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MSc Health Research

Equip yourself with the research skills to progress your career in the healthcare sector, or to design, implement and publish research

Year of entry: 2025 (September)

Length

1 year full-time,
2 years part-time

Start date

September 2025 (semester dates)

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Learn how to apply a range of research methods to current, pressing health issues and how to critically assess published research.

The skills you gain on this course will enable you to pursue a career in research through academia and/or a combination of clinical healthcare practice.

You'll graduate with a multifaceted understanding of health research that is increasingly sought after in healthcare and research environments.

The course is flexible and can be delivered on a full- or part-time basis, attracting people who might also be working alongside their study.

Research excellence

6th in the UK for research power with over 92% of our research rated as world-leading (4*) for impact (Times Higher Education ranking of the latest REF results, 2021)

Expert tuition

​Our experts help improve human health and prevent illness through the analysis and delivery of leading research.

Course content

Our course will equip you with a wide range of applied health research skills to enable you to become a proficient and confident researcher. You will be taught by academics who will draw on their experience to provide you with an excellent grounding in health research methods including systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials, epidemiology, health economics, statistics and qualitative methods.

Modules

Core modules

Option modules

You will study two option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.

Some option module combinations may not be possible.

The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. For further information please get in touch.

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

Dissertation

You will be matched with a supervisor with complementary research interests, and together you will design an appropriate project, using the skills and techniques you have been taught in the modules.

You have substantial choice in your area of research, and for part-time students in employment, the project can represent an area that is of interest and value to your employer.

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:

  • critically evaluate the key methodologies used in applied health research, taking into account quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods approaches
  • critically appraise and interpret evidence, analysing the strengths and limitations of published applied health research
  • formulate clear health research questions and hypotheses and independently evaluate which methodologies are most appropriate to undertake them (eg clinical trial, case-control study, cohort study or systematic review)
  • undertake robust, credible quantitative and qualitative analyses of health related data, using the most appropriate analytic techniques and software packages
  • independently formulate, plan and undertake a piece of research in an area related to applied heath, taking into account ethical considerations
  • communicate clearly in written format, to a specialist audience, the outcomes of research, presenting complex arguments, carefully weighing evidence in reaching conclusions.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2025/26

Study modeUK (home)International and EU
Full-time (1 year) £11,200£25,900
Part-time (2 years)
This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation.
£5,600£12,950

Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.

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.

Additional costs

Additional costs could vary depending on which modules you take. Course books are generally available from the library, but you may wish to purchase your own copies. These typically cost £10-£30 each. Depending on how you work, you may also wish to print out lecture notes or make photocopies. You will be given an allowance of free printing, but you will have to pay for any printing you do beyond this.

Funding information

Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.

If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.

Funding opportunities

Chevening Scholarships

We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.

Departmental funding 

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

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

We use a variety of lectures, seminars, projects, group work and individual work to ensure that you get the most out of your time here.

Much of the teaching on this course takes place in small groups, led by a specialist in the field.

Teaching location

You will be based in the Department of Health Sciences, which is on Campus West. The majority of your teaching will take place within Alcuin College on Campus West.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.

Assessment and feedback

You will be assessed throughout the course in a variety of ways, including exams and a range of written assignments.

Careers and skills

Graduates from this course have followed a broad range of careers. Many have taken up jobs in health research or have gone on to study for PhDs. Others have utilised their research knowledge within healthcare services or attained employment in health policy, including organisations such as the World Health Organization.

Career opportunities

  • Medical advisor
  • Senior Registrar in internal medicine
  • University Researcher
  • Data analyst
  • Evidence synthesist specialist
  • Statistician

 

Transferable skills

Upon successful completion of this course, you'll have experience in:

  • Research design
  • Critical thinking
  • Qualitative and quantitative analysis
  • Crafting arguments

Entry requirements

Typical offer
Undergraduate degree 2:2 or equivalent, or a medical degree. Applications from candidates with sufficient relevant work experience eg in the health, research, statistical, government or social development sectors may be considered.
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
Kaplan Test of English Language 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 components

For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

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

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Department of Health Sciences

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