Master of Health Leadership and Policy in Seniors Care (MHLP)

The Master of Health Leadership and Policy (MHLP) in Seniors Care is entering a period of reflection and evaluation. As of January 2025, the program is paused and not accepting applications. This pause marks a moment of thoughtful consideration on the future direction of the program, with an emphasis on ensuring its relevance and impact in the evolving field of seniors care. The pathway forward for the program remains under contemplation, with discussions ongoing about how best to adapt and possibly reshape its offerings to meet the current and future needs of the industry.

From its inception in 2016 through 2024, The Master of Health Leadership and Policy (MHLP) in Seniors Care has served as a professional degree for health-care professionals who want to design, deliver and lead comprehensive care and services for seniors in a range of community and organizational settings. This interdisciplinary program distinguished itself by combining graduate-level health-care courses with UBC Sauder’s Robert H. Lee Graduate School courses – giving you the skills and confidence to take your career in new directions.

Demographic trends have created a pressing need for talented health professionals to guide the future of patient-centered seniors care in community and institutional contexts. Organizations are seeking compassionate health-care specialists who can develop innovative services and programs. They’re also looking for individuals with the business perspective and interpersonal skills to successfully lead teams and guide change.

Choose health care and business

The MHLP in Seniors Care program offers a unique combination of health-care and business classes – giving you the strategic skills to play a leading role in this growing health-care sector. Health-care courses offer a holistic exploration of the epidemiology of aging, the influence of health policy on care, evidence-based decision-making and the environmental aspects of seniors care. Business courses offered by the top-ranked UBC Sauder School of Business give you a solid foundation in data analysis, project management and organizational leadership.

A full-time flexible format

In this comprehensive full-time program spanning 12 months, your classes will be scheduled on-campus for two full days each week, between Monday and Friday. Historically, courses have been offered on Mondays and Wednesdays. This structure requires between 12 and 16 hours of in-class time weekly providing a well-rounded and immersive learning experience. This thoughtful design ensures a balance between in-class engagement and independent study, fostering a dynamic education tailored to meet the demands of a rigorous academic curriculum.

In this 12-month program you will:

• be immersed in best practices in seniors care as you develop care strategies, use conceptual and analytical tools, and explore strategies for leading operations and maintaining quality
• enhance your understanding of policy, leadership and business practices relevant to seniors care
• learn within diverse clinical practice sites as part of a curriculum grounded in experiential and community-based learning opportunities
• study with renowned faculty from the UBC School of Nursing, as well as local leaders in public- and private-sector practice sites
• expand your professional network while collaborating with other MHLP students
• gain the fundamental business, project management and interpersonal skills to advance your career and confidently take on positions of increased responsibility