Organization: Queen Margaret University College
Institute for International Health & Development (IIHD), Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
This course is for people working as health professionals and will enhance your understanding of how to make health systems work better. This implies mobilising and investing sufficient resources, the appropriate distribution of resources and the uptake of available resources by those intended to use them. It also involves managing multiple players in public and private, formal and informal roles and developing strategies with the best chance of bringing about positive effects.
The course will equip you with the necessary skills for careers in health planning, management and policy advice.
You will focus on the key components of effective health systems and the policy instruments available to support their operation. Using a multidisciplinary approach and working with global experts, students will learn how to evaluate alternative policy options for improving health system functioning and formulate appropriate responses to specific health system problems. Working throughout the course on health systems problems in specific settings, you will develop strategic plans to tackle those problems and through your dissertation work, focus on an issue relevant in your workplace or future career plans.
EXIT AWARDS: MSc (180 credits) )/PgDip (120 credits)/ PgCert (60 credits)
Delivery: At QMU
Single Modules: Register as an associate student to study some single modules in areas of interest.
Duration: Full-time: 1 year; Part-time: 2 - 5 years
PgDip: Full-time: 2 semesters
PgCert: Full-time: 1 semester
Start date: September and January
Application deadline: None
Teaching, learning and assessment: Learning and teaching methods encourage group and independent learning. Teaching is comprised of combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, case studies, simulation exercises and projects. Assessment is continuous and incorporates assignments, action plans, projects and examinations.
Teaching hours and attendance: Each module which you study on-campus will require you to attend classes and carry out independent work. Your attendance requirements at QMU will depend on which module you are studying and whether you are studying full or part-time.
Degree or diploma, preferably in a health-related area. Diplomates should have completed the final exam of a professional body. Applicants from other backgrounds (eg social science, social anthropology) are also welcomed, if you can demonstrate understanding/ experience of health issues.
International: Students whose first language is not English are required to take an IELTS test receiving an overall score of 6.0 and no individual component score below 5.5.
Home - full-time: £6510
Home - part-time: £660 per 15 credit module
Home - part-time, dissertation: £1310
International - full-time: £12920
International - part-time: £1180 per 15 credit module
International - part-time dissertation: £3490
Funding Information for International Students: Visit the International section of the website.
Course Fees: Visit the Fees section of the website. - Graduates of the University who hold a verified QMU undergraduate or postgraduate award and who are admitted to a postgraduate award of QMU will be eligible for a 10% discount on the published fees.
Sources of Funding: Visit the Funding section of the website.
- Health Systems
- International Public Health
- Global Health and Social Policy
- Researching Global Health and Development
- Research Design and Proposal Writing
- Dissertation (MSc only)
Plus three electives from:
- Gender, Health and Development
- Project Design and Management
- Policy and Practice in Complex Emergencies
- Psychosocial Interventions for Displaced Populations by Distance Learning
- Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Social Development and Policy and Planning
- Independent Study
Additional elective modules available. Please contact IIHD@qmu.ac.uk for details.
All modules= 15 credits each Dissertation =60 credits
As a graduate, you will be well-equipped to work as a health planner, manager or policy advisor in an international setting. This is a new course but previous graduates of the Institute for International Health and Development have attained such positions as: health programme manager; project consultant; human resource manager; bilateral agency health advisor and a variety of advanced positions within home ministries and educational institutions.
Website: http://www.qmu.ac.uk/iihd
How to register:
September and January start dates