MSc Global Health Policy

The MSc Global Health Policy draws on LSE's world leading strengths in politics and economics to analyse a range of global health policy issues. Engaging with both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, you'll gain insights into a range of approaches to global health as you learn crucial skills in policy making, health economics, sociology, politics, demography and more.

Health policy globally is changing, owing to great interconnection and shared health concerns. It requires a new generation of inspired health policy professionals equipped to handle the specific challenges working in this space from the global levels of Geneva to the field in low and middle income countries. This programme offers both levels of analysis.

You'll be taught by a world-renowned multi-disciplinary faculty passionate about global health who are at the forefront of research into global health policy. Similarly, students on the programme come from diverse academic backgrounds, ranging from medical doctors to anthropologists to those that have just finished their undergraduate studies. The level of experience of students is quite varied, and this makes for a dynamic and stimulating learning environment. Our students are culturally diverse with the vast majority of students coming from outside the UK.

You'll graduate from LSE with both a conceptual understanding of the big issues in global health, and tangible skills for a career in global health. As core modules, you'll study the institutions, actors and politics in global health policy and learn how to develop healthcare policies specifically for low and middle income countries. You'll also examine the role of economics in health policy and different ways of financing healthcare.

The programme further offers a wide variety of courses which gives you the flexibility to customise your curriculum so you can pursue what most interests you and suits your background, expertise, and goals, whether that be global policy issues or health concerns in low and middle income countries or something in between. Beyond this, students are also offered short courses in epidemiology and project management to supplement their studies.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, our faculty have been highly engaged in advising governments and international organisations on coronavirus policy responses, research on the short-, medium-, and long-term impacts of the crisis, and in developing innovative ideas and solutions to tackle the pandemic and its negative effects. Visit our website for more information about the Department’s coronavirus-related research and impact.

The LSE Department of Health Policy offers a wide range of programmes in health policy and health economics. Visit our website to find out which programme is best for you.

You'll take four (half-unit) compulsory courses and complete a 6,000-word dissertation. You'll also choose courses to the value of one and a half units from a wide range of options.

Watch our course overview videos on Microsoft Stream or YouTube

The department seeks to advance and challenge our collective understanding of health systems and the social, economic and political contexts in which they operate. Through our research, teaching and scholarship, we aim to influence and inform how health policy is designed, implemented and evaluated globally.

We apply rigorous social science research to emerging health and social care challenges, advising national and international agencies as well as government bodies. This world-leading research is conducted through two affiliated research centres: LSE Health and the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC).

Our academics have made significant contributions to developing policies on global health, health equality, older adults, care and welfare.

The department’s research feeds into our multidisciplinary teaching, with an emphasis on health and social care policy, health economics and management. We offer a range of postgraduate master’s programmes and our MPhil/PhD programme. Students learn about healthcare systems around the world and develop skills that can be applied in many different contexts.

Our goal is to prepare the healthcare leaders of tomorrow for challenging and rewarding careers.

Department of Health Policy

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:

• academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
• statement of academic purpose
• two academic references
• CV.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

Please note: the Department of Health Policy on intercalating onto their master’s programmes is as follows:

• students on a US medical degree are always qualified to apply
• students who will have completed no more than two years of a UK medical degree on beginning a prospective MSc at LSE are not typically qualified to apply
• students who will have completed at least three years of a UK medical degree on beginning a prospective MSc at LSE are qualified to apply
• students on non-UK/US medical degrees should contact Graduate Admissions in the first instance.

Intercalating medical students should apply in the usual way, but:

• in the "Qualifications pending" section, when inputting information about your medical degree, choose the latest date of completion you can enter
• in the statement of academic purpose, explain that you'll be intercalating, or upload an additional document with this information
• ask your chosen referees to also confirm in their references that you'll be intercalating.

Contact us

If you have any questions about the programme, please contact: healthpolicy@lse.ac.uk.

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis. This means that applications will close once the programme is full.

There is no fixed deadline. However, if you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section below for more details.

For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.

For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It's designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. Summative assessment may be conducted during the course or by final examination at the end of the course. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.

Possible professional destinations after completing the degree include international organisations and agencies, consultancies, insurance funds, pharmaceutical and medical devices industries, national health services, government departments and agencies and NGOs as well as employment in research or further study for a PhD.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Mentorship Programme

As a student in the LSE Department of Health Policy, you'll be able to apply to take part in our Mentorship Programme. The programme connects current students with one of our alumni, active in a wide range of fields, to provide career mentoring as students graduate from the MSc courses. The programme gives students greater insight into career prospects after graduation and will help students build connections with current health policy leaders and experts to build their network.

Learn more about the programme and our mentors

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.