Health Services Research MSc, PGDip

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

An MSc is a taught Master’s degree. It usually involves the study of a science-related subject. It typically includes:

• subject-specific taught modules
• a dissertation or research project of approximately 15,000 – 18,000 words

You'll usually study an MSc full-time over 12 months.

A Master of Science is awarded for the successful completion of 120 credits of taught modules and a 60-credit dissertation or research project.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications.

A PGDip is awarded if you successfully complete all of the taught modules (120 credits).

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

The course consists of taught modules and a supervised project and dissertation.

Teaching is via a mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions. We encourage active learning through discussion, problem-solving and group work. Some teaching sessions may involve student presentations, and preparation or further reading.

Some of the issues covered include:

• what is the gold-standard approach to the evaluation of a healthcare intervention?
• how can we select and apply appropriate tools and methods in conducting systematic reviews?
• how can we evaluate health systems' performance from a comparative perspective?

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Case study
• Dissertation
• Essay
• Oral examination
• Oral presentation
• Report
• Written exercise

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Our staff tackle global and public health issues. The large range of disciplines include:

• public health
• primary care
• political science
• medical and applied health specialities
• psychology and behavioural science
• anthropology
• law
• biostatistics
• applied epidemiology
• data science
• health economics

Our staff lead high-impact research as part of the Population Health Sciences Insititute.

Research themes include Public Health and Health Inequalities.

Our Team

Degree Programme Director - Michele Castelli

Deputy Degree Programme Director - Dr Shelina Visram

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.