MSc HEALTH ECONOMICS SENSS
MSC HEALTH ECONOMICS SENSS
How can we increase effectiveness and efficiency? What is the monetary impact of smoking on the healthcare system? What value should we place on this drug or procedure? In an era of diminished budgets and ageing populations, health economists are in more demand than ever.
Study Health Economics at UEA and you’ll learn to make decisions that really count. Based in the Norwich Medical School, you’ll not only develop an understanding of economic concepts related to health, public health, and health services policy, you’ll be part of a school at the forefront of research. You’ll train with a wide range of healthcare students, taught by leading academics, and you’ll be connected to a well-respected group of researchers who advise on international and national policies that affect people’s health, worldwide.
You’ll graduate ready to research and tackle some of the biggest questions in the provision of care for national government, the NHS, the private sector or research organisation.
About
MSc Health Economics is designed for graduate economists with a keen interest in health economics. It will help you understand the ways in which economic ideas and principles are relevant to, and applied in, health and healthcare. Providing practical experience in the application of health economics techniques, you will gain an appreciation of the links between economic evaluation and economic theory, as well as between health service research and decision-making. 
During your time with us you will develop your analytical skills in quantitative research methods and critical appraisal. You’ll hone your ability to apply research results to practice, and to health service decision-making. You’ll also acquire practical skills in the economic analysis of health problems; for example, putting a price on the impact of Type Two Diabetes on a given NHS Trust.
Being taught within a research-active health economics group, you will have direct access to the most up-to-date statistics and thinking, and to people with real-world health economics research experience. You’ll also have the opportunity to expand upon an area of active research that interests you most, as you work on your dissertation within this stimulating academic environment.
This SeNSS pathway specifically prepares you for PhD study, and if eligible, enables you to apply for funding via the South East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS) Doctoral Training Partnership, to which UEA belongs. Funding may be applied for as either a 1+3 Studentship (MSc Health Economics SeNSS + PhD), or solely for a PhD Studentship if you graduate the Masters course with a Distinction / Merit. 

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Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.After the Course
This programme is specifically designed to lead into postgraduate research, which may be followed by a career in research or academia. Alternatively you will be armed with the analytical tools and practical skills with which to start building a career in health economics, as a sought-after professional ready to pursue a rewarding career as a health economist in government, the NHS, a pharmaceutical firm or the World Health Organisation.
Career destinations
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Central government departments
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NHS Trusts
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The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
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The World Health Organisation (WHO)
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Pharmaceutical firms
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Research or academia

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Assessment for Year 1
Most taught modules will feature a combination of assessment methods, including examinations, course tests and written assignments.
Compulsory Modules (180 Credits)
Code MED-7006D (20 Credits)
This module aims to equip you with an understanding of health economics, its value and limitations. It is suitable for students with and without an economics background as the course covers fundamental economic principles and their application to health care. These will include concepts of opportunity cost, supply and demand, efficiency and equity. The module uses these principles to explore relevant topics in health and healthcare. The following topics are covered:
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The application of economic principles to system level health policy issues such as health care priority setting
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Alternative models of health care financing and organisation
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Inequity and inequalities in health and healthcare
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The use of economic evaluation of health care interventions using techniques such as cost effectiveness analysis and cost benefit analysis
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The determinants and consequences of health, and the economics of health behaviour
Code MED-7008E (20 Credits)
On this module you will understand and critically appraise the economic studies of health care interventions; understand the range of evaluation techniques and appropriate circumstances for application; and appreciate the links between economic evaluation and economic theory, health service research and decision making and to have confidence to conduct further economic evaluation studies.
Code ECO-7003A (20 Credits)
This is an advanced module in microeconomic theory, designed for postgraduate students with a strong background in economics. The topics covered in this module include the duality approach to demand theory, firm theory, general equilibrium theory, game theory, choice under uncertainty, agency theory and the economics of asymmetric information. The rational-choice foundations of microeconomics are also critically examined.
Code ECO-7019B - (20 Credits)
The module is about modern macroeconomic theory where economies and not their parts are studied. The focus is consequently on the overall performance of the economy rather than on the functioning of particular parts of the economy. The module uses dynamic general equilibrium models where consumers, firms and governments are modelled as forward-looking agents who make the best of the economic environment they live in.
Code ECO-7002A (20 Credits)
This module focuses on various theoretical aspects within the linear regression framework using matrix algebra, complemented by simulations and applications to provide more intuition. A specialist econometrics software is used throughout, allowing a better understanding of the theoretical material using real world data and simulations. After a review of fundamental concepts in Econometrics, the module progresses to a detailed discussion of the multiple linear regression model (MLR), focusing on the theory of estimation, inference, and other important issues, such as, model misspecification and models that involve nonlinearities.
The properties of the OLS estimator are discussed in detail, and simulated examples show all the adverse consequences on these properties if certain assumptions in the data or the population do not hold. Real world applications are considered, discussing whether these assumption hold in reality. For example, the presence and consequences of having non-spherical errors is discussed, focusing on the problem of heteroscedasticity. Moreover, special attention is paid on the problem of endogeneity, while the instrumental variable approach is presented as the main strategy to deal with it.
Code ECO-7001B (20 Credits)
This module builds on econometrics material covered in earlier modules and is divided into two parts:
1) Time series methods (including ARIMA modelling, stationarity testing, ARCH/GARCH models, Volatility Spillover, VARs , Cointegration and VECMs)
2) Microeconometrics (including panel data methods, and models for binary response variables)
There is an emphasis on the practical application of common estimation techniques, with the specialist econometric software package Stata used extensively.
Code MED-7007X (60 Credits)
The purpose of this module is to illustrate the depth of skills and knowledge that have been developed through the MSc programme. The skills to be developed further include being able to:
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Gain practical experience in conducting research in an area of self-chosen content or subject material
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Gain practical experience of presenting their research in a written format
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Apply their knowledge of qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies to their own area of self-chosen content or subject materia
Students will be encouraged to consider their dissertation work for publication either within the University or in refereed academic journals.
Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.1 or equivalentDegree subject
EconomicsAdditional entry requirements
Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.
You may be required to attend a pre-sessional course in mathematics and statistics run by the School of Economics prior to the start of your course. It runs for two weeks preceding the start of the Masters course in September. This course covers mathematical techniques for Economists, statistics and data analysis using statistical software.
Students for whom english is a foreign language
We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:
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IELTS: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in only two components with 6.0 in the others)
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PTE (Pearson): 64 (minimum 59 in two components only with 64 in the other two)
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests
INTO University of East Anglia
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study one of the International Graduate Diploma programmes offered by our partner INTO UEA. These programmes guarantee progression to selected masters degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details please click here:
International Graduate Diploma in International Development
INTO UEA also run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk
Intakes
This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2022/23 are:
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UK Students: £9,800 (full time)
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International Students: £19,000 (full time)
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course related costs
Beyond your course fees, your only expense will be course books.

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How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.

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