Masters (MSc) in Healthcare
Best Universities in the World for Healthcare
If you’re interested in management or leadership roles in the healthcare sector, an MSc in healthcare may be a degree to consider. This specialised cross-disciplinary master’s degree prepares individuals for such roles by providing an understanding of the various management concepts as well as strategies for efficient designing and managing of healthcare systems.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for Medical and Health Services Managers in 2018 was $99,730 per year. This field shows a promising trend with the future job growth projected at 18% for the next ten years, which is much faster than the average.
It is also estimated that the aging of the large baby-boomer population would create an increased requirement of healthcare services.
Why MSc (Master of Science) in Healthcare
The program covers the various aspects required for efficient healthcare management including best practices, process improvement, operations management, healthcare marketing, financial management and decision-making, human resource management as well as strategic planning and management.
Programs usually include internships and project-based experiential learning that allows students to practically apply the skills they learn in classrooms, use the knowledge gained to tackle various real-world issues and come up with innovative solutions for various challenges faced by healthcare organisations.
Masters in healthcare administration admission requirements
An undergraduate degree would be the prerequisite.
Some programs may have specific undergraduate requirement, for example, at Imperial College Business School, an undergraduate degree in these fields is given preference – medicine, health sciences, social sciences, physical sciences, engineering, informatics.
Some schools may prefer candidates with some relevant prior work experience.
Some schools may require successful applicants to take certain quantitative and accounting courses.
Following are the usual application requirements
- GRE / GMAT score (In specific cases, MCAT score may also be accepted).
- Statement of Purpose / Essays
- Resume
- Transcripts
- Letters of recommendation (usually three)
- English proficiency test – TOEFL / IELTS / PTEA
- Interview
Schools evaluate applications on a holistic basis. Even candidates with slightly lower GPA or test scores may stand a chance to get into reputed programs if they’re able to demonstrate excellent inter-personal skills, leadership qualities, experience of working across teams, critical thinking ability and problem-solving approach.
Top healthcare administration graduate programs in the world
Applicants can decide which programs they wish to apply to based on various parameters including program reputation, fees, school location, curriculum and placement track record.
Here’s a list of some of the top healthcare programs.
Best MSc in healthcare programs in USA
| University / School name | Location | Program name | Program duration | Program tuition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | University of Michigan – School of Public Health | Michigan, USA | Master Of Health Services Administration Program (MHSA) |
60 credit hour 2 years |
International tuition $47,707 for 1 year |
| 2. | The University of Alabama at Birmingham | Alabama, USA | Master of Science in Health Administration (MHSA) |
33-month program (21 months of full-time courses on campus and 9-12 months in an administrative residency) |
In-state tuition $40,925 Out-of-state tuition $92,878 |
| 3. | University of Minnesota – School of Public Health | Minnesota, USA | Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) | 60 credits, 21 months on campus, 10 week summer residency | Resident $60,840 Non-resident $79,920 |
| 4. | UCLA – Fielding School of Public Health | Los Angeles, USA | MS in Health Policy and Management (MSHS) |
2 years | $17,272 per year for California residents, $32,374 per year for non-California residents. |
| 5. | Johns Hopkins – Carey Business School | Maryland, USA | Master of Science in Health Care Management | 1 year, 36 credits | $71,600 per year |
| 6. | UNC – Gillings School of Global Public Health | North Carolina, USA | Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) | 60 credit hours, 1 week internship, 3 semesters professional training | Fees per semester Residents $9,209 Non-residents $17,693 |
| 7. | Cornell University – Sloan Program in Health Administration | New York, USA | Master of Health Administration (MHA) | 60 credit, 2 years, 10 week summer internship | Tuition $37,022 for 1 year |
| 8. | University of Washington | Washington, USA | Master of Health Administration | 76 credits 2 years |
$62,396 |
| 9. | Columbia – Mailman School of Public Health | New York, USA | Master of Health Administration | 2 years | Tuition Per Semester $19,894 |
| 10. | The Ohio State University – College of Public Health | Ohio, USA | Master of Health Administration (MHA) | 2 years | Tuition – Ohio residents $14,833 Non-residents $38,417 |
Best MSc in healthcare programs in UK & Europe
| University / School name | Location | Program name | Program duration | Program tuition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Imperial College Business School | England, UK | MSc International Health Management | One year | Fees: £29,500 |
| 2. | City, University of London | England, UK | MSc Health Management | 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time | Full-time: £14,790 Part-time: £7,395 per year |
| 3. | The University of Warwick | England, UK | MSc Healthcare Operational Management (HOM) | 12 months | Tuition Fees : Overseas £27,160 Home & EU £14,820 |
| 4. | Emlyon Business School | Lyon, Saint-Etienne, France and Shanghai | MSc in Health Management & Data Intelligence | 18 months-includes 4-6 months internship | €24,500 |
| 5. | Erasmus University Rotterdam | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Health Care Management | 1 year | €12,000 |
| 6. | SDA Bocconi School of Management | Milano, Italy | Master of International Healthcare Management, Economics and Policy (MIHMEP) | 12 months | € 27,500 |
| 7. | Trinity College, Dublin School of Medicine |
Dublin, Ireland | Health Services Management (M.Sc.) | Two years (Part-Time) | EU 8,832 per year Non EU 18,504 per year |
MSc in healthcare job role and salary
According to U.S. News, Medical and Health Services Manager’s job ranks fifth among the best business jobs, taking into account various parameters including salary, job market, future growth and work-life balance.
Following are the various job roles and salaries after completing an MSc in Healthcare
| Job role | Salary |
|---|---|
| Marketing Director | $84,000 |
| Product Manager, Healthcare | $97,000 |
| Administrative Manager | $75,000 |
| Laboratory Director | $108,000 |
| Business Process / Management Consultant | $95,000 |
| Chief Operating Officer, Non-Profit Organization | $78,000 |
| Clinical Operations Manager | $85,000 |
| Contracts Director | $152,000 |
| Director of Managed Care | $121,000 |
| Health Information Management Director | $147,000 |
| Healthcare Program Manager | $86,000 |
| Biomedical Engineering Director | $101,000 |
Source: PayScale
Is a Masters in healthcare administration worth it
A master’s degree in healthcare administration/management would help you see the big picture of the healthcare industry and give you knowledge and insights into various areas of healthcare operations. For those already working in this field, this degree can be a great way to boost your career prospects (Careers in Healthcare Management) and take up senior positions.
However, since the degree is a specialised one, focusing on management aspects of healthcare, you need to have enough clarity about your long-term career goals before opting for this program or choosing it over other management-related options.
Graduates can tap into the school’s alumni network and career resources to seek employment opportunities. The employment rates look impressive for the top ranked programs. For example, at UNC Gillings, the job placement rate three months after graduation is 100% for MHA graduates, while at the Ohio State University, it’s over 90%.
The salary would depend upon factors including geography, designation and organisation. Graduates can obtain positions in hospitals, pharmaceutical /medical device related companies, medical practices, laboratory/research industry, healthcare insurance companies, mental health centers, rehabilitation centers or government agencies.
Finally, it’s for you to decide based on your research if an MSc in Healthcare program suits your career goals or not.
Also read
– Why I chose Master’s in Public Health at LSHTM UK
– Best MBA programs for Healthcare
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