Health Sciences

Master of Science in Health Economics and Policy

The Master of Science in Health Economics and Policy is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in health economics, health policy analysis, health financing, and economic evaluation of health programmes. The programme combines economic theory with practical health policy application, econometric methods, and research.

Core areas include health economics, health policy, health financing, econometrics, cost-effectiveness analysis, economic evaluation, health systems, research methods, and project paper. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, examinations, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi as MSc in Health Economics and Policy through the Department of Economics and Development Studies. UoN is a public university offering the programme over two academic years of full-time study by coursework, examination, and a project paper.

Students develop competencies in health economics analysis, policy formulation, economic evaluation, and health financing. The programme equips graduates with critical skills in theoretical foundations and practical applications of health economics, policy, planning, and financing for decision-making and policy development in health care.

University of Nairobi charges approximately KES 304,500/year (KES 609,000 total) for MSc in Health Economics and Policy, with tuition at KES 31,500 per unit. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours in economics, social sciences, health sciences, or related disciplines from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as health economists, health policy analysts, health financing specialists, programme evaluation officers, health planners, and lecturers in health economics across government ministries, health insurance organisations, international health organisations, research institutions, NGOs, and universities.

Skills Required

Health Economics and Economic Evaluation
Health Policy Analysis and Formulation
Health Financing and Insurance
Econometrics and Quantitative Methods
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis and Modelling
Health Systems Analysis and Strengthening
Health Programme Planning and Evaluation
Health Data Analysis and Interpretation
Research Methods in Health Economics
Academic Writing and Project Research

Key Subjects

Health Economics and Economic Evaluation
Health Policy Analysis and Formulation
Health Financing and Insurance
Econometrics and Quantitative Methods
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis and Modelling
Health Systems Analysis and Strengthening
Health Programme Planning and Evaluation
Health Data Analysis and Interpretation
Research Methods in Health Economics
Project Research

Certifications

IHEA Health Economics Certification
WHO Health Policy Certification

Specializations

Health Economics

Focuses on health economics, covering demand, supply, markets, efficiency, equity, and managing health economics analysis.

Health Policy

Examines health policy, covering formulation, implementation, evaluation, governance, and managing health policy.

Health Financing

Covers health financing, covering insurance, funding, resource allocation, sustainability, and managing health financing.

Economic Evaluation

Focuses on economic evaluation, covering cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, cost-utility, and managing economic evaluation.

Health Systems

Examines health systems, covering governance, financing, workforce, service delivery, and managing health systems.

Econometrics

Covers econometrics, covering modelling, estimation, forecasting, and managing quantitative health analysis.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 304,500
Private, up to: Ksh 319,500
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Health Economics and Economic Evaluation
Health Policy Analysis and Formulation
Health Financing and Insurance
Econometrics and Quantitative Methods
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis and Modelling
Health Systems Analysis and Strengthening
Health Programme Planning and Evaluation
Health Data Analysis and Interpretation
Research Methods in Health Economics
Project Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Health Economics Theory and Applications
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines demand, supply, markets, efficiency, equity, behaviour, and managing health economics.
Health Policy Analysis and Formulation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers formulation, implementation, evaluation, governance, stakeholders, and managing health policy.
Research Methods in Health Economics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, health economics research methods, and conducting research, preparing students for their project.
Econometrics and Quantitative Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines modelling, estimation, forecasting, statistics, and managing quantitative health analysis.
Health Financing and Insurance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers insurance, funding, resource allocation, sustainability, equity, and managing health financing.
Economic Evaluation of Health Programmes
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, cost-utility, QALYs, and managing economic evaluation.
Health Systems Analysis and Strengthening
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers governance, financing, workforce, service delivery, information, and managing health systems.
Health Programme Planning and Evaluation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and managing health programmes.
Health Data Analysis and Interpretation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers data, statistics, surveys, analysis, interpretation, and managing health data.
Global Health Policy and Governance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines global health, governance, international, SDGs, and managing global health policy.
Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers pharmaceuticals, pricing, access, regulation, and managing pharmaceutical economics.
Project Paper
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised project paper on a health economics and policy topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and health economics knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Health Economics
Focuses on health economics, covering demand, supply, markets, efficiency, equity, and managing health economics analysis.
Health Policy
Examines health policy, covering formulation, implementation, evaluation, governance, and managing health policy.
Health Financing
Covers health financing, covering insurance, funding, resource allocation, sustainability, and managing health financing.
Economic Evaluation
Focuses on economic evaluation, covering cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, cost-utility, and managing economic evaluation.
Health Systems
Examines health systems, covering governance, financing, workforce, service delivery, and managing health systems.
Econometrics
Covers econometrics, covering modelling, estimation, forecasting, and managing quantitative health analysis.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Health Economics and Policy programme combines lectures, seminars, practical workshops, and independent study. Sessions cover health economics, health policy, health financing, econometrics, and economic evaluation. Health economics sessions examine demand, supply, markets, efficiency, equity, and managing health economics. Health policy sessions cover formulation, implementation, evaluation, governance, and managing health policy. Health financing sessions cover insurance, funding, resource allocation, sustainability, and managing health financing. Econometrics sessions cover modelling, estimation, forecasting, statistics, and managing quantitative analysis. Economic evaluation sessions cover cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, cost-utility, QALYs, and managing economic evaluation. Health systems sessions cover governance, financing, workforce, service delivery, and managing health systems. Research methods sessions prepare students for their project paper, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and debating current health economics issues. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with economic evaluation tools, cost-effectiveness modelling, and health data analysis. Guest lectures from experienced health economists, policy makers, and researchers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised project paper on a health economics and policy topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for health economics professionals with growing health financing reforms and universal health coverage initiatives in Kenya.
Programme provides rigorous training in applied economics and econometric methods specifically for health sector.
Graduates are eligible for IHEA and WHO certifications, enhancing career prospects in health economics.
Programme equips graduates with practical skills for cost-effectiveness analysis and economic evaluation.

