Department of Economics and Related Studies
MSc in Health Economics
As a non-economist, I really benefited from the six-week summer session in microeconomics and quantitative methods before I began. I met international students from many disciplines. National and international employers recognise York as one of the best institutions for Health Economics and some of the best economics books are written by staff at York and it is fascinating to be taught by these experts in their field. Visitors come with particular expertise and contribute to teaching us. I also value participating in workshop presentations, which stimulate research discussion and improve communication skills. Another attraction of the course is the opportunity of a summer placement, at different institutions across the world - I look forward to that.
Graduates - MSc in Health Economics
Aim of the programme
The MSc. in Health Economics has been running since 1978 and the course has been attended by over 700 British and overseas students. It provides a comprehensive training in the theory and practice of Health Economics and gives students the experience and skills needed for research and health service decision-making. Graduates work in government departments, research units, universities, national health services and health care organisations, and the pharmaceutical industry.
The Health Economics Resource Centre
The Health Economics Resource Centre (HERC) provides a suite of rooms that combine the teaching materials, computing facilities, information resources, and secretarial support used in the full range of health economics training programmes offered by the department.
The principle aim of the resource centre is to provide readily available facilities for private study and research, forming a base for students attending the MSc in Health Economics and for the group of doctoral students in health economics.
Please visit the HERC web pages for more information.
MSc. Students work alongside a large group of health economists and health service researchers. The Department of Economics and Related Studies and the Institute for Research in Social Sciences are internationally recognised centres of excellence in Health Economics. There are around 50 research staff in the Centre for Health Economics and the York Health Economics Consortium .
Admissions Requirement
Minimum entry requirement is the equivalent of an upper second class degree in economics or other relevant discipline.
Course structure
The MSc normally lasts for 12 months full time. Coursework runs from October to May.
The compulsory core elements are double units in each of the following:
- Health Economics
- Evaluation of Health Care
- Either Econometrics or Quantitative Analysis or Econometric Methods for Research
- Either Advanced Microeconomics or Applied Microeconomics for Decision-Making and Policy Analysis
- Clinical Decision Analysis (Single Unit)
Plus one unit chosen from:
Applied Microeconometrics
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Development Project
Appraisal
Economics of European Integration
Experimental Economics
Game Theory: Economic Applications
Health and Development
Health Care Management
Industrial Economics
International Macroeconomics
Labour Economics
Management Decision
Analysis
Advanced Macroeconomics
Political Economy from the General Equilibrium Point of View
Public Finance
Public Sector Economics:
Microeconomic Applications
Students may be allowed to take one or more of their optional units from the following courses in environmental economics offered by the Environment Department. Students wishing to do so must first ask their M.Sc. Director and the Environment Department's M.Sc. Director for permission, which is not automatic.
Environmental Economics
Environmental Valuation
Summer Placement
Most students on the M.Sc. in Health Economics choose to do a summer placement. These placements are compulsory for those students who receive Department of Health Studentships.
The placement covers the period 1st July to 30th September and is spent preparing an 8-10,000 word diseertation under the supervision of an experienced health economist. The placements involve the cooperation of many different institutions including academic research units, the NHS and pharmaceutical companies. Most students are based in UK but over recent years there have been placements in Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Finland, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Vietnam and the USA.
The placement differs from the standard dissertation in that the placement supervisor suggests the research topic. A list of topics is circulated in the middle of the Spring term and students are allocated to their preferred placements before the Easter vacation.
Students should not try to organize their own placements. But suggestions for topics and host institutions are always welcome and should be given to the Director of the M.Sc..
Access
The normal entry requirement for the MSc is an upper-second class honours degree in economics or equivalent. However many students have other qualifications, including medicine, pharmacy, and nursing. The Department provides five-week Summer Session in microeconomics and quantitative methods for non-economists.