Humanity is faced with many health-related challenges – non-communicable diseases, new and existing pathogens, environmental degradation, political and economic instability, conflict. These increasingly transcend national boundaries. Embracing the values of health equity, universal health coverage, and the improvement of health worldwide, you can join these efforts when you study with us.

Study Global Healthy Policy by distance learning and you’ll benefit from our multidisciplinary expertise in areas including public health, epidemiology, health economics and political science. You’ll You will have an opportunity apply this knowledge to issues such as health systems, environmental health and infectious disease, with the support of academics who are active global researchers and policy influencers. With our flexible online format, you will be able to access your study materials wherever you are in the world and study at your own pace, at a time convenient to you.

Probe big topics such as the impact of economics and politics on global health and global health policy. Explore how climate change and environmental degradation affect health and challenge health policymaking. Soon you’ll develop the conceptual understanding you need to make a difference in your field.

What you will learn

Sharpen your knowledge of key issues, core economic and political concepts affecting global health
Apply your knowledge of politics and economics to real-world global health policy issues
Discover the global nature of the health threats and challenges posed by environmental change
Develop analytical skills to apply concepts to practical challenges and research issues facing global health policymaking
Grow your ability to analyse and critically discuss complex health policy questions

This self-study course is delivered online. You won’t have to pause your career and you can study from anywhere in the world, at your own pace for up to five years. You will have an opportunity to complete an independent research project on a global health policy issue of interest to you.

The programme has four social science-focused core modules to delve into – covering economics and how it shapes global health policy, the political nature of policymaking, the relationship between environmental change and global health policy, and a module that invites you to explore important public health challenges and issues that affect policymaking. You will also be able to select modules that match your interests from a range of elective modules.

Throughout, you’ll be encouraged to develop life-long learning and transferrable skills – critical and analytical thinking, complex problem solving, research leadership, persuasion and negotiation, innovation, collaboration – and much more. Alongside peers with a range of different academic and professional backgrounds, you’ll gain unique insights into global health policy.

Who is it for?

We’ve designed this course for anyone with an interest in understanding and impacting policymaking or for those who are motivated to analyse the content and implications of health policy and associated politics on their own professional field.

Doctors, hospital managers, political scientists, social science graduates, those already working for industry or local and national governments, and civil society organisations - the course appeals to a range of professionals with both clinical and non-clinical backgrounds. You’ll be keen to understand how and why policies are made and what influence you might be able to exert on the process of policymaking and the content of policies.