Health Policy, Planning and Financing

You will take the LSE course Financing Health Care, and one compulsory choice between two options at LSHTM. In addition, you will choose courses from a range of possible combinations at both LSE and LSHTM. In addition, you will complete a 10,000-word dissertation on any topic in the field. Visit our website to view all course overview videos on Microsoft Stream or YouTube.

HP400 Financing Health Care (0.5 units) – LSE
This course aims to give students a thorough grounding in health financing policy. It focuses on the health financing functions of collecting revenue, pooling funds and purchasing services, as well as on policy choices concerning coverage, resource allocation and market structure. The course mainly draws on examples from health financing policy in European countries, but the general principles studied apply internationally.
Watch course overview video.

Either 
1107 Health Services (0.5 units) – LSHTM
Provides students with a range of ways of thinking about health services and health systems. Drawing on epidemiology, history, medicine, economics and sociology, the module will help students understand how services function, the reasons services have developed in the way they have, the basis of some universal, persistent problems, and possible solutions to such difficulties.
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Or 
1117 Health Policy Process and Power (0.5 units) – LSHTM
Equips students to study or work in the health policy arena at international, national and local levels, including: reviewing different basic theoretical approaches and concepts used in policy analysis; analysing the political system within which policies are made and the contextual factors that influence policy change; identifying the different arenas involved in health policy, the actors within these arenas, and the key features of processes of policy identification, formulation, and implementation; and planning how to use in research and/or decision-making the policy analysis framework introduced during the course. 
Watch course overview video.

HP409 Dissertation for MSc Health Policy, Planning and Financing (1 unit) – LSE
The dissertation is an independent research project of 10,000 words on any topic in the field of health policy, planning and/or financing. The main body of the dissertation should include the background to the research, method of investigation, results of the analysis, discussion and policy implications and recommendations.

Courses to the value of three units from a range of options at LSE and LSHTM. To find the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page. 

You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School's Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the updated graduate course and programme information page.

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of Health Policy

Median salary of our PG students six months after graduating: £40,000 

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

• Health and Social Care
• Education, Teaching and Research
• FMCG, Manufacturing and Retail
• Consultancy
• International Organisations

The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2019-20 were the third group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes. Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and who were working in full-time employment.

Career destinations after graduation are wide and varied, reflecting the diverse international mix and multi-disciplinary nature of the Health Policy, Planning and Financing class. Graduates from the programme are typically employed by national governments, international organisations, research/management consultancy, industry and the voluntary sector.

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 on our website.

Support for your career

Many leading organisations give careers presentations at the School during the year, and LSE Careers has a wide range of resources available to assist students in their job search. Find out more about the support available to students through LSE Careers.