MSc International Health Policy (Health Economics)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

The MSc International Health Policy (Health Economics) is a stream of the MSc International Health Policy programme which allows you to study and specialise in advanced health economics. Using health economic principles you examine important health policy issues through application of the current literature and learned skills in statistical methods and econometrics as applied to the health field.

The programme offers an international perspective on health economics, and although concentrating primarily on high income countries, there are some courses that cover the economics of low-income countries. The majority of your professors on the programme are specialists in health economics, although the programme also draws on a department with wider interests in health policy.

Students should have prior knowledge of economics as many of the individual courses are designed for economists wanting to specialise in health care, but those with quantitative skills should not be deterred.

The programme prepares you for a career in a range of areas where health economists are essential, and previous students have been employed in government departments or agencies, international organisations, health insurance organisations, health care administration, health care management, management consultancy, pharmaceutical and medical device companies and the wider commercial health sector, as well as academia with other programme graduates undertaking PhD programmes at prestigious European and US universities.

The programme is designed around topics in advanced health economics, statistical methods in health care economic evaluation, health care economic evaluation, applied health econometrics, and financing models in health care. A compulsory dissertation allows you to focus on a particular topic and you have the option to undertake an internship with a major international or governmental organisation, NGO, private company or academic institution.

Teaching methods

LSE is internationally recognised for its teaching and research and therefore employs a rich variety of teaching staff with a range of experience and status. Courses may be taught by individual members of faculty, such as lecturers, senior lecturers, readers, associate professors and professors. Many departments now also employ guest teachers and visiting members of staff, LSE teaching fellows and graduate teaching assistants who are usually doctoral research students and in the majority of cases, teach on undergraduate courses only.

Assessment

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It is designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. Summative assessment may be conducted during the course or by final examination at the end of the course.

Careers

Professional destinations after completing the degree include consultancies, pharmaceutical companies, health services, international organisations, government departments and agencies and NGOs as well as employment in research or further study for a PhD.