MSc Health Data Science

The MSc in Health Data Science is a programme designed to equip future health data analysts with the skills they need to interpret, analyse, assess, and evaluate health interventions, services, programmes, and policies. This is a joint programme between the LSE’s Department of Health Policy and the Department of Statistics.

As the health sector, already a major employment sector, continues to grow and as larger, more complex data sets become available, there is an increasing need for professionals with strong quantitative skills to evaluate health care interventions and outcomes, as well as health system performance. The MSc in Health Data Science is tailored to train those seeking to develop the statistical and computational skills necessary to become data science specialists in the health care, biopharmaceutical and medical technology sectors.

You'll graduate from LSE with a thorough grounding in the theory, technical and practical skills of data science used to evaluate health and health care. Students will be taught to use a range of statistical methods relevant to the context of health, including machine learning, data mining, artificial intelligence, and deep learning techniques. The specialised courses in the programme will also enable students to apply advanced methods of data science and statistics to investigate real world health policy questions.

You'll be taught by a world-renowned faculty who are experts in health policy, health economics, and statistics. Your fellow students will come from across the globe and will have diverse professional backgrounds, ranging from those who already work in medicine or policymaking, as well as those that have just finished their undergraduate studies. The level of experience of students will be varied, making for a dynamic and stimulating learning environment.

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. Find out more about the Department’s coronavirus-related research and impact.

You'll take four (half-unit) compulsory courses. You'll also choose courses to the value of one unit from the Department of Health Policy and courses to the value of one unit from the Department of Statistics.

Watch all 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, all students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of their fee status.

For this programme, all students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of 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 insurance funds, pharmaceutical and medical devices industries, national health services, government departments and agencies, consultancies, and international organisations and agencies 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 will 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.