Programme Specification: MSc Health Policy, Planning and Financing
1. Awarding Body
2. Details of accreditation by a professional/
statutory body, e.g. ESRC; BPS etc
3. Name of final award
4. Programme Title
5. Duration of the course
6. Based in the Department/Institute:
7. Relevant QAA subject benchmark statements
8. Application Code
9. First written/last amended
University of London
N/A
MSc
Health Policy, Planning and Financing
12 months full-time or 2 years part-time
Social Policy, but taught jointly with the London
School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
N/A
Students should apply through the London School
of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
January 2004 / November 2012
10. The programme aims to:
Develop critical analysis of issues within the areas of health policy and finance and to devise appropriate
health policy responses. Specifically, by the end of the course students should be able to:
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demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a diverse range of international and national
health policies, including current and emerging trends;
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of one or more disciplines relevant to the study of
health policy, planning and financing (epidemiology, health economics and other social
sciences);
demonstrate specialist knowledge and skills in other areas selected from a range of options on
the programme relevant to the study of health policy;
apply their knowledge and skills using a multidisciplinary approach to formulate, implement and
evaluate health policies and plans;
show competence, both written and verbal, in communicating empirical evidence and in
consolidating and critically appraising debates relevant to issues of health policy;
demonstrate competence in key research and presentation skills, including the ability to carry
out a literature search, to critically review published literature, and to evaluate research findings.
11. Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
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Comprehend, demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of diverse range of
international and national health policies, including current and emerging trends;
an understanding of the process of policy making; and an ability to use disciplines required in
formulating, implementing and evaluating health policies and plans;
Comprehend and demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of key principles of one or
more disciplines relevant to the study of health policy, planning and financing;
Show competence, both written and verbal, in assessing and communicating empirical evidence
and in consolidating and critically appraising debates relevant to issues of health policy;
Demonstrate competence in key research and presentation skills, including the ability to plan
and carry out a literature search, to critically review published literature, and to evaluate
research findings..
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12. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and
demonstrated
Teaching and learning strategies
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various teaching, learning and assessment strategies are used to enable the outcomes above to be
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achieved - lectures, seminars, group work, and tutorials. Students are expected to learn through
both directed and self-directed study;
lecture formats are varied, including both traditional formats, audio visual and electronic
presentations;
seminars are interactive and usually organised around themes for discussion or readings; these aim
to deepen and consolidate knowledge, and develop critical awareness and communication skills;
one-to-one tutorials provide individual pastoral and academic support.
Assessment strategies include
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unseen examinations;
essays (formative and/or summative);
dissertation (summative);
summative assessment is carried out anonymously.
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
See the MSc Health Policy, Planning and Financing programme regulations for more information.
Additional information
14. Criteria for admission to the programme
Applicants must normally satisfy LSHTM’s general entrance requirements and additional programme specific
entrance requirements to be considered for admission.
The normal minimum entrance qualification for registration is at least a second-class Honours degree of a
UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.
Preference will be given to candidates having prior work experience in areas relating to health, policy,
planning and financing.
A minimum of one year’s experience in health policy or public health related work is recommended.
15. Indicators of quality
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The programme is subject to rigorous quality assurance processes, including both standard annual
monitoring and an extensive special review every five years. Operation of the programme itself is
overseen by a dedicated committee. A range of further committees and functions are responsible for
identifying and resolving any problems, improving programme quality and enhancing the student
experience on an on-going basis.
In addition:
steady demand for the programme;
high entry requirements;
good examination results;
favourable remarks from external examiners;
students’ questionnaires via the Teaching Quality Assessment surveys.
The LSE Careers Centre website provides data on career destinations of LSE graduates.
16. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and learning
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the Department takes seriously the feedback on teaching quality provided by the annual Teaching
Quality Assessment survey of students;
the Department holds termly staff-student meetings at which student representatives from all
programmes are able to raise issues of concern. It takes forward suggestions and proposals coming
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from that meeting;
each programme in the Department has one or two elected student representatives who bring
issues of concern to the staff member with management responsibility for the Programme and to the
staff-student meeting;
the Department has a Teaching Committee; part of its remit is to plan provision and support
innovation;
the Department (and School) takes seriously the feedback from external examiners; comments
made by external examiners are followed up within the Department and by the School;
the School’s Teaching and Learning Centre is available to monitor and observe teaching and offers
constructive advice on how to improve the standard of teaching and quality.
The Teaching and Learning Centre is available to monitor and observe teaching and offers
constructive advice on how to improve the standard of teaching and quality.
The Teaching Learning and Assessment Committee which regulates all aspects of teaching quality;
Departmental TLAC review once every five years.
The Graduate Studies Sub-Committee which oversees all graduate programmes and ensures that
significant changes to programmes and courses pass through a sequence of formal stages, so that
curricular changes are appropriate and compatible with other developments.