Master's Programme in Public Health with a Specialization in Health Economics 120 credits

While studying

Multidisciplinary

Public Health and Health Economics are multidisciplinary fields in the intersection of medicine and social sciences. Public health uses quantitative and qualitative methods to identify and assess specific health risks before designing and implementing effective population-based strategies. In health economics, costs and health outcomes of health interventions are analyzed to ensure efficient resource use.

If you are interested in

• How to promote health and prevent disease.

• How to respond to global health challenges.

• How to decide on health interventions optimally when resources are limited.

• Methods to evaluate cost-effectiveness of new interventions.

• The connection between social conditions and health.

• How to finance and organize health systems that allocate resources efficiently while at the same time promoting equity.

then this programme is for you.

Remember, citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are exempt from tuition fees.

Scholarships

There are a number of scholarships available for non-European students. 

Description of the programme

This programme comprises of 120 credits (two years). The first year includes courses on global health conditions, health systems analysis, health promotion theory and management, and on the quantitative and qualitative methods that you need to work in public health.

The second year includes courses on health economic theory, advanced health economic modelling methods, sustainability, leading change and development, and evaluation in public health. 

The programme is carried out in collaboration between the Department of Epidemiology and Global Health and Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics and elective courses are offered by both departments. There is an opportunity to graduate after one year to obtain a Degree of Master of Science (60 credits) Main Field of Study: Public Health.

This programme provides you with the skills required to influence public health policies and contribute to the sustainability of health systems. This is an international programme with students coming from many countries and all teaching is in English.

Active, collaborative, and reflective learning

Our Pedagogical Vision of the Educational Environment is based on core principles and didactic strategies including active, collaborative, and reflective learning. Studying on the programme means an active search for knowledge, problem solving, and critical analyses based on a scientific approach.

The working methods vary between individual study work, group work, seminars, lectures and practical sessions. Students have expressed great satisfaction with the cooperation between students from different educational and cultural background.

Pedagogical Vision of the Educational Environment

Master’s thesis

The master’s thesis work is an important part of this programme and gives you a possibility to apply the knowledge that you have gained to develop a deeper understanding of a chosen area. All our teachers are also researchers, meaning that you will have an experienced supervisor guiding you through your project. 

The thesis work comprises 30 credits within the programme’s main field of study and takes the form of two separate theses that are examined during semester 2 and semester 4 respectively. At least one of the theses should be in the field of health economics.

Read more about the thesis work first year

Read more about the thesis work second year

Programme overview

Year 1 

• Global Public Health

• Biostatistics

• Epidemiology

• Qualitative methodology for public health

• Health Systems: Organization and Financing

• Health Economic Evaluation Methods

• Theory and Management in Health Promotion

• Master thesis, first year

Year 2 

• Health economic theory

• Advanced topics in health economic evaluation methods

• Health, Environment and Sustainability

• Leading change and development in welfare organizations

• Evaluation in public health

• Master thesis, second year

• Eligible courses

• Evidence based public health

• Equity and health

• Advanced biostatistics and epidemiology

• Project Management D

Given by Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics

• Tools and Methods for Economists

• Social and Environmental Entrepreneurship

• Project Management and Organizational Design D

• Environmental and Natural Resource Economics B100:4

Future and career opportunities

The knowledge and skills taught on this programme can be used in health and welfare organizations in both the public and private sector. This includes both international and non-profit organizations as well.

Many graduates will work in advisory, consultancy or management roles e.g at a health care region, pharmaceutical company, health insurance authority or Ministry of Health. The work may include performing health economic analysis of interventions, evaluating health policies, and synthesizing knowledge to inform decision-making.

A future career in research is another possible path since the programme provides a solid foundation in research methods in public health and health economics. Further studies can lead to a PhD degree.

Read more about our research