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Home>Study at York>Postgraduate taught>Courses 2024/25>Health Economics for Health Professionals and Policymakers (PGDip)

PGDip Health Economics for Health Professionals and Policymakers

Discover how to transform healthcare with data-driven decisions.

Year of entry: 2024 (September)

Length

2 years part-time

Start date

September 2024

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Mounting pressure on healthcare budgets worldwide has focused attention on how best to organise health care systems and the spending within them. 

Building on the University of York's international reputation for excellence in Health Economics, the Postgraduate Diploma programme in Health Economics for Health Professionals and Policymakers is a continuing professional development, distance learning, qualification designed for employees of health care consultancies, the pharmaceutical industry, health insurance, governmental and non-governmental health care organisations.

Combined expertise

This course is a collaboration between the Department of Economics and Related Studies and the York Health Economics Consortium.

Innovative Research

The Department of Economics and Related Studies ranks jointly in the top 10 for impact and is joint 14th for research in the UK - according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021).

Course content

You will study part time by distance learning, via a blended design using York-authored workbooks, online learning resources, optional intensive York-based workshops, and online examinations.

Our health economics distance learning modules run on the following term dates:

Term 1

  • Monday 16th September - Friday 6th December 2024
  • Exam dates: 05 - 06 December 2024 
Term 2
  • Monday 6th January - Friday 28th March 2025
  • Exam dates: 27 - 28 March 2025
Term 3
  • Monday 7th April - Friday 27th June 2025
  • Exam dates: 26 - 27 or 23 - 27 June 2025

Reassessment Dates

  • 11 - 21 August 2025

 

Modules

As you progress through the modules which comprise the Postgraduate Diploma, you will develop your understanding and analytical skills in a range of areas.

Core Modules

The first three modules will provide you with the basic principles and tools of health economics so that you can understand the workplace situations you encounter from an economic perspective and apply basic economic concepts in your work. The final three modules will help you to develop your understanding and analytical skills in a range of areas which were studied in the first year:

  • applying the theoretical methodology of microeconomics and health economics to the analysis of health care technologies, systems and policies.

  • the role of experimental and observational study designs in the analysis of health economic data sets.

  • a range of advanced methods to apply to the economic evaluation of health technologies.

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.

The York approach

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Identify the more advanced dimensions of health economics as they relate to health technology assessment and health policy, with a view to integrating and applying this knowledge to current
  • Combine more advanced knowledge of health economics with existing qualifications, skills and professional or related knowledge so that future professional practice informs the health economics dimensions to project planning, management and report writing for interdisciplinary teams.
  • Use more advanced mathematical and computer-based techniques to contribute to future work-based projects which require a moderate to substantial health economics input. To communicate the results of these analyses persuasively in writing and presentations.
  • Conduct advanced information syntheses and literature surveys.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2024/25

Study modeUK (home) / International and EU
Part-time (2 years) £6,570
Part-time (2 years)
Discounted route" with " Discounted fees are available to applicants funded by public sector organisations and some self-funding applicants in countries classified by the World Bank as having low-income or lower-middle-income economies.
£5,920

For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.

  • UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%).
  • International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

Fees information

UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching format

For each module you will have access to a workbook containing the basic text for the course, references to additional reading and exercises. Some modules will also be supplemented with a textbook containing core material. Your teaching will be supported using the University's virtual learning environment, Yorkshare. You will have access to:

  • discussion boards monitored by a module tutor or module leader
  • an assessed work submission facility

Teaching location

As this is a distance learning course, you will be able to complete much of the work you need to do for each module in your own home or workplace. 

The programme will include a residential workshop held at the University of York and attendees will need to meet their transport, accommodation and other related costs.

Assessment and feedback

Each module contains one or two pieces of assessed work. This will be marked to provide feedback on your progress. The modules themselves are assessed by examination close to the end of the module's twelve week study period. All examinations will be online.

Careers and skills

This is a Continuing Professional Development course and is designed for those who are already employed.

Career opportunities

  • Director within NHS
  • General manager for a health care company
  • Health care analyst
  • Health economics and outcomes research manager
  • Consultant physician
  • Medical writer

Transferable skills

  • Integration of new knowledge with existing professional background.
  • Application of appropriate mathematical, graphical and data analysis techniques to apply to a wide range of work-based problems.  

Entry requirements

Typical offer
Undergraduate degree 2:1 or equivalent
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic and Indicator) 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo 120, minimum 105 in all other components
LanguageCert SELT B2 with 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
KITE 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components
Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic 61, minimum 55 in each component
TOEFL 87, minimum 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III Merit in all requirements

For more information see our English language requirements.

Applying

You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.

Apply for this course

Next steps

Related courses

  • MSc Health Economics for Health Professionals and Policymakers