Master of Health Economics

Turn data into evidence-based decisions that influence positive change in the healthcare system by studying the Master of Health Economics. Graduate with advanced skills in resource allocation and economic modelling, and use your expertise to inform policy and health practices on a global scale.

Are you ready to realise your career potential by joining one of the largest and most prominent health economics programs in Australia?

The Master of Health Economics is designed for clinical and non-clinical health professionals who want to improve healthcare systems from the top down. It’s also ideal for those from finance backgrounds hoping to use their knowledge of economics to create healthier, happier communities. If you’re looking for a health economics program that’s well-established, renowned for its academic research and led by teachers at the very forefront of the field, this is the course to take your career forward.

At its core, the course teaches you how to maximise health benefits and outcomes from available resources. To do this, you will develop expertise across a number of specialised skills, including:

• Resource allocation
• Economic modelling and evaluation
• Health technology assessment
• Priority setting
• Healthcare financing
• Policy analysis.

These techniques arm you with knowledge that allows you to make evidence-based decisions that improve the way healthcare systems operate. These are skills that are crucial to your career success. You might be asked to prepare a cost-benefit analysis comparing two different pieces of medical equipment; or you might employ economic modelling to shape health insurance policies that impact thousands. You will graduate with the ability to critically evaluate current research in economic policy, understand the complexities of healthcare financing and make influential contributions to health policy development and debate. Whatever challenges your future role throws at you, you will have the skills needed to make confident, informed choices.

Course structure
To complete the Master of Health Economics students must attain 16 credit points. Most units are equal to 1 credit point - check each unit in the course structure.

The 16 units must comprise:

• 8 credit points of core units (these are compulsory)
• If completing Minor Project Option (2 credit points), students must complete a further 6 credit points of course elective units
• If completing Major Project Option (4 credit points), students must complete a further 4 credit points of course elective units

Students would normally complete the Master of Health Economics over 4 trimesters of full-time study or the part-time equivalent. As some students will be in full-time work, part-time enrolment will mean that these students will complete the course in three to four years.

Students may enrol in the course in either Trimester 1, 2 or 3. It is recommended that students take the minor or major project in their last one or two trimesters.

International on-campus students who commence in Trimester 2 or Trimester 3 intakes pursuing the Major Project stream are required to enrol into Trimester 3 of their second year in order to complete the course within their CoE course duration.

Core units
All students must complete the following eight core units and one zero credit point unit:

• Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) DAI001
• Health Economics 1 HSH717
• Economic Evaluation 1 HSH719
• Epidemiology 1 HSH744
• Biostatistics 1 HSH746
• Health Technology Assessment 1 HSH761
• Resource Allocation and Priority Setting HSH762
• Economic Evaluation - Theory and Practice HSH764
• Economics for Managers MPE781

Course Electives
Students must complete a minor or major project option:

• Minor Project Option
• Minor Project A (1 credit point) HSH731
• Minor Project B (1 credit point) HSH732

Plus 6 of the course electives below
Major Project Option 

• Major Project A (2 credit points) HSH733
• Major Project B (2 credit points) HSH734

Plus 4 of the course electives below

Core units
Course Electives
Students must complete a minor or major project option:

• Minor Project Option
• Minor Project A (1 credit point)
• HSH731
• Minor Project B (1 credit point)
• HSH732

Plus 6 of the course electives below

• Major Project Option 
• Major Project A (2 credit points)
• HSH733
• Major Project B (2 credit points)
• HSH734

Plus 4 of the course electives below

• Health Promotion HSH703
• Health Communication HSH704
• Qualitative Health Research HSH715
• Biostatistics 2 HSH747
• Epidemiology 2 HSH754
• Postgraduate Health Practicum HSH755
• International Perspectives in Health and Social Development HSH760
• Financing Health Care HSH763
• Economics and Health Policy Analysis HSH766
• Economic Modelling HSH767
• Health Economics in a Global Context HSH768
• Comparative Health Systems HSH769

Careers
Career outcomes

• The health sector is Australia’s largest and fastest-growing*. With more jobs and an increased demand for skilled health professionals, you will have more opportunities to take your career forward.

Use your specialised skills and extensive practical experience to confidently explore roles in:

• Pharmaceutical and health technology industries
• Health insurance
• Hospitals, community health organisations and healthcare management
• International health organisations such as WHO, UNDP, OECD, the World Bank Group and the Asian Development Bank
• Government departments such as Health and Treasury and the Productivity Commission
• Non-government agencies, research institutes and think tanks
• Corporate consulting firms.

In addition to the diverse career options this course opens up, graduates also have the opportunity to join Deakin’s leading health economics academics by progressing to a PhD.