYI, PhD and Péter RÓZSA, PhD, Co-Directors of the MSc Program
• Program coordinator: International Office, Faculty of Social Sciences

Additional Information

• Offered for the next academic year: Yes
• Start program: 01, Sep, 2026
• Deadline for applications - September intake: 31, May, 2026
• Is there a February intake: No

This program is designed for those who wish to combine medical or social science knowledge with advanced competencies in health economics, policy analysis, and system modelling, and for those who value evidence- and quality-based approaches to system assessment, financing, and optimization. The program equips graduates with the analytical, strategic, and interdisciplinary skills needed to address the most pressing health system challenges worldwide.