Against it

Only one university (UoN) confirmed offering this specific programme, limiting institutional choice.
UoN charges moderate fees at approximately KES 304,500/year (KES 609,000 total).
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme requires economics or social sciences background, limiting access for non-related graduates.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public187k to 305k

187k at Moi University305k at University of Nairobi

Private149k to 320k

149k at Mount Kenya University320k at United States International University Africa

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 609k/2=304.5k (uonbi); Moi 187.2k; USIU~319.5k; MKU 149.1k.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. WHO may offer health economics fellowships. IHEA may offer research grants for health economics research. Some government agencies and international organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
WHO Health Economics Fellowship
IHEA Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
WHO Health Economics Fellowship
ScholarshipKsh 500,000
WHO provides fellowships for health economics training and research.
IHEA Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 300,000
IHEA provides research grants for health economics research.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: UoN requires Upper Second in relevant discipline from UoN or equivalent, or lower qualifications with publications and postgraduate diplomas. Contact the university for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

3 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, practical exercises, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering health economics, health policy, econometrics, and economic evaluation.
Project Paper
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised project paper on a health economics and policy topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and health economics knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi (public) offers MSc in Health Economics and Policy through the Department of Economics and Development Studies. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in health economics. Graduates are eligible for IHEA health economics certification and WHO health policy certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi (public) offers MSc in Health Economics and Policy through the Department of Economics and Development Studies. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in health economics. Graduates are eligible for IHEA health economics certification and WHO health policy certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Health Economist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts health economics analysis, overseeing evaluation, research, modelling, and managing health economics.
Health Policy Analyst
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Analyses health policy, overseeing research, analysis, recommendations, and managing health policy.
Health Financing Specialist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages health financing, overseeing insurance, funding, allocation, and managing health financing.
Programme Evaluation Officer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Evaluates health programmes, overseeing cost-effectiveness, evaluation, analysis, and managing programme evaluation.
Health Planner
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Plans health services, overseeing planning, resource allocation, strategy, and managing health planning.
Health Economics Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches health economics at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
SPSS for statistical analysis, covering data, statistics, analysis, and managing health economics data.
STATA
Software
STATA for econometric analysis, covering modelling, estimation, forecasting, and managing quantitative analysis.
Excel
Software
Excel for cost-effectiveness modelling, covering evaluation, analysis, and managing economic evaluation.
TreeAge Pro
Software
TreeAge Pro for decision analysis, covering cost-effectiveness, modelling, and managing decision analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Health economics is just about hospital finances.
Health economics covers comprehensive demand, supply, markets, efficiency, equity, and policy beyond just hospital finances.
This programme is only for economists.
Health economics skills are valuable for health professionals, policy makers, programme managers, and researchers beyond just economists.
Health policy is just about government regulations.
Health policy covers comprehensive formulation, implementation, evaluation, governance, and stakeholder engagement beyond just regulations.
Economic evaluation is just about costs.
Economic evaluation covers comprehensive cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, cost-utility, QALYs, and outcomes beyond just costs.
Health financing is just about insurance.
Health financing covers comprehensive funding, resource allocation, sustainability, equity, and efficiency beyond just insurance.
This programme is only for those in government.
Health economics skills are valuable for NGOs, international organisations, research institutions, insurance companies, and private sector beyond just government.