Health Management and Health Economics

Course content

Students gain comprehensive insights into the healthcare system and can choose from specialization courses in management, economics, politics or sociology.

The degree program has a standard duration of four semesters and consists of a compulsory part, a specialization part, elective modules and a Master’s thesis. In the compulsory part students acquire fundamental knowledge of cost-bearing institutions, outpatient management, hospital management, pharmaceutical management, health economics, medicine and economic evaluation in health.

For the elective modules in the second semester students may choose advanced courses that build on subjects studied in the compulsory part as well as other modules. They also have the opportunity to take free electives on topics related to health from other Master’s degree programs at the School of Business and Economics, other faculties and schools at the University, and even other universities.

Specific seminars on practical skills and soft skills, as well as hospital management simulations allow students to strengthen important skills that they will need in their future careers. The degree program is completed with a Master’s thesis in the fourth semester.

Competencies

During the degree program students develop a profile of transferable skills that includes:

• knowledge of how to manage complex processes in healthcare independently
• the ability to design management tasks in various areas of healthcare: hospitals, outpatient care, the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries, cost-bearing institutions, health economics
• the ability to plan and carry out large projects systematically, constructively and independently, and to prepare, summarize and implement the results

Career opportunities

The Master’s degree program prepares students for careers in industry as well as research.

Due to the wide range of specialization opportunities, graduates are suitable for roles in all areas within the healthcare sector. These include controlling in hospitals, outpatient management, and strategic planning in pharmaceutical and medical technology companies.

They may also pursue academic careers at a variety of healthcare research institutions such as research institutes at universities or health insurance providers.

Target group

This degree program is aimed at all graduates with Bachelor’s degrees in business studies who are interested in healthcare. Previous knowledge of business and economics is required but knowledge of heath management/health economics is not necessary.