Program Overview

MSc in Healthcare Leadership

The MSc in Healthcare Leadership is a part-time, online course that develops confident, reflective leaders who can drive positive change in healthcare. The course explores leadership as a global, evolving practice, learning how to motivate teams, manage systems, and improve care quality.

Course Details

• Mode: 100% online (with optional events)
• Length: Two years (part-time)
• Total course fees: MSc - Ł9,950; PGDip - Ł6,700; PGCert - Ł3,400 (instalments available)
• Start dates: January, May, and September
• Next start date: 26 January 2026
• Application deadline: 22 January 2026

What You Learn

The course is built upon a model of competency development and will help you learn leadership theories and frameworks at the leading edge of the discipline. You will learn how to adopt a diligent, systematic, and evidence-based approach to your practice through the transformative concepts introduced during your studies. As a student of the course, you can expect to:

• Explore leadership as a dynamic and contestable concept
• Engage in critical self-reflection and the impact of self on others
• Learn how to conduct insightful and informed decision making
• Build knowledge of the system and policy context in which healthcare leadership exists
• Gain an in-depth appreciation of the rational, emotional, and political aspects of changing services and practice
• Recognise the necessity of critical and systematic enquiry and continuous learning in and through action

Course Modules

The course consists of the following compulsory modules:

• Self as Leader (30 credits): This introductory module contains two core themes self-awareness and leadership theory - that will equip you with the knowledge needed to thoughtfully engage with the rest of the course material.
• Supporting Change, Innovation, and Problem-Solving (30 credits): Gain a critical understanding of the nature of and relationships between problem-solving, innovation, and change in the context of healthcare.
• Promoting Quality and Safety in Healthcare (30 credits): Explore the proficiencies required for leaders to enhance organisational effectiveness in order to improve the quality of care delivery and maximise patient safety.
• Global Perspectives on Healthcare Policy (30 credits): On this module, you will develop the ability to explore your leadership activities and responsibilities within a policy context.
• Capstone Project (60 credits): The Capstone Project provides you with the chance to demonstrate the integration and application of your learning throughout the programme through a self-designed project.

Alternative Programmes

We also offer a Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) and Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in Healthcare Leadership for applicants who may not want to take a full master's. The PgCert is made up of two of the 30-credit modules outlined above Self as Leader and another module that depends on your start date. The PgDip requires completion of all four 30-credit modules.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum 2.2 Honours degree or international equivalent, ideally in a subject related to health
• If you dont have a 2.2 Honours degree or international equivalent in a related subject, equivalent professional qualifications/personal experience may be considered
• A personal statement of around 300-500 words
• An IELTS 6.0 score (with minimum 5.5 in each skill) if your first language isn't English (or other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by the University of Hull)

Career Prospects

Exceptional leadership in healthcare has a vital role to play in the face of growing global health challenges. Upon completion of this distance learning course, youll hold the skills and understanding needed to serve effectively within management in healthcare, with the ability to challenge both yourself and others to perform to their highest potential. You can explore a career anywhere in the world, making a positive impact on the industry and your community through a variety of roles, such as:

• Healthcare provider leadership (e.g., hospital management, primary care manager)
• Clinical leadership with primary, secondary or tertiary healthcare
• Healthcare commissioner leadership
• Healthcare policy maker (e.g., local government)
• Leadership within professional or regulatory bodies

How You're Assessed

All assessment for the course is based on coursework and submitted online. There are no exams. Your performance on the course will be assessed through a range of methods, such as:

• Guided online discussions/activities
• Online lectures and seminars
• Online tutorials
• Critiques and feedback from your tutor
• Critical self-reflection and independent study Youll also be asked to complete a variety of written assessments, including:
• A professional development plan focused on enhancing leadership skills and based on established approaches to learning
• Commentary on a primary research paper related to quality improvement
• Analysis of an example patient safety incident
• A reflective account of the process of change, with reference to established theories